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Is Your Teen Qualified to Own a Car?
By Mother | June 25, 2008
Car ownership is a big thing - especially for teens! Not only is your teen going to be responsible for the car but also for the lives of each one in the car and all that comes around the car while it is in motion. Just because your teen has a driver’s licence doesn’t guarantee that he is ready for his very own car. Below are some things to take into account when deciding if your teen is indeed ready for car ownership:
FINANCES - Know that understanding the finances can be invaluable when owning a car. It would be great if your teen tries to earn a good chunk of money that will go towards the purchase of his car. He also has to be aware that he will be spending for gas, maintenance and repairs and most importantly insurance - all with his own money. As a parent though, you must stress that even if he needs to work in order to pay for his car and the expenses that come with it - he still needs to keep good grades in school. He will need to learn how to balance work and school so that he can earn while doing well in his studies.
PASS THE PARENT TEST - Yes, your teen passed the local driving test but, it is necessary that they pass the parent test too. Your teen should know the legal rules and must know defensive driving tactics and learn to identify questionable situations before they occur.
RESPECT - This is a biggie. Your teen must know how to respect parents, other adults and most importantly - authority. Attitude is something they need to control while on the road. If your teenager practices respect and has a mild temper then he may be ready to have his own vehicle and you can give them your parent’s seal of approval.
TEST IT OUT - Allow your teen to drive your car for a few days - just long enough for the novelty of driving to wear off. After, you can see how he is going to treat his own car if you ever feel that he is ready for his very own.
PRACTICE - Let your teen have lots of practice time behind the wheel with you or another adult before they drive solo. They may need to experience various driving situations. Take your teen on a road trip, literally - on the interstate and city traffic. Allow him to experience different driving situations a bit at a time and you will both see his confidence behind the wheel grow and improve.
Allowing your teen to own a car is like giving him a weapon that weighs over a ton and that goes 70 miles an hour. It will be an exciting adventure but at the same time can be dangerous and scary. Make sure that your teen is aware of the severity of the situation and is willing to take financial responsibility and is going to respect the rules and authority that govern the road.
Topics: General ChitChat |
June 26th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Excellent ideas! I especially like the ‘passing the parent test’. I felt the DMV was WAY too easy on my daughters, and they weren’t ready to drive on their own. Each girl had to wait approx. a year before I was satisfied with her driving skills.