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Obligated? I don't think so. But if they're a good kid, you can work out a deal with them. Maybe something like if your child maintains a 4.0 gpa their first two years of high school, you'll get them a car their junior year. They must maintain a 4.0 to keep the car.
No but if the kid wants to work and you don't live near a bus line or where it would be convenient enough to walk to work or you don't want to have to be running back and forth to take the kid to and from his work, then it can make very good sense to at least help them get started with a car. Otherwise you may have to lend your own car which can be inconvenient.
Another reason is that if you think your kid is reasonably sensible and you know that it can come down to "drive or be driven" when it comes to going out with friends, you might want your kid to be the driver.
No, but if you live somewhere with no public transport and walking isn't a feasible option then I think it would be good to at least help with the costs of getting one, otherwise I see no need for a teenager to have a car.
Do most parents on here think they should purchase their teenagers first vehicle?
HAHAHA.........I think not. I had to purchase my own vehicles from the first one to the most recent one and I had to pay for insurance, gasoline, repairs and maintenance as well. Driving is a priviledge not a right and just because I am your parent does not mean I am obligated to purchase anything for you outside of what is a necessity to keep you warm, dry, as safe as possible, fed and clothed.
We did not have any luxuries when I was a child and the rare times my Mother could afford a small extra we were absolutely thrilled to share a cold bottle of pop from the market. We were loved, clothed, fed as well as possible and sheltered and that was enough.
Is one obligated to do so--No. Can a family make that choice-absolutely. Every family's needs and financial circumstances are different. We choose to give our children cars because we could afford to do so and because it made our lives much easier. We live 20 minutes from the high school they attended. They had after-school activities daily during their sports seasons. During a few summers they had jobs. Public transportation is nonexistent outside of the city limits which is where we live. Our older child was responsible for taking the younger child to his school.
Given our very poor financial circumstances when we started our adult lives, one of our goals has been to help our children start off at a better, or easier place. Older child is financially self-sufficient at 22 and manages to save a good portion of her paycheck monthly. She actually needed little/no financial help from us to get her own apartment, etc. We hope the younger child is the same in a few years. If a reliable car helps them do that, and one can afford it, I see no problem.
You are not obligated to buy your child their first vehicle. My dad didn't buy my first one. I had to! Tell you what, though, it made me appreciate my vehicle much, much more since it was my own. I was also on my own when it came to repairs. Buy a kid their first vehicle and see how poorly they treat it.
I don't think parents are obligated to help a child purchase their first vehicle. We can afford to do so and having the kids drive has been a big help to us as a family so we have chosen to do so. However, having a car is not like food, shelter and clothing that a parent is obligated to provide for their children. Some people will make different choices for their family.
Do most parents on here think they should purchase their teenagers first vehicle?
Obligated? No.
But unfortunately, unless you live in New York, Chicago, Boston, or a handful of other large cities were having a car is optional, owning a car is essential to most people's day to day functioning. If parents want their kids to go out and go do things, as opposed to hanging around the house all day, those kids have to drive. If parents don't want to be forever lending their kids the car, they might want the kids to have their own.
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