2 questions, unrelated, but both do have something to do with age.
It's looking like we may drive to next Easters ski trip, so i was wondering if my 17 year old daughter would be able to take an hour or so behind the wheel to help out.
The situation is, she is highly likely to have passed her test by then, so assuming she has, is there any age restrictions for driving in France? If she hasn't passed, would she be able to drive with 'L' plates with me observing/guiding like I would here?
Both scenarios would involve all necessary insurance etc.
Other question about drinking. My daughter will be very nearly 18, and my son very nearly 17. Would they be allowed a beer/wine if we are out for dinner/lunch? Clearly what we choose to allow in our self catered accommodation is down to us, but what about elsewhere. The rules seems to state that they could have a 'drink' with a meal here in the UK, but pretty much all establishments seem to choose to not allow it.
Neither question will particularly impact the trip, but I'm sure they will ask....
Thank you.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@SHAP, pretty sure she needs to be 18 to drive in France, but they would both be allowed a beer or wine with lunch. It is 18 to buy your own alcohol, but can be bought it from age 16 (unless something has changed). We never had any issues with our own kids.
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Definitely minimum age to drive in France is 18. With regards alcohol at lunch/dinner you will not have a problem providing they are in your company, otherwise minimum age again is 18.
A prerequisite will be whether she can even be added to your car insurance: a question which can only be answered by the insurer. Some may not take on anyone under 25 let alone under 18. Conversely, we had no problem adding my 18yo daughter to our car insurance for a couple of weeks. It will be useful even for the UK to know whether she can be covered or not anyway. So worth asking.
If your current insurer won't cover her, then there are companies like Marmalade who specialise in student, new driver and young people's car insurance who might. Even if you can't get cover for abroad, if you are distant from the ferry/Eurotunnel in the UK getting cover for her to do the drive from home to the departure point might help just as much as doing a stint on the autoroute.
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Wed 14-09-22 8:50; edited 3 times in total
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
@SHAP, my daughter is nearly 19 and has been driving to close to a year now, she has just had her renewal quote for her car down from circa £1k to £600.
i tried to get her covered on my car, even on a temporary basis, as like you i thought she may be able to drive for a stint or 2 down to the alps at Christmas, which she was keen to do, and seeing as her own insurance had dropped significantly, i didn't think it would be a lot of money.
my own policy provider (AA) wouldn't even entertain it, i then tried a couple of temp insurance providers, and was quoted £50 per day, and £250 per week
needles to say i will be doing all the driving myself!!
Minimum age is 15 but no insurer will cover very young drivers to drive abroad. Most expect you to be 21, let alone 18.
As for drinking. My son ordered a coca cola in a bar when he was 6 or 7, he got served Cote du Rhone by the deaf patron.
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Minimum age to drive in France is 18 for a non French national so the OP’s daughter cannot drive the car whether she has passed the UK test or not at age 17.
French resident children under the age of 18 can drive a car as long as they are accompanied and have passed the theory test.
After all it is free
After all it is free
[quote="davidof"]
andmelffion wrote:
As for drinking. My son ordered a coca cola in a bar when he was 6 or 7, he got served Cote du Rhone by the deaf patron.
Shouldn't laugh really, but that's funny!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
Thanks all.
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
I've also wondered about this. I suspect the answer would lie with your insurer. As a general rule you can't drive before 18 but there is the conduite accompagne program for 16 + 17 year olds, who can drive legally with a parent etc (subject to limitations)
Re drinking. Go for it. Our son and his friends (age 16) have no problem getting served here (France, that is).
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
I can't imagine having found driving with any of my kids when they were 17, passed tests or not, more relaxing than driving myself!! I certainly wouldn't have taken the opportunity for a quick 40 winks.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
On the other hand I was quite relaxed about drinking with them.....
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
I still don't like being driven by my two almost-elderly up sons - they're a bit impatient for my liking. My son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, on the other hand are excellent drivers.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
pam w wrote:
I still don't like being driven by my two almost-elderly up sons - they're a bit impatient for my liking. My son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, on the other hand are excellent drivers.
I, on the other hand, have been driven around by my son since he was 15 ! He covered 20,000km before taking the test (at 17ish) and is now on about 30,000km.
I've had to start driving myself these last few weeks due to work commitments .
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
I thought the drinking age was 16 for beer, cider and wine, and 18 for spirits, or has that changed? (It's a long time since even our kids were that age!)
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
[quote="Pasigal"]I've also wondered about this. I suspect the answer would lie with your insurer. As a general rule you can't drive before 18 but there is the conduite accompagne program for 16 + 17 year olds, who can drive legally with a parent etc (subject to limitations
As above, that is only for French nationals, non french nationals as in the OP’s daughter must be a minimum of 18 to drive in France accompanied or not.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@RobinS, 18 to buy and drink alcohol ; 16 year olds can drink alcohol if accompanied by an adult
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
@albob, I looked it up, I was 13 years out of date, it changed in 2009, before then 16 year olds could buy/drink beer wine or cider. Though from what I have seen in France most establishments still work along those lines, there doesn't seem to be the widespread demands of ID common in the UK.
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
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