When your kids started driving ?
Discussion
Did you finance it ?
My eldest is 15 in November, so in two years time, but the blink of an eye he will be expecting to learn to drive, I paid for my own lessons and test, I passed and was given my dads 1969 Capri (in 88) but this was mainly because I had managed to win a brand new Golf GTI in the Daily Mirror
and sold it to him for a good discount and the Capri came with it in PX.
My dad helped me with spanner related activities but it was down to me to finance my own motoring, my wife on the other hand was provided with a car, insurance, maintenance and fuel on account at the local garage !
She said the other day that when I change my Saab 9-3 Aero, I should get something learner friendly for when oldest starts to learn, my response was f*ck that, I am not, at 40 driving some turd box 1.2 so the kids can leanr in it, pass in it, borrow it, bash it, leave rubbish in it and divest it of fuel !
So, I dotn mind chipping in for lessons and maybe assisting in some way to provide a car, money towards at birthdays, Christmas etc but if they cant afford what is an expensive privlege they can get on the bus or ride a bike ?
Am I being an old tight arse or do kids need to learn the cost of driving ?
My eldest is 15 in November, so in two years time, but the blink of an eye he will be expecting to learn to drive, I paid for my own lessons and test, I passed and was given my dads 1969 Capri (in 88) but this was mainly because I had managed to win a brand new Golf GTI in the Daily Mirror
and sold it to him for a good discount and the Capri came with it in PX.My dad helped me with spanner related activities but it was down to me to finance my own motoring, my wife on the other hand was provided with a car, insurance, maintenance and fuel on account at the local garage !
She said the other day that when I change my Saab 9-3 Aero, I should get something learner friendly for when oldest starts to learn, my response was f*ck that, I am not, at 40 driving some turd box 1.2 so the kids can leanr in it, pass in it, borrow it, bash it, leave rubbish in it and divest it of fuel !
So, I dotn mind chipping in for lessons and maybe assisting in some way to provide a car, money towards at birthdays, Christmas etc but if they cant afford what is an expensive privlege they can get on the bus or ride a bike ?
Am I being an old tight arse or do kids need to learn the cost of driving ?
Bit of both in my opinion. I think kids should absolutely learn the value of the quid and fund as much stuff as possible from as soon as they are earning anything, but at the same time, if you are in the position to be able to afford something to give them the kick start that they need, it is absolutely your choice if you want to or not - if it was me, I would probably want to sort them out above my own needs/wants.
Being mobile will lead onto other things that will pay dividends, such as travelling a few more miles to a better paid job etc, but it's down to you and your knowledge of if your kids will appreciate what you've done for them!! E.g. my next door neighbour and I were same age, he was only child and spoilt rotten, I have siblings so shared, he was given a brand new car (few years ago, mind!) and abused it, I was given £150 to buy a snotter to learn in and keep as 1st car but chose to put my own cash in and get one that my little sis could use in 2 years when she was learning and I would move on as I knew (hoped!) I'd be earning by then.
Being mobile will lead onto other things that will pay dividends, such as travelling a few more miles to a better paid job etc, but it's down to you and your knowledge of if your kids will appreciate what you've done for them!! E.g. my next door neighbour and I were same age, he was only child and spoilt rotten, I have siblings so shared, he was given a brand new car (few years ago, mind!) and abused it, I was given £150 to buy a snotter to learn in and keep as 1st car but chose to put my own cash in and get one that my little sis could use in 2 years when she was learning and I would move on as I knew (hoped!) I'd be earning by then.
Can't comment on my kids as they don't exist but I was learning to drive a mere 10 years ago so I'll just tell you about that.
Due to living in the arse end of nowhere I needed a car in order to get a job (no buses in the area then and no jobs in the nearest town) so they paid for all of my lessons and I had money left to me by my Gran which was used to buy my first car. Insurance was paid for by my Dad providing I went and got a job after passing my test. I kept the car for 4 years despite the fact it spent most of those 4 years falling apart. Everybody else I knew at the time was busy crashing theirs instead of trying to nurse it through a few more miles.
