History Main / KidsDrivingCars

* In ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial'', during an emergency Elliot's brother Michael, who was around the age of 14, goes to hijack and drive away the van with E.T. inside.

* At the end of ''Film/ThePokerHouse'' Fourteen-year-old Agnes (played by Creator/JenniferLawrence), drives in the family's station wagon to pick up her younger sisters after [[spoiler:her basketball game winning]].

* In the ''Film/TheLovelyBones'', Susie Salmon (who is 14) takes her parents' car so she can take her younger brother Buckley to the hospital after noticing that he's choking on a twig.

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', while Fukaziroh isn't actually a kid (aged 19), her in-game avatar is [[FunSize only around 150cm tall]] so that she has the appearance of one. Despite her size she's able to drive a large humvee with no difficulty.

* In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', the fifteen-year-old Peter Parker, while dressed as Spider-Man, decides to "borrow" the car of Flash Thompson. However, he has yet to have a licence and hasn't really had any practice aside from a driving around the parking lot. Predictably his driving is awful and the car comes out worse for wear by the time he arrives at his destination.

* In the ''Film/TheLovelyBones'', Susie Salmon (who is 14) takes her parents' car so she can takes her younger brother Buckley to the hospital after noticing that he's choking on a twig.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' shows Marco. He claims to be able to drive because he knows it from computer games. In fact, he demonstrates his lousy driving skills in the first book. Even in later volumes his bad driving style is [[DrivesLikeCrazy presented with humor]]. Even Ax, an alien, is scared when Marco gets behind the wheel.

* In an episode of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' a drug-infusing chocolate is distributed throughout Sunnydale, which is why adults behave like children and teenagers again. After Joyce, Buffy's mother, also ate this chocolate, she gives Buffy her car. And Buffy demonstrates such [[DrivesLikeCrazy a wild driving style]] that Willow is utterly horrified and scared, and in fact Buffy gets into an accident that damages the car. Later, Buffy says that the damage happened in the fight against evil, but Jocye is still not amused.

* ''Series/{{GBH}}'' has a scene in which a family needs to drive to another city but their usual driver is unavailable, so their ten-year-old son offers to drive. On the way, a policeman considers pulling them over because he feels that something "just isn't right", but decides against it after his partner points out that the driver's driving is flawless. When they arrive at their destination, Michael Murray recognizes the car and expects that one of his enemies will be driving, but when he looks in the window and sees a ten-year-old driving, it triggers the worst yet attack of nervous tic in his arm.
* In an episode of ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', it is revealed that 14-year-old Ashley has been secretly driving cars ever since she was twelve years old. But it turns out to be a good thing, because nobody else is around to drive her pregnant mother to the hospital to have her baby.

* In an episode of ''Series/YoungSheldon'', 14 year old George Jr. steals Meemaw's car keys and car to drive him, Sheldon and Missy all to the hospital to go see their father who has been hospitalized by a heart attack. Being too afraid to get in an accident or be noticed by authorities, Georgie goes too slowly.

* In ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'', the then 15 year old Ben Tennyson reveals he got taught to drive in emergencies even though he has yet to try out for his license.

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', in the beginning of "Operation I.-S.C.R.E.A.M.", Numbuh Four is seen driving an ice cream truck while the others fight off ice cream men. And in general, Numbuh Two is often seen piloting a lot of air mechs.

* ''WesternAnimation/PJMasks'': All three of the Masks have their own signature vehicles, while nighttime villain Romeo drives a mobile lab shaped approximately like a streetsweeper.

** In "Little Big Girl", Bart steals every fire extinguisher in Springfield Elementary to propel his wagon. As Bart rockets around town, the foam released from the extinguishers puts out a wildfire the townspeople of Springfield unsuccessfully try to extinguish. Bart [[AccidentalHero is cheered as a hero by everyone]] and rewarded with a driver's license by Mayor Quimby, leading him to using Homer's car for his own pleasure.

