Owning a vehicle is more than just putting gas in it
I was recently talking to my kids about my first car. I loved it, mainly because it was mine, but it did have its flaws. I overlooked what was wrong with the vehicle as I proudly drove it each day, but as time went on, I realized the responsibility of owning a vehicle wasn’t just about earning enough money and putting gas into the vehicle when it needed it. It was a lot more than that. How old were you when you had your first car? My son, who now has his driver’s licence, wants a car, but there are some things he needs to learn first.
I was 18 when I bought my first car and although it was in rough shape, I fixed it up and got it road worthy. All of the safety features were working, but cosmetically, it wasn’t pretty. After driving it for a while, I needed to replace the tires. I wasn’t too pleased that I had to spend my own money, but I did it anyway. A few months later, I had to replace my brakes. Again, I wasn’t too happy about spending my own money. Before I had my own vehicle, I could drive my dad’s vehicles and he would pay for all of the repairs and most of the gas. Suddenly, that all changed. Why would I want to have my own vehicle when I could drive the family vehicles for almost nothing?
Sometimes we need to experience real life before things make sense to us. My son is going through this too. He wants his own vehicle even though he doesn’t have a steady job and is still in school. I haven’t even told him about the cost of insurance yet. I’ll save that for later. What I do plan is for him to look after one of the vehicles and do the regular checks the vehicle needs. This would include checking fluid levels, tire pressure and cleaning it. I want him to experience vehicle ownership early, but without him having to pay for it. When it’s time to take the vehicle in for service, I want him to come with me so he can experience that as well. Let him see what it would cost. I’m hoping it will be an eye-opener for him.
One of the benefits of having your own vehicle is that you may be more likely to drive with more care and respect. If you drove your family vehicle and something went wrong, your parents would most likely pay for the vehicle repairs. But if it was your own vehicle, you pay the bill. Would this make you drive more responsibly? Perhaps, but to some people, they would still run back to mommy and daddy to bail them out. It’s time for those people to grow up and take the responsibility of vehicle ownership.
Owning your own vehicle is more than just putting gas in it. It’s about the regular upkeep, insurance and driving it responsibly. Annual operating costs can rise with the type of vehicle you’re buying and also for the number of kms/miles you’re traveling. It’s more than just having a job and enough money. It’s also about having the proper attitude. Are you ready for this big step in your life?