Can I get a driver's license at 18?

[Felicity]

According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses", the minimum age requirement for applying for a C1 or C2 driver's license is 18 years old. Therefore, 18-year-olds are eligible to learn driving and apply for a driver's license. The age requirements for different license categories are as follows: For small cars, small automatic transmission vehicles, small automatic transmission vehicles for the disabled, and light motorcycles, the applicant must be between 18 and 70 years old. For low-speed trucks, three-wheeled vehicles, ordinary three-wheeled motorcycles, ordinary two-wheeled motorcycles, or wheeled self-propelled machinery, the applicant must be between 18 and 60 years old. For urban buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams, the applicant must be between 20 and 50 years old. For medium-sized buses, the applicant must be between 21 and 50 years old. For tractors, the applicant must be between 24 and 50 years old. For large buses, the applicant must be between 26 and 50 years old. Students receiving full-time driving vocational education who apply for large buses or tractors must be between 20 and 50 years old. Physical requirements for applying for a driver's license: Height: Applicants for large buses, tractors, urban buses, large trucks, or trolleybuses must be at least 155 cm tall. Applicants for medium-sized buses must be at least 150 cm tall. Vision: Applicants for large buses, tractors, urban buses, medium-sized buses, large trucks, trolleybuses, or trams must have uncorrected or corrected visual acuity of at least 5.0 on the logarithmic visual acuity chart. For other license categories, the requirement is at least 4.9. Those with monocular vision impairment can apply for small cars, small automatic transmission vehicles, low-speed trucks, three-wheeled vehicles, or small automatic transmission vehicles for the disabled if their uncorrected or corrected visual acuity in the right eye is at least 5.0 and their horizontal field of vision reaches 150 degrees. Color vision: No red-green color blindness. Hearing: Able to distinguish the direction of sound sources with each ear at a distance of 50 cm from a tuning fork. Those with hearing impairment who can meet the above requirements with hearing aids can apply for small cars or small automatic transmission vehicles. Upper limbs: Both thumbs must be intact, and each hand must have at least three other fingers intact with normal movement. Those with missing finger tips or three intact fingers on the left hand and complete palms can apply for small cars, small automatic transmission vehicles, low-speed trucks, or three-wheeled vehicles. Lower limbs: Both lower limbs must be intact with normal movement, and the length difference should not exceed 5 cm. Those with a missing or non-functional left lower limb can apply for small automatic transmission vehicles. Torso and neck: No movement dysfunction. Those with missing or non-functional right lower limbs or both lower limbs but can sit independently and meet the upper limb requirements can apply for small automatic transmission vehicles for the disabled. Those with one missing hand but with an intact thumb and two other fingers on the other hand and normal upper limb and finger movement, and who meet the lower limb requirements, can also apply for small automatic transmission vehicles for the disabled. Applicants for a motor vehicle driver's license should submit their applications to the vehicle management office according to the following regulations: Applicants residing in their registered permanent residence should apply there. Applicants residing in a temporary residence can apply there (in Ningbo, a temporary residence permit valid for at least 3 months is required). Active military personnel (including armed police) should apply at their place of residence. Foreign nationals should apply at their place of residence. Applicants for additional license categories should apply at the place where their current driver's license was issued.

[Velazquez]

Of course, you can get a driver's license at 18. I personally signed up right after my 18th birthday. According to regulations, the minimum age to obtain a small car driver's license in mainland China is 18 years old, and you become eligible from your birthday. When I consulted the driving school, they explained that this is based on safety and responsibility considerations, as 18-year-olds generally have sufficient judgment to drive. The entire process includes passing a medical exam first, then enrolling in training, with a focus on the theory test for Subject 1, which requires memorizing many traffic rules and signs. Next is the field driving practice for Subject 2, where skills like reverse parking need lots of practice. After passing, remember that the first year is a probationary period when you can't drive alone on highways and need to be extra careful. I recommend downloading some driving test apps in advance and practicing questions daily—the theory part becomes easier with repetition. Nowadays, learning to drive is very convenient, with fees ranging from four or five thousand to ten thousand yuan. Choosing a driving school with a good reputation is most important.