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Highest Minimum Driving Age by Country

Countries ranked by the minimum legal age to hold a full Class B driving licence. Most of the world sets 18 as the floor, but a few notable exceptions go higher ā€” and several countries allow earlier provisional licences.

#CountryMin AgeNotesExplore
šŸ„‡#1
šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡øSpanje18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
šŸ„ˆ#2
šŸ‡©šŸ‡ŖDuitsland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
šŸ„‰#3
šŸ‡®šŸ‡¹ItaliĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
4šŸ‡³šŸ‡±Nederland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
5šŸ‡µšŸ‡¹Portugal18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
6šŸ‡µšŸ‡±Polen18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
7šŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µJapan18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
8šŸ‡§šŸ‡·BraziliĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
9šŸ‡²šŸ‡½Mexico18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
10šŸ‡¦šŸ‡·ArgentiniĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
11šŸ‡øšŸ‡ŖZweden18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
12šŸ‡»šŸ‡³Vietnam18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
13šŸ‡ØšŸ‡­Zwitserland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
14šŸ‡«šŸ‡®Finland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
15šŸ‡³šŸ‡“Noorwegen18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
16šŸ‡°šŸ‡·Zuid-Korea18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
17šŸ‡¦šŸ‡¹Oostenrijk18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
18šŸ‡¹šŸ‡·Turkije18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
19šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡ŖEstland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
20šŸ‡·šŸ‡“RoemeniĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
21šŸ‡ØšŸ‡æTsjechiĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
22šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡¦OekraĆÆne18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
23šŸ‡¬šŸ‡·Griekenland18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
24šŸ‡øšŸ‡¦Saoedi-ArabiĆ«18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
25šŸ‡±šŸ‡ŗLuxemburg18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
26šŸ‡°šŸ‡¼Koeweit18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
27šŸ‡§šŸ‡­Bahrein18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
28šŸ‡¶šŸ‡¦Qatar18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
29šŸ‡“šŸ‡²Oman18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
Practice ā†’
30šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¬Egypte18 years18 is the most common minimum age globally.
FactsPractice ā†’
Based on AutoviaTest's driving-test database covering 68 countries.Updated 2026
šŸ„‡#1šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡øSpanje
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
šŸ„ˆ#2šŸ‡©šŸ‡ŖDuitsland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
šŸ„‰#3šŸ‡®šŸ‡¹ItaliĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#4šŸ‡³šŸ‡±Nederland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#5šŸ‡µšŸ‡¹Portugal
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#6šŸ‡µšŸ‡±Polen
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#7šŸ‡ÆšŸ‡µJapan
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#8šŸ‡§šŸ‡·BraziliĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#9šŸ‡²šŸ‡½Mexico
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#10šŸ‡¦šŸ‡·ArgentiniĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#11šŸ‡øšŸ‡ŖZweden
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#12šŸ‡»šŸ‡³Vietnam
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#13šŸ‡ØšŸ‡­Zwitserland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#14šŸ‡«šŸ‡®Finland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#15šŸ‡³šŸ‡“Noorwegen
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#16šŸ‡°šŸ‡·Zuid-Korea
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#17šŸ‡¦šŸ‡¹Oostenrijk
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#18šŸ‡¹šŸ‡·Turkije
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#19šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡ŖEstland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#20šŸ‡·šŸ‡“RoemeniĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#21šŸ‡ØšŸ‡æTsjechiĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#22šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡¦OekraĆÆne
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#23šŸ‡¬šŸ‡·Griekenland
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#24šŸ‡øšŸ‡¦Saoedi-ArabiĆ«
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#25šŸ‡±šŸ‡ŗLuxemburg
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
#26šŸ‡°šŸ‡¼Koeweit
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#27šŸ‡§šŸ‡­Bahrein
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#28šŸ‡¶šŸ‡¦Qatar
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#29šŸ‡“šŸ‡²Oman
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

Practice ā†’
#30šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡¬Egypte
18 years

18 is the most common minimum age globally.

