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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want my 15yr old driving yet?

63 replies

betteronmondays · 02/04/2025 13:37

My son turns 15.5yrs in a month and says can he apply for his provisional driving license in a month and then wants to drive with us under supervision. We live in central London. We drive an expensive car after years of having a cheap small car because we can finally afford one we all fit into. I object to so many things… a 15yr having a say in car decisions. A 15yr driving around London. The cost, responsibility, entitlement, necessity, danger… I mean we hardly even drive we use it to get out of London!
my husband says all he did from the age of 10 is drive and drive his parents around from 15.. I know he’s exaggerating as he was a full boarder from the age of 7yrs. But now I am being made to feel unreasonable…

OP posts:

Original poster

betteronmondays · 02/04/2025 13:51

THANKYOU I thought I was going mad.

OP posts:

wombat1a · 02/04/2025 13:48

Depends on what you drive, I had a test at 16 and 1 month was driving on the road alone straight after that ..... in a tractor.

Staringatthestars · 02/04/2025 13:44

Your son can only drive with a provisional when he turns 17 and has to be fully supervised... he can apply for a license but he certainly can't drive a car. When he's 16 he could use a moped with his provisional.

Assuming there are no disabilities. If he qualifies for a higher rate of disability allowance he may be able to at 16.

If you and your dh drive, how do you not know this?

Also, even if he was 17, if you're not happy with him driving your car, just say no? You're the parent and it's your car.

Cannaeberught · 02/04/2025 13:43

The public transport options in central London pretty much negate the need for a car for anyone able bodied.
Has he saved for the lessons? Is he paying for the licence? Petrol? Insurance? If not he can jog on!

Cannaeberught · 02/04/2025 13:41

Just tell him he won’t be driving YOUR cars end of.
You’ll need a second mortgage BTW to insure a young driver AND you live in London. Central London. Why in gods name would he want to drive there anyway!

labradorservant · 02/04/2025 13:41

Yes unless he’s disabled he can’t. Well he can but he’ll be breaking laws and be uninsured etc etc!

FrenchandSaunders · 02/04/2025 13:41

Just say no then! Presumably he doesn't earn enough money to pay for driving lessons, insurance, petrol ....

elliejjtiny · 02/04/2025 13:41

He can get his provisional license in a month but I'm fairly sure he can't drive until he is 17 unless he gets the higher rate mobility component of DLA.

Runnersandtoms · 02/04/2025 13:40

https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive#:~:text=You%20can%20apply%20for%20a,Personal%20Independence%20Payment%20(PIP).

Driving lessons and learning to drive

Who can teach you to drive, practising with friends and family, driving lessons, insurance, using L and P plates.

https://www.gov.uk/driving-lessons-learning-to-drive#:~:text=You%20can%20apply%20for%20a,Personal%20Independence%20Payment%20(PIP).

Surespray · 02/04/2025 13:39

Is he disabled?

Iknowaboutpopular · 02/04/2025 13:39

You can apply for a provisional driving licence when you're 15 years and 9 months old. You can start driving a car when you're 17. You can drive a car when you are 16 if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Quoted from the GOV website.

Runnersandtoms · 02/04/2025 13:39

If you check the law you will find he is wrong. He can apply for a provisional licence but can't drive before age 17.

TeapotCollection · 02/04/2025 13:39

Eh? You have to be 17 to drive <confused>

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