I know the cost of motoring despite having pretty much everything paid for to begin with and since I picked up some spannering abilities over the years I repaid my Dad by sorting his cars out for him (and filling his garage up with my various projects but that's another story).
If you do pay for everything then it probably helps to do it on a proviso that they're going to do something useful with it and if they stuff it then it's game over.
Due to living in the arse end of nowhere I needed a car in order to get a job (no buses in the area then and no jobs in the nearest town) so they paid for all of my lessons and I had money left to me by my Gran which was used to buy my first car. Insurance was paid for by my Dad providing I went and got a job after passing my test. I kept the car for 4 years despite the fact it spent most of those 4 years falling apart. Everybody else I knew at the time was busy crashing theirs instead of trying to nurse it through a few more miles.
I know the cost of motoring despite having pretty much everything paid for to begin with and since I picked up some spannering abilities over the years I repaid my Dad by sorting his cars out for him (and filling his garage up with my various projects but that's another story).
If you do pay for everything then it probably helps to do it on a proviso that they're going to do something useful with it and if they stuff it then it's game over.
Let's talk about this Golf GTi that you won, how did you win it?
I know some that won a Ford Focus with one those little blue envelopes that you used to get in Walkers crisps circa 2002
ETA My mates Dad won a Maserati 3200 by texting into to 5th gear on channel five.
I know some that won a Ford Focus with one those little blue envelopes that you used to get in Walkers crisps circa 2002
ETA My mates Dad won a Maserati 3200 by texting into to 5th gear on channel five.
Edited by Number 5 on Thursday 2nd September 12:54
Paid for all my own lessons, admittedly had the use of a parents car for a few months and was a named driver, but had to fuel it myself.
Then bought my own car, and every single expense since then, starting at the age of 17, has been mine.
Sister on the other hand has been heavily subsidised from the word go.
Finally bought her own car at the age of 23 or so, but until then everything had been free.
Then parents have the cheek to say that I'm not good with money as I don't have as much of a savings account as her.
Then bought my own car, and every single expense since then, starting at the age of 17, has been mine.
Sister on the other hand has been heavily subsidised from the word go.
Finally bought her own car at the age of 23 or so, but until then everything had been free.
Then parents have the cheek to say that I'm not good with money as I don't have as much of a savings account as her.
After I expressed interest in getting a bike, my parents offered help with learning to drive instead!
Was gifted my mum's 10-year-old Fiat Uno, I paid for insurance, tax, MOT, repairs, etc out of my weekend job. That said, insurance for 17 year olds has got way more expensive these days.
Was gifted my mum's 10-year-old Fiat Uno, I paid for insurance, tax, MOT, repairs, etc out of my weekend job. That said, insurance for 17 year olds has got way more expensive these days.
My eldest daughter (18 in two days time!! 
) saved up to buy and run her car. For her 17th birthday everyone gave her money as a present to pay for her lessons.
That said I have had the phone call "Daddyyyyyyyy I need 2 new tyres and have got no money", needless to say it cost me a few £££.
) saved up to buy and run her car. For her 17th birthday everyone gave her money as a present to pay for her lessons.That said I have had the phone call "Daddyyyyyyyy I need 2 new tyres and have got no money", needless to say it cost me a few £££.
When I do finally have kids and they have any interest in cars and working on them then I'd get them a car that needs some work done on it for relatively cheap when they were around 15. They can then fix the car up and hopefully take pride in it and with any luck not want to prang it.
It probably wouldn't work like that at all and they'd instead throw a hissy fit about me being a tightarse and want the latest hot hatch pussy magnet or whatever is the in thing at the time.
I think I just talked myself out of ever having kids.
It probably wouldn't work like that at all and they'd instead throw a hissy fit about me being a tightarse and want the latest hot hatch pussy magnet or whatever is the in thing at the time.
I think I just talked myself out of ever having kids.
