Driving in the US and UK

In most parts of the US you must be at least 15 to learn to drive and 16 to get a driver´s licence. In the UK you must at least be 17 before you can learn to drive or get a driving licence. When you are learning to drive in either country, you must have a legal document called a learner’s permit (in the US), or provisional licence (in the UK) . This document allows you to practise driving with someone who already has a licence, and is changed into a full licence (= one which allows you to drive alone) when you pass your driving test.
People in the UK usually learn to drive by having private driving lessons. Most high schools in the US, however, offer a course called Driver’s Education. These classes teach students how to drive and also teach them the laws about driving in their state.