[Grammar] used to/did

[Iryn_]

Hello, everybody!
I thought I knew the difference between these two categories until I had been asked to explain it.

1) She used to have a car.
2) She had a car.

Used to implies that she definitely doesn't have a car now.
But past simple tense also describes some past events or states without continuation to present, doesn't it?
Isn't the meaning of used to have in this case the same as of had ?

 

[bhaisahab]

"She had a car" is only natural as a standalone sentence in certain limited contexts.

 

[Roman55]

'She had a car' tells us that she had a car in the past, but says nothing about the present. She may still have it, or another one, or she may not.

 

[Iryn_]

and then if I want to say that she had a car in the past and still has it now, I should use Perfect tense - ''She has always had a car.'' Correct?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I consider it correct.

 

[Rover_KE]

And then if I want to say that she had a car in the past and still has one now, I should use the present perfect tense - ''She has always had a car.'' Correct?

Yes, but only use 'it' if she's had the same car all along.

Most people would assume that 'She has always had a car' implies '...ever since she passed her driving test', but some would say 'What — even when she was a little girl?'