Driving is not a necessity in modern society, but it certainly makes life a lot easier for many people. Before cars, making it from your home to a destination many miles away required traveling by horseback carriage or simply just walking.
These are both not realistic or viable options in most scenarios anymore (not many people own horses obviously, and there’s nowhere all that safe to allow them to bring us places). With all of this in mind, getting a driver’s license so that you can drive is a right of passage for many. It means you are an independent person who can come and go as you please.
Some people might try to drive without a driver’s license, and this is very ignorant. You are risking fines and other consequences if you drive without a license. It is also more difficult to get insurance with no license, another requirement for owning and driving a car. Driving without insurance is a financially risky decision to make.
We’ll talk about all of the reasons you are better off in life with a driver’s license than without one.
#1 – You Have More Freedom
Having a driver’s license is simply one of the most liberating things you can do in life. You don’t have to worry about asking others to drive you to work. Sure, there’s public transportation like buses and trains that can get you where you need to go, but not usually at your own convenience.
When you have to clock in at a certain time, being able to drive to your job gives you a lot more flexibility in your schedule. You can get up later, do your morning routine, and not worry about getting onto the only bus that goes to your job by a certain time.
Having a driver’s license also allows teenagers to feel like they are reaching adulthood. A teen who gets their license can now drive themselves to a friend’s house, go to their own basketball practice, and not always have to let their parents know exactly what they are doing.
It should be noted that communication is still key when it comes to teen drivers and their parents. Be honest about your whereabouts as a young driver. This point is more to talk about how driving allows people to come and go as they please without being a burden on others.
#2 – Cars Are Personal Objects to Many People
Having a driver’s license means that you also get to take full advantage of the fun of owning a car. Vehicle ownership is one of the most rewarding things many people experience in life. From transforming your interior to painting the outside of your car a different color, having your own car is a personal experience.
Many times a young driver will receive a car as a gift from their parents after getting their license. This creates a nostalgic bond between the driver and the vehicle. You often remember your first car for the rest of your life. If you don’t get a driver’s license, you could be depriving yourself of special memories.
As a parent, having a driver’s license is special because you get to pass down your old car to your kids. You get to teach your children how to drive for the first time. These are things that you’ll hold dear to your heart. Driving creates a bond between you and others in your life.
#3 – You Can Drive Your Family Around
Speaking of being a parent and a driver, having a license helps you create a fulfilling childhood for your children. If you don’t have a driver’s license, it’s hard to get your kids to birthday parties, soccer practices, or even to school. It makes your children miss out on a lot of things that they deserve to experience in their upbringing.
There’s also the potential to miss out on road trips and family vacations if you don’t have a driver’s license. Driving with your family is a bonding experience, and many of the best memories of someone’s childhood happen in the car. Rides to grandparents’ homes or a trip to the beach during the summer are important memories that are difficult without a car.
This relates a lot to what we’ve talked about with driving freedom. You need to allow your kids to have the freedom they deserve by driving them places. Children are only able to do what their parents allow them to do, after all.
#4 – You Won’t Be Fined for Driving Without a License
There’s also the issue of trying to drive without a license. Some people will attempt to do this and have dangerous results. A license proves that you can drive. If you never get your license and attempt to drive, you won’t know the rules of the road. You won’t have the skills that others learned in driving school or other driving classes.
Another potential scenario for people who drive without a license is that they have a suspended license. Maybe you got too many tickets for speeding and you have to go without driving for a little while because of it. If you try driving anyway, you could get massive fines if pulled over by the police.
You also need auto insurance to own and drive a car in most states. If you don’t have a license, you are risking getting fined for not having auto insurance, too. There are many affordable ways to obtain auto insurance, and all drivers need to look into them after getting their license.
There are ways to get auto insurance if you don’t drive, though, and you still need it. Perhaps your parent passed away and you inherited their vehicle. If you don’t have a license but you still want to keep the car as a way to honor their memory, you can talk to research auto insurance companies who will insure your vehicle while in storage.
Driving will continue to endure as the preeminent method of transportation in our society. You need to have a driver’s license to take advantage of all of these benefits of driving. From getting freedom from your parents to taking your kids where they need to go, driving will always be the best way to get around town and enjoy life.
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the auto insurance site, AutoInsurance.org. He wants to help people understand all of the benefits of getting a driver’s license.
