This information applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland
There are rules about the age at which you can drive a particular type of vehicle. For example, you can ride an electrically-assisted pedal cycle from the age of 14, a moped from the age of 16 and a motorbike, car or certain classes of van and lorry from the age of 17.
For more information on what a young person can drive, see Driving licences.
You are not allowed to supervise a learner driver until you are 21, and have had a full licence yourself for at least three years.
If you drive a vehicle when you are 17, you must have third party liability insurance, even though you cannot usually enter into a contract until you are 18.
You are allowed to fly a glider from the age of 16. You can hold a private air pilot’s licence from the age of 17 and a commercial air pilot’s licence from the age of 18.#
Everyone who is travelling outside the United Kingdom must have their own passport (unless you are under 16 and were included in your parent's passport before 5 October 1998).
You must have the consent of a parent to have a passport if you are under 18, unless you are married or a member of the armed forces.
For more information on passports, see Travel abroad.
Children under the age of twelve, travelling in the rear or front seats of a vehicle, must normally wear a seat belt or, a child restraint. Passengers aged twelve or over must normally wear a seat belt.
Children under the age of twelve must also wear a seat belt if they are over a certain height.
For children under the age of 14, the driver of the vehicle is responsible for making sure that they wear a seat belt or restraint where this is required by law.
Everyone over the age of 14 is responsible for wearing a seat belt when this is required by law. The driver or owner of the vehicle is not responsible for passengers over this age.
For more information about wearing a seat belt, go to the Directgov website at: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring.
You can find more information about the rights of children and young people elsewhere in Adviceguide.
For information about the general rights of children and young people, see Young people's rights.
For information about employment, see Young people and employment.
For information about housing, see Young people and housing.
For information about family matters, see Young people and family.
For information about money and consumer rights, see Young people – money and consumer rights.
For information about benefits, see Young people and benefits.
For information about health and personal issues, see Young people – health and personal.
For information about the law and young people, see Young people and the law.
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