Microcar for a teenager?

[Shaohao]

Hello.

My son is starting college in Liverpool in the incoming months. I would like him to have a safe commute to and from the place where he will live. We are still looking for an adequate place to stay. I was thinking about Aixam microcars. Could you suggest a model. Also, is it okay for a foreigner to drive microcar in the UK? We live in France and I am not sure about UK rules. Here he was able to drive since he was 15, just with his ID.

I would appreciate any help you could give me.

[DaveMiller]

Your son will need a UK licence, or foreign licence equivalent to the UK licence.
After 12 months in the UK, he’ll need the UK licence.

“AM”-category Aixams do exist in the UK, but are rare because they are beneficial only to 16-year-olds - after that, they can get (and will want) a proper car and full car licence.

Insurance is surprisingly expensive for a young person in an Aixam (think £2000 per year, but that depends on age and driving experience).  The maximum allowed speed of 28 mph (45 kilometres per hour) can cause problems - other drivers will not be as forgiving in Liverpool as they would be in rural France!