# Did They Raise the Legal Driving Age to 18 or Not? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 13, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443 "2001-09-13T20:59:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/1 "2001-09-13T20:59:22Z")
My daughter wanted to know this. I heard some where they did and then I heard it didn’t pass. I hope it didn’t because that is a rip off that you have to wait until you are 18 to drive. I didn’t have to, gov’t officials didn’t have to. Why should kids today have to? I’m from Texas if that matters on this. ---
**Author:** ![psychomonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dec6dc/32.png) [@psychomonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychomonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/2 "2001-09-13T21:03:35Z")
In missouri thats the law. Its state by state thing. In Kansas, a few miles away, its possible to get one at 16. How do like them apples? -PSM ---
**Author:** ![dasceder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3d9bf3/32.png) [@dasceder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasceder)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/3 "2001-09-13T21:05:43Z")
The minimum age for driving is 16 in most states but some states will not allow unrestricted driving until 18. Some car rental agencies refuse to rent a car to any person under 25 years of age. Other agencies will rent to young drivers but require an added surcharge. Some rental agencies in the US will not rent to drivers over 71 years of age. [http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/driving.html](http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/driving.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/4 "2001-09-13T23:06:44Z")
I live in Ohio and the driving age is 15 and a half. I just got my permit in June. ---
**Author:** ![micco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@micco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micco)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/5 "2001-09-13T23:24:06Z")
Easy enough to check, assuming DPS keeps their site up to date: [http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver\_licensing\_control/faq.htm](http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/administration/driver_licensing_control/faq.htm) > [@](#): > > Q: What is the minimum age at which a person can receive a Driving Permit? > A: A person must be at least 15 years of age. BTW, the “I didn’t have to, gov’t officials didn’t have to. Why should kids today have to?” is a specious arguement. By that logic, we could never pass a new law without grandfathering every living American. Silly. ---
**Author:** ![SouprChckn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@SouprChckn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouprChckn)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/6 "2001-09-13T23:27:49Z")
At least in Illinois, you do not have to be 18 to drive but you do have to complete drivers ed and a traffic program. The traffic program (if you pass) will send in for a blue slip that will let you get a license before you’re 18. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_the_Advancer)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/7 "2001-09-14T00:17:12Z")
I’m 16, I live in Texas, and I got my license 2 days ago. But, I hear that I would probably be of the last 16 year old drivers in Texas due to a new law. It depends on your daughter’s birthday, and when she started driver’s ed. ---
**Author:** ![Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Lance\_the\_Advancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lance_the_Advancer)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2001, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-they-raise-the-legal-driving-age-to-18-or-not/81443/8 "2001-09-14T00:21:09Z")
"Some rental agencies in the US will not rent to drivers over 71 years of age. " \ I wouldn’t imagine they get much repeat business. \