So I am taking my license test tomorrow! My parents do not want me to have a car, but of course, like every teen, I do. My dad claims I need more practice because even if I get my license, it doesn’t make me a safe driver automatically. I understand this point. I would not be using it 24/7 and would only really start heavily leaning on it in school months. I go to a boarding school as a day student and my hours are extremely shifty and often 6am-10 pm at school. My mom doesn’t have an issue driving me to school but I have to get dropped off hours before it starts and between going to practice and balancing school, I really do think it would be so useful. We are busy busy busy and always on the go, so I think the whole fam would benefit from my purchase. I am not expecting my parents to pay (budget around $8000) but I am starting a job in a week or two so I am not going to be able to pay for it for a long while, but will definitely give my parents the monthly loan payments with some interest. The issue is they are the type who don’t want me to spend money and save it all for college, future, etc. I appreciate this a lot because I know it will help me in the future but I’m stuck because they shouldn’t (prob don’t want to)to for my car but I also can’t. Any help on convincing them to let me? I’ve never done anything to show I’m irresponsible or immature or anything. Good grades, etc. Should I suck it up and just buy a car out of college? That is what my sis is doing but she does not have the want to drive at all because she got into a scary accident a few years back. (Also I should probably have a car for work!) I will be working at least once a week all year until college, and nearly full time in the summer. Is it worth it to constantly ask for rides and miss out on early practices and such because my parents can’t take me? Or do I find a way to let them let me to purchase one? Thank you!
If you have to work to afford to pay for the car, insurance, fuel, and maintenance, then that may cost you more time and practices than getting rides from your parents or finding some other way to get to school and practices.
How far away are the school and practices?
I bought a car for my older daughter when she got her license. She was very responsible and followed our state rules about when she could drive and how many people she could have in the car with her. We also had an agreement that she would drive while intoxicated. She could always call us if she needed a ride. I did a lot of trust but verify - I used to check on the car’s mileage to make sure she wasn’t going to places she wasn’t supposed to, but I stopped after a while.
It was a great convenience to us because she could drive herself to school, ballet lessons, do errands and drive her younger sister sometimes to various activities.
@ucbalumnus School is only 12 ish minutes from my house but around 35 from my moms work, she works in the opposite direction. My parents like to pay for things so I don’t think I would have to pay for insurance, but they might expect me to cover gas once in a while. For practice, my mom would have to drive 45- 1 hour (rush hour) to my school, and all the way back another hour or so for practice and 20 mins home. I would miss a lot of practice though because she does not get off of work until 4:30 and so many of my practices begin as early as 3:15
@oldfort Very kind of you!! I believe that you mean she wouldn’t drive while intoxicated? I do not drink/do drugs/anything of the sort so my parents shouldn’t see that as an issue but they would absolutely rather me call a ride from them and would for sure agree with you on that matter. Is she responsible for gas, insurance, repairs, etc.?
If school is only 12 minutes from your house, then can’t you get a bike to get there in time for practice? It seems like a waste to be missing an hour or more of practice every day.
You cannot get to school or practice by some other means, such as riding a bicycle or walking / running? As an athlete, that may be free cross training as well.
@nomood @ucbalumnus No bused, no way for me to run, bike, etc. Crosses highways and such! School is in very “middle of no where type of town” home is in busy city and practice fits somewhere in between.
@nomood It absolutely is unfeasible to show up that late to practice so we may be switching into a independent type team that allows me to train whenever. My practice location would be a little farther though 
You say your school day starts at 6 a.m. but your mom has t9 sometimes drop you “hours before the school day starts”. That doesn’t make sense.
He is right.
Our kids were able to use one of our cars when they got their licenses…as needed. Our state allows no passengers in a car with a new driver (except someone who has had a license for more than a certain number of years). And there is a curfew for drivers under age 18…IIRC it’s 11:00.
We wanted our kids to have safe cars to drive with the latest safety features, not some cheap junker just for the sake of having a car.
We had a deal that no passengers would be allowed without us knowing first. We also needed to know exactly where our kids were driving. We wanted no surprises.
I think you need to earn the trust of your parents in terms of your new driving. Prove to them that you are careful. And if you plan to pay the costs for this car, don’t underestimate those costs…including insurance. If your parents have a car dedicated to your use, it’s going to be more costly for insurance than if you are an occasional driver on one of the cars they have.
Where are your practices? If they are at your school, why wouldn’t you just stay there after school, and study a bit, and then just go to the practice?
Sounds to me like you are too busy to work enough hours to pay for a car, gas, insurance (which is quite expensive) etc. IMO your time would be better spent on your schoolwork and ECs. Plus saving your money for college is sensible, especially if you will be expected to contribute towards your spending money during those years.
Not the answer you want, but there is a reason that most HS students don’t have cars.
My 2 cents as a parent - and a parent on July 13, 2020 during a pandemic:
- Just focus on the test first that is tomorrow!
- School is uncertain. Extra curriculars are uncertain. Jobs are uncertain. It may not be the best economical decision to purchase a car right now. And your needs may or may not materialize for the next few months.
- In our house getting a license does not = ready for a car - even if you are a super responsible person. Responsible person does not = excellent driver automatically.
- As a parent, I would want to see responsibility with OUR car and driving rules before I jump into buying one of our kids a car. (we have 3 kids, none of who had a car in high school).
- Practical doesn't always win. Other concerns may trump practical.
That’s my tip of the 16 year old with a car iceberg. 
@thumper1 As I mentioned, very logical from my dad’s part and I completely agree. I’m glad that he is worried about my safety and comfort as a new driver. What I meant is that 6 is hours before school starts and when I am dropped off. I think a safe car is so important, and the car I am looking at specifically, very very safe, a 2014, so a little old but not too bad, but with a lot of miles. The brand in itself is 5 star crash rated! I think my parents don’t want to pay the base of the car. I’m not sure the issue lies with insurance and gas. As for proving I am careful, I haven’t done anything but with my driving, but sadly our family has had quite a history with accidents (some the parents fault, most not) so they are extra nervous and cautious to let me drive myself.
@happy1 As I mentioned, summer is the only time I will really be working. Sunday’s for a few hours (something like 5-11am shift) for the year and during all my breaks like March and Thanksgiving. Because I go to a boarding school, we have very extended long breaks, allowing more time for me to work. I do not believe that handling work to pay it off and balancing the rest of my life will be an issue.
@hopefulswimmer58 , what are the insurance costs in your area for a 16 year old female annually on the type of car you are looking at?
@thumper1 I wish practices were at my school! It’s an outside sport and I think I mentioned above it’s a great distance from my school.
Well, if you can’t bike or run, then is carpool an option?
@abasket Thank you for the input! Completely agree with points 3 and 4! Driving can obviously put lives at risk. Both of my parents have been in work all throughout the pandemic, and will continue if it gets worse and we shut down again. My job, although a minimum wage teen job, is an essential business so will also not close. My school has released reopening plans, and I will be on campus! That is the only thing really subject to change, I think, but so far my state is doing well with the cases!
You are also painting a picture of two choices:
- Car now at age 16 just after presumed passing your driving test.
- Car after college (you mention this yourself in your OP)
There are a lot of years in between there to secure a car.
@abasket Around 5k but that is just ballpark. I feel I only have those two options because I do not think I would want to buy a car in my college years just to leave it (best case) in a few months.