How old were you when you got your driver's license?

[Karen*]

I'm asking this question cuz my younger 17-year-old brother just scheduled his driver's test for next month and it makes me feel really crappy cuz I'm older than him (I'm 18) and I'm STILL unlicensed! I have my permit, but everytime I ask my parents if they can teach me how to drive, they say no and tell me I'm never going to be good enough to drive. It's been like that for the past two years. I've held my permit for that long, had to renew it once, and hardly ever got training from my parents. I take public transportation to school and work and other places, but a lot of times I have to fetch rides from my parents or my friends' parents (Yeah, all of the people I'm really tight with don't drive either, doesn't that suck?). I really wish I could get around on my own without having to worry if I'm going to be late to places or having to bug my parents when they've got other stuff to worry about.

Anyway, that ends my little rant. Are there any late bloomers in this department as well?

[Czas na Zywiec]

permit at 15, licensed by 16. but around here I really needed a car to get around. I can't wait to go back East so I can stop being so dependant on my car so much.

[PrettyinPink55]

I was 17.

[Fleet]

I was just under 18 years old. 17 years and 11 months to be exact. And it was about time because I had been a car fan and had (stlll do) many car magazines from age 15.

[Brent88]

About 16 1/2(February 2005), after 2 other times taking the test. I got my permit within a week of turning 15.

Oddly enough though, only recently have I began to drive regularly, mostly related to college things(which I don't actually start til January 8th).

[PZelda]

In the state of North Dakota, you can be age 14 to have your driver's permit. Age 14 1/2 to have your license. So, there are always eighth-graders around here that have their permits or licenses. Scaaaaaary... But it's because ND is such a rural state and public transportation here sucks major donkey's testicles, so the driver age unfortunately needs to be that low. I know waaaaaaaay too many people that got killed in car accidents as kids.

Anyway, that said, I'm 21 and will never be able to drive. I could drive since I know the basics, but it's not a good idea. I have a vision disability where I have near-normal central vision (20/25 in one eye and 20/30 in another eye), BUT I have really ****ty side vision, and that prevents me from being able to learn how to drive. I would miss things that people with normal vision would instantly notice. HOWEVER! I make an excellent front-seat passenger... If the driver is distracted and I'm being observant, I can stop them from doing whatever. I've actually saved ourselves from getting into a car accident a number of times doing this.

[Jo_Luvs_Ketchup]

I'll be 83.

[James]

I was 19 when I got mine. I didn't learn until I was out of high school. I never gave it that much thought until I learned in my senior year that some people in the grade below me had theirs that I desperately wanted mine, even putting it on my Christmas list! Talk about psychological! I was pretty miserable the rest of my senior year!

When someone mentioned their learner's permit, I was reminded of how I was worried that it would expire since I got it right before my sophomore year of college started in August 1991. (I was rattled when I saw Kevin--or was it Paul?--say "Next year we get our driver's licenses" on The Wonder Years that previous May.)

I didn't get my first car until a month before my 23rd birthday in 1995. That is when I started driving so much that I was responsible for gas and all that jazz. Because of this gassing up is such a big deal; one day I was with my father and he stopped at a station to fill up, and I thought he was pretty lucky to be able to do something like that! I was rather envious. Oh, well, that's in the past. Going to the dealer for maintenance is not that big a deal and doesn't provide that "psychological boost" filling up did (and still does today, to an extent).

Ah, memories!

[Mr. Stefani]

16 for permit, got my license at 17. I cant imagine not having gotten it then. i hated depending on other peopel for rides.

[swedeace]

I was about one week shy of my 18th birthday when I got my driver's license.

[swedeace]

Originally Posted by PZelda

HOWEVER! I make an excellent front-seat passenger... If the driver is distracted and I'm being observant, I can stop them from doing whatever. I've actually saved ourselves from getting into a car accident a number of times doing this.

Wow, Allison! That is really awesome!! I think having observant eyes help. So many people are distracted with noise (especially with music and being on the cellphone) that they don't notice other factors as easily.

[tdf4077]

Permit at 15; license at 16.

So funny story: The day I got my license, I scored perfectly on the manueverability component of my driver's test (and missed a few parts on the road component), and when I got home, I manuevered myself directly into the garage...wall.

[Brian Damage]

16

[dragster58]

Exactly 16 and nine months (NSW, Australia).

[FOLrocks1]

Don't feel bad. I'm 18 too and have had my permit for about a year and still don't have my license. It really pisses me off too becuase my mom never wants to take me anywhere so I have to rely on friends and friend's parents to drive me a lot of the time. It sucks but I've saved enough money I think to be able to get that and a car here soon.