Capital One Study Examines Link Between Vehicle Access and Economic Opportunity
Access to reliable transportation can influence many aspects of everyday life, from getting to work and attending medical appointments to managing family responsibilities and pursuing new career opportunities. New research from Capital One Auto examines how consumers perceive the relationship between vehicle access and broader economic and household stability, highlighting the challenges faced by people who do not have consistent access to a vehicle.
The Capital One 2026 Mobility Access Study surveyed 2,831 adults across the United States and examined the experiences of consumers across three vehicle-access categories: Car-Secure, Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful. The research focused on the connections between transportation access and several areas of daily life, including earning potential, career progression, healthcare access, family responsibilities and financial confidence.
One of the study’s central findings is that respondents without consistent vehicle access believe transportation can have a significant effect on their ability to pursue economic opportunities. Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful respondents estimated that gaining consistent vehicle access could support approximately $21,000 in additional annual earning potential, based on expanded job-search opportunities and greater flexibility around work schedules.
The research also found substantial demand for more information during the vehicle-buying process. Approximately 70% of consumers surveyed said they want additional guidance to help them navigate today’s automotive market.
Vehicle Access and Financial Stability
The survey highlights a relationship between vehicle access and consumers’ perceptions of their financial circumstances. Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful respondents were approximately twice as likely as Car-Secure respondents to describe their current financial situation as unstable.
According to the study, 58% of Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful respondents characterized their financial circumstances as unstable, compared with 28% of Car-Secure respondents.
While the survey does not establish that vehicle ownership directly causes changes in household financial conditions, the responses demonstrate how consumers themselves connect transportation availability with their ability to pursue work and manage everyday expenses.
For people who rely on limited transportation options, employment opportunities may be constrained by location, commuting times or work schedules. A person may have difficulty considering a position that requires an early morning start, late-night shift or commute to an area that is not easily accessible through available public transportation.
The study’s estimate of approximately $21,000 in additional annual earning potential reflects respondents’ perceptions of how consistent vehicle access could expand those possibilities.
Transportation and Career Opportunities
The relationship between transportation and employment also appears in the survey’s findings on career progression.
Car-Secure working adults reported receiving pay raises at approximately twice the rate of Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful workers during the previous 12 months. They also reported promotions at about 1.5 times the rate of respondents in the other two categories.
Again, these findings describe a correlation observed within the survey rather than establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship between vehicle access and career advancement.
Transportation reliability can nevertheless be an important consideration for workers whose jobs require regular attendance at a specific physical location. The survey found that Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful respondents were five times more likely to report being unable to get to work because of transportation problems compared with Car-Secure respondents.
For workers managing hourly schedules, multiple jobs or variable shifts, transportation disruptions can create additional challenges. Even occasional difficulties reaching the workplace can affect scheduling, attendance and the ability to accept opportunities that require greater geographic or time flexibility.
Healthcare Access Is Also Connected to Mobility
The study extends its analysis beyond employment and income to healthcare access.
Approximately 37% of Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful respondents said they had missed or delayed an important healthcare appointment for themselves or a family member because of transportation barriers.
Access to transportation can affect not only whether a person reaches an appointment but also the range of providers they can realistically consider. Among Car-Secure respondents, 39% said having a vehicle allows them to choose higher-quality healthcare rather than simply selecting the closest available option.
Another 41% reported that vehicle access gives them a broader choice of medical providers.
These findings point to the geographic dimension of healthcare access. When transportation options are limited, patients may have fewer practical choices when selecting physicians, specialists or healthcare facilities. Reliable transportation can expand the area within which a household can realistically seek services.
Family Transportation and Household Stress
Transportation responsibilities can also affect families with children.
The survey found that 26% of Car-Limited and Car-Hopeful parents described coordinating transportation for their children as a significant and recurring source of emotional stress.
For families, transportation can involve much more than commuting to work. Parents may need to coordinate school schedules, childcare, medical appointments, extracurricular activities, sports and other commitments. When transportation options are limited, these responsibilities can require additional planning and create conflicts between different household schedules.
The study also found that 38% of Car-Hopeful parents believe obtaining a vehicle would allow their children to participate in extracurricular activities or sports.
This suggests that respondents view vehicle access as potentially affecting children’s participation in activities outside the classroom as well as the family’s daily routine.
Consumers Express Uncertainty About Vehicle Affordability
While transportation access can be important to consumers, purchasing a vehicle can itself present financial and informational challenges.
The study found that 58% of Car-Hopeful respondents were not confident in their ability to afford a vehicle in the current market. In addition, 24% said they would not know where to begin the vehicle-buying process.
These responses illustrate the complexity that consumers may experience when evaluating a major household purchase.
The cost of acquiring a vehicle extends beyond the advertised purchase price. Buyers may also need to consider financing, insurance, fuel, maintenance, registration and other ownership expenses. Understanding these costs before visiting a dealership can help consumers develop a more complete picture of the financial commitment involved.
