24 replies to this topic

[Scallywag630]

Can any legal mind help me. My son is pestering me to let him drive although he is not 17 until June. Simple you might think BUT he holds a full US licence and I have not been able to find anything that says he cannot drive. What is the position?

[CooperMad93]

To my knowledge he is legally allowed to drive in the US? but UK laws state 17 so no dice, it's like going to america at 18 and trying to get served when the drinking age is 21 there, correct me if i'm wrong anyone

[MateyTheMini]

Have you tried looking on the website that is in charge of the drivers licence like the UK's is DVLA, try the American company see what their website says?

[thehelstonian]

he'd need a provisonal here, with you beside him, unfortunately the pass doesnt cross the pond

[haggz]

have you tried DVLA they would be able to give you the correct information. you would need to be 100 % before letting your son drive. if you got it wrong and he wasnt insured mr plod would take the car away fine him and it would cost you loads to get the car back.

[charie t]

Can any legal mind help me. My son is pestering me to let him drive although he is not 17 until June. Simple you might think BUT he holds a full US licence and I have not been able to find anything that says he cannot drive. What is the position?

I have no proof, but i was under the impression its what ever age the country states as the minimum age.
Pleading ignorance only works sometimes, if you have a decent chest

[sonikk4]

Found this
http://www.yourdrivi...from-us-uk.html
but no mention of age limit. This countries minimum age limit to hold a full driving licence is 17 and i believe if you tried to insure him they would say no because of his age.

[samsfern]

have you tried DVLA they would be able to give you the correct information. you would need to be 100 % before letting your son drive. if you got it wrong and he wasnt insured mr plod would take the car away fine him and it would cost you loads to get the car back.

as well as yourself getting big points on your licence and fines for allowing a non licenced and non insured driver use your motor vehicle. Best thing to do is to phone the dvla, and if they say yes, ask for it in writing before letting your son drive.

[dreckly]

As said in the UK you are not allowed to drive before 17, you can apply for your provisional licence before your 17 but you can actually drive before your 17th birthday. Saying that seeing as he has a US driving licence its a bit of a tricky one. I would ring the DVLA and run it by them.

Let us know how you get on, it would be interesting to find out

[Scallywag630]

I've looked at the .gov site, but it actually does not state an age. It says the licence is valid here for 12 months. This is what I found:

If you are the holder of an ordinary driving licence (car, moped, motorcycle entitlement) and provided your licence remains valid, you can drive any category of small vehicle shown on your licence for up to 12 months from the time you became resident. To ensure continuous driving entitlement a provisional GB licence must have been obtained and a driving test(s) passed before the 12-month period elapses. If you obtain a provisional licence during this period, you are not subject to provisional licence conditions eg displaying 'L' plates or being supervised by a qualified driver or being precluded from motorways.

However, if you do not pass a test within the 12-month concessionary period you will not be allowed to drive as a full licence holder and provisional licence conditions will apply. If you do not apply for a provisional licence within the first 12 months you must stop driving and obtain a British provisional licence with a view to passing a driving test. Provisional licence conditions will then apply.

I really don't know what to do....he wants the mini!!!!

[MateyTheMini]

Let us know how you get on, it would be interesting to find out

Yes, please do.

This would be interesting to know!

Thanks,
Callum

[Beej123]

Regardless of the legality of the license there isnt an insurance company that would cover a 16 year old in this country anyway.
My mate has gone to uni in Australia and cant have a drink because of the minimum age being 21! Sucks but what can you do! Getting him a moped and a cbt might be the only way to give him some freedom?

[AVV IT]

he'd need a provisonal here, with you beside him, unfortunately the pass doesnt cross the pond

Regardless of the legality of the license there isnt an insurance company that would cover a 16 year old in this country anyway.

I'm not so sure.... As a visitor to the UK, you can drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes in the UK on a valid foreign licence for up to 12 months See Here. Theoretically so long as your son has been in the country for under 12 months, then his US licence is valid regardless of his age. Afterall 17 yrs is merely the minimum age for a standard UK licence, people who are getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (the mobility component), can legaly drive at 16 yrs in the UK and therefore insurance would have to be available to them under the Disability Discrimination Act. That said, I'd definitely get this confirmed for sure with the DVLA though.

Edited by AVV IT, 08 February 2011 - 09:51 PM.

[Scallywag630]

Regardless of the legality of the license there isnt an insurance company that would cover a 16 year old in this country anyway.
My mate has gone to uni in Australia and cant have a drink because of the minimum age being 21! Sucks but what can you do! Getting him a moped and a cbt might be the only way to give him some freedom?

The insurance on my wife's car states "anyone holding a current licence may drive" and it does not say it has to be a UK licence. I think I'll call them and ask. Nothing to lose. There is no way I'd let him have a moped...I only have one son.

[Beej123]

Regardless of the legality of the license there isnt an insurance company that would cover a 16 year old in this country anyway.
My mate has gone to uni in Australia and cant have a drink because of the minimum age being 21! Sucks but what can you do! Getting him a moped and a cbt might be the only way to give him some freedom?

The insurance on my wife's car states "anyone holding a current licence may drive" and it does not say it has to be a UK licence. I think I'll call them and ask. Nothing to lose. There is no way I'd let him have a moped...I only have one son.

Whos that insurance with? Totally off topic but my rents were looking at doing this so i could borrow bigger cars if i wanted to, we could only find it for drivers over 25?