Getting a car is something many American teens dream about and they love customizing their new rides. Teens decorate their cars with seat covers, stickers, window paint, and more. 

“I decorate my car with 70-80s themed peace flowers,” junior Teagan Southwick said. “I have stickers, steering wheel, and seat belt covers, flowers for the air vents, and flower pillows. I think it suits my style and personality.”

If they want to take it to the next level, they can change more costly things like wheels, lights, sound systems, exhaust, and even engines. Some car modifications become more favored than others. A popular trend these days is putting different exhausts on a car or truck to make it louder. Putting a lift kit on a truck is another common thing to do, giving it more ground clearance.

“If I had the money I would put a sub [subwoofer]  in it and would put seat covers [in],” junior Trey Scott said. “On the outside, I would have new rims and better racing tires.”

Teens can decorate their vehicles as a sign of individuality. They often treat their car like their bedroom. When they get their car, there are two types of teenagers, the first type keeps their car spotless, While the other doesn’t care for garbage covering their seats. 

“I clean it about every 1 to 2 weeks,”  junior Trey Scott said. “Depending on how dirty it gets and how many times I use it.” 

Writing on car windows with window paint is a creative way to put messages. It is most commonly used to support sports like state events or some seniors also use this to show that they are graduating.

 “I painted my graduation year on it once too,” senior Gracie Wolf said. “I do it because it looks cool, is fun, and I can express myself.”

While decorating can be about being different and unique, people who share common interests in decorations, styles, and cars, form a community of car owners that get along because of their similarities.

Car meets are becoming a popular event that involves people, mostly teens and young adults,  bringing their own modified car to a parking lot where they can show it off and talk to other people who enjoy cars. These meets can also be a place to sell cars.

To some people, changing their car is just what they prefer, but to others, it is also about having an impact on other people. 

 “I really like the idea of spreading peace and kindness through my car decorations,” Southwick said. “A lot of car decorations are meant to be funny jokes. I like mine to spread a positive message to people on the road around me. I also have a lot of fun finding ways to add more to my decorations.”