Author Topic: When Did You Get Your Driver's License? (Read 2332 times)

pg1067 · « **on:** October 29, 2020, 04:09:59 PM »

This is just a random curiosity, and I'm more curious about U.S. drivers, but no reason why others can't respond. As far as I know, the overwhelming majority of U.S. states have the legal driving at 16 years old. I think maybe a couple states have it lower, and I don't know anywhere that has it higher.

I got my license in 1983, within a week after turning 16, and this was pretty standard at the time (as far as I knew). Nowadays, it seems like there's much less desire among kids to get licensed. Both of my kids COULD have their licenses, but neither does (and I'm not objecting), and my 16yo tells me that almost none of her friends have their licenses.

MirrorMask · « **Reply #1 on:** October 29, 2020, 04:18:30 PM »

In Italy you can get it when you come of age, 18. Got it at 20. Didn't really care that much for cars and I was never counting the days before I was 18 to finally get it, but eventually I realized it was something I needed to do and I took it when I was 20.

Anguyen92 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 29, 2020, 04:34:01 PM »

I got it at the Age of 19. I wasn't really in a rush to get my license. The schools I was going to were close so I just took the bus in an attempt to save money.

The Walrus · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2020, 04:36:25 PM »

born with it

Phoenix87x · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2020, 04:50:04 PM »

Learner's permit while still 15 and full drivers license at 16

Nick · « **Reply #5 on:** October 29, 2020, 04:55:22 PM »

Right after I passed the test!

El Barto · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:14:01 PM »

I went with immediately after I turned 18, but only because I don't remember if it was before or after. Sixteen is the norm here, but I didn't see any point to buying a license to drive a car I didn't have.

Cool Chris · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:19:47 PM »

I got it right when I turned 16, and I feel most of my peers did as well.

I have heard from peers who have older kids, and read stories, about teenagers opting to wait to get their license, though I do not know if it can be attributed to one single reason. I have no idea one would not want to get their license. Even if you never plan to drive, it is still a valid ID for airports, for example.

TAC · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:37:14 PM »

Quote from: The Walrus on October 29, 2020, 04:36:25 PM

born with it

More like born that way..

wolfking · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:38:16 PM »

I think 17.

TAC · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:39:57 PM »

In Massachusetts, you can get your permit at 16 and your license at 16 1/2. I would've gotten my at exactly 16 1/6 but I remember my parents went on vacation, and they didn't want me to get it while they were away. Good choice.
I got it as soon as they came back.

My stepson may have been 18 before he got his. My son got his right around his 17th birthday.

Grappler · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:41:16 PM »

4 months after turning 16 - I took driver's ed over the summer, after my 16th birthday.

gmillerdrake · « **Reply #12 on:** October 29, 2020, 06:43:51 PM »

On my 16th birthday. Which now, with my oldest being 14.....makes me think why the

do we let 16 year old kids drive?

King Postwhore · « **Reply #13 on:** October 29, 2020, 07:39:31 PM »

5 months after I turned 16 and in the same month, I got a job. What a coincidence.

jingle.boy · « **Reply #14 on:** October 29, 2020, 08:27:47 PM »

16 and 90 days. At the time in Ontario, you were able to get a 90 day learners permit at 16, and couldn’t get your full license until after those 90 days.

Quote from: gmillerdrake on October 29, 2020, 06:43:51 PM

On my 16th birthday. Which now, with my oldest being 14.....makes me think why the do we let 16 year old kids drive?

Right? Now in Ontario, it’s a minimum 16 month graduated program before you can get your full license.

The Walrus · « **Reply #15 on:** October 29, 2020, 08:32:54 PM »

In all seriousness, I got mine when I was 199 months old

TAC · « **Reply #16 on:** October 29, 2020, 08:47:11 PM »

Quote from: The Walrus on October 29, 2020, 08:32:54 PM

In all seriousness, I got mine when I was 199 months old

What the fuck kind of post is that?

King Postwhore · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2020, 08:48:13 PM »

I'm not doing math man.

The Walrus · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2020, 10:00:34 PM »

Snow Dog · « **Reply #19 on:** October 29, 2020, 10:47:10 PM »

Quote from: gmillerdrake on October 29, 2020, 06:43:51 PM

On my 16th birthday.

This was me. Got home from school and my dad immediately drove me to the DMV to get it. I had already taken and passed my tests through the drivers ed class offered in public school, so it was as easy as filling out the paperwork, taking the eye exam, having my picture taken, and forking over the cash.

To Barto’s point, though, I probably drove less than ten times from that day till I graduated high school.

