By obtaining a detailed understanding of the car's role in rural households in five case study areas, the possible implications for the social and economic well being of rural communities of fuel taxation and other environmentally based policy instruments can be established. The specific objectives of the research were to investigate the processes which influence household and individual decision-making affecting car ownership and use; to explore mobility and spending patterns related to car ownership and use; to measure the degree of car dependence in rural Scotland by relating car use to existing and potential public transport alternatives, social attributes and reasons for using the car; and to assess policy implications and options for the rest of the decade and beyond in light of the findings of the research. The study used a postal questionnaire, travel diaries, qualitative interviews and focus groups in five contrasting study areas of rural Scotland.