Pro of driving: availability to go wherever you want, whenever you want. It’s a pretty convincing argument but not convincing enough for Gen Z. 

The amount of 16-year-olds getting driver’s licenses has nearly halved since the 1980s. Teenagers have mostly been hauling rides with lyft and uber. There are also rising prices for new vehicles like Ford and Chevy which has traditionally been starter cars for teens. This is especially because 63% of Gen Z have been purchasing used cars. 

One of the main issues is the most obvious: money. Paying auto bills and maintenance while keeping a sustainable job and keeping up with school is a perfect recipe for burning out. Gen Z has also taken a liking for big-city colleges where the quality of transportation has radically improved. Gen Z lives in the age where “Driver’s Ed” are not commonly implemented in their school so now teens have to go out of their way to learn and pay for these classes. Today a driver’s education package is anywhere between $200-$800. 

The dependency on others without a car (most of the time also without money) can be embarrassing and is completely necessary when finally hitting college. So here are some tips for a permit/license:

Requirements:

• Must be at least 16 years old;
• Must hold learner’s license for at least one year (12 months) OR reach age 18, whichever comes first;
• A parent, legal guardian or responsible adult over 21 years old must complete the Certification of Minor Driving Experience Form, certifying the driver has 50 hours of driving experience, of which 10 hours must be at night. 
• NO moving violation convictions for one year from learner’s license date of issuance (OR may have one moving violation as long as adjudication was withheld);
• Must pass Class E Driving Skills Test;
• The vehicle used for the driving test must have a valid registration, proof of insurance and pass a basic vehicle inspection that is conducted by the driver license examiner to determine that it is safe for a driving test; and
• Must provide documents needed to establish proof of identity, proof of Social Security number and proof of residential address if you have not previously provided these documents. 

Firsttimedriver.com allows you to complete Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course, and driver’s license all under the same website. (Comes with a cost of $50)

https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/licensing-requirements-teens-graduated-driver-license-laws-driving-curfews/ 

This website gives a step by step take on what to do and how to do it. It also provides handbooks to study from (for free) so you will be ready for the test.

Photo Credit: Carmen Ordonez