What is the minimum age to drive in France

[Daggernite]

Just wondering if anyone could answer a question I have. Basically I would like to know what the minimum age is to be drive in france, and what the punishment would be if a underage driver was court by the french police?

This is just a debate me and my mum was having, and I came here to hopew someone could shed some light on the matter.

Thanks

[360modena]

Don't worry you can drive in France mate, the legal age is 18 :D
I don't know what's the punishment if you drive under the legal age but if you do it
without license to drive, it can cost up to 1500€ first time and 3750€ with 3 years in prison the next time.

[Daggernite]

Thats great guys, much appreciated. :D

[TransAm]

Daggernite, what are you 'getting at' exactly? is it the issue that you can drive at 17 in the UK, but in France the minimum age to drive is 18, so where do you stand in respect of driving in France, with a full UK license, but only aged 17?

I wondered this myself at the time (when I was 17)

It must be an issue though for a handful of people each year (footballers & millionaires' sons spring to mind, as an example), surely?

I remember when Jensen Button got done for speeding in France @139mph (or thereabouts) in a BMW330d, apparently people under 21 are only allowed to drive certain (maybe diesel only) cars upto a HP limit in France. I might be wrong on this though, but I can see no other reason why Button would be driving a diesel car lol...and at the time this happened I am sure he was under 21...

[Daggernite]

Daggernite, what are you 'getting at' exactly? is it the issue that you can drive at 17 in the UK, but in France the minimum age to drive is 18, so where do you stand in respect of driving in France, with a full UK license, but only aged 17?

Well yes I was wondering about that too. Lets me tell you what the arguement went like first. I told her that I could drive from through france in a day. At that point she said no I could'nt because I need to be 21 to drive in france. So yes I did wonder if you pass your test in one country, can you drive in another country which has a higher age limit.
So I have told her she is wrong about having to be 21 to drive in france, but if you did have to be 21, I would have wondered if I could be allowed to drive, since I have my liscence in uk.

BUT THATS NOT ALL

I said I'll just drive through anyway (just for a joke to winde her up). At which point she said I would be locked up for 6 month until the english embassy get in touch. I said thats aload of rubbish I would get a fine, but she was having none of it. So I said I'll go ask JW then, at which point she said wtf is JW. I explained it was about cars but then she was in a mood and went home.

women just dont know what there on about sometimes. My nan was there too saying " you dont wanna go to jail in them kinda country they beat you" she thinks its like afganistan or summat. :roll:

anyway there you go, the full scoop

[TransAm]

The French Embassy would answer our query, no doubt

I know what you mean about mums/nans though, up til I was about 14 I thought my mum knew it all and took what she said as gospel. Thereafter I realised she wasn't right all the time...

[TransAm]

Nothing wrong with a 330d, mojo, they are great cars. Heck if I can afford one I'd have one when I get back to the UK. I have said recently I will never buy anotehr FWD car if I can avoid it, and all BMWs are RWD. There isn't much else to choose from amongst medium sized cars if you want a recent model RWD car.

I am just recalling what I read in the paper...The media do not always print an accurate account of the story though :wink:

I'll search bbc a moment and post back if I find anything...]

Edit: cant find anything on JB being caught speeding - maybe it was a rented car and as he was young at the time, maybe the fastest thing that rental company would let him hire...

[mindgam3]

Daggernite, what are you 'getting at' exactly? is it the issue that you can drive at 17 in the UK, but in France the minimum age to drive is 18, so where do you stand in respect of driving in France, with a full UK license, but only aged 17?

Well yes I was wondering about that too. Lets me tell you what the arguement went like first. I told her that I could drive from through france in a day. At that point she said no I could'nt because I need to be 21 to drive in france. So yes I did wonder if you pass your test in one country, can you drive in another country which has a higher age limit.
So I have told her she is wrong about having to be 21 to drive in france, but if you did have to be 21, I would have wondered if I could be allowed to drive, since I have my liscence in uk.

BUT THATS NOT ALL

I said I'll just drive through anyway (just for a joke to winde her up). At which point she said I would be locked up for 6 month until the english embassy get in touch. I said thats aload of rubbish I would get a fine, but she was having none of it. So I said I'll go ask JW then, at which point she said wtf is JW. I explained it was about cars but then she was in a mood and went home.

women just dont know what there on about sometimes. My nan was there too saying " you dont wanna go to jail in them kinda country they beat you" she thinks its like afganistan or summat. :roll:

anyway there you go, the full scoop

hehe my mum thought the same so it must have been a UK law that you weren't allowed to drive overseas if you weren't 21 or something similar....

But i looked it up and you only have to be 18, although you have to get some form of certificate for some countries - its not a test and i dont think u have to have one for france anyway

[TransAm]

But i looked it up and you only have to be 18

This is true, I looked it up also. It works 'both ways' - you can ride a 125cc motorcycle at 15 in France regardless of your nationality...17 in UK.

Mojo - Family and only one car... I hear you dude. To all you young lads, enjoy those MR2/TVR/Corvettes while you can!

[yg60m]

In France the age to drive a 125 cc is 16 if I am not wrong and you can drive a car at 16 if you are accompanied by someone who has his driving licence and if you have followed some driving lessons first :wink: But you need a paper to prove that and I am not sure it can apply to foreigners :wink: