When I was a teenager, there was no question: getting a driver’s license was a rite of passage, eagerly anticipated, and celebrated with newfound freedom. Sure, there were fees and protocol at the time, but they pale in comparison to what it takes to earn a drivers license these days. The process was simple: attend a sketchy driving school for one Saturday and learn all the rules of the road – sidebar: my most prominent memory of Drivers Ed has zero to do with the actual education–a girl in the class smuggled her pet flying squirrel into class in her sweatshirt – complete the driving portion of the class, and show up at the DMV bright and early on the morning of your 16th birthday to get your drivers license. 

Today, things look different. My oldest son will be 16 soon, and he still doesn’t even have his TIP card. (What’s a TIP card?!) He doesn’t even talk about driving. “I dunno, it’s pretty expensive…” he trails off. While he wouldn’t have to pay for it all himself, he would be responsible for paying for his gas and monthly insurance (more on that later) and contributing to the cost of a vehicle, as well as some of the drivers ed fees. But even if he were given everything on a silver platter like his maternal grandmother’s daughter was, I’m still not sure the once-coveted drivers license has the same chokehold on teen culture it once did.

Many parents notice their teens are in no rush to hit the road. In fact, some teens actively avoid it. Is this a Zachary trend, a generational shift, or something else entirely? I decided to take this question to the community—and the responses poured in.

The Milestone Has Changed

“I think it’s because we had no choice but to learn to drive if we wanted interaction,” says Zachary resident Jodi Shields. “Kids now have the world and their friends at their fingertips, so there is no need to go anywhere.”

Of the 80 responses my question received, Sara Horn of Zachary Travel said something that really stuck out to me. “They connect with their friends online way before they’re old enough for a [drivers license], so by the time it comes up they aren’t in a rush at all. I think “getting first phone” is the milestone that is overshadowing driving now,” she wrote. 

Getting that first phone! Suddenly, it all makes sense. Our phones have given teens the freedom and connectivity having a car once did. Why did we all want a car so badly back then? To see friends, hit the mall, or go out to eat—all things that now take just the push of a button. My teenagers regularly “hang out” with their friends over FaceTime, often just doing homework silently together and chiming in when they need help. If they’re home alone and craving a Big Mac or some chicken, DoorDash can have it at our door in twelve minutes. And if they want a new pair of running shoes and have some extra cash in their teen accounts at Bank of Zachary, they can Amazon or eBay it right over.

You’ll notice I said want earlier, which isn’t the same as need. While having a teen who can drive themselves to and from school, practices, and social events certainly makes life easier for parents, it’s not a necessity for many Zachary families. When I was in high school, I couldn’t wait to drive myself the 30-minute commute each way. But Zachary isn’t the sprawling, interstate-connected city of Baton Rouge; schools here are typically just a few minutes’ drive from the town’s main neighborhoods. Many kids live within walking distance of the middle and high schools, and texting makes it easy for them to keep parents updated on their transportation plans.

Bribery

One funny recurring theme in the comments was how many parents used the words “bribe” and “force.” It’s hard to believe that’s what it takes to get a teen behind the wheel these days, but check out these comments:

• “Bribing our teens with drivers Ed has gotten us nowhere,” says a friend from elementary school who lives in Baton Rouge.

• “My stepson had no desire to learn how to drive and my husband basically had to force it,” a college friend who now lives in Houston said. “And all the teen girls I get to babysit aren’t that interested either! I think because they can communicate with their friends constantly and get anything they want delivered to the house instantly.”

• “It’s totally a “kids these days” thing. I have a couple friends in Texas who basically had to bribe and incentivize their kids into getting them. It was very odd to all of us. I’ve heard that between anxiety about driving and just being content to stay home and chat to friends on whatever screen, needing to in-person drive/socialize isn’t as pressing. I don’t get it.”

