International DL

Minimum driving age by country

The minimum age to drive abroad as a visitor, with the side of the road. Tap a country for full rules and IDP requirements.

The legal minimum driving age abroad is usually 18, but it varies. Remember that car-rental companies set their own, higher minimum — often 21–25, sometimes with a young-driver fee.

CountryMin driving ageDrives on
Afghanistan18Right-hand
Albania18Right-hand
Algeria18Right-hand
Andorra18Right-hand
Angola18Right-hand
Argentina18Right-hand
Armenia18Right-hand
Australia18Left-hand
Austria18Right-hand
Azerbaijan18Right-hand
Bahrain18Right-hand
Bangladesh18Left-hand
Belarus18Right-hand
Belgium18Right-hand
Belize18Right-hand
Bhutan18Left-hand
Bolivia18Right-hand
Bosnia and Herzegovina18Right-hand
Botswana18Left-hand
Brazil18Right-hand
Brunei18Left-hand
Bulgaria18Right-hand
Burkina Faso18Right-hand
Cambodia18Right-hand
Cameroon18Right-hand
Canada16Right-hand
Central African Republic18Right-hand
Chad18Right-hand
Chile18Right-hand
China18Right-hand
Colombia18Right-hand
Costa Rica18Right-hand
Côte d'Ivoire18Right-hand
Croatia18Right-hand
Cuba18Right-hand
Cyprus18Left-hand
Czech Republic18Right-hand
Denmark18Right-hand
Dominican Republic18Right-hand
DR Congo18Right-hand
Ecuador18Right-hand
Egypt18Right-hand
El Salvador18Right-hand
Estonia18Right-hand
Eswatini18Left-hand
Ethiopia18Right-hand
Fiji18Left-hand
Finland18Right-hand
France18Right-hand
Gabon18Right-hand
Georgia18Right-hand
Germany18Right-hand
Ghana18Right-hand
Greece18Right-hand
Guatemala18Right-hand
Guyana18Left-hand
Honduras18Right-hand
Hong Kong18Left-hand
Hungary18Right-hand
Iceland17Right-hand
India18Left-hand
Indonesia17Left-hand
Iran18Right-hand
Iraq18Right-hand
Ireland17Left-hand
Israel17Right-hand
Italy18Right-hand
Jamaica18Left-hand
Japan18Left-hand
Jordan18Right-hand
Kazakhstan18Right-hand
Kenya18Left-hand
Kuwait18Right-hand
Kyrgyzstan18Right-hand
Laos18Right-hand
Latvia18Right-hand
Lebanon18Right-hand
Libya18Right-hand
Liechtenstein18Right-hand
Lithuania18Right-hand
Luxembourg18Right-hand
Madagascar18Right-hand
Malawi18Left-hand
Malaysia18Left-hand
Mali18Right-hand
Malta18Left-hand
Mauritius18Left-hand
Mexico18Right-hand
Moldova18Right-hand
Monaco18Right-hand
Mongolia18Right-hand
Montenegro18Right-hand
Morocco18Right-hand
Mozambique18Left-hand
Myanmar18Right-hand
Namibia18Left-hand
Nepal18Left-hand
Netherlands18Right-hand
New Zealand18Left-hand
Nicaragua18Right-hand
Niger18Right-hand
Nigeria18Right-hand
North Macedonia18Right-hand
Norway18Right-hand
Oman18Right-hand
Pakistan18Left-hand
Panama18Right-hand
Paraguay18Right-hand
Peru18Right-hand
Philippines18Right-hand
Poland18Right-hand
Portugal18Right-hand
Qatar18Right-hand
Republic of the Congo18Right-hand
Romania18Right-hand
Russia18Right-hand
Rwanda18Right-hand
Saudi Arabia18Right-hand
Senegal18Right-hand
Serbia18Right-hand
Seychelles18Left-hand
Sierra Leone18Right-hand
Singapore18Left-hand
Slovakia18Right-hand
Slovenia18Right-hand
Somalia18Right-hand
South Africa18Left-hand
South Korea18Right-hand
Spain18Right-hand
Sri Lanka18Left-hand
Sudan18Right-hand
Suriname18Left-hand
Sweden18Right-hand
Switzerland18Right-hand
Syria18Right-hand
Tajikistan18Right-hand
Tanzania18Left-hand
Thailand18Left-hand
Togo18Right-hand
Tunisia18Right-hand
Turkey18Right-hand
Turkmenistan18Right-hand
Uganda18Left-hand
Ukraine18Right-hand
United Arab Emirates18Right-hand
United Kingdom17Left-hand
United States16Right-hand
Uruguay18Right-hand
Uzbekistan18Right-hand
Venezuela18Right-hand
Vietnam18Right-hand
Yemen18Right-hand
Zambia18Left-hand
Zimbabwe18Left-hand

What is the minimum driving age abroad?

It is usually 18, though some countries allow 16 or 17. Note that car-rental companies almost always set a higher minimum — typically 21–25 — and may add a young-driver surcharge.

Does an International Driving Permit have a minimum age?

You must already hold a valid national license (minimum 18 in most places), and the IDP simply translates it. It does not lower any local minimum driving age.

Old enough to drive abroad? Get your IDP

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Ages are the general legal minimum for visitors and can change — rental minimums are higher. Confirm before you travel.