No - not everyone....but if you live in upscale area and are surrounded by folks making over $250K/year it will sure seem like it though.

That being said...it's not just about getting your kid a car...insurance premiums alone for full coverage runs about $1500/6 months. Which is why many folks get their kids first car (especially for 16 yr old new driver) at under $5K and just do liability which is then only around $400/6 months. Basically a "throw away" car.

Also, only a parent knows if their child is truly ready for the responsibility of driving a car.

Here's our situation....we have twins who actually were in no rush to get driver's license back when they were 15/16. Partly because they knew they would not get a car anyways because we barely are able to pay for twins in college at same time (we are a donut hole family).

Twin A got his full license at 17...proceeded to borrow family car to drive to practices which only happened in evenings when I was back from work. We are able to make it work with him using my car even now after he's turned 18 and starts college in fall. Twin B got her full license at 18 and actually has enough of her own money saved to buy her own car around $3-5K. She is more responsible overall and therefore we are considering letting her buy a car. Mainly because with COVID she will be back from college at Thanksgiving and not returning until end January. Having a 3rd car will allow her more freedom to work during that time.

Yes, of course if by buy a car you mean a used 7-10 year old Civic or Golf. They need to independently go to work and sports/activities.

We matched whatever our kids saved. It allowed them to get a decent, safe car while still having to work for it

My friends all got their kids cars. The parents work and the kids needed to get to sports and work.

I would totally get my senior a car. But he is disabled and can't drive.