Why Gen Z isn’t very interested in driving

Driving a car has long stood as a key symbol of independence for younger Americans – but to many members of Gen Z, the idea is now more hassle than it’s worth. Or in other words: the Zoomers don’t really want to zoom.

• The percentage of 19-year-old Americans with a driver’s license has fallen steadily from 87% in 1983 to 69% in 2022, according to the latest data from the Federal Highway Administration.
• More recently, the number of Americans aged 16-25 who said they plan to or typically take road trips dropped 24% between Q1 2023 and Q1 2024, per consumer-research firm GWI.

Driving (*groans*) the trend: Analysts point to a wide range of reasons why fewer Gen Z Americans are getting behind the wheel:

• Teens are opting to take public transit, use ride-sharing applications, ride bikes, or walk, to avoid driving anxiety or polluting the environment.
• Prices for cars, car parts, maintenance, gas, and insurance have all risen significantly over the past several years.
• Teens are consistently chatting on social messaging platforms like Discord, and don’t feel driving is necessary to socialize face-to-face.

🚘 As younger folks shy away from driving, older seniors are picking up the pace. The proportion of Americans aged 80-84 who have a driver’s license has risen from 68% to 86% over the past 25 years, per the most recent federal data. Among those aged 85+, the proportion of drivers has risen from 43% to 66% over the same period.