Should I Get My Drivers License?

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FuturePilot1220

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Jan 17, 2021
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Hello, so I received my appointment to the USAFA on Jan 15th and wanted to ask a question…

So I was going to try to get my driver's license before possibly going to the USAFA but my parents said no due to insurance costs and the fact that at USAFA you aren't allowed to drive for your first 2 years, which I understand (we are not financially well off). However, they said that if it’s necessary then they will let me.

Should I get my license before coming to the academy? Is it common to not have it? If I come without my license will I have opportunities to get it for example during breaks?

Another reason I’m asking this is because when I was having my West Point interview (I will not be attending West Point due to my aspirations to become a pilot) my interviewer said that he thought having a drivers license was a requirement (I never saw this stated anywhere so I found that statement strange)

Any information will help!
 
Get ur license even if u have no car etc bc the longer u have it the cheaper will be eventually.

Where from if you dont mind. I know FL and CA are crazy for teenager insurance cost
 
cluelesscandidateparents said:
Get ur license even if u have no car etc bc the longer u have it the cheaper will be eventually.

Where from if you dont mind. I know FL and CA are crazy for teenager insurance cost
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I am from Texas! And thank you for your advice
(Also I'm asking because I'm so new to this but would I be paying insurance during my 2 years at the Academy even though I will not be driving?)
 
Get ur license even if u have no car etc bc the longer u have it the cheaper will be wvwntually.
FuturePilot1220 said:
I am from Texas! And thank you for your advice
(Also I'm asking because I'm so new to this but would I be paying insurance during my 2 years at the Academy even though I will not be driving?)
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u dont have to. Besides as active duty u can get ussa insurance and set to i think it is called random driver. Basically that u rarely drive. But if u have no car u have no need for the ins if u dont want. Ur parent can put u as occasional driver. Thats the word lol. I will move my DS to ussa or occasional driver status. I pay for two teenagers.
 
FuturePilot1220 said:
Hello, so I received my appointment to the USAFA on Jan 15th and wanted to ask a question…

So I was going to try to get my driver's license before possibly going to the USAFA but my parents said no due to insurance costs and the fact that at USAFA you aren't allowed to drive for your first 2 years, which I understand (we are not financially well off). However, they said that if it’s necessary then they will let me.

Should I get my license before coming to the academy? Is it common to not have it? If I come without my license will I have opportunities to get it for example during breaks?

Another reason I’m asking this is because when I was having my West Point interview (I will not be attending West Point due to my aspirations to become a pilot) my interviewer said that he thought having a drivers license was a requirement (I never saw this stated anywhere so I found that statement strange)

Any information will help!
Click to expand...
Congrats on your Appointment.
 
FuturePilot1220 said:
Hello, so I received my appointment to the USAFA on Jan 15th and wanted to ask a question…

So I was going to try to get my driver's license before possibly going to the USAFA but my parents said no due to insurance costs and the fact that at USAFA you aren't allowed to drive for your first 2 years, which I understand (we are not financially well off). However, they said that if it’s necessary then they will let me.

Should I get my license before coming to the academy? Is it common to not have it? If I come without my license will I have opportunities to get it for example during breaks?

Another reason I’m asking this is because when I was having my West Point interview (I will not be attending West Point due to my aspirations to become a pilot) my interviewer said that he thought having a drivers license was a requirement (I never saw this stated anywhere so I found that statement strange)

Any information will help!
Click to expand...
My opinion... Get your drivers license if affordable and possible - driver education classes can be hundreds of $. It's a better form of identification than a military ID or Passport in some circumstances. You don't have to be added to your parents insurance if you're not driving their vehicles but confirm this with your parents insurance company. Join USAA early in your time at USAFA and when you think it's necessary get 'non owner' car insurance from a reputable insurance company like USAA - google it. You are eligible to join USAA when you start at USAFA. If you don't get your license before arriving at USAFA you can likely get it during winter break.
 
You can get a state ID for identification purposes. But it's a good idea to get your driver's license now and gain experience driving when you are home and driving with your parents during breaks (doing so should have no impact on insurance). Then, when you are ready for a car in a couple years, you can easily and quickly do so, with more experience under your belt.
 
Just having a DL does not require you to have insurance in most states. It is the vehicle that is insured, not the driver. And, in my state, having a kid with a learners permit doesn’t raise the parents’rates until the kid gets their license. If your parents can’t afford the insurance, after you get your license they could have you specifically excluded from their policy. As others have said, it is good to have the license for ID purposes and in case you have to drive someone else’s vehicle.
 
You should get it now. The insurance companies do run dmv reports periodically and will eventually find out you are a licensed driver but by that time you’ll be in Colorado Springs. 👍
At that point your parents can have the insurance company specifically exclude you from coverage to avoid there rates going up.
 
Get your license. You will want a license as a cadet because the Academy is huge and driving is the only way to get away from the Zoo. Firsties and 2-degrees were always generous to lend cars to underclassmen when I was there. Sponsors may be too as mentioned above. You'll hate to be stuck on a day when you have a rare pass because you can't drive.
 
