A study has found that those who passed their driving test before the age of 21 earn almost £10,000 more a year on average
Kathryn Chatfield
07:00, 13 Jan 2026
Adults who get their driving licence before the age of 21 rake in an average of £10,000 more annually than those who don't drive, according to a recent study. The research, which surveyed 2,000 UK adults over 18, including part-time and full-time workers, revealed that non-drivers earn just shy of £21,000 a year on average, compared with nearly £32,000 for those who passed their test before turning 21.
The study also revealed career benefits of learning to drive early, as almost a quarter of drivers (23%) confessed they wouldn't be able to do their current job without a full driving licence.
Four in ten non-drivers admitted they have missed out on at least one job opportunity due to their inability to drive.
It seems that learning to drive earlier gives youngsters a leg up, with those passing their test before 21 claiming it helped them land at least one additional job by that age.
Ian Edwards, young driver expert at Veygo by Admiral, which commissioned the research, said: "For many young people, learning to drive is one of the first big milestones of adulthood, bringing a real sense of independence and opportunity.
"We know that getting on the road early can make a genuine difference – from opening up job options to giving people the confidence to take control of their own journey."
The study also discovered that for many, the motivation to learn to drive at a young age was about independence, with over half (53%) citing this as a key reason.
Others were driven by the freedom to travel (45%) or encouragement from family (34%). A third (33%) described passing their test as a "rite of passage" saying it made them feel more adult.
Meanwhile, 31% said they were eager to stop depending on mates or relatives for transport.
By contrast, those who learned later in life were more likely to feel held back, and over a third said they felt less independent than their peers.
They also reckoned their career options were hampered by not driving (13%) and left them frustrated by unreliable public transport (26%).
Money remains the main obstacle, with nearly a third (31%) of those who passed after turning 21 admitting they couldn't afford lessons when they were younger.
Some lacked the confidence (24%) or didn't have access to a vehicle to get practice in (21%), the OnePoll research found.