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Can child support cover a car for a teen in Texas?
I'm the custodial parent and receive child support from my ex. Can I use the money to help buy my teen a car? He will also be contributing some money of his own.
Sophie Newman · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“Generally, child support is money that you can use to help pay for your child’s basic needs such as education, food, and shelter. In
Texas
, the law does not define what child support needs to be used for, so you can generally put the money toward whatever seems appropriate. If your teen will need a car to drive to school and/or work, this seems like an appropriate use. Since Texas doesn’t restrict the use of child support, you should legally be able to use this money to
buy a car
. If you’re financing a vehicle, you may need to provide the lender proof of income, which can include the child support you receive. Don’t be surprised if they ask for this. You aren’t required to provide this, but it can help show financially stability and improve your chances for loan approval. If you’re buying a used car with cash, this won’t be an issue.
You should also keep in mind that when your teen purchases a car (with your help), they will need to be added to your
car insurance
policy or have their own policy
. Adding a teen driver will increase your rates, but the price doesn’t have to be astronomical. Try using the free
Jerry
app to compare rates from the top 50 companies and get the best deals delivered to your phone in minutes. Jerry even does all the paperwork for you, including cancelling your old policy.”View full answer
- Gregory R.
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