https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 19 May 2026 09:50:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079487 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:58:50 +0000 chopsuey 1079487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH's already picked out the car he wants to buy DD. (loco!) She'll pay for insurance and gas. Or just gas. I forget.<br /> He says DS has to buy his own car though. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079477 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:56:57 +0000 Pepper 1079477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We would help. It's interesting, because DH and I had very different experiences. He had his car purchased in full... the exact car he wanted. I worked after school and got approved for a car loan with my dad as the cosigner. My parents gave me $1,000 to use as a down payment for graduating. </p> <p>I think we'd help him purchase a good, reliable, safe car. He would need to contribute financially in some way, so that he can take pride in it as something that he helped purchase. Our parents both paid our insurance until we were on our own, so we would do the same. He would be responsible for his insurance if he got a speeding ticket, which would hopefully be an incentive for him to drive safely! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079428 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:47:03 +0000 Pink Champagne 1079428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We plan on buying a good, solid, slightly used car for our kids. We will also pay for insurance. I think gas money should be paid for by them when possible, but if they need their car to get to school then I don't see a problem helping them out with that (although we will expect them to help around the house in return). I want my kids to have an after school job, but I don't want them to have to stress out about putting all of their money towards their car. I would rather have them save their money for books for college or something (or their cell phone- I have no intention of paying for anything other than a very basic phone for emergency use, so if they want a fancy phone and texting, etc they will have to pay for it). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079410 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:43:18 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1079410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. I set aside money each month for her to either use on a car, a trip after high school, or a big sweet 16, or whatever she wants. If her grandparents are all still around, she'll have all 3 with leftovers. But DH is against her getting a new and nice car. He thinks a crappy car will motivate her. I kind of agree. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079382 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:36:13 +0000 artsyfartsy 1079382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: That's what my dad did for me so we will probably do the same. My dad matched me with a loan (since I couldn't get one at 16) that I had to pay back but I still got a nicer car out of the deal.</p> <p>We will probably help pay part of the insurance. It's way high for teens. But baby T is still cooking. I have lots of time to decide! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079364 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:32:15 +0000 lilteacherbee 1079364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I have talked about this because our parents did very different things. My parents bought my car (used, about 4 years old, but in great condition) and did the same for my little sister 3 years later. We were expected to keep our grades up, worked in the summer (parents wanted us to focus on school during the school year), and I drove my sister around when asked. We both never got into any trouble and we always came home by our curfew. We kept our grades up (my sister was valedictorian of her HS class) and everything was fine. My parents were financially able to do this, though.</p> <p>DH's parents didn't make as much money as mine. He started working during the school year at age 15 in his dad's restaurant. His parents "gave" him his moms car when she got a new one,but he was responsible for the payments, as well as insurance and gas. He would often come home from school and work 3-4 days a week until 10pm. We were dating during this time and I saw how it really stressed him out. I think he would have probably been working to help his family even if he didn't have to pay for his car, though.</p> <p>So. We may not be financially able to do it exactly the way my parents did (we won't be making as much as they did), but that's the direction we're leaning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079336 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:25:56 +0000 LovelyPlum 1079336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had use of a car during high school, but we weren't allowed our own cars. And it was very much a privilege thing that could be taken away for bad grades, irresponsible decision making, etc. We also had to run errands/take siblings places, etc. We paid for gas, but my dad paid for insurance. I know that he wanted us to be well-covered. </p> <p>This policy seems fair to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079332 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:25:15 +0000 Rubies 1079332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. If I needed the car, I'd borrow my parents' car and I had strict curfew and rules AND I had to pay my own insurance (to ensure I was safe and responsible). When I started working, I saved enough to lease a new car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079315 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 12:21:38 +0000 HellOnHeels 1079315@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Probably not. Definitely no help with insurance/license costs.