August 25, 2026 | In the News

Despite Big Auto Culture Changes, Gen Alpha is Still Ready to Drive

America’s relationship with cars may be evolving quickly – from the emergence of electric vehicles to the rapid shift from sedans to SUVs – but at least one thing remains the same: young drivers still can’t wait to get on the road.

In a recent article in USA Today, the spotlight is on Generation Alpha and what they want in a car as they get their licenses and begin driving. In: cars that look good and drive well and make them feel something. Out: cars that are loaded up with technology.

These Gen Alpha drivers are also embracing driving and view getting a driver’s license as a major rite of passage, according to data cited in the article from CarMax, which commissioned Wakefield Research to conduct a national survey of 1,000 teenagers ages 14-16 in the U.S. for its 2026 study.

Other findings from the CarMax research:

• A large majority, 86%, believe it’s important to see, sit in, and test drive a car before buying it, despite the popularity of online car shopping.
• Two out of five (40%) expect their family to purchase the car they’ll drive.
• As has been historically true, many young teens equate driving with freedom: 33% of those surveyed are most looking forward to going wherever they want, whenever they want.

The study also found that 80% of those teens already have a license or plan to get one as soon as they can and more than two-thirds are excited to drive.

“CarMax’s data shows that the more things change, the more some things stay the same: new generations of teens are always falling in love with the independence that driving affords them,” said Wakefield Research Senior Partner Nathan Richter. “The research makes it clear that America’s love affair with cars is far from over.”

You can read more about the CarMax Generation Alpha survey at the company’s website.