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For previous generations of American youth, getting a driver’s license meant one thing: freedom. Personal mobility was freedom, plain and simple. A teenager could realistically get a license, a used car, and hit the road. It was even more dramatic for rural and suburban teenagers with less access to public transit and even sidewalks. However, as time marches on, fewer teenagers are opting for licenses, instead relying on mobility alternatives. And I can’t fault them for their reasoning.

Many teenagers are saying no thanks to driver’s licenses amid high ownership costs, concerns, and the availability of different transportation

Perhaps to the delight of parents who don’t want to add their headstrong teenager to their insurance policy, fewer teens are driving. Between 1995 and 2021, The share of licensed drivers ages 20-24 from 87 percent to 81 percent. Today, less than 70% of 19-year-olds have a driver’s license. Instead, teens are relying on alternative forms of mobility like public transportation, riding with family, and using other types of transport.

  • Environmental concerns
  • The ownership expenses of cars
  • Availability of alternative transportation

For starters, today’s teenagers are more environmentally conscious than the youth of previous generations. According to The Hill, millennials and Generation Z “zoomers” care about the emissions caused by internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. “Gen Z is very environmentally conscious,” said UIC Associate Professor Kate Lowe. Lowe, one of UIC’s urban planning and policy academics, remarks that even Gen Z may embrace the car as they age and have families.

Breanne Armstrong of J.D. Power that expensive cars and insurance may influence teenagers to opt out of getting a license. For instance, the average car prices are up over 30% since pre-pandemic levels. Tragically, comprehensive car insurance policies are also up around 12%. It’s simply too expensive for some teens to buy and insure a car in 2024. Well, that and teens want to spend their money elsewhere.

Finally, you’ll find fewer high school and college-age teenagers getting licenses because, well, they don’t have to. The face of transportation and even presence have changed. For starters, young people have access to (in many cases) better public transportation than before. Also, teens can rely on solutions like E-bikes, scooters, and even portable electric options like Onewheels.

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Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and M-ATVs. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with experience covering everything from sports cars to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations (IRG) from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC).