# In which life is really difficult for people without drivers' licenses **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283 "2010-09-01T17:07:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/61 "2010-09-06T19:43:48Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > > > In most states you need proof on insurance to _take the driver’s test_. I’d imagine that the insurance does not need to be in your name; it would only need to cover anyone who has permission to drive the car. > > Yes, of course. **joebuck** made it sound as if in his state you have to have auto insurance simply to get a license even if you don’t own a car. Perhaps I interpreted his post incorrectly. I just checked the requirements on the DMV’s Web site. It says you have to have liability insurance in your name. It does appear that you can get an exemption, though, if you don’t own or drive a registered a vehicle, but you will be restricted to driving fleet vehicles, which I guess would probably cover rental cars. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/62 "2010-09-06T20:05:53Z")
No help here, but this made me laugh by reminding me of a _Saturday Night Live_ sketch about New York-based journalists planning to go to Alaska… and none of them having driver’s licenses. I’ve always lived in walkable cities with good public transportation, so your situation is pretty familiar. ---
**Author:** ![Surly\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Surly\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surly_Chick)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/63 "2010-09-06T21:23:01Z")
Well? How’d it go? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/64 "2010-09-07T05:48:12Z")
> [@Silver Tyger Girl](#): > > > [@gonzomax](#): > > > > In Michigan you can get a state ID card if you do not drive. > > In California too. I got one when I needed to be fingerprinted because I was working at summer camp (then found out that dishwashers don’t need to be, but whatever) I was under the impression that every state allowed this. There are just too many times where you need a state issued I.D., and requiring people to get driver’s licenses to have one would wind up impinging on their rights. ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/65 "2010-09-07T15:54:55Z")
I’m back! And I’m exhausted, as we got in at midnight. I felt a bit of satisfaction when we landed in Newark, knowing I’d have absolutely no problem making it to my doorway from another **state**. As I feared, public transportation around Solvang was non-existent. We ended up with two really expensive cab rides to and from the airport, which TB paid for. Luckily, there were enough other wedding guests staying near our hotel that we were able to catch rides to all other events. Solvang is a lovely little town, especially if you like windmills. I think the whole weekend impressed upon us that if we plan to do any traveling outside the northeast, TB will need to look into getting a new license. So my panic was pretty much blown out of proportion, which isn’t anything new. I’m pretty high-strung in general. And in random state ID news: I discovered that my last name is spelled wrong on mine, something I managed not to notice in the three years I’ve had it. The Santa Barbara airport guy pointed it out to me. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/66 "2010-09-07T16:13:27Z")
So you wouldn’t consider getting a license yourself? ---
**Author:** ![TheMerchandise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b487fb/32.png) [@TheMerchandise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMerchandise)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/67 "2010-09-07T16:51:18Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > So you wouldn’t consider getting a license yourself? When I was 15, right around the time everyone in my high school class was taking driver’s education, I got into an accident that permanently blinded me in my left eye. I’ve always felt incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of driving with such a (pun intended) large and dangerous blind spot. I know it’s possible, with additional mirrors and whatnot, but to me there’s so much potential to end up hurting someone. While I’m living in NYC, I’m lucky enough not to have to worry about it. I don’t plan on staying here forever and I’m really concerned about when this is going to be a bigger issue for me. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/68 "2010-09-07T16:58:39Z")
> [@TheMerchandise](#): > > …Luckily, there were enough other wedding guests staying near our hotel that we were able to catch rides to all other events… Ha! Knew it! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283/69 "2010-09-08T06:56:21Z")
> [@TheMerchandise](#): > > > [@Zsofia](#): > > > > So you wouldn’t consider getting a license yourself? > > When I was 15, right around the time everyone in my high school class was taking driver’s education, I got into an accident that permanently blinded me in my left eye. I’ve always felt incredibly uncomfortable with the idea of driving with such a (pun intended) large and dangerous blind spot. I know it’s possible, with additional mirrors and whatnot, but to me there’s so much potential to end up hurting someone. I know you’re in the US, but the Spanish government agrees with you. “Legally blind in one eye” and “low peripheric vision” are two of the causes one can fail the medical checkup, here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-which-life-is-really-difficult-for-people-without-drivers-licenses/552283.md?page=3)