Recognizing that transport policies have not fully succeeded in bringing about a modal shift, this paper offers an analysis of the relationship between the individual and the automobile system based on the notion of “know-how”. A scientific literature review illustrates how “know-how” is an appropriate concept to analyze daily periurban mobility in a context of a need for sustainability. Then through a qualitative survey, the role of cognitive processes involved in car mobility is analyzed, and a classification of the information and actions of individuals is offered, and the modal shift issue is discussed.