** A brief gag in "Sideshow Bob Roberts": Lisa tells Homer she's tired of listening to right-wing pundit Birch Barlow. Homer tells her that when she drives she can listen to what she wants to. Cut to Lisa driving while listening to "St. Elmo's Fire", only switch back [[SkewedPriorities because Homer doesn't like the song]].

* TruthInTelevision, as in the United States kids as young as 10 are allowed to drive farm vehicles on private land. In rural areas middle school-aged children routinely drive [=ATVs=], farm trucks, snowmobiles and the like which greatly resemble cars. This trope gets zigzagged at times too. In many jurisdictions, said minors can still be prosecuted under certain conditions such as driving while intoxicated, driving without insurance, reckless driving, etc.

** In "Beach City Drift", Steven and Connie go for a joyride in Greg's new car, [[FusionDance fusing]] to form [[OlderAlterEgo Stevonnie]] so they'll look old enough and be tall enough to drive. Stevonnie [[InstantExpert turns out to be an amazing driver]] (which one crewmember joking attributed to "[[IKnowMortalKombat video games]]") and gets the car back undamaged. Later, in "Lars of the Stars", Stevonnie is able to pilot ''a SpaceFighter'' with a similar level of skill [[UniversalDriversLicense because the cockpit is based on a car's]].

* In ''LightNovel/SwordArtOnlineAlternativeGunGaleOnline'', while Fukaziroh isn't actually a kid (aged 19), her in-game avatar is [[FunSize only around 150cm tall]] so that she has the appearance of one. Despite her size she's able to drive a large humvee with no difficulty.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* Tiff from ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa'' drives a car in the Kirby 3D special.

[[folder:Films- Live Action]]

* In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', the 15-year-old Peter Parker while dressed as Spider-Man, decides to 'borrow' the car of Flash Thompson. However, he has yet to have a licence and hasn't really had any practice aside from a driving around the parking lot. Predictably his driving is awful and the car comes out worse for wear by the time he arrives at his destination.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/{{GBH}}'' has a scene in which a family needs to drive to another city but their usual driver is unavailable, so their ten year old son offers to drive. On the way, a policeman considers pulling them over because he feels that something "just isn't right", but decides against it after his partner points out that the driver's driving is flawless. When they arrive at their destination, Michael Murray recognizes the car and expects that one of his enemies will be driving, but when he looks in the window and sees a ten year old driving, it triggers the worst yet attack of nervous tic in his arm.

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', in the beginning of "Operation I.-S.C.R.E.A.M.", Numbuh 4 is seen driving an ice cream truck while the others fight off ice cream men. And in general, Numbuh 2 is often seen piloting a lot of air mechs.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' film ''WesternAnimation/ChannelChasers'' features a segment that parodies ''Anime/SpeedRacer''. Timmy, of course, ends up racing and wins, but he's then called out by the referee as being "too young to race in this race".

[[folder: Real Life]]

[[/folder]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' episode "Beach City Drift", Steven and Connie go for a joyride in Greg's new car, [[FusionDance fusing]] to form [[OlderAlterEgo Stevonnie]] so they'll look old enough and be tall enough to drive. Stevonnie [[InstantExpert turns out to be an amazing driver]] (which one crewmember joking attributed to "[[IKnowMortalKombat video games]]") and gets the car back undamaged. Later, in "Lars of the Stars", Stevonnie is able to pilot ''a SpaceFighter'' with a similar level of skill [[UniversalDriversLicense because the cockpit is based on a car's]].

* In the ''Film/TheLovelyBones'' Susie Salmon (who is 14) takes her parents' car so she can takes her younger brother Buckley to the hospital after noticing that he's choking on a twig.

* In ''Film/{{Logan}}'', the 11 year old Laura is able to drive around a truck that she and Logan are traveling in. It's perplexing that her feet can even reach the pedals.

* In ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'', the 15 year old Peter Parker while dressed as Spider-Man, decides to 'borrow' the car of Flash Thompson. However he has yet to have a licence and hasn't really had any practice aside from a driving around parking lot. Predictably his driving is awful and the car comes out worse for wear by the time he arrives at his destination.