• “I had to force him to get his learners permit and he had it for at least a year and a half showing no interest in getting his license and he always wanted me to drive. I finally told him I wasn’t driving him to the first day of senior year or any days after that. I retired as his chauffeur. That forced him to get his drivers license. Honestly, I get it: I want a chauffeur.”

Once upon a time, teens got their cars taken away a punishment. These days, you're just as likely to hear a parent threatening to make their 16 year old get a drivers license if they don't bring those grades up!

It’s about the money

Money also plays a big role. One parent calculated that her family had already spent over $2,000 on driver’s education for her children. Another parent points out the immediate impact of adding a teen driver to the family’s insurance: “It more than doubles when they get their license.” While exact numbers will vary and not everyone’s will necessarily double, most of the numbers reported were at least $100 more a month, and one was as high as $320/mo. 

“The drivers Ed process has gotten more expensive and cumbersome even since [my daughter] went 7 years ago,” reports a friend in Baton Rouge. I wasn’t able to find any historical data from the 1900s (as in 1999) about what the cost of drivers ed was, but my mom reports it was “probably $100 max.” Nowadays:

• a TIP (temporary insurance permit) card must be obtained prior to the first day of driving school. $32.25 plus a fee of up to $6.

• Driver’s Ed classes, which include 30 hours of in-class instruction and 8 hours behind the wheel with a driving instructor ranges from $525 to $650 depending on the school

I'm frankly too overwhelmed to type out the whole TIP card to permit to license conversion, but you can Google it. The idea of waiting to avoid these costs has become part of the parenting strategy. Several parents mentioned letting their kids get a learner’s permit, which doesn't affect insurance rates, and waiting until they’re closer to 18 to get a full license. As one parent put it, “I think they need a lot of experience, and 16 is just so young.”

Fear factor

Interestingly, several parents observed that today’s teens may actually feel more conscientious about the risks and responsibilities of driving. “It’s a huge responsibility,” one parent explains, “and I think kids are just more aware of that than we were.” For some, this awareness comes from seeing accident reports on social media or from conversations around risk and safety. 

Additionally, one friend notes that most kids are glued to their phones in the car, which has made them more disconnected to the process. "It means they had less engagement with the driving process, so they have a harder time imagining themselves behind the wheel," she points out.

“As social media became more prevalent and influenced greater anxieties because of increased awareness, more and more students waited and even openly communicated terror at the idea of driving,” says Megan Southall, who first began her career in education in Zachary in 2007. 

Additionally, studies show that Gen Z tends to be more eco-conscious than previous generations, with many preferring sustainable options such as walking, biking or carpooling over driving alone. Growing up with heightened awareness about climate change, many teens view driving as a contributor to environmental harm. This is part of a broader trend among Gen Z toward sustainability-focused lifestyles, influenced by social media and education on climate science, which emphasize the urgency of reducing emissions and supporting environmental health.

They secretly think we’re cool

Home life has changed in the past 25 years, and some people think this is another contributing factor to teens being more content to hang out at home. “Our generation seemed to want to "get away" from our parents more, now many kids like their parents and don't feel the need to get away as much,” says one commenter. 

For some parents, this tether is bittersweet. While they appreciate knowing their kids are safe at home, others wish their teens would develop the motivation to explore the world in person. Home inspector Ryan McNabb is concerned they may have made the home *too* comfortable. "I know it's almost impossible, but try being less cool and fun. When I was 15, I made excuses to drive. I'd pour out the milk. Oh look, we need more milk! Headed to the store!” he writes.

The Push and the Pause

Ultimately, the discussion reveals that today’s teens have a different relationship with driving than previous generations did. While some parents are happy to wait until their kids are ready, others are eager for their teens to gain independence. 

In a world where Uber is available, and social connection is as close as a smartphone screen, the rush to get behind the wheel just isn’t the same. So, is it a Zachary thing or a “kids these days” thing? Maybe it’s both—a blend of the small-town closeness, the rise of digital alternatives, and parents’ protective instincts.

One thing is clear: for today’s teens, the road to independence looks a lot different.