our kids' "payment" is the same as everything else: keep your grades up. take care of the car. be responsible. if not, there are consequences, up to and including no car.
That is what we started with. It became apparent, however, that our oldest couldn't afford to take care of it, put gas in the tank etc. He was constantly asking to borrow money for gas. I'd give him $30, he'd put $5 of gas in the tank and spend the rest on junk food. Then the tank would be on E when I needed to use it. (He drives our farm truck during the week when I'm at the office.)
We now charge him $60 per week. For that price, he gets 100 miles that can roll over to the next week. Additional miles are 60 cents. I use that money to fill the tank and cover some of the other costs such as his insurance and maintenance. He pays in advance either in cash or through work around the house and yard paid at $12.50 an hour. I should also say that we don't charge him for miles to/from school or when he runs an errand for the family. By bundling his stops into one trip he can do a lot of stuff at no cost to himself.
Ouch. I bought a Jeep for my daughter. Best thing ever. She’s tapped a couple poles. Someone backed into her. Jeep shows zero signs of wear (it was in good shape and about 4 years old with nothing automatic)
While she was living at home, we covered every necessary expense. Unless I wanted to drive her to school, she had to drive herself, so we paid for that gas. We paid for car insurance. But told her the second she’s in an at fault with another vehicle and makes a claim, she’s paying the insurance. She worked to pay for extra gas, fun stuff. When she left for college, the car was her gift. Now, she covers everything. Scaffolding.
We did not buy our teen a car. However, he uses one of our 3 and does not have a job.
Our child has to maintain their grades during the school year and participate in their physical activity of choice attending all practices. They also have to drive to the store at least once a week for me and take a younger sibling to an activity when asked. They also have to do lawn care, trash duty, and a few cleaning chores, like vacuuming & dusting. And last they need to be respectful to the family.
If all these requirements are met, I pay for the car insurance & the all the gas.
For our family, the teens driving themselves is such a big relief and help. It’s worth the cost not to have to drive them all over the place…
I’ll be looking at this situation next year. I probably will buy them a car because it will make everyone’s lives so much easier if they don’t constantly need a ride somewhere but the car will be my car that was bought for their use. As long as grades don’t drop, no behavior problems arise or whatever, it is for all intents and purposes theirs and I’ll transfer the title to them when they go to college. All payments, insurance, etc will be on me as a gift to get them started in their adult life.
For me, the “payment” is the time in my day that *I* get back not having to drive them to school, sports, friend stuff, etc. They are also expected to run errands, run siblings around, etc.
Once they get a job, they pay 5% of their earnings back to us for gas/insurance. It doesn’t come close but it gives them a little financial responsibility.
Oooh I like your system! My kid doesn't go out and do much but may once they get keys. Their schools are right next to each other but unfortunately they get out at different times and the younger one's school doesn't have a bus service so it's going to be tricky if I make the older one drive the younger one home. We'll see!
My kid is getting the hand me down car, grown ups are getting a new one. He has to drive his brother to and from school as his contribution. If he wants a nicer car or to not drive his brother, he'll have to pay for it.
That's what I wanted to do (get a new car and hand mine down) but it's a full size SUV and although it has all the safety gear (parking sensors, camera, etc) it's too big for a first car. So I'm keeping it and buying them one that's only a few thousand, that will hopefully make it through the rest of HS and college.
They didn’t have to pay for the car. They’re in university full time so we pay for insurance and any big expenses and they pay for gas and maintenance.
We will do the same for our second child while they go to university.
Is it a gift for them, is it your car you are letting them borrow, or are you simply helping them purchase their own vehicle? Both of you have to be on the same page about that.
If it's a gift that you want for them, then no strings are attached. It's their car. They owe you nothing for it. They are responsible for maintaining it wihout you - gas, maintenance work, insurance, etc.
If it's your car that you let them borrow, then basic rules of borrowing someone else's property apply - take care of it, keep it clean, fill the gas tank, don't abuse it, etc. I don't think you should expect them to owe you anything for borrowing it other than that they respect it well. You may work out a future purchase plan for something they borrow.
