What are the important things you need to pass on to your child when it comes to car ownership? Learn key lessons for teaching a kid about owning a car.
There’s nothing more exciting than owning your first car when you get your driver’s license. It’s something that every kid looks forward to and represents a major milestone and step towards adulthood.
But owning a car requires a lot of knowledge and responsibility, which a lot of kids don’t have. This can lead to dangerous driving habits and money trouble down the line.
That’s why teaching a kid how to responsibly own a car is an important step to take. Keep reading for three lessons to pass on to your kid before they own their own car.
1. Safety First
There can be anywhere from 20-50 million injuries as a result of car accidents in any given year. In addition, there are around 1.25 million deaths from car accidents each year. Most of these accidents involve young adults and teens.
The reality is that most car accidents can be completely avoided if drivers knew safe driving practices. Here are some important lessons to drill into your kid before they hit the road:
- No distracted driving (eating, texting, talking on the phone) Make sure to check out the #StayAliveGame.
- No reckless driving
- Never drive if you’re really tired
- No driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Practice defensive driving
It typically takes two bad or distracted drivers to get in an accident. So if your kid is a good driver who always pays attention to the road, they can avoid bad accidents.
2. Basic Maintenance
Even a lot of adult drivers don’t have basic maintenance knowledge, which can be a real problem when your car breaks down on the side of the road or you get a flat tire. Your kid doesn’t need to be an expert mechanic, be they should know basic maintenance so they can prevent or resolve common car problems.
Here are some of the things you can teach your kid about car maintenance:
- How to change a tire
- How to add air to tires
- How to check vehicle fluids
- How to replace headlights
- How to read gauges on the car
With this knowledge, your kid will be able to get themselves out of some tough situations when their car is giving them trouble.
3. The Cost of Car Ownership
Buying and owning a car is not cheap. Most people have to finance their car and make monthly payments. You also have to pay a hefty amount for car insurance each month. You also have additional costs to consider, such as:
- Gas money
- Oil changes
- Tire rotation
- Basic car maintenance
- Car repairs
- Supplies to wash your car
- Paying tickets or fines (hopefully this can be avoided, though)
Getting a car title loan is an option if your kid needs extra money for unexpected car expenses.
Teaching a Kid About Car Ownership Is Important
Owning a car is one of the biggest responsibilities in life, and teaching a kid how to own their own car takes time. With these important lessons, your kid will have the knowledge to own a car responsibly in the future.
Looking for more parenting articles like this one? Check out the rest of our blog!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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