According to figures from the Driving Standards Agency, there has been a significant fall in the numbers of young people learning to drive.
Since 2005-06, the number of 17 to 25-year-olds taking their driving test has fallen by 19 percent dropping by more than 250,000.
In the last year, the number of young drivers taking their test fell from 1,326,683 to 1,080,320. The overall number of people taking their test fell by 13 percent as a result, from 1,833,563 to 1,605,599.
"The reasons for the drop in the number of tests taken by 17-25 year-olds are not clear cut," said a spokesperson for the DSA.
"We know from the statistics available from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) that population projections for 17 year-olds have been in decline since 2008; it is expected that numbers will start to increase again from 2020.
"Test pass rates and economic and social factors are also likely to play a part."
Saying that young people are having to make choices about what they spend their money on, the Driving Instructors Association confirmed this was the case.
Steve Garrod, Driving Instructors Association group manager, said: "Our members are finding that fewer young people are learning to drive not necessarily because of lesson prices but because they are being forced to prioritise their spending."
"With university tuition fees going up and insurance prices rocketing, young people are putting off learning until later. It's a shame, because learning to drive is still one of the cheapest forms of adult education and one of the most worthwhile qualifications you can have."