23 May 2023 | 4 mins

Getting your licence means adventures with your mates and the sweet, sweet taste of freedom. Well… not quite. The chances are that you still have to ask your parents for the family car every time you want to head out.

Not the sweet, sweet taste of freedom you imagined, huh?

So, this means you’ve probably reached that point in your life where you want to stop relying on the ‘rents and step up to secure yourself a set of wheels. And truth be told, having your own car is pretty freakin’ great. But like they say, every diamond has imperfections and owning your own ride certainly comes with a few aspects that are less than ideal.


PROS

1. Your parents aren’t in charge of your schedule

Gone are the days of mum picking you up and dragging you to Woolies for a three-hour grocery shop where you’re forced to sit and wait while she chats with someone she hasn’t seen in years in aisle four.

2. No more flippin’ public transport

When you’ve got your own wheels, you can finally ditch the packed train ride home. And you won’t have to beg on your hand and knees for someone to come pick you up when it’s raining and you’ve missed your bus.

3. You can finally go on road trips

With your new car, you can pile it up, designate a mate to be the DJ and hit the road. Whether it’s a coastal getaway, bush escapade or just your local beach, grabbing your mates, packing an esky, getting a solid playlist together and piling into the car is the epitome of growing up in Australia.


CONS

1. Petrol is unpredictable and adds up

Trust us, filling up your trusty stead can leave a pretty nasty hole in your pockets. And it’s hard to know how exactly much petty your ride needs until you’re out on the road (or if you suss it out on Fuelcheck). Expect to spend to upwards of $50 a week, but don’t be afraid to ask your mates to chip in if they’re always scabbing lifts or if you’re deso Dave for the night.

2. Car rego is a pain

‘Nuff said. Nothing stings more than the week you have to pay your car rego. Not only do you have to cop the rego fee, but you’re gonna need a green slip and a pink slip (basically a note from a mechanic saying your car is road-safe). Thankfully if cash is a wee’ bit tight, you have options to pay either 3 months, 6 months or a whole year’s worth of rego. Pretty handy.

3. Car insurance is confusing, complex and expensive

When you’ve bought yourself a car, all you wanna do is drive it around town. But before you jump behind the wheel, you’re legally required to have Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance. This covers you for any injury you inflict on others if you get into an accident. In Victoria, it’s automatically included in your rego but everywhere else you’ll need to purchase it before you can registrar your car. It may sound like a bit of a drag to pay for insurance when you don’t intend on getting in a ten-car-pileup anytime soon, but it’s the sensible option. 

Insurance is a wonderful thing to have, but it can be pretty darn confusing. In fact, most expenses related to buying a car can be.

This content has been created by Year13 and is sponsored by Westpac.