How long did you wait to get your license?
By dismalgrin
@dismalgrin (2604)
United States
February 28, 2009 1:56pm CST
I was a late license bloomer. Haha. My dad didn't really want me to get my license because he was afraid I would go wild. My mom was afraid to drive herself (even though she did anyway) and sort of transfered her fear to me. I finally got my license when I was 20. And, I loved it! I didn't really go wild either. LoL. But, I did get myself a job and started hanging out with friends and altogether really enjoyed the freedom that having a license has given me. I know that most people get their licenses as soon as they hit 16, and now there is that new law in some states that says that it's a 'trial license' and in others you have to wait until you are 18 to get your license. But, okay, how old were you when you got your license? If you were also a late license bloomer, like myself, why?
2 people like this
6 responses
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
8 Jul 09
I waited until I was 17 to go for my license. I didn't feel like I was ready to take it at 16, especially since I thought parallel parking was going to be part of the test. But when I found out different I took a chance and went for it. I'm glad I waited though, as it gave me a little more time to practice up before taking the test.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
24 Jul 09
It's not where I lived, but rather where I didn't live! LOL I didn't live downtown, or more importantly I didn't take the test at the DMV downtown. As most of the parking there consists of parallel parking it only makes sense that it would be required on the test. Of course, this was back some years ago, so who is to say if they changed it around since then.
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Yep, I took my test in a rural area so that might be why they were soft on the parallel parking bit. I never thought of how that might effect the test. Though these days all of the country kids are going to the city to party so that might not be much of an issue anymore.
1 person likes this
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
22 Jul 09
Where do you live that parallel parking wasn't part of the test? I need to move there. I only passed that portion of my drivers test because we had pouring rain before I took the test and the place they tested that was all sludge by the time I took the test. So, I demonstrated the concepts, slid around in the mud a bit and then moved on with the test.
1 person likes this
@ishavasyam (1801)
• India
24 Jul 09
hello dismalgrin..I have a different experience to share..I learnt car driving at the age of 30 and that year I got one driving license made.But listen to the next part of my story.The earlier license got expired in 1996 and I forgot to renew it.As a result when I needed to have one international driving license just before arriving to UK ( recently), I got myself a new learners license and then the full fledge driving license after giving driving test.And believe me ,this was at the age of 53.Is it not interesting ? Thanks
@ishavasyam (1801)
• India
25 Jul 09
yeah dismalgrin ...agreed ..some fool proof system can be made so that people dont forget ...and another thing I did not mention earlier was that when I appeared for the learner test and the final driving test at the RTO, There were curious glances from the teenagers who had came there to appear for similar test.I was the only senior aged person on the campus on that day...ha! thats life.bye
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
25 Jul 09
Wow, yes that is interesting. I hate that if your license expires you have to take the test and everything all over again. Like you forget how to drive or something. Haha. Oh well, I guess they have to do something to make you remember to renew your license.
@Jezebella (1446)
• United States
19 Mar 09
I got my license about 6 months ago, when I was 26. I didn't really need it in high school or college because I lived in the city and walked where ever I went. Now that I am older I decided I needed it and got it. Goodness I am much happier that I have it.
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
24 Jul 09
Yes, it's nice when you can walk everywhere you need to go. But it's even nicer when the world opens up to you after you get a car. I know a girl that doesn't have her license yet (she is 20) and she walks everywhere. She walks distances that I think are a little far. But, when she needs to go really far she is at the mercy of whoever will drive her. I've been there and it's not so fun. I wish lots of luck to all those who need to get some wheels of their own.
@renitaperrone (547)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I grew up in a rural area where the nearest town to do anything was a good 20 miles away. The town I went to high school in was at least 10 miles away. I had to ride the bus for over an hour to get to school and school started at 7:20 a.m.! So, I was one of those that was in to get my license the day I turned 16. I had enough money saved that I bought my first car one week later. I couldn't wait for some freedom! I did not go too wild though. Probably wilder than my parents would have liked but still! I'd had alot of driving practice in though as I got my permit the day I turned 15.
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I hear you! I was in the Air Force for 2 years so when you live on a base everything is in walking distance I didn't really have a need for getting my license much sooner than I did. But, when I got out and moved back home with my family we were rural. If I was to hoof it I'd pretty much have a non existant social life and I for sure wouldn't have been able to get a job. I was lucky that my dad had just bought himself a new car and didn't need his old one anymore. He gave it to me. I ran that car until it would run no more. Then I got lucky again when my mom got a new car. Her old one came to me too. I'm still driving that one around and it has been a good 4 years. I don't have anymore luck after this one though. I'll have to find a way to get a car on my own then.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I got my license at 17, just a year later. But where I grew up you learned to drive early and so I have been driving since 13. And so far I have not had an accident (in 13 years) and no tickets since before 18.
@dismalgrin (2604)
• United States
24 Jul 09
I know a lot of people that learned to drive earlier than is 'legal' to learn to drive. It's cool that they had that oppertunity. I have a brother that is 13 months younger than me. The way my family is, he got more driving education than I did. And he got his license before me. It's always bothered me that I was put on the back burner for being a girl, but in the long run, like you I've not had an accident since I got my license. And the only ticket I have on record is not for doing something stupid. My brother can't really say the same.
@multicoloured (86)
• China
31 Mar 10
of course i'm a late license bloomer, i still have not a driving license when i was 30 years old, i almost got it a few days ago, the examinant was so unkind that i can't pass the test, i was so anxious to drive a car, i have to wait my time for makeup
