Celebrities Who Prefer Life Without Driving
Some people fear spiders, some fear public speaking, and some fear… parallel parking forever. While the rest of us survived driving lessons through pure stress and questionable three-point turns, a surprising number of Hollywood stars simply decided, “No thanks, I’ll sit in the passenger seat.”
No licenses, no parking tickets, no arguing with GPS voices – just famous faces happily avoiding the driver’s seat. Turns out you can conquer the box office and still lose to a roundabout.
1. Tina Fey
Tina Fey has openly shared that she prefers not to drive, choosing instead to rely on New York City’s extensive public transportation system and car services when necessary.
Living in New York made that decision practical, since subways, taxis, and rides easily cover everyday travel without the stress of getting behind the wheel. Over time, with little reason to drive, her skills simply became less relevant, a change she has spoken about with humor and complete comfort.
2. Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand has conquered Broadway, the big screen, and sold-out concert halls around the globe. But behind the wheel? Not so much.
She’s openly admitted that driving has never been her thing, preferring to leave the navigation to someone else while she focuses on her art. It’s not about fear or inability; it’s simply a choice that fits her lifestyle and priorities.
When you’ve already mastered so many stages, the driver’s seat just isn’t one that calls your name.
3. Ed Sheeran
Road trip anthems flow easily from Ed Sheeran’s songwriting, even if he is rarely the one behind the wheel. Sheeran has been described in UK coverage as not having a driving licence, including around his Top Gear appearance.
That reality adds a layer of irony, considering how frequently his music accompanies long drives and late-night journeys.
With a schedule packed by sold-out arenas and nonstop studio sessions, finding time for driving lessons hardly ranks as a priority. Fans seem perfectly content with the arrangement, as long as the heartfelt lyrics and acoustic charm keep arriving.
4. Christina Aguilera
Aguilera has said she got her license at 21 but avoids driving in Los Angeles because she’s ‘terrified’ -specifically mentioning paparazzi concerns in a 2011 TV appearance.
Navigating traffic while flashbulbs burst and cameras follow closely would rattle almost anyone’s confidence behind the wheel. Add crowded highways and the constant risk of minor accidents, and driving begins to feel more stressful than liberating.
Choosing comfort over control, she leaves the steering to others and keeps her focus on delivering powerhouse vocals instead.
5. Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan brings depth and grace to every role she plays, but driving is one performance she’s chosen to skip.
Growing up with strong public transit can make driving feel optional for some performers, especially early in their careers. It’s a lifestyle choice that makes perfect sense when you live somewhere with excellent trains and buses at every corner.
Why stress over parking and traffic when a quick Tube ride gets you there just as fast?
Her career thrives without a single mile logged behind the wheel.
6. Kate Beckinsale
On screen, Kate Beckinsale handles high-speed action with ease, yet real-world traffic tells a very different story.
Openly discussing her uneasy relationship with driving, the actress has admitted the skill never felt like a natural strength.
Between film sets, red carpets, and an endlessly packed schedule, relying on others for transportation simply became the easier choice.
That contrast creates a fitting trade-off, mastering cinematic stunts while avoiding everyday freeway stress. After decades of balancing Hollywood demands, removing driving from the to-do list leaves one less worry during an already hectic week.
7. Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais has built a comedy empire on sharp wit and fearless honesty.
He’s also built a life without a driver’s license, and he’s never looked back. Gervais has joked in TV appearances that he doesn’t drive and doesn’t have a licence.
Why bother with a garage full of sports cars when you can’t legally take them for a spin?
It’s classic Gervais logic: practical, funny, and unapologetically himself, proving you don’t need horsepower to have star power.
8. Anya Taylor-Joy
Onscreen performances from Anya Taylor-Joy captivate audiences with an intensity that feels almost otherworldly. Away from the camera, daily life unfolds without a driver’s license, a decision that suits her constantly shifting, globe-trotting routine.
Frequent moves between international film sets leave little reason to settle long enough for driving to become essential.
With schedules dominated by travel and production demands, letting others manage transportation keeps attention centered on the craft itself.
Career momentum continues to accelerate regardless, proving success does not require sitting behind the wheel on the way to set.
9. Lena Dunham
Personal honesty has always shaped Lena Dunham’s public persona, including her openness about not driving. Life centered in New York City removed much of the urgency to ever learn, since daily routines rarely required a car.
Subways, walkable streets, and endless taxis made transportation simple, turning driving into something unnecessary and even impractical.
Many New Yorkers share that outlook, viewing car ownership as more burden than benefit within the city’s rhythm.
Choosing to skip the DMV ultimately aligned with the urban lifestyle she has long reflected in her work and writing.
10. Zayn Malik
Zayn Malik shot to fame as part of One Direction, but his solo journey has been more about quiet introspection than flashy excess.
That includes his approach to transportation.
The singer has admitted he’s not big on driving, preferring to keep things low-key and stress-free when it comes to getting around. It’s a surprising contrast to the rock-star image, but it fits his laid-back, private persona perfectly.
Why deal with traffic and parking drama when you can focus on music, fashion, and living life on your own terms?
11. Barbara Walters
Few journalists shaped television history as profoundly as Barbara Walters, even while one everyday skill never became part of her routine.
Profiles have noted Walters did not have a driver’s license, jokingly referenced as ‘commuting by limousine.
New York City’s transit system and professional drivers handled transportation, allowing her demanding schedule to move forward without interruption. That reality stands as proof that reaching the highest level of success does not require merging onto a highway.
Lasting legacy rests on groundbreaking interviews and journalistic excellence rather than road trips or parallel parking skills.
Note: Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational and entertainment purposes. It reflects a curated editorial roundup based on publicly available interviews and published profiles available at the time of writing.
