erm i think it's 17 to get ur provisional licence and you can learn to drive then at 17 and even take ur test at 17 (as my bro is 17 nd he is taken his nxt week lol)
you have to get a provisional before you learn to drive i think, not sure when you get that but you cant take lessons until you are 17 and so cant take you test till after that
Life's not short....its the longest thing you will ever have