When I started driving my Aunties paid for my lessons. My Nan gave me a £3,000 loan for the car I wanted (couldn't get finance as I was only 17) my Mum though this was the best idea. I ended up paying my Nan 19% APR on the loan as she wanted the same repayments as the garage. I though it was a great idea at the time! Anyway I used some of the money for insurance etc.. and anything that got broken was paid for by myself.
I am planning to get an old Land Rover for a number of reasons, I want one, the insurance should be sensible, they have to be cooler than a 1.2 Nova. I pay the bills and get some of the value. If the purchase was to be a 1.2 Nova then not sure I would be paying out. In response to the comment, "next car, make it a cheap one the children can drive, really?"
I only started driving 12 months ago, but for me:
My parents paid for lessons and temporary insurance on the Punto runabout for me to practice in, and a few months later I had enough money earned over the past six months or so of work to buy my MGB. Once I'd passed they continued the insurance on the runabout (which had now morphed into a Fiesta) and also helped out with the (far cheaper) insurance on the MGB.
For my 18th birthday a few weeks back, it was agreed that they would pay for half a daily hack (my Focus), while the other half was money I'd earned. Finally, I was taken off the Fiesta's policy and the money saved has gone towards the Focus' insurance.
To summarise, they funded the driving lessons and the insurance on their car. The MGB was essentially my own little project, financed myself.
My parents paid for lessons and temporary insurance on the Punto runabout for me to practice in, and a few months later I had enough money earned over the past six months or so of work to buy my MGB. Once I'd passed they continued the insurance on the runabout (which had now morphed into a Fiesta) and also helped out with the (far cheaper) insurance on the MGB.
For my 18th birthday a few weeks back, it was agreed that they would pay for half a daily hack (my Focus), while the other half was money I'd earned. Finally, I was taken off the Fiesta's policy and the money saved has gone towards the Focus' insurance.
To summarise, they funded the driving lessons and the insurance on their car. The MGB was essentially my own little project, financed myself.
I agree about the fact it opens doors for them, these days getting a lot of jobs is impossible without a current, clean driving licence.
It just seems expected that you get to 17 and a car magically appears and you can then drive wherever you want, to be honest I think that the whole country needs to view driving differently, i.e. that it is for a lot of people a luxury not a god given right, especially for those who have not actually done anything yet to deserve such luxury, also a spell on public transport and push bikes would probably make them "feel the benefit" of their own motorised transport and spur them on to acheive and earn to be
able to buy their own.
The same goes for lifts as well, mine kind of expect to be driven everywhere, my middle one pulls a right face when I suggest he walks the mile back from his mates, I think as the cuts and recession bite harder a lot of the population of this country are in a for a big shock.
I ride to work most mornings to save the fuel, get some exercise and I am nearly 40 and can afford to drive, so I dont see why so many think they are above it even when they earn little or nothing in some cases.
It just seems expected that you get to 17 and a car magically appears and you can then drive wherever you want, to be honest I think that the whole country needs to view driving differently, i.e. that it is for a lot of people a luxury not a god given right, especially for those who have not actually done anything yet to deserve such luxury, also a spell on public transport and push bikes would probably make them "feel the benefit" of their own motorised transport and spur them on to acheive and earn to be
able to buy their own.
The same goes for lifts as well, mine kind of expect to be driven everywhere, my middle one pulls a right face when I suggest he walks the mile back from his mates, I think as the cuts and recession bite harder a lot of the population of this country are in a for a big shock.
I ride to work most mornings to save the fuel, get some exercise and I am nearly 40 and can afford to drive, so I dont see why so many think they are above it even when they earn little or nothing in some cases.
From the other side I threatened to buy a knackered 1.0 205 gti look-a-like death trap and still wanted it when it wouldn't start. My dad quickly offered to help me out financially to get something a bit newer and better!
If your kid does end up driving some ancient knackered sh!tbox think how much worry and effort it could cause you in breakdowns, new parts, terrible crash protection.... And still tell them to beat it and pay for a car on their own!!
If your kid does end up driving some ancient knackered sh!tbox think how much worry and effort it could cause you in breakdowns, new parts, terrible crash protection.... And still tell them to beat it and pay for a car on their own!!