Zydar · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2020, 01:08:51 AM »

I think I was 26. Never had a need for it before that, really. I don't drive now either, don't have a use for it since I have a 10 minute walk to work.

wolfking · « **Reply #21 on:** October 30, 2020, 01:15:17 AM »

Quote from: The Walrus on October 29, 2020, 08:32:54 PM

In all seriousness, I got mine when I was 199 months old

Why did you work this out like that?

Elite · « **Reply #22 on:** October 30, 2020, 03:42:06 AM »

I was 20 when I got mine. I failed my first exam when I was 18 and didn't have lessons for a while as well.

Back when I started the minimum age was 18, but I think you can start at 16 nowadays, they changed that here.

Evermind · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2020, 04:06:20 AM »

Got it when I was 19. Still have it but have never driven a car since that, it's just not worth it. I'd rather take a train to work.

Podaar · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2020, 04:52:19 AM »

The moment I turned 16. My parents really wanted me to drive myself to school. We lived pretty far away from my high school for various complicated reasons that I haven't had enough coffee to relate.

frogprog · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2020, 05:26:12 AM »

15. I lived in Florida at the time (1983) and that was the legal age. Seems kinda young to me now.

The Walrus · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2020, 05:39:30 AM »

Quote from: wolfking on October 30, 2020, 01:15:17 AM

Quote from: The Walrus on October 29, 2020, 08:32:54 PM
In all seriousness, I got mine when I was 199 months old

Why did you work this out like that?

I thought it was funny

wolfking · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2020, 05:42:47 AM »

Quote from: The Walrus on October 30, 2020, 05:39:30 AM

Quote from: wolfking on October 30, 2020, 01:15:17 AM
Quote from: The Walrus on October 29, 2020, 08:32:54 PM
In all seriousness, I got mine when I was 199 months old

Why did you work this out like that?

I thought it was funny

Well, you got the reaction you asked for.

Stadler · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2020, 08:24:08 AM »

Quote from: pg1067 on October 29, 2020, 04:09:59 PM

I got my license in 1983, within a week after turning 16, and this was pretty standard at the time (as far as I knew).

Exactly me. I also got a speeding ticket - 85 in a 55 - about three weeks after that. Not my finest hour.

Chino · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2020, 08:26:29 AM »

At 16 years and 4 months I was eligible for my license. I got my license at 16 years, 4 months, and 1 day. I couldn't wait to drive.

I work a kitchen job on Sundays and we have some young kids that do prep work. They're 18+ and are in no rush to get their licenses. I don't get it. I understand there's Uber and stuff, but still.

Stadler · « **Reply #30 on:** October 30, 2020, 08:35:59 AM »

It does depend a bit on where you live. I grew up in a small town, farm town (then), and you kind of needed a car. There were no malls, no McDonald's, no beaches, nothing in my town. I played hockey, and every game was in Bridgeport, a 20 minute drive (unless you were going 85 in a 55; I was on my way to hockey practice when that happened). I also had a job working as a janitor; I worked at two schools in my town, one I could walk to, one I couldn't, but I didn't want to be dropped off at work by my mom.

Dublagent66 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 30, 2020, 08:40:25 AM »

Quote from: Phoenix87x on October 29, 2020, 04:50:04 PM

Learner's permit while still 15 and full drivers license at 16

Same here. Drove for a year before getting license.

New World Rushman · « **Reply #32 on:** October 30, 2020, 12:04:15 PM »

In NJ it's permit at 16 1/2 and License at 17. Got mine in 1980, on my 17th birthday.

Herrick · « **Reply #33 on:** October 30, 2020, 12:11:02 PM »

I was 20 when I got my license.

pg1067 · « **Reply #34 on:** October 30, 2020, 03:04:56 PM »

The other odd thing is that, when I was in HS, driver's ed was a required class. It was a one semester course for sophomores, and you took health the other semester. For some reason, they scheduled me to have driver's ed during my first semester, when I was still 14 (turned 15 about 8 weeks into the semester). I finished the class, but it was another 3 months before I could get my learner's permit (at 15 1/2). My two best friends, on the other hand, had their birthdays in March and April, but they had health the first semester, so they turned 16 and still couldn't get their permits because they hadn't completed the class.

Nowadays, not only is driver's ed not a required class, it isn't even offered at my kids' school, except as an "enrichment" class over the summer (at a cost of $100-something). And, of course, there's the online option.

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When Did You Get Your Driver's License

Author Topic: When Did You Get Your Driver's License? (Read 2332 times)