Is giving a teen a car a privilege or so common that it’s not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am in the Midwest. Many, many kids have their own car at 16
Most are used cars. dS best friend just got a 2001 Honda Civic. Other parents give them their 10 year old cars and upgrade.

When the parents work, the kids need cars to get back and forth to school, sports, jobs.

Are you people chauffeuring your kids everywhere?

Sometimes and sometimes they take the bus - it’s free for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am in the Midwest. Many, many kids have their own car at 16
Most are used cars. dS best friend just got a 2001 Honda Civic. Other parents give them their 10 year old cars and upgrade.

When the parents work, the kids need cars to get back and forth to school, sports, jobs.

Are you people chauffeuring your kids everywhere?

Sometimes and sometimes they take the bus - it’s free for students.

No buses where we live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in the suburbs growing up, and even though we weren’t particularly wealthy, most kids at least got a beater car so parents didn’t have to drive them to sports and jobs and school.

We live in a more urban area now, and I think it’s less common here because kids can get most places without driving. Lots of HS kids don’t even get their licenses when they turn 16.

+1

We were not wealthy (not even close) or spoiled. But my parents would get beater cars at the used car dealer for $1k-1500 for us to get to activities. My brother and sister and I shared one at times.

We have a 10-year old Honda my kid will most likely use.

[Anonymous]

If I want my teens to have a job they need a car. If I don't want to be their Uber for sports they need a car. So yes, they have a car.

It's more a privilege for me than them... now I can get home from work early, walk the dog, leisurely make dinner, go to yoga... it's awesome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, its not normal. If your kids expect it, then yes, they are entitled and you are rich.

I got a car in graduate school as i had a required internship.

Mine will get our old car if its still running when they start driving. Otherwise, they use ours.

Do your kids know and expect that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS got his license in November. We “gave” him my old car (2012 CRV) and I got a new one for myself. Quotations around gave because really it’s ours and he is just allowed to use it. This — or buying a 7-10 year old used sedan — seems to be a pretty common path in our MC bordering on UMC area. But public transportation is very limited, walking to practice etc. just isn’t realistic, and I think it’s more for the parents than the kids than anything. It’s nice not having to cart kids around. *shrug*

This is our plan in 3 years (same 2012 CRV, too). But, lately my spouse has been having qualms about our DD driving a car without all the safety features that have debuted since 2020. I replied that the solution is very simply - we can afford one new car. If you want that to be our DD's, and you continue to drive the CRV, that's fine with me.

FWIW, I split the cost of my first car ($2100) with my parents - I'd saved up since I was 14 for it. A Datsun 210 (not Nissan, Datsun). I used to say the car was missing 70 - anyone know what that means?

[Anonymous]

We live in DC where the kids can hop on Metro rail or bus for free. I was just telling my friends in NC how happy I am to not have to worry about this issue. At my high school in Texas we lost 5 kids by my senior year due to either drunk driving or just plain stupid driving by teens.

[Anonymous]

We bought our DS an inexpensive used car. He is responsible for all expenses: insurance, gas, etc.

[Anonymous]

In our family, it was a privilege, but a necessary one. We made this position clear in all conversations and expectations about driving. We got my kid a used car when they were around 16. We cover all costs related to it, but DC pays for gas. They know that it's our car in name and that they can lose the privilege of having it to themselves at any time.

Honestly, though, it's kind of been a privilege for us parents, too! Not having to drive them around everywhere in high school was amazing. They're now in college, and not having to pick them up for breaks is also great. We've talked about allowing our DC to buy the car off of us for a negotiated price when they graduate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In our family, it was a privilege, but a necessary one. We made this position clear in all conversations and expectations about driving. We got my kid a used car when they were around 16. We cover all costs related to it, but DC pays for gas. They know that it's our car in name and that they can lose the privilege of having it to themselves at any time.

Honestly, though, it's kind of been a privilege for us parents, too! Not having to drive them around everywhere in high school was amazing. They're now in college, and not having to pick them up for breaks is also great. We've talked about allowing our DC to buy the car off of us for a negotiated price when they graduate.

If its their car why would you sell it to them at graduation? Just sign it over as a graduation gift if you cannot just give it to them without anything in return.

[Anonymous]

Ridiculously common in our current demographic, dmv suburban, private school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are definitely not rich by dcum standards. All five of our kids got cars the summer before their junior years in high school. We bought them inexpensive, older used cars. It made my life easier for sure! Why would I choose to haul around my teens when they can drive themselves. It’s also a big step in maturity and independence. My kids drove to school every day their junior and senior years. I would not want to send an inexperienced driver off to college.

I don't see why it would matter. Many colleges (including the ones my kids looked at/attended) did not "allow" freshmen to bring cars. Most colleges (at least the ones my kids looked at/attended) offered walkable campuses and great transportation to off campus stores/places. There's no need for students at many colleges to drive at all.