When a person turns 16, the moment they’ve been waiting for arrives: they finally have the ability to drive legally. They go through whatever process their state requires, most likely going through some sort of schooling before having to take the actual driver's test that determines whether they get their license or not. If they pass, it is a societally celebrated occasion because they did it! They got their license, and now they can be like everyone else their age and above.
Except for me. No license for me -- not because I failed any tests, but because I chose not to take them.
It probably seems strange to a lot of people my age that I don’t have a license, but I honestly haven’t found it necessary for the longest time. Only now that I’m in college have I started thinking that it was time to get one, after five years of putting it off. There are plenty of reasons to have a license, but at least for me, there are plenty of reasons why I don’t have one. And here they are:
1. My location.
Being in college has permitted the usage of many different transportation systems, mainly the bus system. As it is free for anyone with a school ID, I’ve never had the desire to have a license and drive to a destination of my choosing. Sure, the bus will take more time, but it takes no money out of my wallet. And if for whatever reason I have the need to go back to my hometown and do whatever home thing I need to do, there’s an Amtrak train station here in Bellingham that goes all the way down to Portland and back. Also, if it’s close enough, I can just walk there.
2. The cost.
Perhaps one of the biggest reasons that I have about not having a license is the cost that it would take later on. When I consider the cost, I consider things like paying for a car, insurance, gas and other maintenance issues that may show up. That's a lot of money I don't necessarily have to spend.
3. Friends.
Thankfully, I have friends in college who have their cars up here. And they always graciously drive me wherever I need to be, though I don’t usually request them to drive at a given time unless necessary. Because they have cars, we can all get to the place we want to go to, whether it's a restaurant, a park, someone else’s house or anything in between.
Now, it’s nice that I have all these reasons for not having a license and car, but as I grow older, I know that I really need to get one. It’ll be a pain in the ass more than likely, but it’ll be really great to have one and be able to drive myself rather than wait for someone to pick up. However, for the time being, I'm fine being license-less. If you're still young or are contemplating getting a license, I recommend holding off.
