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17,

cheers,

Matt

Or more precisely, its 17 on a learners licence (called a provisional licence).

That allows you to drive a vehicle as long as there is someone who has a full licence with you (usually a driving instructor).

Once they have passed their test (its a written and practical) they are allowed to drive on their own...assuming that they can afford the insurance which is astronomical due to the high risk.

Some parents attempt to insure their child as a named driver when in reality the child is the main driver, and this is where the fun starts. If they do that then when the child tries to claim the investigators pull the drains up and establish who the car really belonged to. At that point the insurance is invalidated unless the back payments are made on the policy, and that can run into several thousands of pounds. The clowns that do this have no idea what they are letting themselves in for.

17, and you dont need somebody with a full license, i have friends that are 17 that drive.

From the direct.gov website:

"

Cars or light vans, with or without trailers

The term maximum authorised mass (MAM) means the total weight of the vehicle plus the maximum load it can carry safely.

Category B
Motor vehicles with a MAM of up to 3,500 kg, no more than eight passenger seats, with or without a trailer - weighing no more than 750 kg
17*

As category B but with a trailer weighing more than 750 kg. The total weight of the vehicle and the trailer together can’t weigh more than 3,500 kg. The weight of the trailer, when fully loaded, can’t weigh more than the unladen weight of the vehicle
17*

B auto
As category B with automatic transmission
17*

B+E
As category B but with a heavier trailer that isn't covered in the descriptions for category B
17



*Age 16 if you are currently getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component).

Example of category B with a trailer weighing over 750 kg: Motor vehicle with an unladen weight of 1,500 kg and a maximum weight of 2,000 kg towing a fully loaded trailer with a weight of 1,500 kg – total weight 3500.

Example of category B+E: Motor vehicle with a MAM up to 3,500 kg towing a trailer of any weight over 750 kg.

"

cheers,

Matt

That seems very complicated rating system,in the US and in most states GVW 26000LB and below anyone can drive with a license over that weight is considered commercial or freight carrying vehicle.Operator permit 6-month prior to 16th Birthday.Good driving record while driving on permit,then the driver receives an operators license.In Tennessee we have the points system,get a ticket for a moving violation you incur 1-3 points,12 point IN A 1YR PERIOD and you loose your license.DUI/DWI go to jail and loose your license. Motor cycle permit can be issued at 14,restricted to 250cc or less.But state to state rules do change.One nation wide law we now have had for 20yrs is the drinking age 21,many believe if you can fight and die at 17 you should be able to drink.

UK's a bit strange when it comes to ages.

Sex- 16
Driving- 17
Join the Armed Forces- 17 (though you can only be posted to a warzone at 18)
Drink- 18
Vote- 18

So you can start a family and become a parent before you can drink, drive, vote and do ones bit for Queen and country.

Hi Sax its more complicated than you think ,The ages at which you can drive different types of vehicle are 21 for heavy goods (unless in armed forces anyone under orders can drive any vehicle even if he dosnt hold a drivers permit)21 to drive a bus 25 to drive a taxi (this is different in each town )Bus and taxi drivers have to have full police checks no-one with a criminal record.Also new drivers have to take an extra test to tow a trailer but us older drivers dont (Its called grandads rights)
The first 2 years after passing your test if you are fined for speeding twice or similar offence you lose your drivers permit have to retake your test, in the town where I live there are there are over 40 speed cameras (none outside schools or parks where children play)there positioned to catch the unwary usualy behind trees or road signs at the bottom of steep hills. The goverment and police think the motorist is a big cash cow one of your v8 motors would cost over 500 pounds per year in road tax the insurance for anyone under 25 would be astronomical think in the thousands of pounds petrol(gas)is almost 5 pounds per gallon (about 8$),also have to deal with parking fines.Then when you try to drive on the motorways there all falling apart and have traffic cones for mile after mile with no-one working on them ,to be honist it is no fun driving in the U.K. anymore .

regards pete

I understand you have a system based on money,instead of safety.We are heading that way with the current politicians.After 9/11 it became difficult to have the hazardous material endorsement to our commercial drivers license or CDL as it is called .Then many who have driven for years could no longer drive certain products,We are heading to the cash to drive system,first step in road socialism,track where you go,when,how fast,how far,and then WHY ARE YOU DRIVING,FORCED PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.All these things in this country are linked to the global warming conn/ripoff.And it is just one step into what you in the UK already have,cameras watching the very people they are said to protect.V-Vendetta says it all. One thing I don't get,their is a BP station 1-mile from my home,2.50per gallon.this is the same BP charging you 8.00us per Gallon,how does that work,seems you in the UK are getting ripped off?