Driving

Rules for driving in the UK, covering minimum ages, licences, vehicle registration and insurance.

Key facts

Minimum age to drive a car or motorcycle: 17. Minimum age for a moped: 16.
Vehicles must be registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency); an annual vehicle tax applies, and a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) must be filed if a vehicle is kept off the road and unused.
Valid motor insurance is compulsory — driving without it is treated as a serious criminal offence, not a minor infraction.
Vehicles over three years old need an annual MOT test, renewed every year.

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