You define the meaning of "car free" and not someone else, it's hardly a phrase with a strict definition. If/when you use a motor vehicle enough that your conscious bothers you then change what you call yourself. If you own a car but don't drive it, you can still be car free. You just own a very large and expensive yard planter.
...I've put about 50 miles on the car since I bought it 6 years ago, but 40 of that was driving it home from where I bought it. Later that week, I lost my job and my wife asked me for a divorce...
I've had really bad weeks before, but that takes the cake!