Fear of cars (motorphobia)

Motorphobia is a fear of cars and other motor vehicles. It might mean fear of being a passenger, of driving, or of being near busy traffic. Some people develop it after a crash or a near miss, while others cannot point to a clear cause.

About this phobia

The term is built from motor, from the Latin for mover, and phobia. It is rarely used clinically, where fear of driving or of travelling by car is usually described in plain terms. It overlaps with amaxophobia, a fear of riding in vehicles.

What it feels like

• Gripping the seat or door handle as a passenger
• Planning routes to avoid motorways or busy roads
• Tension at the sound of engines or horns

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Can a fear of cars start after an accident?

It can. Many people notice anxiety about cars after a crash, even a minor one. If it began after an accident and memories of it keep coming back, a GP is a sensible place to start.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

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