Generation Stall
The Hidden Driving Pressures Holding Back Younger Motorists
Last updated: 24/02/2026
Last updated: 24/02/2026
Gen Z drivers are intimidated by everyday motoring tasks, with many opting to park streets away to avoid a parallel park, or miss out on career opportunities rather than face their driving phobias - according to new research from temporary car insurance provider Tempcover.
The research of 2,000 motorists reveals the rise of ‘Generation Stall’ - drivers who, despite passing their driving tests, are struggling to cope with the reality of driving on the road.
The data highlights a stark divide in confidence, with more than nine out of ten (92%) Gen Z drivers admitting they feel daunted by at least one common motoring task.
While fear of high-speed motorway driving is relatively consistent across generations (18% of Gen Z vs 15% of Boomers), a massive gap opens up when it comes to specific manoeuvres. A quarter of Gen Z (24%) highlight fears around parallel parking, and 22% cite hillstarts as a major concern.
In fact, the fear of parking is so acute that nearly half of Gen Z drivers (45%) say they would rather drive further away and walk for 10 minutes to their destination than attempt a parallel park - more than double the number of Baby Boomers (20%) who say the same.
The anxiety extends beyond the driver’s seat to basic car care. Many Gen Z-ers revealed they are worried about practical tasks such as filling up tyres (22%), checking oil levels (20%), and even using a car wash (12%).
Perhaps more used to texting, Gen Z (18%) and Millennials (17%) are more than twice as likely to feel daunted by calling breakdown cover compared to just 7% of Boomers. A further 19% of Gen Z drivers admit they feel the same about calling their insurance provider to make a claim.
The research signals that this lack of road-readiness is having a tangible impact on employment.
More than 1 in 10 (12%) Gen Z drivers have missed a dream job interview, and 10% have turned down a promotion requiring more time on the road because they were too scared to drive.
Less than a third (32%) are confident enough to tackle a journey of three hours or more alone. And almost one in ten (8%) admit they couldn’t drive solo for a short journey of under 30 minutes. In fact, a fifth (19%) say they’ve even cancelled social plans to avoid a daunting drive.
The data also suggests a shift from mechanical knowledge to digital reliance. Almost a fifth (17%) of Gen Z admit they would be ‘lost’ if their GPS failed, unable to navigate by road signs alone. And when things go wrong, the mechanic is no longer their only port of call - with Gen Z instead turning to parents (39%) or using AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini for car advice (21%).
A third of Gen Z drivers (33%) say they ‘often or always’ feel out of their depth’ when on the road. Desperate to avoid the driver’s seat, three quarters (74%) of Gen Z drivers have asked someone else to take over driving for them.
When swapping seats, 56% of younger drivers wrongly believe theirs or the other driver’s insurance policy automatically covers them for driving their car. In reality, insurance applies to the vehicle itself and cover is typically restricted to the policyholder and listed ‘named drivers’. Unless the other driver has specific cover for ‘driving other cars’, they could be driving uninsured - an offence carrying a £300 fixed penalty and six penalty points, with potential court action leading to an unlimited fine and possible disqualification.
Jake Lambert, a temporary insurance expert at Tempcover comments, “The research exposes a hidden crisis on our roads where a generation of drivers, despite being legally qualified, are finding the reality of driving so overwhelming that it is potentially life limiting.
When motorists are turning down promotions or missing interviews because they are too anxious to drive to the location, this ceases to be just a motoring issue and becomes a broader societal one. Confidence comes with experience, but if drivers are avoiding the road, they never bridge that gap.
For those struggling, having a more experienced driver take over can be a sensible safety measure, but it must be done legally. Before swapping seats, it is critical to verify that the driver is actually insured to drive your vehicle. If there is any doubt, a fully comprehensive temporary insurance policy is available online and the quickest way to get covered, giving you the peace of mind that the driver and the car are fully protected.”
