sharing my story!
I got my driver’s license after a 5-year journey. If you’re struggling to get yours, don’t give up. I wanted to share my story because I know there are people who feel embarrassed, frustrated, or “behind” because they don’t have their license yet. I started trying to get mine when I was 16 in 2020. I genuinely thought I’d have it within a year or two. I was VERY wrong. 😭
2020: I took driver’s ed during COVID. The DMV was closed, so we couldn’t take the written exam normally. When my school eventually offered it, I failed my first attempt.
2021: I retook the exam and failed by only two points. A few weeks later, I passed with a 92/94 and got my blue card. I thought I was finally on my way.
Then Hurricane Ida (those who are from nj remember) flooded our apartment. We lost a bunch of important documents, including my Social Security card. I couldn’t get my permit because I didn’t have the documentation I needed. My family was also dealing with finding somewhere to stay and getting our home repaired.
2022: Once everything was settled, I replaced my Social Security card and finally got my permit in April. I was so happy. Unfortunately, I forgot to get the permit validated. 💀 I also started college at Rutgers, and between EOF, school, extracurriculars, and everything else, I barely had time to learn how to drive. Rutgers also has a decent bus system, so I didn’t need a car.
Late 2022/2023: I finally started taking driving lessons. My instructor noticed the permit issue and also told me my blue card had expired because I had turned 18. So I had to take the written exam AGAIN.
I failed. I retook it in February 2023 and passed.
I took some driving lessons during spring break, but then summer came. I was taking classes and working at a summer camp, so I barely had time to practice. My uncle also tried teaching me how to drive in Massachusetts. That experience was honestly pretty stressful. I wasn’t driving as well as I expected, he got frustrated with me, and I was homesick on top of everything. I scheduled a road test for winter break, thinking I’d finally have enough time to practice. Then I had emergency surgery in November. So obviously, driving was put on hold again.
2024: I was fully recovered, but I was busy with school and eventually became an Orientation Leader at Rutgers. I was on campus constantly. My permit also expired in April, so I had to get another one.
At this point, I was honestly starting to wonder if I would EVER get my license. 😭
2025: This was finally the year I decided I was DONE. I started getting jealous of my friends who had their licenses and cars. I was tired of constantly taking Uber/Lyft when I needed to go somewhere that public transportation couldn’t easily reach.
When I came home after the semester, everyone kept asking me: “Why don’t you drive?” “Where’s your license?” And eventually I realized: they were right. Enough was enough. My permit was valid, but my previous written-test results had expired, so I had to take the knowledge test AGAIN. This time, I studied my ass off. I passed. I scheduled my road test for July. And by the grace of God, I PASSED THE ROAD TEST ON MY FIRST TRY.
On July 9, 2025, I finally got my probationary driver’s license. A year later, I upgraded to my full basic driver’s license.
And here’s the funny part: I still don’t own a car. 😂
I still take NJ Transit and Uber when I need to. But having the license itself means so much to me because I spent YEARS trying to get it.
Looking back, I don’t think I was “behind.” Life just kept happening.
COVID happened. A hurricane happened. Important documents were lost. School happened. College happened. Jobs happened. My permit and test results expired. I had a difficult time learning. I had emergency surgery. There were so many moments where I could have just given up. But I kept coming back to it.
So if you’re 18, 20, 25, 30, or older and you still don’t have your license:
Don’t feel ashamed.
Your timeline doesn’t have to look like everybody else’s. You might have to take the test more than once. You might have to renew your permit. You might have to put driving on hold because life gets in the way. That’s okay.
Delayed does not mean denied.
Keep working toward it when you’re able to. Eventually, you’ll have that moment where you can finally say: “I did it.”
And trust me, after waiting five years, that feeling is AMAZING.