At 16, kids do not need that level of independence (a car at their disposal 24/7). I enjoyed the leverage with my teens when they had to request to use a car on Friday night. It keeps them humble. In time, I bought my kids a used car.

I went to private schools (graduated in the 1990s). I would guess around 1/3 of the junior/senior classes had cars. Some had fancy new cars, most were hand me downs.

I don't know what the national statistics are and certainly there must be variations from district to district and school to school but I'd be surprised if the majority of students over 16 had their own cars. Many, but not most.

I'm not planning on giving my kids cars when they're still at school.

Wait, isn’t this normal? A rite of passage? I’m not talking about a new BMW (which happened often in my HS), but an old beater, a pick up, a used car w/ some miles on it...High school lots are filled w/ student cars so obviously it’s the norm.

My DCs will get hand me down cars to use. At this point, the first one will be a 16 year old civic if that car makes it until oldest dc is of driving age. It’s also a manual transmission so DC will be the only person driving it (no friends). Thanks

Anonymous wrote:Parents are stupid to give their teens a car.

+1

They really aren't doing them any favors but they are too stupid to see that.

Ridiculously indulgent

my kids did not expect it, but we did it

My kid will get to drive my car. And I’m getting a new one. I grew up lower income but my parents started making money when I hit my teens. We we were never high income. But they did the same thing. Their logic was they trusted me to drive, but not necessarily my friends. It also relieved my mom from all the chauffeuring for school activities.

If my kid were in private, and getting him a car meant I could stop driving him to school, I’d get him a car.

I don’t think it’s a good idea as it’s a good area for leverage when they are that age. Like you have to keep a certain GPA, or if you get drunk you lose driving privileges for awhile, etc

Parents are stupid to give their teens a car.

Anonymous wrote:In private school, I think you have to expect that the students have certain things - this is one of them. If my kids were in private, I wouldn't complain.

What does your last sentence mean?

No. It probably helps that my oldest is 20 and bought his own car so the rest of them believe us when we say that they need to earn their own car. We’re not opposed to helping some and sharing our cars. But if they want a car to use whenever they want they need to get a job and make it happen themselves.

In private school, I think you have to expect that the students have certain things - this is one of them. If my kids were in private, I wouldn't complain.

I’m flabbergasted how many teens assume they’ll get a car that is theirs when the get their licenses. Is this as common as my kids say it is? Private school FWIW.