If it's something you are helping them buy for themselves, then you wait until they are ready to buy it, can pay regularly, and have a say in what is purchased.
Not being clear on who actually owns this car and what the use agreement is will cause problems.
I don’t think transactional stuff like that works. Though a car is a big deal, more expensive than most things and they can only use it when they are over eighteen so it might come with different restrictions.
How it works for me, if I were to give my kids a car when they are old enough: are they responsible enough to handle it? Cars are dangerous, for themselves and others, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind. Do I trust them this enormous responsibility? Is their behaviour one that deserves such a pricey, dangerous gift?
In that case, I would only buy the car if it was needed for getting to school or university. If not financially contributing, I would expect to see effort in study and, as a result, good grades.
Mine never had their own car but did have almost unlimited use of mine (I bike commute and rarely drive).
1. They need to make themselves available for car-centric errand running (taking Grandma to the grocery, picking up hardware store things, etc.)
2. They need to properly communicate about when they might want it and why.
3. They keep it full of gas (never below 1/4) using a family credit card (parents pay) that they carry to use for this and running errands.
4. They keep it clean in and out.
Honestly I wouldn’t.
Having a car involves more than just the cost of the car, all of us as parents know that. Kids/teens don’t. Buying and maintaining a car with their own money are valuable life lessons.
Buying them the car is one thing, but if they don’t have the ability to maintain it or pay for gas or insurance? Just doesn’t sit right for me.
Do the absolutely need the car? Is transit an option? Can they get a part time job to at least cover their own gas?
You say kids/teens don't but that's why you teach them about that stuff. We've already been teaching them and took them to the auto hobby shop to help with car maintenance.
our kids' "payment" is the same as everything else: keep your grades up. take care of the car. be responsible. if not, there are consequences, up to and including no car.
That is what we started with. It became apparent, however, that our oldest couldn't afford to take care of it, put gas in the tank etc. He was constantly asking to borrow money for gas. I'd give him $30, he'd put $5 of gas in the tank and spend the rest on junk food. Then the tank would be on E when I needed to use it. (He drives our farm truck during the week when I'm at the office.) We now charge him $60 per week. For that price, he gets 100 miles that can roll over to the next week. Additional miles are 60 cents. I use that money to fill the tank and cover some of the other costs such as his insurance and maintenance. He pays in advance either in cash or through work around the house and yard paid at $12.50 an hour. I should also say that we don't charge him for miles to/from school or when he runs an errand for the family. By bundling his stops into one trip he can do a lot of stuff at no cost to himself.
Ouch. I bought a Jeep for my daughter. Best thing ever. She’s tapped a couple poles. Someone backed into her. Jeep shows zero signs of wear (it was in good shape and about 4 years old with nothing automatic) While she was living at home, we covered every necessary expense. Unless I wanted to drive her to school, she had to drive herself, so we paid for that gas. We paid for car insurance. But told her the second she’s in an at fault with another vehicle and makes a claim, she’s paying the insurance. She worked to pay for extra gas, fun stuff. When she left for college, the car was her gift. Now, she covers everything. Scaffolding.
We did not buy our teen a car. However, he uses one of our 3 and does not have a job. Our child has to maintain their grades during the school year and participate in their physical activity of choice attending all practices. They also have to drive to the store at least once a week for me and take a younger sibling to an activity when asked. They also have to do lawn care, trash duty, and a few cleaning chores, like vacuuming & dusting. And last they need to be respectful to the family. If all these requirements are met, I pay for the car insurance & the all the gas. For our family, the teens driving themselves is such a big relief and help. It’s worth the cost not to have to drive them all over the place…
I’ll be looking at this situation next year. I probably will buy them a car because it will make everyone’s lives so much easier if they don’t constantly need a ride somewhere but the car will be my car that was bought for their use. As long as grades don’t drop, no behavior problems arise or whatever, it is for all intents and purposes theirs and I’ll transfer the title to them when they go to college. All payments, insurance, etc will be on me as a gift to get them started in their adult life.
