Gen Z is in no rush to get behind the wheel. Federal Highway Administration data shows only 25% of 16-year-olds in the U.S. had a driver’s license in 2022, down from roughly half in 1983. YPulse’s Auto report found the same pattern, but even more recently: 16-17-year-olds with a license dropped from 74% in 2016 to just 48% in 2025. Most do plan to eventually get one, but there are a lot of reasons for them to wait longer. For many the barriers are financial, citing factors like driving school costs nearing $700 and used car prices soaring. Instead, they’re opting for rideshares, buses, and asking for rides from parents. The parents aren’t happy though—Reddit forums are full of Gen X moms and dads complaining about chauffeuring their teens or twentysomethings old enough to drive themselves. (Business Insider)
👀 Read more from YPulse: Driving is No Longer a Rite of Passage for Teens
