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Original poster

Did You Buy Your Child A Car?

102 replies

Belindabelle · 20/03/2019 22:06

Just wondering if you bought or helped to buy your child a car when they passed the driving test.

It seems to be the done thing around here. Loads of little Fiats, Micros and Minis appearing for 17/18th Birthday presents.

OP posts:
Curiousmum69 · 20/03/2019 22:08

Yes £200 on a Nissan Micra.

Her pays the insurance though which was 7x the cost of the car

PoshPenny · 20/03/2019 22:12

Grandparents did, but it was enough for a basic but decent little first car, about £1,000. If they wanted more, they had to find that themselves. I don't understand these youngsters with their lovely brand new first cars - everything handed to them on a plate doesn't do them any favours in the long run.

elephantoverthehill · 20/03/2019 22:16

Oh I was thinking of those little tikes cars they had when were toddlers. Grin

eddiemairswife · 20/03/2019 22:19

I lent them some money, but it was paid back.

Myfoolishboatisleaning · 20/03/2019 22:21

Yes, a shared Xmas present though. (2 teenagers) they are both only home in the holidays and so far sharing has worked out.

Pearpickinpenguin · 20/03/2019 22:23

Not yet as not applicable but the twins will get driving lessons as a gift for their 17th and a car between them for their 18th birthdays. They really are just not sharing mine to be honest and I prefer to know they have a car rather than try for a motorbike. Not sure if I will eventually have to help with a second car ...

MigThePig · 20/03/2019 22:27

When I was at school, everyone seemed to get driving lessons for their 17th and a car of varying quality for their 18th.
I didn't get either but I didn't expect to, I knew my parents didn't have that kind of money.

bluddleuddleumdum · 20/03/2019 22:29

Yes a Corsa for £650. He now owns a £30,000 Audi

StillMedusa · 20/03/2019 22:40

No. Two out my four now drive and they had to save up. I helped with lessons but that's all we could do . They both drive little old cars (DS1s KA cost £350 and has not given any trouble!) and are quite content.

runningtogetskinny · 20/03/2019 22:45

I set up a 15 year savings account when DD was 1 so I could either help her through uni or with her first car. She got DH old car when she passed her test then I used the savings to buy her a 3 year old fiat 500 for 21st birthday (she didn't want to go to uni) She pays the insurance herself. I've only got 1 DC and could afford it

nancy75 · 20/03/2019 22:49

Dd not old enough to drive but my parents bought a car for me when I learnt to drive & also bought one for my brother.

Exhsuatedmuch · 20/03/2019 22:50

Yes both of my eldest. They paid for all their driving lessons and tests etc. We bought them both a safe but cheap car under £500 but they paid all insurance and tax, mot etc.

beachyhead · 20/03/2019 22:52

Yes, because we live in the middle of nowhere and it's now come back so her sister can learn on it....

Fazackerley · 20/03/2019 22:53

Yes.

1Redacted1 · 20/03/2019 22:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Belindabelle · 20/03/2019 23:00

Interesting. I know 3 families who have bought brand new cars for their children. DH and I prepared to buy and insure the first car but I was thinking of an old banger.

OP posts:
Fazackerley · 20/03/2019 23:03

I didn't buy a brand new car but I don't do old bangers for new drivers.

bloodywhitecat · 20/03/2019 23:14

No but they did both have small endowments that matured on their 18th birthdays which I had paid into since they were born. They both chose to use money accrued for their first cars, they also paid the insurance but I did sometimes help out if they had a major car expense. We live din a very rural area with no public transport so their cars were their lifelines to college/work/social lives.

UrsulaPandress · 20/03/2019 23:16

Yes. I'd inherited money from my dad so spent some on a car for DD.

arkela · 20/03/2019 23:18

We have no intention of buying them a call, even though we live in the US and public transportation isn't terrific. I don't think it does them any good to have a gift of that magnitude handed to them.

Applesbananaspears · 20/03/2019 23:19

My eldest is 17 later this year and we plan to buy a group 1 insurance car which is about 5 or 6 years old. I want them to drive and I don’t want to share my car! It will then be shared with siblings as they reach driving age. The only expectation is that they will pay for petrol

TheFairyCaravan · 20/03/2019 23:19

We paid for their driving lessons and first years insurance and they bought their cars out of their wages because they had part time jobs.

Boyboyboydogdog1 · 20/03/2019 23:21

Yes -bought all three of ours fairly decent (£2-£3k) hatchbacks after they passed their tests and paid insurance until they were in employment. We live in a village so means I'm not taxi all the time.

EmmaGrundyForPM · 20/03/2019 23:22

Yes and no. We bought a car when ds1 passed his test but hadn't planned to. It turned out that buying a car and insuring him on that, with the proviso it then passed to ds2 when he passed would be cheaper in the long run than insuring them on mine.

We spent £2500 on a 5 year old car, ds1 drove it for 2 years, then ds2 drove it and ds1 bought his own. Ownership of the car was always retained by dh and me. We still have it - I drive it to work as it's really economical, and save my big thirsty 4x4 for weekends. Ds2 still drives it occasionally when hes home from uni.

sue51 · 20/03/2019 23:28

Yes. Paid about £3000 for a decent hatchback. We do live in a rural area where there is no reliable public transport and I was not always free to taxi the kids around. I would not have bought them a car if I lived in a city.

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