</p> <p>Might help in the sense that, depending on where we are with our own vehicles, we would sell them one of our vehicles for a reasonable/cheaper price and buy a new one for ourselves (that's what my grandparents did for me). But I doubt I would help otherwise, besides being a co-signer for a loan. I'm not sure what DH's stance would be, as I'm pretty sure MIL bought him his first vehicle AND motorcycle, or at least helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079209 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:51:07 +0000 PurplePeony 1079209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If they really need a car, yes. However, DH and I currently share one car and it works fine where we live. I imagine we'll have added a second car well before our kids are old enough to drive, so at this point I see no reason why we couldn't all share the family cars. But my parents did buy me my first car (and second, actually) because we lived in the middle of nowhere and it was pretty much a necessity, so if there's a real reason for our kid to have his or her own, I'd want to do the same. My parents also paid the insurance until I graduated from college, with the understanding that if I EVER drank and drove or if I did something intentionally stupid and caused an accident, they would drop me faster than I knew what had happened. I think we'll do the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079197 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 11:45:43 +0000 GrapeCrush 1079197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@locavore_mama: exactly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079094 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:58:38 +0000 BSB 1079094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will match or buy something cheap. Maybe I'll pay for their insurance or maybe I won't.<br /> They will definitely pay for gas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079091 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:57:32 +0000 regberadaisy 1079091@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Freckles: @sarbear: that's what I'm thinking too! If you can't afford insurance or gas. Then it sits in the driveway. haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079088 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:55:45 +0000 GrapeCrush 1079088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure. My parents made us buy our own first car. Or they have us money towards it for our high school graduation gift. I absolutely will not pay for their insurance </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079067 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:49:10 +0000 NorCalWayfarer 1079067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love the matching idea! Gives the kids some accountability. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079040 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:42:36 +0000 Freckles 1079040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're hoping our car will last until she's able to start driving. I'd rather she just borrow our car than have her own.</p> <p>I don't think we'll buy her a car when she's a teen. We'll probably do a matching fund up to a certain amount. No way am i paying for insurance or gas. We live in a central location for a reason. If they want to buy a car when there are other means of getting around (train, bus, bike) then they have to deal with the responsibilities of one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079030 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:37:57 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1079030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends on a lot of factors. Neither of our parents helped us. One thing I will make sure of is the car is used. My first car was brand new and such a waste of money. </p> <p>Some of the factors I will consider: is a car necessary? Will it be used for school, activities, work or just running around with friends. How are my kid's grades, helpfulness around the house? Is my child a good, safe driver? Is my child responsible- takea care of things, meets commitments etc? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079016 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:35:31 +0000 MarieJ 1079016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will do the same as my parents did for me. They bought my car, paid insurance, and gave gas money as long as I kept my grades up. We plan on doing the same for our LO's. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079012 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:34:30 +0000 bunnylove08 1079012@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>nope. We live in the city so the subways are available for her and if she wants a car then she will need to save and pay for it on her own. She may be on our insurance until she has a full time job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079004 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:33:14 +0000 Bookish 1079004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, we will either match what they save, or they will get one of our cars handed down. </p> <p>We will also have the same sort of policy that @AmandaB8: is talking about. There will be a code of conduct to go along with it. If behavior/grades slip, poof goes the car! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1079002 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:32:38 +0000 Dandelion 1079002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure that DH will want to buy our kids cars. We'll use it as a privilege thing, too, so that it can be taken away. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1078999 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:31:18 +0000 AmandaB8 1078999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd like to do what my parents did - they bought the car, but I was expected to be home by X time, have a job, have good grades, and drive my siblings when necessary. </p> <p>They did the same for my brother, and when his grades slipped, he was responsible for his insurance and gas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1078891 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:06:18 +0000 loveisstrange 1078891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would match or I will buy them something (cheap but reliable) for HS graduation, which is what my parents did for me.</p> <p>DHs dad went in half on his first car. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1078886 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:04:32 +0000 mrs. bird 1078886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yes. if i can do something to keep them safer when traveling at 70mph, i will. i would rather them drive than trust that their friends are good drivers, and i want them in a safe car. i will expect them to contribute in though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/will-you-help-your-teen-buy-their-first-car#post-1078815 Wed, 11 Sep 2013 10:00:00 +0000 regberadaisy 1078815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we're going with a matching policy. We'll match whatever they come up with! :)</p> <p>ETA: will you pay for insurance? </p>