How should responsibility for a teen’s car be shared?
If children put their sweat and tears into buying their own vehicle, they appreciate it more. My daughter already has enough, and my 16-year-old has $3,300 saved toward his car.
Genma
We cover the monthly lease payment, but she must pay all her own gas and basic maintenance. If she goes over the mileage, she has to pay for whatever overage is incurred at the end of the lease.
Torin, Woodland Hills, CA, stepfather of a girl, 16
Is your teen driving an older car? Are these really the safest choices for teens, who are already in a high-risk driving group? For more information, read some information from SADD/Liberty Mutual on the topic.
From the Expert
Families need to establish a clear win-win agreement about driving early on. For parents, winning might mean the teen must drive safely to keep insurance rates down and help run errands with the car. For the teen, it might mean a designated night to use the car. If a teen buys his or her own vehicle, the agreement could include parents paying insurance provided the teen pays for gas and gets good grades. The issue of driving provides a big chance for teens to step out and be independent.
Sean Covey, author of The 6 Most Important Decisions You'll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
YUNFENG CHANG, HOUSTON, TX 11/03/07
Professional driving school vs parent:
I believe I appreciate the value of the driving school, it has the resources to deal with young drivers. The students are treated professionally.
My question is do the students get the "down-to-earth" experience shared by driving school instructors?
A bad habit can be very difficult to correct. The "My Instructor Does Not See that as a Problem" - or "How can you be better than a driving school instructor?"
Please weigh the pros and cons.
Thank you
Read more comments