I was almost 16 before I went and got my permit and almost 17 before I got my license (a year later to the day). We were just procrastinatory about it. And I was so crappy starting out because I didn't have any experience. I barely passed the driving part of driver's ed.
But I've well over made up for that now, with six years over 150000 miles of experience, and adding at least a hundred more every day!