Rising costs of owning a car holding young adults back from learning to drive, according to Auto Trader.

The research reveals 53% of young adults still rely on their parents for transportation

Rising costs are a key reason holding young adults back from learning to drive

Affordable options

Auto Trader I spoke to 2,000 parents of children aged 18 and over to uncover how often they provide transportation and the impact it has on their daily lives.

Over half (53%) of the parents surveyed said they provide transportation for their adult children, with 13% being asked weekly.

Meanwhile, less than half (46%) said they had asked their own parents for transportation help when they were younger.

However, as costs rise and waiting times continue to plague the learning process, many young people increasingly rely on parents, public transport and friends.

On the road

The study revealed that parents provide transportation an average of 3.4 times per week, which works out at 177 trips per year.

However, the number is even higher for some, with 1 in 10 parents making six or more journeys per week—a whopping 312 per year!

The average weekly mileage for parents transporting their adult children was 24.1, while 1 in 10 said they travel over 50 miles per week – or 2,600 miles per year.

When asked why their children were reliant on them for transport, cost came out as a major factor.

41% of those surveyed said the cost of owning and maintaining a car was a key reason their child didn’t have a licence.

In addition to not having a driving licence, the inconvenience of public transport was listed as a major reason adult children asked their parents for transportation, with over a quarter (28%) of respondents mentioning this.

Who’d have them

For parents, all these extra journeys can come with their own frustrations.

Dealing with traffic came out as the biggest annoyance, with nearly a quarter (22%) of respondents citing this, followed by having to stay up later than normal to collect children from social events (19%) and increased fuel costs (16%).

Around a quarter of parents (26%) said they have had to change or cancel their own plans due to transporting their children.

However, despite all this, parents don’t seem to mind. 80% of those surveyed said providing regular transportation to their children has little to no impact on their daily life.

Many even enjoy the extra time spent together, with meaningful conversations (27%) and hearing about their children’s day (26%) listed as the things they enjoy most about these journeys.

Parental responsibilities

Erin Baker, Editorial Director at Auto Trader, commented: “According to our research, the taxi of Mum and Dad remains a permanent fixture on UK roads, and doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon, especially as the cost of driving lessons remain elevated for some. But despite this and parents clocking up some impressive mileage, it’s great to hear that they don’t mind providing transportation help, enjoying the extra time spent with their children.”

For those who don’t want to rely on their parents for transportation, there are tips on how to save money as a new driver:

1)   Choose the right car – the car you drive can have a big impact on your insurance costs, as well as ongoing maintenance.

Consider purchasing a cheap used car.

Cars with smaller engines, for example, also tend to be cheaper to insure and run.

2)   Add an experienced driver to your insurance – while insurance fees will always be higher for new drivers, one way to bring your costs down is by adding a more experienced driver, like a parent, to your policy.

3)   Consider telematics insurance – telematics, or black box insurance, is another increasingly popular option.

Installing a tracker can prove to your insurance provider that you are a safe and responsible driver, which can bring financial savings.

4)  Explore leasing as an option—if you’ve built up a good credit profile, leasing could offer a more affordable route to driving.

Finding a deal that allows you to pay the monthly payments within your budget means you can drive a new car.

Your lease should also includes road tax, and you’ll be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty for three years from the date of registration.