How to Go on a Date if You Don't Drive

Co-authored by Crista Beck

Last Updated: October 9, 2024

If you don’t have a driver’s license, perhaps because you are too young, going out on an intimate date can be a challenge. However, there are many ways that you can still plan a date without having a driver’s license or a car of your own. Whether you need to ask for someone’s help, take public transportation, or walk, there are options for you to explore to plan a great date without needing a driver’s license or car of your own.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using Public Transportation

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Take the bus. If you live in an area where there isn’t much within walking distance, consider riding the bus to meet your date at a restaurant or coffee shop.^{[1]
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Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.} Plan your route ahead of time, and always make sure you are catching the correct bus. Public transportation is a great way to get around if you can’t drive.
- Make sure you have your fare ready, depending on what the cost is in your area.
- If you are going to meet your date, make sure you plan to meet at a specific stop or location, so you don’t get lost.
- If you and your date are going to head out on public transportation together, try to take a more scenic route and enjoy the ride!
2
Take the train. If your date lives far away, taking a train to meet halfway may be a good option. Offer to meet your date at a place that is in the middle of both of you, such as a restaurant or a coffee shop. You can also use the transit system to take your date to a more walkable area, if there isn’t much for you to do within walking distance of your home.
- Make sure you know the route of the train you are taking and which stop you want to get off at.
- Always check the train schedules ahead of time and plan out which train you will need to take to get home.
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3
Plan a public transport date. Take your date for a scenic ride on a bus or train. There’ll be lots of new places and people to see. You’ll be able to sit and talk with your date, people watch, and cruise around the city. Choose routes that have good views.
- Ride the bus or the train to the end of line, and then ride the same way back!

Method 2

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Finding A Ride

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Ask for a ride. If you and your date do not live within walking distance of each other or are unable to take public transportation, ask someone you trust for a ride. Be courteous when asking. Be sure to plan everything for your date in advance, and involve the person driving you in your transportation plans, as they’ll be spending their time helping you.^{[2]
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Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.}
- When you ask for a ride, remember to be polite. For instance, try saying, “If you would be able to give me a ride this Friday to see my friend, I would really appreciate it,” or “Could you give me a lift this weekend to go out with someone special?”
- Plan exactly when you will need to be dropped off, and if necessary, when you will need to be picked up.
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Catch a ride with friends or siblings. Sometimes, if you can’t find a ride for your specific date, you may be able to “hitch a ride,”^{[3]
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Crista Beck
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Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.} with people who are heading to an event or in the same direction you are. Grabbing a ride is a great way to get to your destination without having to ask for special favors, or worrying about answering any awkward questions during the trip. Whether you hitch a ride and meet your date out, or both of you are able to go on the ride, make sure you’re polite and thank the person who is driving.
- For instance, if there is a sporting event or local fair that you want to attend with your date, plan ahead and find out if any of your licensed friends or family are going. Ask for a ride and meet your date there.
- If you have a sibling that is going out, ask if they, or whomever is driving them, can drop you, or you and your date, off on their way.
3
Use a ridesharing app, like Uber or Lyft. Download the Uber or the Lyft apps. Once you have set up your account, you can use these apps to call rides for yourself whenever you need them. Use the app to call a ride to head to where your date lives, or to go to a place that is close to where your date lives.
- Use Uber or Lyft to pick your date up and take them to a movie.
- If your date wants you to come spend some time at their home, use Uber and Lyft to get there.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Planning Dates Close to Home

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Plan to walk on your date. If transportation is unavailable, trying thinking of ways that you can incorporate walking as a part of your date.^{[4]
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Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.} Think about what is within walking distance in your town or city, and plan your date around the journey, instead of the destination. If you live close to a restaurant, movie theater, or coffee shop, walk with your date to get there.
- Explore your town or city. Put on a pair of comfy shoes and explore the area you live in. Spend time getting to know more about where you live, while also getting to know your date.
- If there is an arcade you like on the same street as your favorite pizza place, then take your date there.
- Make spontaneous stops on your way, if you don’t have dinner reservations or have to be at the movie theater at a specific time.
- Plan your route ahead of time, if there is a special place or area that you want to show your date.
- Schedule to meet somewhere near your home, so you can easily walk to the date.^{[5]
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  Dating Coach & Matchmaker
  
  Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.}
2
Walk your dogs together. Bring your dog with you on your date, and/or ask your date to bring their dog. If you both love dogs and dog walking you can enjoy spending time with your date and your pup. You can take your dog for a walk around the neighborhood or through a park that is close by.
- Take your date to the dog park. You can spend time watching the dogs play and talk about what you already have in common, a love for dogs!
3
Go for a hike. If you live an area with good hiking trails, go to the woods for a hike. You’ll be able to talk and get to know each other without distractions, all while spending time outdoors. Your hike doesn’t necessarily have to happen deep into the woods, a walk through a park close to where you live is a great way to spend time together.
- If you live close to the ocean, go for a walk on the beach. Try to plan your date so that you can watch the sunset together.
- If you live close to mountains, make a plan to take a scenic route to a spot with great views.
- If you live in an area close to the woods, follow a trail.
4
Ride your bicycle. Plan a date that involves bicycle riding, so that transportation is no longer an issue. You can plan your entire date around riding bicycles, or just use them to get where you are going.^{[6]
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Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.} If your date lives far away, you both can ride your bicycles and meet in the middle.
- Ride your bicycles to an ice cream shop, and share an ice cream sundae when you get there.
- Ride your bicycles to a nearby park. Plan to set up a picnic when you find a good place to stop.

Expert Q&A

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Question

How do I take her out without a car?

Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker
Crista Beck is a Dating and Relationship Coach and Matchmaker. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in helping people become open to love and find a partner. Crista has been featured in numerous media sources such as ABC, NBC, Fox, and TEDx. She is also the author of the book, Break The Glass Slipper: Free Yourself from Fairy Tale Fantasies and Find True Love in Real Life. Crista holds a BS in Communication Studies with a focus on Interpersonal Communication from The University of Texas at Austin.

Crista Beck

Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Answer

Offer to meet a nice, public place that you can both reach on foot or by public transportation. Then, use a food delivery app to get your meal delivered right to this spot.

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Question

Where should you not go on a first date?

Crista Beck
Dating Coach & Matchmaker
Crista Beck is a Dating and Relationship Coach and Matchmaker. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in helping people become open to love and find a partner. Crista has been featured in numerous media sources such as ABC, NBC, Fox, and TEDx. She is also the author of the book, Break The Glass Slipper: Free Yourself from Fairy Tale Fantasies and Find True Love in Real Life. Crista holds a BS in Communication Studies with a focus on Interpersonal Communication from The University of Texas at Austin.

Crista Beck

Dating Coach & Matchmaker

Expert Answer

It's not a great idea to go to either one of your home's. It's always best to keep your private life private until you know the other person well!

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Tips

If someone gives you a ride, be polite and courteous at all times. Remember, they are doing you a favor.

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When choosing where you would like to go for your date, try to pick a place that is in between where you live and where your date lives.

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When planning your date, try to plan things that will make your date feel comfortable. They may not like walking or riding bicycles, and may also feel uncomfortable being driven by people they do not know.

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Warnings

You may not always be able to get a ride home when you’ve caught a ride out with someone. Always have a backup plan in case this happens.

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Public transportation times may vary based on where you live. Make sure to plan which routes you will take to get to your date, and also which ones you will take to get home.

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Always let someone know where you are headed to when you go out, especially if your way home is uncertain.

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Ride sharing apps do require a credit card to set up an account. Each ride you take will charge to the credit card, so be sure to be careful and stay on a budget when using the app.

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