How much to pay a high schooler to drive my kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year HS senior drove a 30 mile round trip commute this past school year to/from our local community college and HS. He could have easily handled a 4 mile trip to an after school activity a few nights a week.

I guess it depends on the kid. But that would not have been too much responsibility for my son.

That is fine. That is part of learning to drive and being a responsible adult. Appropriate risk vs. reward.

It is not an appropriate risk to the lives of young children to put them into a car with a teenage driver-- the reward of after school activities is too small. It just isn't worth it.

[Anonymous]

Use Uber. Find an Uber driver you like and pay him the same but direct. No way would I use a HS kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 17 year HS senior drove a 30 mile round trip commute this past school year to/from our local community college and HS. He could have easily handled a 4 mile trip to an after school activity a few nights a week.

I guess it depends on the kid. But that would not have been too much responsibility for my son.

That is fine. That is part of learning to drive and being a responsible adult. Appropriate risk vs. reward.

It is not an appropriate risk to the lives of young children to put them into a car with a teenage driver-- the reward of after school activities is too small. It just isn't worth it.

Believe it or not, you don't start safe guarding your child when they become older teenagers. My son wouldn't have been driving if I didn't think he was ready for the responsibility.

Op's child is old enough to want to participate in after school activities and Op's child is old enough to be dropped off in the evening for the activity. My guess is we're talking about a younger teenager (not a young child) who will more than likely be driving herself in the not so distant future. In the meantime, Op is figuring out transportation logistics.

IMO, some HS kids are responsible enough for a duty like this.

[Anonymous]

you don't *stop* safe guarding...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Memories....

When I was a high schooler, I babysat for two little boys from 3 pm to when his mother got home firom work around 6 pm. I remember getting my license, and within weeks, she asked me to drive the boys to McDonalds for dinner because she was working late. I myself was nervous over the responsibility (I was 16) and called my own mother about what to do. MY mother insisted that I did NOT drive those kids anywhere.

Thinking back, I can't believe that mother asked a 16-year-old with a license two weeks old to drive her young children through rush hour traffic.

Ahhh I'm so glad that you didn't drive those kids to McDonalds... Good thing that you asked your mother first and listened to what she said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You sound like my clueless husband.

Dear God people. My daughter is 14 and will be in HS. Presumably she will be riding in cars in cars with high schoolers from time to time anyways. In any event, the age of the driver does not really pertain to the rate of pay. Feel free to substitute college student in place of high schooler if you wish.

Brothers and sisters drive their siblings around all of the time. Around the DMV a teenager can only take someone unrelated after a certain age and amount of driving.
I would check uber/lyft to get a baseline price or go with the $10/each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teenagers won't be driving my children.

This
You sound lazy or cheap.

[Anonymous]

Is this high school driver going to have to wait at practice and then drive your kid home as well? If so, you are talking about 1.5-2 hours three times a week. I'm guessing $75 a week ($25 per trip).

[Anonymous]

I am so impressed with all of you who can sit in judgment of people who would HIRE someone to drive their kid to a practice. You must have some really great lives that you have the ability to come and go from work as you please in the late afternoons.

[Anonymous]

DH has kids from his first marriage. They are about 10 yrs older than the little kids. I taught both of them to drive. Some of our best mornings were Sat practice drives where we went around to yard sales.

The yard sales were just the activity, the real task was learning to drive on residential streets and being comfortable behind the wheel. I was in the passenger seat and the little kids (in car seats) where in the back.

About 6 months after the kids got their licenses, I was comfortable with them driving their siblings around.

All this is to say that everyone has their own level of tolerance. There is no universal right or wrong answer for having a HS student drive young children around.

Now, back to the OPs question--you need someone to drive you daughter to sports practice 3x per week. Is this merely a driving gig or is it a babysitting gig plus driving? Will she need to give your daughter a snack? Will she need to drive her home?

I think you need to consider how much time it will take for the driver to get from their original location, to your home, and then to practice. It's not about the miles, it's about the time it takes. And then you need to make it worthwhile for someone to give up their evenings 3x per week.

[Anonymous]

I pay by the time it takes. Whatever the one way trip is, I double time time and I pay $20 an hour with a minimum of $15 if the trip is s a fractional hour. Pay too low and you lose your driver and/or get unreliable service.

BTW, I've been using HS kids for years and have never had a problem. No way am I putting a little kid in an Uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I pay by the time it takes. Whatever the one way trip is, I double time time and I pay $20 an hour with a minimum of $15 if the trip is s a fractional hour. Pay too low and you lose your driver and/or get unreliable service.

BTW, I've been using HS kids for years and have never had a problem. No way am I putting a little kid in an Uber.

Agree with this. My college age daughter won't uber alone. Presumably you know the teen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am so impressed with all of you who can sit in judgment of people who would HIRE someone to drive their kid to a practice. You must have some really great lives that you have the ability to come and go from work as you please in the late afternoons.

Yes, I chose to make less and to work part time. I chose less money for more spare time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so impressed with all of you who can sit in judgment of people who would HIRE someone to drive their kid to a practice. You must have some really great lives that you have the ability to come and go from work as you please in the late afternoons.

Yes, I chose to make less and to work part time. I chose less money for more spare time.[/quote

How nice that you can afford this. Not everyone can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so impressed with all of you who can sit in judgment of people who would HIRE someone to drive their kid to a practice. You must have some really great lives that you have the ability to come and go from work as you please in the late afternoons.

Yes, I chose to make less and to work part time. I chose less money for more spare time.[/quote

How nice that you can afford this. Not everyone can.

And presumably you have a spouse who carries the insurance. Not an option in my case.