I’m 19 and I can’t afford my own car at the moment so I have to rely on my parents to drive me everywhere. I also have my driver’s license. My parents won’t let me drive their car on my own places that I need to go. Does it look bad if my parents have to drive me to school and work? As an adult, am I suppose to drive myself places instead of relying on my parents to drive me everywhere?
It doesn’t “look bad”. But you do want to make sure you stay in practice with driving skills so you are well prepared if you end up living someplace in a couple of years when you need them.
If you want to drive, buy a car. Your parents have the right to decide who drives theirs, as they are paying for it.
It wouldn’t look bad at all! I would love my parents to drop me and pick me up from school. You don’t have to look for parking =)
You’re fine. As far as independence goes, driving your parents’ car isn’t any better than riding in it.
You’re still obsessed with getting others to agree with you that your parents have to let you have a car???
I thought this post sounded familiar.
You posted this back in May. I guess you didn’t like the answers then? Well, they ain’t gonna change much:
No, it is not BAD that your parents drive you everywhere. I completely support your parents.
(I didn’t believe your previous posts indicating that you were ostracized by your entire community because you didn’t drive your own car.)
My three young-adult children now have their own cars by purchasing them on their own and paying for maintenance and gas through their savings and their jobs. They always ask us to drive them around town because they don’t want to deal with parking or they don’t want to drive our SoCal highways.
Try riding a bike, taking a bus, or using a skateboard since you don’t want to be seen in the company of your parents. Better yet, walk. My dd rides her bike. My son walks everywhere.
If not, do what most kids do: get a job, buy your own car, pay, for the
gas,
insurance,
oil changes, brake fluid, antifreeze, spark plugs, timing belt, air filters, hoses,
tires, tire alignment, rotation,
brakes, rotors, pads
state license fees, etc. These are currently paid for by your parents.
Additionally, go to the counseling office at your CC and speak to a counselor about your obsessive concerns with how you are viewed by others and/or your inability to develop mature compromises.
Why are you so worried about what other people think? If you don’t have the means to pay for a car yet, that’s fine. There are plenty of people around your age who don’t own cars (including myself), and I promise you that 99.999% of the population is not judging you. That car is owned by your PARENTS, not by you, and so they are completely within their rights to restrict your access to it.
I also took a peek at your old thread, and I guarantee you that no one is “giving dirty looks at you” for taking public transportation/walking; multitudes of college students and people in general take the bus, bike, or walk. A family member of mine didn’t own a car in college or grad school because biking, walking, and public transportation were much more convenient (and cheap) for her.
If it bothers you THAT much, do something about it. Save up your money from your job and buy yourself a car. I’m sure your parents will be happy to give advice and direction as to how to go about it.
Finally, don’t get a car just because you feel peer pressure and embarrassment. Evaluate your transportation situation- do you really NEED a car for practical purposes? Could you easily go about college with a combination of public transport, walking, biking, and rides from your parents? What disadvantages (PARKING) of a car could there be? Get a car for the right reasons.
No, it doesn’t look bad. Stop worrying about this. And if you’re really, really worried about this, then start saving up so you can buy your own car. If you’re unhappy about your situation, nothing’s going to change unless you change it.
I’m an adult, and I LOVE when other people drive me places. It’s fantastic. You don’t have to worry about gas or other cars or parking or anything. You just get to sit back and relax. Enjoy it while it lasts because you’re not going to have this luxury forever.
No, it doesn’t look bad. Some of my friends at college don’t even have their license, let alone their own car. The vast majority of 19 year olds do not have their own car. I have my “own” car, but I rarely drive and I don’t have it with me on campus. When I’m home on breaks, I prefer my parents drive me places and there’s nothing wrong with that. Literally nobody cares.
FYI: I’ve noticed in your previous posts that you are averaging C grades in you major; if you plan on driving and being insured, the insurance companies like seeing good grades in order to keep your fees low. Your parents know this.
I would focus on increasing your grades instead of wondering why you can’t drive yourself.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread, as it is just variation of a theme. If people want to comment, they may do so on the earlier threads:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1779092-how-can-i-convince-my-parents-for-me-to-have-my-own-car-p1.html
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/1782220-is-it-bad-that-i-dont-have-my-own-car-at-my-age.html