Why You Should Get Your Driver’s License as a Student (and Not Wait Until You’re Working)

If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll get my license later when I have more money,” you’re not alone. But here’s the twist: Waiting until you’re working might actually make it harder and more expensive in the long run.

Getting your driver’s license while you’re still a student is one of those smart life choices that your future self will thank you for. Here’s why.

1. You Have More Free Time Than You Think

As a student, your schedule is flexible. Even if you feel busy with lectures and group projects, you still have breaks between classes, long summer holidays, and fewer fixed commitments.
Once you start working full-time, things change. You’ll have just a few hours in the evening, and weekends become precious recovery time, not ideal for driving lessons or theory exams...

So while you might feel short on cash now, you actually have something even more valuable: time.

2. The Hidden Cost of Waiting

Opportunity cost is just a fancy way of saying: “What do you give up by choosing something else?”

If you’re a student, spending two hours on driving lessons might mean skipping a café shift or Netflix night. But if you’re a full-time employee later, those same two hours could mean skipping dinner with family, working late, or losing income worth €20–€25 an hour.

In short, the older you get, the more expensive your time becomes.

3. Lessons Fit Easier Into Your Routine

Driving schools often have waiting lists and limited instructor availability during peak hours. As a student, you can take advantage of daytime slots when others are at work.
This means faster progress, more consistency between lessons, and a higher chance of passing on the first try, all of which save you money in the end.

4. It’s a Long-Term Investment in Freedom

A driver’s license is more than a piece of plastic. It’s independence. It’s being able to visit friends outside the city, drive home for holidays, or apply for jobs that require mobility.
Getting it earlier means you enjoy those benefits longer and without the stress of squeezing lessons between work meetings.

5. What If You’re Already Working or Older?

Don’t worry, it’s never too late. Many adults successfully get their license later in life. In fact, people who start later often take lessons more seriously and pass faster because they’re motivated.

The key is to find a driving school that fits your schedule and learning style. You can explore student-friendly and flexible options at our forum, where learners share reviews and driving school recommendations across the Netherlands.

Example: Student vs Working Adult

Let’s compare two scenarios for the same driving license cost.

Average driving course: €2,500 (lessons + exams)

As a student:

• You skip 20 café shifts at €12/hour = €240 “lost” income
• Total effective cost: €2,740

As a working adult:

• You skip 20 hours of potential work at €25/hour = €500 “lost” income
• Total effective cost: €3,000

The result? Getting your license as a student can save you around €260 in opportunity cost + the stress and scheduling headache of doing it while juggling a full-time job. Of course this really depends on what your future job is, so take this as a simple example.

Final Thoughts

If you have the time now, take it. Getting your license as a student isn’t just cheaper, it’s smarter.

Future you will thank you when you’re cruising to work instead of trying to fit driving lessons between meetings.

And if you’re not a student anymore, don’t worry, it’s still worth doing. Visit our forum to compare driving schools, find the best instructors near you, and start planning your license the easy way.