Is it really horrendous that I'm 25 and can't drive?

lady_fuschia

Neither me nor my OH (I'm 25, he's 34) has ever taken a driving test, and (obviously!) we don't own a car. When I started my current job I received a mixture of shock, horror, amusement and confusion that I didn't have my own car ("how on earth do you manage to stay alive?" - seemed to be the subtext!) and when they found out my OH didn't drive either the reaction changed to something almost akin to disgust! It's a bit like I admitted to not being able to read or something.
Sometimes I do start to feel a bit inadequate (even guilty?) because of it - especially when I see so many jobs advertised in the paper that absolutely demand you must have your own transport. I've got it in my head that I'd quite like to apply for a better job sometime soon (I have a degree but am working in an admin role that I'm overqualified for) but without a car it seems all but impossible. I feel a bit like a second class citizen!
Thing is, when I look at the price of petrol and car tax, I'm actually quite bewildered as to how most people afford to run a car on an average wage - even if they're not in horrendous debt. And that's forgetting the cost of taking lessons and buying the damn thing in the first place. I've met seventeen year olds who own and run their own cars and I'm sure there's some big secret that no-one is letting me in on about this!
Is it really that horrific that I never learned to drive? Is it worth me learning? And how on earth do you people who have cars manage to afford to run them?

looneyleo

I don't think it is a bad thing at all! In fact, in terms of the environment - you're right up there kid!!!!! Well done to you for managing without so far..however...it could affect the range of jobs that you can apply for..but you will have to work out the pro's and cons on that one (i.e increased salary vs cost of car). I would love to get down to just a one car family...but it is impossible with work and getting the little rug rats to school,child minder etc on time...good luck and no...you are not an alien!

Bargain_Rzl

No, it's not horrendous! I am 28 and don't drive. Here in London it is a common situation, as public transport here is so much better than in most of the country, and I know loads of people who are far older than me who have never felt the need to drive.

One of my friends finally learnt to drive aged 42 when his daughter was born and they moved away from London. I think if I didn't live in London and I needed to be able to drive - not saying one necessarily follows the other - I'd just learn then. But for now, there's no point, it's environmentally unsound, a waste of money, and I live in a block with no car park!

skintchick

My only question would be how do you manage without a car? All the non-drivers I've ever known have expected the drivers they know to cart them around for free, and so they aren;t my mates any more as i found it unacceptable to be expected (not even asked!) to be a free taxi.

But if you can manage on public transport then good on you.

My car is paid for, and costs me about £600 a year in tax, insurance, etc. and up to £80 a month in fuel, depending on what i'm doing.

I also have to pay £3,500 a year on train travel to work (can;t drive there as it's central london), and I know which I'd ditch if i had the choice! (Not the car...)

Personally, I cannot imagine being without a car - getting anywhere would take me at least twice as long as it does in the car ie to my bf 100 miles away I'd have to get the train, change at least twice AND then walk/get a bus/taxi to his house four miles away from the station. No way, Jose. I get enough of hideous public transport in the week!

heather38

oh is 28 and can't drive. he did have lessons but didn't like it so gave up. tbh it has hindered his career, he's been offered 2 promotions at other locations but coz he can't drive he can't get there and has had to turn them down.
now we have the baby he wants to learn again so that he can get promoted and earn more money.

Shadowplay_2

Hi lady_fuschia,

Both myself and my partner (28 & 23) have never had a driving lesson in our lives and i can mirror the shock that i'm met with by people when i tell then.

I live in manchester and work in the town centre, just off one of the busiest bus routes in Europe. I cycle to work and my partner gets the bus. Why the hell would i need to drive? Why spend thousands of £s a year to sit in a traffic jam?

It is a bit of a pain in the a*s having to change into a suit at work every morning but life isnt always easy.

I'm lucky that our total debt is sub £500 but if we both drove i'd imagine we'd be lucky to be sub £10,000!!

Oldernotwiser

I didn't learn until I was over 50; I don't think that it's necessary until you absolutely have to. There's a big difference between someone who's never driven and a driver who finds herself carless. If you don't drive you make certain life decisions based on public transport availability, whereas someone who finds themselves without a car may find that the place they're living/working in needs a car to be viable.
Be a pedestrian and be proud of it; there's too many drivers in the world already!

sarahlouise210

I am medically forbidden to drive - when I initially discovered this at aged 15 I thought I would not let it affect my life - many years (and 2 children) later..I find it very difficult. I feel that I let my children down as I am not able to drive them around like other parents..they miss out on clubs and lessons as how would I get them there ..I am a burden on my mum who takes me everywhere and to all my hospital appointments. Public transport is not reliable, not direct and takes soooo long it is not practical for a journey of any legnth (apart from London which is great!) ..if I had a chance I would learn to drive in a flash - it would open up a complete new world of freeedom for me.

immoral_angeluk

I passed my test when I was 17. Dh on the other hand.. is as I speak on his driving test and he's 28! The only reason he's doing it is because he wants to be able to get a job further afield but otherwise he would'nt have bothered! Most of his family don't drive and have managed just fine.
Cars are an expensive business... just think of the small fortune you're saving!!!

tru

I'm 35 and can't drive either - actually I can but have never taken the test. I'm not the slightest bit interested, I'd rather ride my bike. If hubby had a huge problem and we were in the middle of nowhere with no phone, I can get him to a hospital ok LOL.

Sea78

I think it's great that you can manage without driving at all! We have given up on others things because we have a car, but the mothly running costs more than cover the money we'd spend on trains, buses etc. howver, once you put in the cost of the car, servicing, insurance etc. it probably isn't. My OH can't cope ithout a car and is very funny about public transport (ie resent s every second on it).

Sea xx