->''Oh, isn't that cute? A baby driving a car! And look, there's a dog driving a bus!''
-->'''Chief Wiggum''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

** "The Secret of Success" features the boys creating an "All Terrain Vehicle"--one that can truly go ''anywhere''. They drive around in it to show off how "All Terrain" it truly is--despite them only having learners' permits, which [[LampshadeHanging gets pointed out]], as they're using a remote control instead.

** A brief gag in "Sideshow Bob Roberts". Lisa tells Homer she's tired of listening to right-wing pundit Birch Barlow. Homer tells her that when she drives she can listen to what she wants to. Cut to Lisa driving while listening to "St. Elmo's Fire".

-->''Oh, isn't that cute? A baby driving a car! And look, there's a dog driving a bus!''
--->'''Chief Wiggum''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' film ''WesternAnimation/ChannelChasers'' features a segment that parodies ''Anime/SpeedRacer''. Timmy of course ends up racing and wins, but he's then called out by the referee as being "too young to race in this race".
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': In the chase scene of the first part of [[GrandFinale Weirdmaggedon]], Wendy (who's fifteen years old) drives a truck while she and Dipper are escaping Gideon and his henchman. It doesn't help that she clarifies she never drove before that moment.

** "The Secret of Success" features the boys creating an "All Terrain Vehicle"- one that can truly go ''anywhere''. They drive around in it to show off how "All Terrain" it truly is- despite them only having learners permits, which [[LampshadeHanging gets pointed out]], as they're using a remote control instead.

* ''WesternAnimation/PJMasks'': All three of the Masks has their own signature vehicle, while nightime villain Romeo drives a mobile lab shaped approximately like a streetsweeper.

** When Milhouse began impersonating his father, one of the first things he does is rent a truck and drive it. He then crashes it... and goes to rent another one.

* TruthInTelevision, as in the US kids as young as 10 are allowed to drive farm vehicles on private land. In rural areas middle school-aged children routinely drive [=ATVs=], farm trucks, snowmobiles and the like which greatly resemble cars. This trope gets zigzagged at times too. In many jurisdictions, said minors can still be prosecuted under certain conditions such as driving while intoxicated, driving without insurance, reckless driving, etc.

Sometimes, the adult characters are [[AdultsAreUseless nowhere to be seen]] and the kids [[AllUpToYou must drive somewhere to save the day]]. In these cases, expect IKnowMortalKombat to come into play, with the kid turning out to be a BadassDriver due to their experience playing RacingGame{{s}} or driving toy vehicles. This is obviously due to RuleOfCool and very much ArtisticLicenseCars- with particularly young children one wonders how their feet can even reach the pedals. This is often a form of WishFulfillment for car-loving kid audiences. Other times, RealityEnsues ad AreYouSureYouCanDriveThisThing comes into play.

Sometimes, the adult characters are [[AdultsAreUseless nowhere to be seen]] and the kids [[AllUpToYou must drive somewhere to save the day]]. In these cases, expect IKnowMortalKombat to come into play, with the kid turning out to be a BadassDriver due to their experience playing RacingGame{{s}} or driving toy vehicles. This is obviously due to RuleOfCool and very much ArtisticLicenseCars- with particularly young children one wonders how their feet can even reach the pedals. This is often a form of WishFulfillment for car-loving kid audiences.

* TruthInTelevision, as in the US kids as young as 10 are allowed to drive farm vehicles on private land. In rural areas middle school-aged children routinely drive ATVs, farm trucks, snowmobiles and the like which greatly resemble cars. This trope gets zigzagged at times too. In many jurisdictions, said minors can still be prosecuted under certain conditions such as driving while intoxicated, driving without insurance, reckless driving, etc.

* In ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', Indy has Short Round act as a getaway driver for his meeting with Lau Che. Short Round's age isn't given, but his actor (Ke Huy Quan) was thirteen when the movie came out.

[[folder: Literature]]