Teenagers can be really hard to buy gifts for most of the time. But, one time they can be really easy to please is when they first get their driver’s license. With a little bit of thought, you can give them a new driver gift basket that provides you with some peace of mind, helps them feel confident on the road, and throw in some fun surprises to use when they’re driving all over town.
Make sure to grab the car emergency printables:
**This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Let’s just talk about the blindingly obvious – having a teenager, newly licensed to drive, is SCARY for parents. You walk into the DMV being the one driving your child to all the things and you walk out with them carrying a small piece of plastic that gives them rights to drive themselves to all the things.
You start worrying about:
And SO MANY MORE things. It’s okay to be concerned about all of it. It’s your child. You love them. You want them to be safe. And you also want them to learn independence and life skills. All of those things can coexist.
One simple way to ease your worry a little bit is to provide them with a few things that you know will be helpful in any of the above scenarios.
Keep reading, because I’m sharing a bunch of things that make for good gifts for new drivers and a little peace of mind for parents.
Initially, you might think this post is just for parents. But honestly, a new driver gift basket would be a fun idea for aunts, uncles, grandparents, or a family friend to gift to the new driver. Trust me, that teen you love has parents who will thank you. You would definitely be on their list of favorite people of the year!
So what things should you consider including?
Every car, new driver or not, should have an emergency kit. You just never know when an accident, flat tire, dead battery, or empty gas tank will occur. Let’s make sure the car is stocked with items that will come in handy in case of emergency.
If you’re an everything’s included type person, I suggest this all in one car emergency kit (affiliate link).
*Note: if you get a pre-done kit, be sure to add anything that it’s missing!
While these items might not be life-saving, your new driver will definitely be happy to have them in the moment they need it.
I don’t know about the teens in your life, but if they’re anything like mine, then they love finding ways to express their personality and style. That desire will surely extend to the car – whether they have to share with the family or they get their own car.
Okay, I know I’m taking you right back to the worrying part of having a new teenage driver. But I also know that there are a lot of states that don’t require driver’s education classes. And there are even less schools that have autoshop elective classes. And probably a lot of parents don’t know, or maybe just don’t remember, basic car care.
Honestly, it’s easy stuff to forget – especially if you’ve been lucky enough to not need to use that information. Don’t fret; I’ve got you covered with a few different checklists. All you need to do is print them out and review them with your new driver. If you want to go the extra mile, go ahead and laminate these printables and attach them to items in the new driver gift basket so your teen can stash them in the car for safe-keeping.
And just because there are some very valid concerns that come along with it, having a new driver can also be a pretty awesome milestone for parents.
Think about it:
If you include the above items in a new driver gift basket, you’ll also be assured that your teen has what they need for most emergency situations they might encounter while they’re out driving. That’s a total parenting WIN.
Did I leave anything off? I would love to hear any ideas you have to add to this list of good gift ideas for new drivers. Send me an email at: melanie@planforawesome.com.
Use this comprehensive list of essentials to DIY your emergency car kit. Let vehicle size and location help you decide which items you should keep in your car.
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