travel by car vs travel in car

Both "travel by car" and "travel in car" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Travel by car" is the more common and idiomatic phrase, indicating the mode of transportation. On the other hand, "travel in car" can be used when referring to the experience or situation of being inside a car.

Last updated: March 31, 2024

travel by car

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate the mode of transportation.

This phrase is used to indicate that the mode of transportation for the travel is a car. It is a common and idiomatic way to express this idea.

Examples:

I prefer to travel by car for long distances.
We decided to travel by car to explore the countryside.
Traveling by car allows us to stop wherever we want.
She enjoys the freedom of traveling by car.
They always travel by car when visiting relatives.

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Nowadays many people travel by car.
My friends wanted to travel by car, so...
Now we fly to Frankfurt or Zurich direct and then travel by car for three hours.
It is not so far from Luxembourg and they can travel by car without any problem.
The location of their workplace and the lack of alternative modes of transport means that many people are now condemned to travel by car.
Thousands of British holidaymakers travel by car or hire cars every year in France, Spain, Portugal and many other countries in Europe.
Belarussians travel by car to Poland, that is, to the European Union, in order to find jobs and return to Belarus.
Those living in rural areas will be particularly affected, owing to the lack of a wide choice of public transport which means they are often forced to travel by car.
travel by car: reimbursed on the basis of the equivalent first class rail fare.
Rail travel is an essential means of public transport and has the potential to have a major impact in relation to cutting carbon emissions and pollutants from travel by car or by air.
Economy and society, in general, largely depend on the efficiency of road transport since 44% of the goods are carried by trucks and 85% of the people travel by car, bus or coach.
Travel by car is authorised if cost-effective compared to travel by air or rail, particularly where the car is shared by a number of participants.
Does he normally travel by car?
On top of this, it is not environmentally friendly as travel by car is being encouraged because it is too expensive to take the train.
I should like to see the Member who imagines that he or she could travel by car in Finland at the moment using summer-quality diesel fuel.
At its inception, public transport by road and rail served a relatively small and affluent clientele - people who later would mostly opt to travel by car.
Travel by car for professional reasons
in the event of travel by car: EUR 0,49/km, plus the cost of any ferry crossing, or similar transport, required...
He also asks why the Commission interferes in the UK's duty-raising processes, when it is apparent to all who travel by car within the Union that the duty differs from country to country in the same way that VAT rates do.
I myself travel by car a very great deal, as my electoral district is a large one, and I am also obliged to be always driving to Brussels and Strasbourg.

Alternatives:

drive a car
take a car
go by car
ride in a car
use a car for travel

travel in car

This phrase is correct but less common in English. It is used to refer to the experience of being inside a car during travel.

This phrase is used when referring to the experience or situation of being inside a car during travel. It is less common than "travel by car" but can be used in specific contexts.