<p>Nice work bumping a year old thread.</p>
<p>I hadn’t even realized, I was actually searching for something else…well, it might be of interest to someone else. : )</p>
<p>I got my driver’s license a few weeks before I went to college. Where I live it’s not a huge deal, public transport is pretty good and I could usually get a ride from friends/family. I have my license now but still no car… my parents won’t buy me one, I don’t want to spend ages saving up for one, and insurance for me if I owned my own car would be a few hundred dollars a month. I think $300 was the last quote I got. Not for the six month coverage but for each individual month! I often wish I had a car though… practically every other kid in my high school got one when they got their licenses :|</p>
<p>Comparatively, a motorcycle is much cheaper and the insurance is a hell of a lot cheaper (something like $70/mo for me). Yeah they’re dangerous, but still, the added mobility of having a motorcycle over not having any motor vehicle is tempting.</p>
<p>Sometimes, but usually it’s not a big deal. I’m 19, American, and I can’t drive. I do plan on getting my license this summer though…but because I need to be less dependent on my parents and get around myself, not because I’m embarrassed.</p>
<p>It’s usually no biggie, but in the US, even in several urban areas (eg. especially Houston), it’s impossible to get around without driving.</p>
<p>However, the good news is: driver’s licenses are relatively easy to get in the US, especially if you are over 18. If you put yourself to the task, you can probably get one within two months or so.</p>
<p>While people do get away driving without a license, the point of a license ensures that you’ve learned several tactics to keep yourself safe and avoid accidents. For example, knowing how to adjust your mirrors to ensure the least amount of blind spots. These points only truly matter occasionally, but they’ll be extremely helpful when you do need them. Vehicles are dangerous machines, so for both you and other people’s safety, learn how to drive and get a license before driving. Now, if they suspend your license for something completely stupid (eg. graffitti), then that’s another thing.</p>
<p>I’m at UC Berkeley, and approximately 20% of the student population don’t have a driver’s license. Since cars are very rare here, there’s no embarrassment in not being able to drive. I have a driver’s license, but I heavily prefer to get around via bike.</p>
<p>I don’t know how anyone would ever know. Chances are in most circumstances you could get by with saying “I don’t have a car” rather than admitting you don’t have a license, and even if you did have to say so given that you’re an international I don’t think anyone would care. I have a friend from Korea who is 21 and doesn’t have her license because she’s too scared to take the test, it’s not like anybody makes fun of her. If you weren’t an international I would admittedly think it’s a little weird but it’s not like I’d say something, not everybody is ready to drive the moment they’re old enough-- I got my license two years after I was eligible.</p>
<p>I don’t have my license for a lot of reasons, but the major one is cost. I don’t have the money for gas, insurance, replacements, or a car, let alone repairs or accidents. Why bother?</p>
<p>Insurance is definitely the killer for me. I would try and find an ultra-reliable car. I’m a very good driver so my risk of damage would pretty much lie on other drivers. Overall I’d end up spending little on repairs and maintenance. But insurance would still send me to the poor(er) house.</p>
<p>'The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average drivers." - Dave Barry 
</p>
<p>lol </p>
<p>but I actually do think I’m pretty decent. I follow the speed limit, stay in the right lanes, always do a shoulder check when changing lanes, never text whilst in motion, rarely take calls, and pretty much everything else that’s the hallmark of a safe driver.</p>
<p>I’m definitely not the best but I’m miles above the idiots who text or drink and drive </p>
<p>Yup, and those idiots that think they can text or drink and drive obviously think they are above average drivers. Hence they are driving even though they know they shouldn’t be!</p>
<p>I really wouldn’t have a problem with it if it didn’t affect other drivers/pedestrians/bikers/nature.</p>
<p>i dont drive for the simple fact that it is way too expensive and i already have to pay for my school tuition. Plus, my school is in a city and the transportation system is great and i can always take the train home.</p>
<p>For those that don’t have their license because they can’t afford a car-- I have had three separate incidents in the past 6 months alone when someone has been sick or injured and needed me to drive them home or to the doctor in their car because I went out with them and then they fell ill and couldn’t drive themselves home. Or my personal favorite, when you go out with a buddy and even though THEY KNOW they have to drive home they drink anyway. I for one think that if you are in a position to get the license, even if it’s just going to sit in your wallet for a while, it’s a smart idea to have it. Driving is a life skill.</p>
<p>I’d agree that it’s a good idea to have a driver’s license even if you don’t have a car.</p>
<p>Just remember that having a driver’s license is totally different from being insured, having a car, having registration, etc. The driver’s license is just a certificate that you are authorized to drive a legally registered vehicle, assuming all conditions (such as insurance) are met.</p>
<p>So, the only cost of a driver’s license is the education fee plus the actual application fee.</p>
<p>It’s usually cars that are insured, and the only legally-required insurance for driving is liability insurance. Because of how it works, the liability insurance applies to all licensed drivers who are operating a certain vehicle instead of to a certain driver.</p>
<p>What this comes down to is – after you get your license, there is no other cost to just having it. The costs come from actually owning / regularly driving a car. If you have a license but don’t actually drive, that’s OK – you’re still legally allowed to occasionally drive a friend’s car. So, expense shouldn’t be a reason to not get a driver’s license. It’s only a reason to not have a car.</p>
<p>Move to NYC.
It’s pretty normal that most people don’t have a license.</p>
<p>I’m 19 and don’t have a license. In NY we get permits at 16, then Junior License at 17 and License at 18. In HS driver’s ed was done so people with earlier birthdays got priority - mine is end of November, so I didn’t take driver’s ed til end of 12th grade. After graduation I went abroad with Habitat for Humanity for 3 months, then moved to Manhattan for college when I was still 17 - never took my road test. No one drives in NYC, none of my friends have a car and I have very little driving experience…so no clue how I’m going to get my license! : (</p>
<p>I’m not in a rush though since driving is useless in NYC and I plan to stay here after graduation, too. We walk around here, keeps us trim. :)</p>
<p>Surely there are driving schools in NYC?</p>
<p>Of course there are.</p>
<p>The problem is that most people can’t afford parking, and driving usually takes longer than just taking the subway. Since having a car is usually a bigger hassle than not having one, a lot of people skip getting a license all together.</p>
<p>So it’s pretty typical to see people without licenses, even in their 30s and 40s.</p>
<p>Though what is humorous is how a lot of car dealers in the city put their test driving routes (or whatever they’re called) on top of sky scrapers and people will drive on rooftops.</p>
<p>Christ that’s insane and awesome at the same time. I’d sure hate to own a car dealership in NYC though. It’s probably worse business than if they opened up in Somalia.</p>