New global study from Scrap Car Comparison reveals how age shapes trust, confidence, and perceptions behind the wheel. 

Young Gen Z drivers (under 25) are seen as the most significant risk-takers on the road, while older Millennials (35–44) are the world’s most trusted drivers. 

Nearly half of drivers worldwide believe people should stop driving in their 70s, and only 18% would feel comfortable being a passenger with someone over 80. 

 Innocence and experience

A new international study from Scrap Car Comparison, the UK’s biggest scrappage comparison provider, has revealed how drivers around the world perceive different age groups on the road, from who’s trusted most in the driver’s seat, to who’s considered too risky, too slow, or too old to drive. 

 Surveying motorists in 18 countries, the study set out to understand how age influences attitudes towards driving ability, safety, and confidence, uncovering sharp generational divides and strong cultural opinions about who really belongs behind the wheel. 

 Small is big

Younger Gen Z drivers are seen as the greatest risk on the road.

 

Rank  Country  % who believe under-25s take the most risks 
1  Australia  90% 
2  UK  88% 
3  US  84% 
4  New Zealand  84% 
5  Netherlands  84% 
6  Ireland  82% 
7  Canada  82% 
8  Spain  78% 
9  Chile  78% 
10  Germany  76% 

Across the globe, younger Gen Z drivers (under 25) are perceived as the most likely to take risks, with 77% of all respondents agreeing this group drives the most recklessly.  

In Australia, that figure climbs to 90%, with busy urban stretches like Sydney’s Parramatta Road and the Great Ocean Road demanding quick reactions and caution.  

Followed by the UK (88%), where congested routes such as the M25 test the patience of even experienced motorists.  

The US (84%) and New Zealand (84%) also show strong scepticism, perhaps shaped by long highway drives across sprawling states or winding roads through Auckland’s hilly suburbs, all suggesting a shared scepticism among English-speaking nations toward their youngest motorists. 

Millennial trust

Between 35 and 44 years old, older Millennials are officially the world’s most trusted drivers.  

Rank  Country  % who feel safest with a 35–44 driver 
1  Spain  58% 
2  Hungary  57% 
3  Germany  57% 
4  Poland  56% 
5  Netherlands  56% 
6  Mexico  56% 
7  Greece  55% 
8  Canada  52% 
9  New Zealand  50% 
10  France  49% 

Over half of all respondents (54%) say this group has the best driving skills, with particularly strong support in Spain (58%), where navigating Madrid’s Gran Vía or the winding mountain roads of Andalusia requires composure.   

Germany (57%) also shows high trust, with its famously fast yet disciplined Autobahn testing both skill and control.  

Meanwhile, in Hungary (57%), driving through Budapest’s historic streets requires patience and awareness, further underscoring why this age group earns global respect behind the wheel. 

Experienced enough to remain calm, yet young enough to stay sharp, these drivers are perceived to strike the ideal balance of composure and confidence. 

Time to stop?

Globally, nearly half (48%) of all drivers think people should stop driving in their 70s, while 46% extend that limit to the 80s.  

Rank  Country  % who believe drivers should stop in their 70s 
1  Hungary  63% 
2  Greece  59% 
3  Chile  58% 
4  Portugal  57% 
5  Netherlands 57%

However, some nations are far stricter: Hungary (63%), where compact towns and tram-heavy streets like those in Debrecen make driving more demanding for older motorists, Greece (59%), with its steep island roads and Athens’ heavy traffic, and Chile (58%), home to the bustling streets of Santiago and long Andean highways, lead the call for retirement in the 70s. 

Too slow

More than half of respondents (54%) believe drivers aged 75 and older are the slowest on the road.

Rank  Country  % who think those aged 75+ drive too slowly 
1  Ireland  69% 
2  UK  68% 
3  New Zealand  67% 
4  Netherlands  67% 
5  Canada  65% 
6  Australia  65% 
7  France  61% 
8  US  59% 
9  Italy  58% 
10  Hungary  53% 

 The highest percentages were found in Ireland (69%) and the UK (68%), where navigating narrow country lanes and roundabouts can prove challenging for older drivers.

New Zealand (67%) and the Netherlands (67%) followed closely.  

 

Highs and lows

Globally, just 18% of people say they’d feel comfortable being a passenger with someone over 80 behind the wheel.  

Rank  Country  % who would not feel comfortable with an 80+ driver 
1  Greece  94% 
2  Poland  93% 
3  Hungary  93% 
4  South Africa  88% 
5  Portugal  87% 
6  France  85% 
7  Spain  84% 
8  Mexico  84% 
9  Germany  84% 
10  Chile  84% 

Greece (94%), Poland (93%), and Hungary (93%) lead the way in caution, perhaps unsurprising given the sharp bends of Greek mountain roads or the narrow, cobblestoned lanes in Kraków and Budapest, while even in more lenient countries like Ireland (61%), few are fully confident about elderly drivers. 

Wisdom

Despite the age divides, the majority agree on one thing: experience trumps age.

Rank  Country  % saying experience is most important 
1  Hungary  77% 
2  Spain  76% 
3  South Africa  74% 
4  Netherlands  74% 
5  Ireland  74% 

 Across all 18 countries, 70% of respondents said it’s time on the road, not the number on your licence, that makes a good driver. 

Hungary (77%) led the rankings, where seasoned drivers handle both urban and rural terrain confidently, followed closely by Spain (76%) and South Africa (74%), where navigating routes like Johannesburg’s M1 and Cape Town’s coastal roads demands both awareness and adaptability,  showing that where driving conditions are varied and challenging, experience earns the most respect. 

Matt Clamp, Customer Service Manager at Scrap Car Comparison, surmised: “Whether you’re 18 or 80, everyone believes they’re a good driver, but perception plays a huge role in how we view others on the road. 

“Age brings both confidence and caution, but what truly defines a safe driver is experience and awareness. Preparation, patience, and respect for other road users are what make journeys smoother and safer, no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake. 

“Ultimately, we all share the same roads, from city streets to country lanes, so it’s important to stay considerate of every driver, cyclist, and pedestrian around us. Regardless of how old someone is or how we perceive their abilities, mutual respect and understanding are what keep everyone moving safely in the same direction.” 

The full Driving Age Report can be found here.