In France, the minimum age to drive a car is 18 years old.
But you can have also a graduated driver licensing betwee the age of 15 and 17 1/5. In this case, you generally learn how to drive with your parents and with a driving school as well.
You have to pass two tests :
1) a theory test (you have to answer 40 questions and have to get 35 good answers to pass it). Once you passed it, you take driving lessons in a driving school.
2) a road test. When you pass it, you've got a temporary driving license for three years. You have to put a sign on the car with the A letter to show people that you are a new driver. And you have some rules to respect : the speed is reduced for new drivers, and you only have six points instead of the 12 usual points. If nothing happends during the 3 years, then you've got the definitive driving license.
The points : We have 12 points. And you can easily lose points from 1 to 6 points depending on the nature of the incident. You can get your points back after a certain period of that (between six months to three years) depending on the offences and if you didn't make no further offences. You may also get 4 points back if you take a two-day driving awareness course that you'll have to pay. If you lose your 12 points, you lose your driving license as well for at least six months before taking exams again to get it back.
The cost : it is expensive ! Between 1000 to 1500 euros depending on the number of lessons you took and where you live !
So now, how does that work in your country? I'm curious to know !
@Cilla, I think there are similar systems in the UK, Ireland and maybe Germany but I'm not so sure about the latter.
Yes, lots of people have dashcams in Russia. They come in handy in the event of a road accident and if you want to drive your car and to film all the interesting things you can see through the front window at the same time — rainbows, pigeons, meteorite falls, you name it :)
In Russia you can take a driving test from age 17 but you won't get a licence until you're 18 (and obviously driving a car on your own without a licence is not exactly legal). So, for categories A, B and C the minimum age is 18. I don't think you can learn how to drive with your parents/friends only because you have to provide a certificate from your driving school to apply for the test.
The driving test consists of two parts:
1. Theoretical part (20 minutes for the test, 20 multiple choice questions. You can make max 2 mistakes, and each of them adds 5 additional questions)
2. Practical part
2a) conducted in a special area for training; tests such basic skills as driving up and down a slope, parallel parking etc.
2b) road test with a driving instructor and a road police officer in the back seat (that part is a joy!)
Needless to say, during a road test you'd better not be too stupid. For example, speeding up to 35 kmph (~22 mph) after a speed bump ("a lying-down policeman", as we say in Russian) is a very, very bad idea, this I can tell you with complete certainty haha. On the bright side (though it depends how you look at it... maybe it's not that bright after all) you can retake the test in a very short time, a couple of weeks or so, if I recall correctly.
I started driving lessons at 17 and then passed at age 18. In the UK you also have to sit a theory test first which i passed first time fortunately and then you must take your practical test which I failed first time round miserably! But fortunately passed second! 😁
I've heard that the tests are changing and now learners must use a sat nav in the test!
@Kseniia, thank you very much for all those informations ! That was really interesting. I know nothing about the driving licences abroad and I wondered if we (French people) were the only ones to use a point system.
As far as I know, I think you have dashboard cameras in your cars in Russia? I'm right? It's for the insurances in case of incidents? I saw some videos on youtube, that was a bit scary (though I guess it doesn't represent the way all the russians drive).
