Living in Málaga
Do You Really Need a Car on the Costa del Sol? Here's What We Learned After Living Here
Before moving to Spain, we thought the train would be enough. Living here with two young children completely changed our perspective on owning a car on the Costa del Sol.
10 min read
The question wasn't whether we'd have a car. The question was whether we'd actually need to use it every day.
Before moving to Spain, we never questioned whether we'd own a car.
We had already learned how important one could be while living in Boston.
When our daughter Emma turned two, we bought our first family car—not because we wanted to explore more, but because we realised how much peace of mind it gave us.
As parents, knowing you can leave immediately if something happens is reassuring in a way that's difficult to explain until you experience it yourself.
So when we moved to the Costa del Sol, bringing that mindset with us felt natural.
The question wasn't whether we'd have a car.
The question was whether we'd actually need to use it every day.
As it turns out, the answer was more complicated than we expected.
We Chose Our Home with the Train in Mind
One of the reasons we chose Benalmádena was its connection to the Cercanías train.
On paper, it seemed perfect.
The train links Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Fuengirola, making it easy to visit the city without worrying about traffic or parking.
That was exactly what we wanted.
We imagined taking the train into Málaga for family outings, avoiding busy roads and enjoying the flexibility of public transport.
And to this day, we still think that was the right decision.
If we're spending the day at Bioparc Fuengirola or heading into Málaga city, the train is often our first choice.
For those kinds of journeys, it's convenient, affordable and surprisingly efficient.
But everyday life isn't built around weekend plans.
It's built around ordinary Tuesdays.
Children Change Everything
Before having children, walking a little further didn't seem like a big deal.
After becoming parents, almost every decision started revolving around convenience.
School drop-offs.
Doctor's appointments.
Birthday parties.
Grocery shopping.
Swimming lessons.
Unexpected errands.
Life with children means constantly moving from one place to another.
Suddenly, a fifteen-minute walk looks very different when you're carrying shopping bags, pushing a stroller or trying to convince a tired child to keep walking uphill.
And if you've spent any time in Benalmádena, you'll know one thing.
There are hills.
Lots of them.
Google Maps might tell you a destination is only fifteen minutes away.
It doesn't tell you those fifteen minutes are almost entirely uphill.
The Moment We Truly Understood Why the Car Mattered
There was one experience that completely changed the way we think about owning a car.
Our youngest son, Noah, became seriously ill and had to be admitted to a public hospital in Málaga for ten days.
Every morning, one of us drove to the hospital.
Every evening, one of us drove home.
Some days we made several trips.
During those weeks, we never once thought about beaches, sightseeing or weekend road trips.
We thought about flexibility.
About leaving immediately when the hospital called.
About not waiting for a taxi.
About not wondering whether public transport would fit around hospital visiting hours.
We hadn't bought a car to explore Andalucía.
We had bought it because life with children is unpredictable.
Looking back, that peace of mind was worth far more than the car itself.
Do You Need a Car Every Single Day?
Today, the answer for our family is yes.
We use the car several times a day.
Not because public transport is bad.
But because everyday family life rarely follows a train timetable.
School.
Supermarket.
Activities.
Appointments.
Life becomes much easier when everything isn't another logistical puzzle to solve.
But Location Matters Even More Than the Car
One thing we've realised is that owning a car isn't actually the biggest decision.
Choosing where you live is.
When we first arrived, we focused on finding a quiet home.
And we found one.
Our neighbourhood is peaceful, calm and far away from traffic.
We genuinely appreciate that.
But living further away also means driving much more often.
If we were choosing again today, we'd probably make one change.
We'd prioritise being closer to our daughter's school.
Not because we suddenly dislike driving.
But because reducing one or two daily car journeys would completely change our routine.
Sometimes convenience isn't about saving money.
It's about saving time and energy.
The Biggest Mistake Isn't Buying a Car
Many people ask whether they can move to the Costa del Sol without owning a vehicle.
The truth is...
It depends entirely on the life you want to build.
A couple living in Málaga city might barely need one.
A family with young children living in the hills of Benalmádena will almost certainly have a different experience.
The mistake isn't buying a car.
The mistake is choosing a home without thinking about the small journeys you'll repeat every single day.
The school run.
The supermarket.
The pharmacy.
The football practice.
Those everyday routines will shape your quality of life far more than the occasional weekend trip.
So... Do You Really Need a Car?
If someone asked us that question today, we'd probably answer with another one.
How do you want your everyday life to feel?
Because that's the real decision.
For us, the car isn't about independence.
It's about flexibility.
It's about knowing that if one of our children suddenly becomes ill, we can leave immediately.
It's about making ordinary days a little less complicated.
And that's something we never fully appreciated until we were living here.
Final Thoughts
One of the biggest lessons we've learned since moving to the Costa del Sol is that relocation isn't just about choosing a country.
It's about choosing the life you'll repeat every single day.
Sea views are wonderful.
A beautiful apartment is exciting.
But after a while, what really matters is much simpler.
How long does it take to get to school?
Can you buy groceries without turning it into an expedition?
Can you get to the hospital quickly if you ever need to?
Those aren't the questions people usually ask before moving abroad.
Looking back, we think they're some of the most important ones.
Because choosing where to live isn't really about choosing a home.
It's about choosing the rhythm of your everyday life.