J'swife Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Dd is 17 and almost has enough hours for her license. I drove her back and forth to work last summer and she's starting work again (seasonal work for a green house) It's only about 5 miles away, but I am SO ready for her to get her license. I am afraid a car won't be too far behind. We can afford something under about $2-3,000. Any tips on finding something reliable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThelmaLou Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Network with friends who've bought used frequently. DH has a good friend at work ho re-builds cars for a hobby, and has helped several co-workers spot great deals on used cars. Get help if you can. Also, we're going to be splitting the cost of a used car with our 18 year old. I feel strongly about him having an investment in this purchase, even if it's only $1000$1500. Once he gets it, insurance and gas will also be his responsibility.This is the only way we can afford it with 5 sons who will be driving! Insurance is astronomical! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 accessibility can vary where you are - but I would do a Toyota or Honda. grandma cars can be really good. - maintained and dont' have a lot of miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBM Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Research which used cars are the safest for teen drivers. Look for cars that will fare well in a serious accident. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I'd buy the safest car I could afford. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I wouldn't worry as much about the cost of the car as what the cost of her insurance is going to be. I sell insurance and if you have as many drivers as cars and one of the drivers is a new driver, you are going to be paying ALOT of money. Your daughter will have to be rated as a primary driver and she is probably going to get inexperienced driver surcharges on top of a higher premium for the vehicle she is rated on. Just my .2 cents! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 We bought our daughter a 2003 Impala. Dh is a former mechanic, so he is pretty savvy on what condition a used car is in. It is old and kind of ugly, but it is large enough that we feel better about her safety. It came pre-dented and scratched, so there wasn't the fear of putting a ding in it (which WILL happen and already has for her). Insurance didn't go up nearly as much as I thought it would. Being a girl helped I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Girls' Mom Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 We have two more that get their permits next month. My wallet hurts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6packofun Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I wouldn't worry as much about the cost of the car as what the cost of her insurance is going to be. I sell insurance and if you have as many drivers as cars and one of the drivers is a new driver, you are going to be paying ALOT of money. Your daughter will have to be rated as a primary driver and she is probably going to get inexperienced driver surcharges on top of a higher premium for the vehicle she is rated on. Just my .2 cents! Question, if your child is buying their first car and getting their license at an older age than 16, does that still apply? My 21yo ds is JUST getting his license next month and has enough to buy a nice used car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 1. Have her put money in, too. Every single friend I know who had to put money in took better care of their car than those that were just given one. I have one friend that was told her parents would match whatever she put in. She took that to heart, worked hard, saved hard, did a lot of research on sturdy, long lasting , safe used cars and made a great purchase. She took great care of that car and drove it for years. She said doing the research herself and putting in her own money really matured her and helped her cherish and appreciate having her owN transportation. 2. Pretty much everything said upthread. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sneezyone Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Ditto on having the kids invest a little something, either toward insurance/gas or purchase price. My sister had her cars, yes carS, handed to her and wrecked them all. Only the most recent one, that she bought herself, has been cared for. Our plan is to double whatever our kids have saved* (birthday gifts and holiday $$, babysitting, etc); that will be their first car budget. * DH wisely insisted we put a max cap on the amount we'll contribute as DS is likely to exploit the offer and save enough for 1/2 a luxury car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 I just wanted to mention that while it's fine if you want your teens to contribute to the purchase of their car, plenty of teens receive their cars as gifts from parents and grandparents and take perfectly good care of them. I think it's unfair to suggest that a teen won't take good care of a car they didn't help purchase. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Yell Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Unless you have direct personal knowledge of the car's history or are yourself a mechanic, get it inspected by a trusted mechanic. Stick post-it notes on their calendar (or set alarms in their phone- whatever works) to remind them to check oil, fluids, tires, etc. We are still hurting from a used car purchase that cost us $2000 (yes, THOUSAND) in repairs 2 weeks after we drove it off the lot, and an oil leak later caused the engine to die a horriffic death when Diamond was driving it on one of those bitter-cold days that would freeze a TaunTaun on Hoth. :crying: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J'swife Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 She is actually putting up most of the money, she's been saving for it and does have more, but I don't want her to use the whole amount that she has on a car. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 You might want to call around to various reputable insurance places once she does get a car. Sometimes company B is cheaper than Company A for the same coverage for teen drivers/certain cars, etc. but Company A was better for just the parents, etc. We found that when we added a diesel suburban....one place was way cheaper to add that vehicle than another place for the same coverage/drivers/etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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