The survey therefore identifies several areas where consumers say additional educational support could be useful.
Consumers Want More Guidance Before Visiting Dealerships
Among Car-Hopeful prospective buyers, 35% prioritized pre-dealership question checklists, while 33% identified upfront financing pre-qualification as a desired resource.
Other requested forms of assistance included step-by-step buying guides, cited by 25% of respondents, pricing-clarity strategies at 24%, and plain-language explanations of financing at 24%.
These preferences point to a desire for greater predictability before entering the vehicle-buying process.
For consumers unfamiliar with automotive financing, terms such as annual percentage rate, loan term, down payment, trade-in value and monthly payment can make the purchasing process difficult to evaluate. Educational resources that explain these concepts in straightforward language may help prospective buyers prepare questions and understand the financial considerations involved.
Capital One Highlights Consumer Preparation
Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One, said reliable transportation can serve as an important connection between individuals and opportunities involving employment, family health and overall well-being.
“When people lack reliable transportation, geographic boundaries can quickly become economic boundaries,” Yajnik said. He also emphasized the role of clear and accessible information in helping consumers make major household financial decisions.
The company’s research places particular emphasis on preparation before consumers arrive at a dealership. Rather than focusing exclusively on the transaction itself, Capital One says consumers can benefit from understanding their household budget, financing considerations and anticipated ownership expenses in advance.
Yajnik said that while educational resources cannot change vehicle prices or interest rates, preparation can help prospective buyers better understand their financial position before beginning the purchasing process.
Capital One Introduces Car Buying Roadmap
To support consumers through the vehicle-purchasing process, Capital One offers its Car Buying Roadmap, a free educational resource designed to provide information and guidance throughout the car-buying journey.
The interactive resource includes budgeting exercises intended to help prospective buyers estimate the financial requirements associated with vehicle ownership. Those considerations include potential expenses such as fuel, insurance and routine maintenance.
The goal is to encourage consumers to consider the broader costs associated with owning a vehicle rather than focusing exclusively on the purchase price or monthly loan payment.
For consumers who are uncertain about whether they can afford a vehicle, this type of preparation can provide a framework for reviewing household finances and identifying expenses that may need to be included in an overall ownership budget.
Mobility as Part of Household Financial Planning
The Capital One study places transportation within a broader discussion about economic and household mobility. The findings suggest that consumers without consistent vehicle access frequently view transportation as connected to their ability to pursue employment, maintain healthcare access and manage family obligations.
At the same time, the survey illustrates that acquiring a vehicle can represent a significant financial decision, particularly for households already experiencing financial uncertainty.
This creates a complex relationship between mobility and affordability. Consumers may see reliable transportation as a way to expand their access to opportunities, while also facing questions about whether they can comfortably manage the costs associated with vehicle ownership.
The research therefore emphasizes preparation and access to information as important elements of the purchasing process.
The Broader Automotive Consumer Landscape
The findings come as consumers continue to navigate a vehicle market where purchasing decisions involve multiple financial considerations. For prospective buyers, understanding the total cost of ownership can be as important as identifying a vehicle that meets their transportation needs.
Consumers may need to compare financing options, assess insurance costs, estimate fuel consumption and anticipate maintenance expenses. They may also need to consider how a vehicle fits into their broader household budget.
For people who currently have limited access to transportation, these decisions can carry additional significance because vehicle availability may influence where they can work, which healthcare providers they can reach and how easily they can manage family responsibilities.
Capital One’s research does not establish that vehicle access alone determines economic outcomes. Instead, it captures how consumers across different levels of vehicle access describe the relationship between transportation and their everyday lives.
Preparing Consumers for the Vehicle-Buying Process
The study’s findings ultimately highlight two connected issues: the importance consumers place on mobility and the uncertainty some experience when attempting to obtain a vehicle.
The approximately $21,000 self-reported estimate of additional annual earning potential among consumers lacking consistent vehicle access illustrates the perceived economic value of improved mobility. Meanwhile, the demand for financing information, buying checklists, pricing guidance and budgeting resources demonstrates that prospective buyers are also seeking greater clarity about the costs involved.
As consumers consider their next vehicle purchase, resources that explain the buying process and ongoing ownership expenses can provide useful preparation. For dealerships, lenders and other automotive industry participants, the findings also highlight the importance of transparent communication throughout the customer journey.
The Capital One 2026 Mobility Access Study provides a snapshot of how U.S. adults perceive the connection between transportation and economic opportunity. Its findings show that vehicle access is viewed by many respondents as extending beyond personal convenience, touching employment, healthcare, family responsibilities and household stability.
For consumers considering vehicle ownership, understanding both the potential benefits of reliable mobility and the full financial commitment of owning a vehicle remains an important part of the decision-making process.
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