After 26 years, SpongeBob finally gets his license - and our childhood is officially complete

Published on Jul 03, 2025 at 6:45 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on Jul 03, 2025 at 6:45 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

It took him 26 years, but finally, everyone’s favorite under-the-sea pineapple dweller, SpongeBob SquarePants, finally passed his test, and our childhood is officially complete.

In episode number 322a in the recent season 16, SpongeBob gets his license, but it’s taken a few attempts and incidents on the way.

SpongeBob as a character is such a menace to his driving instructor, Mrs. Puff, that she actively fears him learning to drive or attempting to pass his driving test at all.

In a shock twist, SpongeBob actually gave up his license, which is a good lesson – just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you actually should.

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After 26 years, SpongeBob finally gets his license

Driving doesn’t come naturally to everyone. And it turns out that a beloved childhood character, the most porous guy in the whole of Bikini Bottom, also struggled to pass his test.

There have been multiple episodes where SpongeBob has completely terrorized Bikini Bottom’s driving school and it’s seemingly sole – geddit? – instructor, Mrs. Puff.

To stop the driving instructor having a complete nervous breakdown, in a season 16 episode, titled Exchange Student Driver, the spongy menace is sent to a neighboring town to see if he can pass there.

To the shock of everyone, he actually passes his driving test, thus putting an end to our childhood – or so we thought.

The least safe driver in all of Bikini Bottom

Despite his genuinely terrible driving, after 26 years and 16 seasons, SpongeBob SquarePants is finally a qualified boatmobile driver with a license.

SpongeBob gets his license comically printed on a turnip. But in a shock twist, he decides after returning home to Bikini Bottom and wreaking havoc that he still isn’t ready to safely drive.

Mr SquarePants gave his license back as he learnt that just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.

Driving can be hard, you guys.

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As a Content Writer since January 2025, Daisy’s focus is on writing stories on topics spanning the entirety of the website. As well as writing about EVs, the history of cars, tech, and celebrities, Daisy is always the first to pitch the seed of an idea to the audience editor team, who collab with her to transform it into a fully informative and engaging story.