Cars are expensive. Albertans are coping by fixing old ones, importing used ones and buying e-bikes

The cost of just about everything is up these days, but vehicles — both new and used — are selling at prices that would have been considered absurd a few years ago.

There's been all sorts of news about the reasons behind this, which include supply chain issues, microchip shortages and pent-up demand.

But where does all this leave the average person? Especially the average person in Alberta?

Prices are higher here than in any other province, according to a recent report. So how are folks coping?

Some are putting off car purchases as long as they can, opting instead to sink big money into repairing the older vehicles they already own. Others are looking overseas, importing right-hand-drive vehicles from countries like Japan. Others, still, are simply downsizing from two vehicles to one. Or one to none. And the recent growth in other options — like electric bicycles — has made that transition easier.

If it's been a few years since you've had to buy a car, you might not have realized just what it's like out there these days. If you've made a recent purchase, you likely know the struggle.

The average new vehicle in Alberta sold for $70,771 in September, according to the AutoTrader Q3 Price Index, which was up more than 15 per cent year-over-year.

Used vehicles, meanwhile, averaged $42,051, up more than three per cent.

At the same time, the number of registered vehicles in the province has declined — even while the number of licensed drivers has grown.

In both Edmonton and Calgary, there are now fewer vehicles than drivers, which is a relatively new development for both cities.

This downward trend began before the pandemic and all the supply-chain issues, but the recent price surge has likely played a role, as well.

Even outside the major cities, the number of vehicles per driver has dipped in the past couple of years.

Numerous Albertans who spoke with CBC News over the past week say the sheer cost of vehicles has prompted them to think twice about buying additional vehicles — or getting rid of the ones they already have.

Others are simply trying to hold on to the ones of they've got until the market changes.