New Drivers & Cars

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
New Drivers & Cars
17
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 3:56pm
What's your take on supplying a freshly minted 16 yr old driver with their own vehicle?
As you might tell, I have issues with this. It's not the cost so much as the concept.
Any ideas? I'm all ears....

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2006
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 11:18am

With my son, Kelan, we gave him a used car. Every month we would pay for the first tank of gas and when he ran out he had to pay for it. Also, we payed for the insurance. He followed the driving rules that are given by the state, but if his grades dropped or he got in trouble, his privilages were taken away.

Natalie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-1999
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 11:22am

Your ins. is exactly the opposite of the way it is here in MA. When DD first got her license, she could be listed as an occasional driver on my car (it didn't matter what car she was listed on) and it cost about $1000 extra. After she got her own car, which was a 10 yr. old Honda Civic that my mother gave her, since it was in her name, she became a primary driver, and the ins. jumped to over $2000.

I guess I would look at the reasons for getting your child his/her own car. I wouldn't get one just because the kid is 16 and got a license. First I would make sure he is a careful driver and had enough experience. When my DD got her permit, I would let her drive as often as possible, home from school, going out, etc. Then when she finally got her license, it was in Nov. Luckily we didn't have that much snow, but she was really limited as to where she could drive. It was usually to a friend's house or to the school for a game, etc. Also, the 1st 6 mos. she was not allowed by law to have any friends in the car, which I know she probably didn't totally obey, but I never did catch her driving or I would have had to take away some privileges. Anyway, it was around March when my mom gave her the car.

It has turned out to be really convenient for us that she has the car. She could have taken the bus to school and the bus stop is about 2 houses down from ours, so she didn't really need it for school. However, if they have to stay after, there is one late bus and if you miss that, you're out of luck. When she was on the track team (and under 16) they had practice every day after school and it was a real pain. I did a car pool w/ some other parents, but I work at least 40 mins. from the school and I would have to leave early to get there to pick her up. This summer, she had knee surgery and now she can drive herself to physical therapy and make the appts. right after school. She can also drive herself and little brother to visit their father, which is another place I don't have to go to pick her up.

She is also a very social person who seemed to be going out every day in the summer. She also had a job, but the store is only about a mile from the house. My DH really didn't like her borrowing my car, even if we weren't using it. He was kind of a pain about it. Now since it's her car and she is paying for the gas & ins., he really has no say. So that is one less source of stress for us too. Now his DD has her permit and could get her license in Dec. so we'll see what will happen. He hasn't let her drive as much, so we'll see if he will let her drive his car. He has never let my DD drive his car, which is only an old Toyota Camry. BTW, my DD hasn't had any accidents or tickets yet.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 12:27pm

Going through the same thing here, daddioe. Except I have a ds with ADD and LD, and he will be 17 before he gets his driver's license, if he passes, in a couple of weeks. So I have alot more to be worried about than you do if that helps!

The reason he will get his own vehicle has to do with getting both he and dd14 to h.s. and back every day. They will no longer need to get a ride home with either my sister (in her totally un-cool soccer mom Volvo stationwagon) or worse yet, grandma. But most importantly, ds shares with me that many of his friends smoke and drink. He would like to be able to hang out and then leave at his own discretion when the bad behaviour starts. He has a curfew of 11:30 (which will probably become 12:00 when he turns 17). It will be nice for us not to have to go out and pick him up at that time, as he doesn't always have a ride (at least one of his friends has just lost their driving privileges due to drinking, lovely, I know). If it wasn't for the fact that both dh and I commute to work, he could use one of our cars. He will probably get a vehicle of some type - we are arguing right now about what kind. He wants a gas guzzling "earth destroyer" type of truck and I have 'issues' with that. He only has $3,000 to work with, and he will need to get a job to help us with what I assume will be astronomical insurance.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-03-2004
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 12:59pm
DD has her own vehicle and we actually got it for her before she had her license. Right after she got her permit she had been using my car to learn and she stepped on the gas instead of the brake and drove into our house while pulling into the driveway. It was a minor accident but it caused $1,200 worth of damage to my car that I had to do without while it was getting fixed. DH and I then decided that we needed another vehicle for her to learn on and become familiar with while we were still driving with her and that she would continue driving after she got her license. Knowing how a car handles and where all the controls are located is very important to avoid accidents because teens can lose focus easily as we all know. We did not feel comfortable waiting until after she got her license because we wanted to makes sure that we had plenty of driving time with her in that particular vehicle. So DH and I made an agreement with DD that she would pay for 1/2 of the car and that Dad had veto power on any car she wanted because safety was a priority. She has a job and also a savings acct that enabled her to get the money together. She also pays for 1/2 of her insurance. We drove with her in her car for 5 months before she got her license so when it came time for her to go off on her own for the first time we felt a bit more reassured. Despite the rocky start she had she has proven to be a decent, responsible driver - must be the prayers I say every time she leaves the house...lol.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 1:32pm

Every child's abilities are different. We did buy a used car for our 17 year old so that she could go to/from school, work, activities. No, we didn't buy her her dream car (Grand Am) because it was a gas guzzler (which she actually thanked us for that piece of advice later as she has to pay for the gas). She has to take care of the car, upkeep, etc. and put gas into it. No, gas, no car. It's as simple as that.

So far it's been fantastic as we're all able to go to/from our destinations...on time. No more waiting for the others. Also, she's able to leave a "situation" if she finds herself uncomfortable and doesn't have to rely on the plans and opinions of the driver she's borrowed a ride from. She has the control. Also, our town does not permit anyone under 17 to be driving past 11:00 pm.

Again, fortunately, no accidents or tickets yet. I think she's so relieved to have her own car that she'll do anything to maintain that. Our only restriction is that she can only have one other passenger in the car with her until she's 18. She's not a bus service for her friends.

The insurance cost was probably as much with her as a secondary driver as it is having her own car. You can opt not to get collision if the car's really old. That will save you some money. Naturally, the older they get (without tickets, etc.) the premium should come down. When our kids are finished with school (college in our case), they'll handle they're own insurance. For now, we try to help. As long as they pay for gas, upkeep and don't acquire any tickets or accidents. We told them, once that happens, they'll be asked to help (a lot) with the insurance premiums.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 1:45pm

Wow, I do remember you posting all about this in August. First of all, thank GOD your dd is okay. What an ordeal. And now, at least are you feeling better that you did not give her the new car? Thanks too, for the advice, I think I will do the same with ds.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2004
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 4:55pm
Thank you all for the insights. Your ideas are all very helpful to me.
I think an inexpensive but safe car is in order soon with permission for limited use (at least to start). Fortunately, work and activities are only 5 to 10 miles away.
Admittedly, I will be a basket case.
This is a major step for her.. and for me as well.
I sound like an old fool, but it's somewhat a feeling of loss.
DD won't need me nearly as much anymore. But that's what raising a teenager is all about isn't it...

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