University of Technology Sydney student, Emily Spencer, is a part of a growing number of young Australians delaying getting their drivers licence, as new data shows changing patterns in driving rates across the country.
“It’s too expensive to own a car, buying one is expensive and then you add the fuel, the rego and all of that it’s so expensive,” she said.
Her decision reflects broader patterns among some young Australians, where obtaining a licence is being delayed or deprioritised.
Cost is a main factor. Learning to drive involves lesson fees, test costs and access to a vehicle. Ongoing expenses such as registration, fuel and insurance add further financial pressure.
Miss Spencer said her current lifestyle reduces the need to drive.
“When I’m in the city I would say no, everything is very close and walkable distance or there’s ubers, trains, trams,” she said.
Data from the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics Statistical Report 2025 shows shifting patterns from 2010-2025 with some states showing declines and others showing little change or increasing, complicating the idea that young people aged 16-19 are driving less. Rather than being a singular national trend, the data shows a fragmented statement that is shaped by how young people live.
Reporting by The Sydney Morning Herald has also highlighted similar trends among young Australians delaying getting their licences, with experts pointing to rising costs, stricter licensing requirements and increased access to public transport as main factors.
For University of Wollongong student, Madison Matthews, 18, driving is necessary. Living in a small town, she said options were limited.
“We live further out…majority of the time I would have to get public transport and majority of the time it didn’t come out far enough,” she said.
Ms Matthews obtained her licence as soon as she was eligible, describing it as a way to gain independence and improve access to work and social outings.
“A sense of freedom, I wanted to be able to go out and do whatever I wanted without having to ask someone to take me,” she said.
BITRE data reveals that licensing rates remain higher among males aged 16-19 across the period 2010-2025, although participation varies by territory and state.
Ms Matthews said the financial cost remains significant.
“We’re putting out $500 just to get a licence and that’s not including a car or fuel,” she said.
Rather than showing a simple decline, the data shows that there is a change in priority and certainty.
