Hi Guys,
Anyone know the definite rules for a 17 year old on a full UK license driving in Europe?
Some websites say that you can't when the minimum age for passing the test is 18. Some websites say you can. Some forums etc..
DVLA website just states that the countries may enforce there own minimum age.
If off course insurance covers.
Thanks
Ed

You need to be 18 in France for starters. What countries are you looking to drive in??

As far as I know, ALL motorists holding a licence for less than 2 years must only drive at 110 km/h on motorways - normally 130 km/h.

80 km/h for country lanes - 90 km/h normally.

100 km/h on dual carriageways not 110 km/h

And finally 50km/h in a 50km/h zone.

Age restricted 18 but also "experience" restricted to 2 years

But I am sure someone else will be along to say something different...

[Edited on 23/4/10 by AndyGT]

Ahh this is all so confusing. I've also had someone who was at a test centre in the UK a couple of weeks ago ask if they could drive in france, and was told if insurance covered and had full uk license then yes.
This is looking at france/italy/germany/belgium
I've also been told that those speed restrictions only apply to people with a french license.

This seems reasonably comprehensive

http://www.2pass.co.uk/ages.htm

Surely if its a UK license and its UK insurance your covered. Theres usually nowt on French roads anyway except at August.
I would check with insurance more than owt, if it goes belly up in France your in for a whole world of hurt, been there done that.
Cheers,
Bob

Apparantly you need to have had a lisense a certain amount of time to go above 50 in NI, a mate went over at 17, and was stopped but they let him go when he showed a mainland lisense, I imagine thats what would happen anywhere else.
If your insured you should be Okay.

Just remember that ANPR doesn't normally work on foreign plates so as long as you don't give them an excuse they shouldn't find out.

Mutual recognition if standards under EU law should mean if you can drive in the UK you can drive anywhere in the EU.

I'm sure some countries have harder driving tests than others, bit no country checks to see if foreigners are up to scratch.

Stu

Well that what i thought, but does anyone have any real facts, that if you got pulled over in france under those conditions, you could wack out a bit of paper that says you can!

The AA reckons you have to be 18: see here

Usually when you get stopped in France the type of paperwork they want to see is Euro's instant fines last time I was there.