Uber CEO Says Rideshare Use Has Delayed Son's Driver's License

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said on The Verge's Decoder podcast last May that his son, who is over 18, has not obtained a driver's license. Khosrowshahi stated that rideshare availability has removed the need for his son to drive. Khosrowshahi described obtaining a license as a personal goal representing freedom during his own youth.

He said the convenience of rideshare is affecting car ownership among younger people.

License Data and Survey Findings U.S.

Department of Transportation data show the share of 18-year-olds holding driver's licenses declined from 80 percent in 1983 to 60 percent in 2022. The share among 16-year-olds has fallen more than 25 percent since 2000. A 2013 University of Michigan survey of 618 adults without licenses found 37 percent cited lack of time, 32 percent cited cost of ownership, and about one-third said they rely on rides from others.

Uber introduced teen accounts three years ago that allow riders under 18 to travel alone, with parent trip tracking and direct driver contact options. Lyft launched a similar feature in February. Waymo operates robotaxi service for teens in Phoenix and Los Angeles. Lyft CEO David Risher said the services aim to give teens independence while providing parents with safety controls.

Khosrowshahi said in 2019 that rideshare would reduce the need for personal vehicle ownership in the same way streaming reduced cable subscriptions. Vehicle registrations rose 8 percent from 263 million in 2015 to more than 284 million in 2023, according to Federal Highway Administration data.

Khosrowshahi stated that Uber accounts for less than 3 percent of total miles traveled and that the company is not seeking to replace public transit. Uber introduced a fixed-route sharing option last year priced below standard rides.