It’s generally accepted people must be 18 years old to drive a motor vehicle on the roads – but not in every country.
The car rental experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have explored guidance around the world and come up with some interesting places where the age is younger – and sometimes older.
For example, you cannot get behind the wheel of a car until the age of 23 in Niger, also known as the Republic of Niger, in West Africa. Meanwhile, here in the US, in some states you can get a learner’s permit from the age of 14.
Countries with the lowest driving ages (17 or below) include Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and The Bahamas. In some states in the United States and in Canada, drivers can be as young as 14 – with parental supervision.
It’s also worth noting many companies renting cars require people to be aged between 21 and 25 in order to book vehicles for hire – particularly in Europe.
A spokesman for StressFreeCarRental.com said: “It is useful to find out which countries have different laws for minimum driving ages especially if people are looking to travel abroad.
“There are some interesting differences not only between the minimum ages that young people can begin to drive – often with supervision of a qualified adult – but also the type of vehicle they are permitted to drive.”
Most countries recognize driver’s licences which are issued by another jurisdiction. This may result in a young person who obtains a licence in a country with a low minimum driving age, being permitted to drive in a jurisdiction which normally has a higher driving age.
One exception to this is the United States, where many states ban drivers below their minimum driving age, even if they hold permits or licences issued by another state.
The experts at StressFreeCarRental.com have compiled a map and dedicated web page to highlight some of the differences in driving ages which you can find here.
Here are some of the countries where the minimum age to drive is lower than 18 years old. The following examples refer to the minimum driving age for a light motor vehicle (typically under 3,500 kg), motorcycle or other vehicle, where noted.
Africa:
In Cameroon, Zambia and Zimbabwe the minimum age for driving cars is 16. In Niger, people must be 23 to drive anything.
In South Africa, the National Road Traffic Act specifies a driver needs to be 17 to legally obtain a license for all motor vehicles under 3,500 kg. This is also the age someone can obtain a learner’s licence in order to drive while supervised by a motorist who has had their license for more than a year.
Asia:
Both Iraq and Israel allow 16 year olds to ride motorcycles, while in Israel you can drive a car at 16 years and nine months if you are accompanied by a driving teacher.
In Asia, you can drive cars at the age of 17 in Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia, and in the latter country you can also ride motorcycles at 16.
Central and Southern America:
In Central America, you can drive with supervision at 15 in El Salvador, and at 16 with parent approval in Guatemala and Panama.
Meanwhile in Southern America, parental approval is needed in Argentina and Chile in order to drive cars at 17.
In the Caribbean, you can drive in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic at the age of 16, and at the same age with a learner’s permit in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The age to drive is 17 in Trinidad and Tobago.
Europe:
The minimum age to drive a car is 16 in the Isle of Man, and 16, with parental supervision, in North Macedonia.
15-year-olds in Denmark can drive snowmobiles (It’s only possible to obtain a license for snowmobiles on Greenland), but it’s 24 to drive a ‘heavy bus’ in Denmark. Quad drivers must legally be 14 in Poland and 15 in Spain.
In the UK, 16-year-olds can drive car-like quadricycles – vehicles which look and drive like a car, but are no more powerful than a moped and aren’t allowed to go faster than 28mph (45km/h). At the same age, they can drive mopeds and tractors both in the UK and Sweden, although in the UK, there are tight limits on the size of machinery included depending on age, and they must hold a category F qualification.
North America:
You can drive in Mexico with parental supervision at 15, while in the United States there are laws for different states. Generally you need to be between 14 and 16 for a driving learner permit and between 16 and 17 for a restricted licence.
Specifically, you can get a learner’s permit licence at the age of 14 in the following states: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, South Dakota and Wyoming. There is just a few more months needed, at 14 years and six months in Idaho, Montana and North Dakota and 14 years and eight months in Michigan.
Oceana:
In the Australian Capital Territory, the youngest age permitted, can see teenagers aged 15 years and nine months, obtain a car or motorcycle learner licence to allow them to drive under supervision. All other Australian states and territories require learner drivers to be 16 years old or above, and they can drive unsupervised by progressing to a provisional licence after 12 months, except in the Northern Territories where they can progress to a provisional licence after six months.