View FactsPractice ā†’
Based on AutoviaTest's database covering 68 countries Ā· Updated 2026

Methodology

The ranking uses the minimum age to hold a full unrestricted Class B (passenger car) driving licence. Many countries allow provisional or learner licences earlier (often 15-17) with conditions like supervised driving only, restricted hours, or lower alcohol limits.

Graduated licensing systems that require additional stages after the initial age (common in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, most US states) are not factored into this ranking ā€” the age shown is the final full-licence age.

Ties are broken alphabetically. Commercial driver licence ages (typically 21+ for heavy goods and buses) are excluded.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum driving age in most countries?+
The global median minimum age for a full Class B driving licence is 18, adopted by most European countries, Japan, and many others. The United States varies by state, with full unrestricted licences typically available from 17-18. A handful of countries set the age at 16 (e.g. parts of Canada and some US states), and a few go as high as 21 (e.g. Algeria for commercial vehicles).
Which country has the highest minimum driving age?+
Based on AutoviaTest's database of 68 countries, countries requiring 18+ for an unrestricted Class B licence are the strictest category. Many countries in the Middle East and parts of Asia apply 18 as a firm minimum without provisional-licence exceptions, while others allow earlier learner permits.
Can teenagers drive before their legal minimum age?+
Most countries allow provisional, learner, or accompanied-driver licences before the full minimum age. Germany's "Begleitetes Fahren ab 17" allows 17-year-olds to drive with a registered adult, Norway's Trafikalt grunnkurs can start at 15, and the UK allows provisional licences at 15 years 9 months. The minimum age in AutoviaTest's ranking is the age for a full unrestricted licence.
Why do different countries set different minimum driving ages?+
Minimum ages balance public-safety concerns (young drivers are statistically higher-risk) against practical needs (rural access, economic participation). Countries with strong public transport networks often set higher ages, while countries with dispersed populations and limited transit tend to set lower ones. Graduated licensing systems (learner ā†’ provisional ā†’ full) are increasingly common as a middle ground.
Does a higher minimum age mean safer roads for young drivers?+
Evidence suggests yes, but only as part of a package. Countries that combine a higher minimum age with mandatory training, graduated licensing, and zero-tolerance alcohol limits for novices (e.g. Norway, Sweden, Germany) see the lowest young-driver fatality rates. Raising the age alone has a smaller effect without complementary policies.
Can I drive abroad before the local minimum age with my home licence?+
Generally, no. If you are resident in a country with a higher minimum age, that country's rules apply ā€” even if your home licence would permit driving. Tourists with valid foreign licences are usually allowed to drive at the age their licence was issued for, but this varies. Always check the destination country's rules before driving abroad.
What is a graduated licensing system?+
Graduated licensing (GDL) is a multi-stage process where drivers earn progressively more privileges over time. Typical stages are: Learner (supervised only) ā†’ Provisional/Intermediate (with restrictions like no late-night driving, no passengers, lower alcohol limits) ā†’ Full unrestricted licence. New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and most US states use GDL systems. The ages in this ranking refer to the final Full licence stage.

Data Sources

This ranking is compiled from official licensing authorities and government road-safety bodies. All values are normalised to allow direct comparison across countries.

  • ā€¢
    European Commission ā€” Driving Licence Directive
  • ā€¢
    NHTSA ā€” Graduated Driver Licensing (USA)
  • ā€¢
    UK Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
  • ā€¢
    Statens vegvesen ā€” Norway (Trafikalt grunnkurs)
  • ā€¢
    NZ Transport Agency ā€” Waka Kotahi
  • ā€¢
    Austroads ā€” Australia/NZ licensing framework
  • ā€¢
    DirecciĆ³n General de TrĆ”fico (DGT) ā€” Spain
  • ā€¢
    Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) ā€” Germany

Last updated August 2026. AutoviaTest normalises data from government sources into a single comparable format. Methodology and licence: CC BY 4.0.

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