Why do kids seem to be driving later than they used to "back in the day"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid's perfect world would be a car be can get into, tell it where he wants to go, and then sit back and scroll through social media while the car drives him where he wants to go. And I think he is not alone. This generation is ripe for self-driving cars.

Yup x1000!

My almost 17-year-old says he doesn’t need to drive anywhere because he can just text or call his friends. Most of his friends also feel the same way. Our rule has become that he has to get his license before he leaves for college. He just recently told us that he’d like to get his permit on his 17th birthday (I think a couple of his friends have gone and decided to go ahead and get their licenses).

I actually have a friend who did not get her drivers license till she got married in her 30s. Turns out she had tried when she was 16 and the instructor scared her to death. So she just never went back.

[Anonymous]

Mine want to drive. Lyft and Uber get expensive and they like the idea of having the freedom. It’s not relegated to the 80s. They think it’s one of the highlights of getting older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the answers given here are missing the mark.
I live in a far out suburb, that is not walkable, Uber friendly and heavily reliant on cars, and many kids here delay getting their licenses as well. Obviously there is something different about today’s culture.

They can online game and hang out with their friends, so getting together in person isn't, or doesn't seem, as important, I suppose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I already point our driving tips, traffic sign meanings, rules of the road, etc., while driving with my 11 yo. I've started asking her to help me navigate. My mom did the same with me. It will be her choice when you wants to get her license, but I think it's important for her to know how to drive as a teenager, including learning how to drive a manual car. It's a life skill, and even if she lives in a city with public transportation for the rest of her life, I want her to be capable. I don't want her to ever feel entirely reliant on Lyft/Uber, peer drivers, or other parents.

Having my kid bike on the streets and learning the signs and rules of the road checked this box. And as a PP noted, having them sit in the front seat, while pointing things out and helping to navigate all helped too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how much car insurance is now for your teenage son? My son is about to get his learner’s permit and I haven’t called for a quote from State Farm.

$1000 more a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine want to drive. Lyft and Uber get expensive and they like the idea of having the freedom. It’s not relegated to the 80s. They think it’s one of the highlights of getting older.

How much more do you pay in insurance and gas as compared to the Uber and Lyft costs?

[Anonymous]

Our Uber bill was insane. Driving a car is a life skill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our Uber bill was insane. Driving a car is a life skill.

Car bills are insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our Uber bill was insane. Driving a car is a life skill.

Who’s “Our”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our Uber bill was insane. Driving a car is a life skill.

Ours was 1/2 the coat of insurance… it’s ours because kids can afford it and I don’t want them in my house all weekend or stressed out their designated driver drank and they can’t afford an Uber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insurance for teen drivers is way more expensive now and public transportation is better, also, lyft/uber. Lots of kids (and adults) get where they need to go without driving a car.

Our insurance went up 200% when my oldest got his drivers license. He's 18 now and it's come down a bit, but I'm not eager for my 16-year-old get a license. Because of COVID, we weren't able to get a DMV appointment for the permit test until the end of this month. I'm going to try to drag the process out as long as possible.

[Anonymous]

Getting your license is a big responsibility that kids should have to deal with while still at home. They have to study for their written to prepare for their permit, driving you to the grocery store and school for six months or more and then take the drivers test. Its less about expecting a new car with a red bow in the driveway and more about them taking that first small step into adulthood. Not to mention, if they're out somewhere with friends and they're the only one that can drive for whatever reason, you want them to be equipped to do so.

My sibling waited to get their license until they were in their mid-20's and they were the stereotypical failure to start. I'm not saying its BECAUSE they didnt get their license, I just believe that to be the first of many things that kids don't want to deal with and parents don't want to push them to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already point our driving tips, traffic sign meanings, rules of the road, etc., while driving with my 11 yo. I've started asking her to help me navigate. My mom did the same with me. It will be her choice when you wants to get her license, but I think it's important for her to know how to drive as a teenager, including learning how to drive a manual car. It's a life skill, and even if she lives in a city with public transportation for the rest of her life, I want her to be capable. I don't want her to ever feel entirely reliant on Lyft/Uber, peer drivers, or other parents.

Lol this sounds like it was written in 1993. Nobody "navigates anymore" - everyone under 50 uses Waze. Manual transmission already does not exist on almost any good performance cars anymore (where manual is most likely to be an option) and major brands have already stated their intention to drop manual transmissions from most cars (even in Europe!). Only 2% of cars have manual transmission and even that is shrinking. 5 years from now it will all be self-driving electric cars. I agree, knowing how to drive a car is a good skill to have, but "navigating" and "stick shift" have already not been things for a decade

Yes, navigate by using Google Maps, Waze, or our car's GPS. She enters the address, previews the route, etc. Also, I'm farsighted, so sometimes I'll have her tell me where to go if I don't have my glasses or feel like wearing them.

Manual transmissions are still dominate in Europe, and in the U.S., several sports cars and Jeep models are still made with stick shifts. Plus, they're more fuel efficient and fun to drive. It's also easier to learn to drive a motorcycle if you already know how to drive a manual car. I've driven and done all of these things.

To each their own, I guess. Not sure why this triggered you so much that you felt the need to be snotty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how much car insurance is now for your teenage son? My son is about to get his learner’s permit and I haven’t called for a quote from State Farm.

$1000 more a year.

+1, about the same/little more from Geico with the "good student discount" applied. We didn't get a hike with the learner's permit though, but it came with the license (hence the reason people say they are dragging it out).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m curious how much car insurance is now for your teenage son? My son is about to get his learner’s permit and I haven’t called for a quote from State Farm.

$1000 more a year.

+1, about the same/little more from Geico with the "good student discount" applied. We didn't get a hike with the learner's permit though, but it came with the license (hence the reason people say they are dragging it out).

+ 1, also with Geico and we added a car. The increase for him as a driver came when he was a licensed driver, not during the learner's permit phase. The real savings come from bundling and the parents' good driving history. The "good student discount" is pennies in comparison.