The variety of folks with driver’s licences has reached a historic excessive.
Over 42 million UK residents now possess a full licence for the primary time ever, based on latest knowledge from automotive leasing comparability web site LeaseLoco.
In comparison with 41,570,822 presently final 12 months, 42,120,966 folks at the moment possess a whole UK driving licence, based on knowledge from the Driver and Car Licencing Company (DVLA).
With solely 41,075,262 full licence holders in February 2022, the information additionally reveals that the quantity has climbed by a couple of million within the earlier 24 months.
Nevertheless, the variety of younger drivers who’re certified has returned to pre-pandemic ranges, even because the variety of folks holding full licences hits all-time highs.
3.05 million licenced drivers within the UK are between the ages of 16 and 25 based on DVLA statistics.
Although there was an increase of barely greater than 75,000 previously 12 months, the entire variety of younger drivers in March 2020 continues to be down 8%.
Information point out that 3.32 million folks aged 16 to 25 held a legitimate driver’s licence previous to the epidemic.
After months of lockdowns, the quantity had barely barely elevated to three.42 million by November 2012.
Why is there a decline within the variety of younger drivers?
The difficult state of affairs that younger drivers confront because of the skyrocketing value of happening the street and the numerous waits that college students encounter at native check centres across the nation have been just lately lined by That is Cash.
In accordance with MoneySupermarket’s Family Index (MHI), a 17 to 20-year-old should spend a median of £7,609 to earn their driver’s licence for the primary 12 months.
In distinction, the typical new driver needed to pay solely £1,285 (£3,234 adjusted for inflation) in 1989 to acquire their driver’s licence. This represents a 135% enhance over 35 years.
The HMI included in the price of getting a licence, taking courses, passing the examination, and truly proudly owning a automotive, insurance coverage, petrol, and different bills like parking tickets and ULEZ.
Unsurprisingly, when MoneySupermarket interviewed younger folks, almost half of them said they couldn’t afford to be taught to drive with out monetary help from their mother and father.
In a double-whammy, younger individuals who want to take their exams should endure prolonged wait occasions.
Nearly all of UK driving check places have common wait occasions of greater than a month, which is worse than pre-pandemic ranges, based on a latest Freedom of Info request made by the AA Driving College.
Based mostly on knowledge from the Driver and Car Requirements Company (DVSA), the AA Driving College discovered that as of the tip of January, 245 driving check centres, or three quarters of them, nonetheless had common wait occasions longer than six weeks.
The wait occasions for over two fifths have been longer than 5 months.
Over 70s holding on to their licences
Older drivers are in it for the long term, because the variety of folks over 70 with a full driving licence has surpassed six million for the primary time ever. Younger drivers are discovering it tough to get behind the wheel.
The variety of septuagenarians with a full licence climbed by greater than 200k (226,526) between February 2023 and 2024, reflecting the ageing inhabitants of the UK.
Moreover, based on DVLA knowledge, the variety of these 80 years of age and older who possess a whole driver’s licence has climbed by over 100,000 (or 139,000) in only one 12 months, reaching 1,788,280.
Remarkably, in comparison with two years in the past, there now a 3rd extra centenarians possessing full UK driving licences.
Aged drivers, who should go additional necessities to proceed driving after the age of 70, have demonstrated their unwavering dedication to the observe of driving.
After reaching the age of 70, drivers should renew their licence each three years after that.
After delving by means of the DVLA knowledge obtained, John Wilmot, CEO of LeaseLoco, advised That is Cash: “The variety of licensed drivers on UK roads has reached an all-time excessive, underscoring the enduring reputation and comfort of automotive journey, particularly amongst older people.
“For a lot of seniors, proudly owning a automotive serves as an important hyperlink to social connection, a profit notably pronounced in rural areas the place public transportation choices could also be restricted or unreliable.”