I think it's largely down to your financial position as to whether you should help them out with getting started in car and driving. Any kid who is worth their salt should have some idea of the high running costs associated with driving, or at least be able to comprehend it when explained, regardless if you're paying for them to drive or not. However, afterall, driving is certainly not a necessity for kids, and you shouldn't put yourself out financially to fund them doing it. That said, if you can afford it, then I don't see a reason not to help them out financially with getting started driving, such make them aware of all the costs associated with it, and make sure they're appreciative of both the costs, and the fact you're paying for them.
Personally, I was very fortunate in having my father fund all of my associated driving costs; including lessons, test fees, £10k on a car, insurance and fuel, but he's always been very keen to have me driving, he sees it as a very valuable skill to be able to do well in large amounts. Though he did make a point of explaining to me in detail just how much running a car costs, he got his accountant to print out his total driving costs over the past year, scared the s
t out of me when I saw that including depreciation, it was costing him nearly 40k PA to run his current fleet.
Made me fix my feet firmly on the ground in regards to what I hoped to be owning over the following few years of my life, but still allowed me the freedom to enjoy driving and gaining experience while young.
Personally, I was very fortunate in having my father fund all of my associated driving costs; including lessons, test fees, £10k on a car, insurance and fuel, but he's always been very keen to have me driving, he sees it as a very valuable skill to be able to do well in large amounts. Though he did make a point of explaining to me in detail just how much running a car costs, he got his accountant to print out his total driving costs over the past year, scared the s
t out of me when I saw that including depreciation, it was costing him nearly 40k PA to run his current fleet.Made me fix my feet firmly on the ground in regards to what I hoped to be owning over the following few years of my life, but still allowed me the freedom to enjoy driving and gaining experience while young.
My daughter just passed her test.
She was expected to pay for her lessons, although most of the money came from xmas/birthday etc..., I think her mother may have helped pay some of it for the last few.
Thankfully she passed first time.
With regards to a car and tax. I bought her a £500 Micra, of which she paid me half back. I paid for a years tax.
Her and her mother have come to some arrangement about the insurance (~£700) , but I believe she is paying at least some of it.
So it's been a bit of both really, making her pay for some if it but also helping out to ensure that she gets mobile as quickly as possible.
My nephew on the other hand, who is fast approaching the age, is fairly adamant that his first car must be something like a Corsa SRi and won't be seen dead in anything with a lesser engine 'cos it won't be cool infront of his mates... so I expect some interesting conversations for my brother when it comes to who's gonna help him pay for the £000's of pounds insurance that he'll need
She was expected to pay for her lessons, although most of the money came from xmas/birthday etc..., I think her mother may have helped pay some of it for the last few.
Thankfully she passed first time.
With regards to a car and tax. I bought her a £500 Micra, of which she paid me half back. I paid for a years tax.
Her and her mother have come to some arrangement about the insurance (~£700) , but I believe she is paying at least some of it.
So it's been a bit of both really, making her pay for some if it but also helping out to ensure that she gets mobile as quickly as possible.
My nephew on the other hand, who is fast approaching the age, is fairly adamant that his first car must be something like a Corsa SRi and won't be seen dead in anything with a lesser engine 'cos it won't be cool infront of his mates... so I expect some interesting conversations for my brother when it comes to who's gonna help him pay for the £000's of pounds insurance that he'll need
A little over a decade ago I got my driving lessons for my 17th birthday, and a brand new bottom of the range Fiesta in the garage. It was on the condition that I paid for the day to day running of the car, and paid for the car itself once I'd finished my A-levels and got a job, or if I went on to uni and came out with a degree I didn't have to pay it back.
I though that was a hell of a good deal, it helped me out no end as the car came with 2yrs free insurance. Lit a proverbial fire under my arris to do well at A-level too!
I plan on doing the same for my sister's eldest in a few months.
I though that was a hell of a good deal, it helped me out no end as the car came with 2yrs free insurance. Lit a proverbial fire under my arris to do well at A-level too!
I plan on doing the same for my sister's eldest in a few months.
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