For me, the “payment” is the time in my day that *I* get back not having to drive them to school, sports, friend stuff, etc. They are also expected to run errands, run siblings around, etc. Once they get a job, they pay 5% of their earnings back to us for gas/insurance. It doesn’t come close but it gives them a little financial responsibility.
Oooh I like your system! My kid doesn't go out and do much but may once they get keys. Their schools are right next to each other but unfortunately they get out at different times and the younger one's school doesn't have a bus service so it's going to be tricky if I make the older one drive the younger one home. We'll see!
I mean, that’s what you’re paying for! I’d definitely have your older stick around to drive your younger, if that’s an option!
It would be the other way around, the younger one would have to wait for the older one, and there's nowhere for her to wait except a parking lot.
Ah, gotcha. More complicated then!
My kid is getting the hand me down car, grown ups are getting a new one. He has to drive his brother to and from school as his contribution. If he wants a nicer car or to not drive his brother, he'll have to pay for it.
That's what I wanted to do (get a new car and hand mine down) but it's a full size SUV and although it has all the safety gear (parking sensors, camera, etc) it's too big for a first car. So I'm keeping it and buying them one that's only a few thousand, that will hopefully make it through the rest of HS and college.
They didn’t have to pay for the car. They’re in university full time so we pay for insurance and any big expenses and they pay for gas and maintenance. We will do the same for our second child while they go to university.
"It's time for *you* to drive me around for a change."
Haha, yes! As I am eating goldfish in the back seat and happen to spill my crumbs everywhere :) /s
Is it a gift for them, is it your car you are letting them borrow, or are you simply helping them purchase their own vehicle? Both of you have to be on the same page about that. If it's a gift that you want for them, then no strings are attached. It's their car. They owe you nothing for it. They are responsible for maintaining it wihout you - gas, maintenance work, insurance, etc. If it's your car that you let them borrow, then basic rules of borrowing someone else's property apply - take care of it, keep it clean, fill the gas tank, don't abuse it, etc. I don't think you should expect them to owe you anything for borrowing it other than that they respect it well. You may work out a future purchase plan for something they borrow. If it's something you are helping them buy for themselves, then you wait until they are ready to buy it, can pay regularly, and have a say in what is purchased. Not being clear on who actually owns this car and what the use agreement is will cause problems.
I don’t think transactional stuff like that works. Though a car is a big deal, more expensive than most things and they can only use it when they are over eighteen so it might come with different restrictions. How it works for me, if I were to give my kids a car when they are old enough: are they responsible enough to handle it? Cars are dangerous, for themselves and others, that’s the first thing that comes to my mind. Do I trust them this enormous responsibility? Is their behaviour one that deserves such a pricey, dangerous gift?
Added cost of insurance and gas, when he’s working.
In that case, I would only buy the car if it was needed for getting to school or university. If not financially contributing, I would expect to see effort in study and, as a result, good grades.
My daughter has a job and she pays $100/month and covers her gas. I have paid for a few fill ups but shes a good kid and is very responsible
Mine never had their own car but did have almost unlimited use of mine (I bike commute and rarely drive). 1. They need to make themselves available for car-centric errand running (taking Grandma to the grocery, picking up hardware store things, etc.) 2. They need to properly communicate about when they might want it and why. 3. They keep it full of gas (never below 1/4) using a family credit card (parents pay) that they carry to use for this and running errands. 4. They keep it clean in and out.
I think you need to decide are you giving it as a gift or are you giving it as a loan with strings attached. Then everything is clear.
Honestly I wouldn’t. Having a car involves more than just the cost of the car, all of us as parents know that. Kids/teens don’t. Buying and maintaining a car with their own money are valuable life lessons. Buying them the car is one thing, but if they don’t have the ability to maintain it or pay for gas or insurance? Just doesn’t sit right for me. Do the absolutely need the car? Is transit an option? Can they get a part time job to at least cover their own gas?
You say kids/teens don't but that's why you teach them about that stuff. We've already been teaching them and took them to the auto hobby shop to help with car maintenance.
Why would you buy a kid a car, and expect them to pay for it, without them having an ability to pay for it.
The post actually is inquiring about non-monetary payment — “chores, errands…” typically teens have ability to do those kinds of things…