International driving?

Question

I'm 17 and have just passed my driving test in the uk. can i drive in Europe and the usa?

Answer 1

In Europe, most EU countries will accept your license. Good luck getting someone to rent to you before you are 21. If you are driving your own car, no problem. However, you might want to get an International Driver's License just in case. The US is more complicated.

The problem with driving in the US is that rental car agencies don't usually let drivers under 25 rent cars. You pay a big up charge at the few places that will rent to you until you are 26. If you are moving here, you can use your license for the first few months to drive a personal car (or borrowed car) but then you must obtain one here. Make sure you follow your state's insurance laws. I have heard that our process for obtaining a license is much easier and less expensive than yours. When I got my motorcycle license, there were quite a few Brits in the class that told us that our process is a LOT less expensive. If you are driving in the US, your embassy recommends obtaining an international drivers license for the US too.

To apply for an International Driver's License, you must go to your local post office with your UK drivers license, a copy of your UK pass certificate, and a recent passport size photo on photo paper (signed on the back and showing full face against light background), your passport, and about 6 pounds of your money.

Bon voyage!

Answer 2

There isn't one standard age in the USA because laws are made on a federal basis ie it varies from one State to another. You could drive in most States (except Georgia which is 18, see first link). However others have mentioned, it would not normally be possible to hire a car due to car hire insurance requirements (eg Florida 21). There is no requirement to take a local driving test unless you plan to live there.

In Europe the usual driving age is either 17 or 18, with the typical lower limit for hiring a car at 20 (see wikipedia link).

Driving on the "other" side of the road takes some getting used to and it's easier to get an automatic car the first time you do this. Indeed, it's almost impossible to get a manual ("stick shift") hire car in the USA.

Also, you can take an advanced driving test in the UK as soon as you have a full licence ie at 17.

Answer 3

When I got my drivers license in the U.S., the age required to earn a license for driving was sixteen.

If this is still the requirement by age for this test, you will have to be also tested again here, to have the priveledge to drive here, as the laws, signs and even technique are different from the U.K.'s driving experiences.

Merely the adaption skills necessary to be made by the change from different side of the road driving would make it wise to learn to drive here in a correct and safer manner in itself, wouldn't you agree?

Answer 4

Yes, but if you want to hire a car, most companies require you to be 21 or 25.

Some countries require an "international driving licence", for which I think you need to be 21.

Answer 5

I think you can drive in Europe,I dont think you would get insurance on a hire car in the USA,as you normally have to be 21 in the holiday brouchers

Answer 6

you can drive your car anywhere in europe if you have green card insurance as you have an eu licence
to hire a car no chance need to be 21

Answer 7

International driving licience available from the AA. Think you may have to be 21 though

Answer 8

You need international driver's license which you can use in any participating country for one month driving. This license used to valid for one year. You don't have to go through any test again to get this license.

Answer 9

Only if you take your own car, or somebody insures you to drive their car while visiting. Unfortunately for you, no hire-car company will rent a car out to those under 21.

You probably will be able to rent a moped though!

Answer 10

You need to be 21 and over to drive abroad