Most countries recognize driver`s licenses issued by another jurisdiction. This may result in a young person obtaining a driving licence in a country with a low minimum driving age being allowed to drive in a jurisdiction that is generally of a higher driving age. In Saudi Arabia, men are allowed to drive at the age of 16 years and 4 months. Until a few years ago, women in Saudi Arabia were not allowed to drive at all. The ban was officially lifted on 24 June 2018 and was a big step towards more freedom and equality for women in Saudi Arabia. Of course, education is a very important aspect of getting a driver`s license and being a safe driver. Knowing how to navigate the roads, adapt to the driving culture of the region and properly maintain your car by making repairs with high-quality performance products is crucial. If you`re used to driving only in America, driving and driving in another country could be culture shock. Take, for example, driving on the left side of the road. While we expect this in the UK, left-hand drive is also common in Australia, New Zealand as well as India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Africa, Thailand, Kenya and Tanzania. If you drive in the European Economic Areas, you do not need to fill out any additional documents to drive. Drivers can move freely with their driving license from different countries as long as they travel in these areas.
The legal age to drive in China is 18. Unlike some countries that allow foreign drivers to use their home country`s driver`s license, China requires a local driver`s license or a Chinese driver`s license. They don`t even accept an international driving permit. The test for a Chinese driver`s license requires answering 100 questions in forty-five minutes and must score 90 points or more to pass. The Chinese DMV gives foreigners the opportunity to take the test in eight different languages, including English. However, translating questions can be confusing and sometimes difficult to understand. Translators are allowed for those who do not speak Mandarin. As a result, older drivers may pay more than they did 10 or 20 years ago, while others exclude you altogether. The laws and traffic rules surrounding driving around the world are surprisingly interesting, especially if you`re planning to travel or move to another country and want to know exactly what to expect. In some cases, the experiences can be strikingly similar. Other times, car and driving laws can seem extremely foreign or alien to us, causing even the most foolproof route to collapse when we are surprised. Let`s look at how ages and standards of conduct vary around the world to get a better idea of how our own laws differ from other countries.
In the Caribbean, you can drive in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic at age 16 and the same age with a learning permit. The driving age is 17 years old in Trinidad and Tobago. However, many rental companies are still very cautious when it comes to renting cars to younger drivers, and for this reason, the majority require people to be over 21. Some companies go even further and set the bar at 25 years. While many countries allow supervised driving from an early age, in most European countries the minimum age to drive unattended is 18. This means that a 17-year-old with a full and valid driving licence in the UK is still not allowed to drive in Spain, where the minimum age is 18. In addition, supervised driving regulations are often different for citizens of this country and for foreign drivers. The first thing you need to remember is that it depends on the country you drive in, whether you are old enough to drive in Europe, not the regulations of your home country. Whether you drive your own car or rent a vehicle also affects how old you need to be to drive in Europe, with car rental companies generally reluctant to rent vehicles to drivers under the age of 21. Once you reach the age of 25, prices drop. There are interesting differences not only between the minimum age at which young people can start driving – often under the supervision of a qualified adult – but also the type of vehicle they are allowed to drive.
Did you know, for example, that it is illegal for men to drive shirtless in Thailand? Would you have guessed that it would be illegal in Australia to take limbs out of the window (unless you reported another driver)? What about the fact that you can`t smoke and drive in Greece? There is no shortage of strange driving laws, and learning about these cultural norms can be fascinating! In some countries, this means that you have to renew your driver`s license at regular intervals with a doctor`s approval, while in other countries, it is valid for life and can drive forever. Have you always wanted to know how old you need to be to drive in different places abroad? It is generally accepted that people must be 18 years old to drive a motor vehicle on the roads – but not in all countries. As a young driver, you may need to make slight changes to your style and practices when driving in Europe, as many countries have slightly different rules for young or new drivers compared to the general population. Of course, these standards may seem relatively tamed. Things like the validity of licenses, which side of the road you drive on, and even speed limit laws only scratch the surface. There are many strange laws in different countries that you should know long before you go there as they are essential for driving without breaking the law and it is very interesting to learn more about them. Unfortunately, drivers can also expect to pay extra rental until around the age of 25, and although this varies by country and supplier, it can be as high as £40 per day. You can see why it makes sense to look around.
In Canada, you can drive with a tiered licensing program in most provinces with 16, Alberta with 14 with GLP, and Yukon and Nunavut with 15 with GLP. Getting a driver`s license is a rite of passage for most teenagers. Countries with the lowest driving age (17 years or younger) include Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Bahamas. In some states in the United States and Canada, drivers can be up to 14 years old – under parental supervision. The age you need to be to drive in Europe depends on the country, whether you want to rent a car or use your own, and whether your insurance covers young drivers going abroad.