Olivia Rodrigo might be one of the few teens getting her driver's license.

Answer:

26.2% of 16-year-olds had a driver's license in 2024. For 18-year-olds, it was 60.4%.

Questions:

• When did you get your driver's license OR when do you plan to get your license? Why?
• The percentage of teens with a driver's license has been decreasing since the 1980s. Why do you think that is?
• Reflect on what you know about car insurance. Do you think it costs more to insure a 16-year-old or an 18-year-old?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers: (Federal Highway Administration and CNN)

According to the Federal Highway Administration, 26.2% of 16-year-olds and 60.4% of 18-year-olds had a driver's license in 2024. Teens have been getting their licenses later for years. Research led by Dr. Federico Vaca found that nearly 40% of teens delayed getting their license by one to two years and 30% delayed by more than two years, and the share of high school seniors with a license fell from 81% in 2006 to 72% in 2015.

Don’t miss out on MOVE: What Determines Your Insurance Premium?!

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.

More posts by Dave