One of the most important decisions that a parent will make during their child’s upbringing is how to go about assisting the child in getting their first car. What makes this choice more difficult is that there is not a simple black and white answer to the question. While many affluent individuals purchase expensive vehicles for their children, this option is often seen as either frivolous or irresponsible. Don’t help your kid whatsoever in buying a car and it’s seen as stingy or uncaring.

My view on the matter is somewhere in between these two options. While I don’t agree that a parent should ever downright buy a car for their child, I also don’t think that a child should have to focus all of her or his energy on a job while they still have school to finish. Likewise, there is no reason that someone’s first car should be a new or luxury vehicle considering chances are high that the car will end up scratched, crashed, with engine problems or having the interior ruined.

What are your thoughts on the topic?