FuturePilot1220 said:
Hello, so I received my appointment to the USAFA on Jan 15th and wanted to ask a question…

So I was going to try to get my driver's license before possibly going to the USAFA but my parents said no due to insurance costs and the fact that at USAFA you aren't allowed to drive for your first 2 years, which I understand (we are not financially well off). However, they said that if it’s necessary then they will let me.

Should I get my license before coming to the academy? Is it common to not have it? If I come without my license will I have opportunities to get it for example during breaks?

Another reason I’m asking this is because when I was having my West Point interview (I will not be attending West Point due to my aspirations to become a pilot) my interviewer said that he thought having a drivers license was a requirement (I never saw this stated anywhere so I found that statement strange)

Any information will help!
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Yeah, I'm about to also get my license as well. I didn't get accepted yet.
Getting a license will help you have an ID instead of using a military ID wherever you go.
 
If you want to leave usafa as a doolie or C3C you are gonna have to borrow a car. If you don’t have a license you will always be stuck on campus. You only have 10% freedom as a doolie and without a license you’ll have 2%
 
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT!

Get a pen and paper, and write down:

To Do:
1. Drivers license
2. Clean my room and put some post it notes on things for my mom to send me stuff later
3. Run, stay in shape, finish strong, continue to make good choices, and be super nice to my parents

Depending on where you live, the TX DMVs, especially the mega centers, can be very difficult to get a slot for the drivers test (or be totally open and no wait!). I paid $99-ish to go to one of the MANY vendors listed on the DMV site. In DD's case it was totally worth it - the DMVs were exceptionally busy at that time - easy to schedule, nice testers, etc. They all had promos, like x% off for another test if you fail, etc. I chose the one with a full freebie and it was close to our house. They will then give you the paperwork to take with you to the DMV to actually get the license itself. At the time, I still had to go as DD was under 18. I sat and was speed dialing for appointments at any of the 3 locations within 1 hour drive for a license appointment, and we got in the car and when to the first available slot.

On a humorous note, my girls both passed with 70%+ scores. Neither could parallel park. I told them to do their best, and over time they'd either learn, do 10 point turns, or valet.
 
Look at it from the practical perspective --
1) A driver's license is not "required" , but a Driver's license is the most common form of ID; you don't want to have to retrieve your birth certificate or passport to prove who you are.
2) You don't ever want to be in the position of passing up the opportunity to do something because you don't have a license


Ddm66 said:
The insurance companies do run dmv reports periodically and will eventually find out you are a licensed driver but by that time you’ll be in Colorado Springs. 👍
At that point your parents can have the insurance company specifically exclude you from coverage to avoid there rates going up.
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DO NOT play the game of trying to pull one over on the Insurance Company. I doubt the insurance company ever runs a report on who the licensed drivers are, but the issue will surely be discovered if you have an accident and make a claim. Failure to disclose and list a licensed driver could be basis for denying coverage. In my state, the owner of the vehicle is liable for the actions of his/her consent driver ...so that puts the whole family at risk !
 
On the costs:

Learner's Permit period is usually a bit cheaper.
You will only have a few months before I-Day to pay for full fledge license insurance rate - do it, or don't drive at all.

Check the DMV site - but here's what happened in my DD's years: Watch the difference between if you are UNDER or OVER 18. Check the rules now - both my DDs had to renew/get a big girl license when they turned 18, REGARDLESS of how long you had the under 18 license. If under, you have to have a VOE, if not (and over 18), then you can go by yourself (though you'd be driving with an expired license to get there...?) and you don't need a VOE. VOEs are a super pain to get if you are going into the summer break - I think you have to get one and use it within 30 days, or something similar. Bottom line - get your VOE and test during the remaining school months. When you turn 21, which is during the time you are at USAFA, you can renew by mail (because your first license was in person) to get the horizonal license replaced sans the "Under 21" designation. My DD will remain a TX resident for tax purposes until she graduates, then it will depend on her particular circumstances.

Consider it a TX resident rite of passage to figure out these nuances.

More advice: Look mature in your DL photo. My DD's will last until she's 26.
 
Make a false claim ? Wth are you talking about ? That was never suggested so I appreciate that you removed the statement!

Fact, they definitely run dmv reports periodically. I’m talking from experience.

The point is that fear of increased insurance premiums is not a valid reason to avoid getting your drivers license!

The insured can inform the insurance co of the driver and that driver will not be driving any covered cars.

Or let them find out for themselves.

In either case they can then add a rider to the policy stating that the driver is not covered under the policy. This will avoid an increase in premiums.

In no way did I suggest driving the car in question.
 
As discussed above upper classmates are allowed to have cars and if they know you well some will Let you borrow their car to go into town. This gives you a little freedom. Another thing is you can rent a car even though you are not 25. There are several rental companies near USAFA that rents cars to cadets. My daughter and her friends have done this a few times when they have long weekends. They split the cost of the car and may go into Denver or go snow skiing. When you rent a car you have the option to purchase insurance through the car agency. It is not cheap but I would recommend this just in case you have an accident. You will need a driver license to rent a car though.
 
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