Suzi Quatro passes her driving test after unknowingly breaking the law for 54 years
"I'm 75, for god’s sake. I’ve been driving since I was 16."
Last updated 11 hours ago
The Queen of the Rock n’ Roll, Suzi Quatro, passed her UK driving test this week after unknowingly breaking the law for 54 years.
Quatro moved to the UK from Detroit aged 21 in 1971 and only discovered in January that her US driving licence was only valid for 12 months after entering the country, meaning she’s been driving illegally here since 1972.
"I was told when I started to drive in this country that my American licence was fine," 75-year-old Quatro told The Mirror earlier this week. "And over the years I was insured, I had speeding tickets."
"Can you believe it?" she continued. "I only found out in January because the US laws changed too, and they won’t renew your American licence unless you can prove you have been in the particular state your license is from for the last six months, and of course, I can’t. I live here. So I needed a British licence.
"I’m 75, for god’s sake. I’ve been driving since I was 16."
Quatro took her test on Wednesday 18th March and thankfully passed at the first attempt.
Breaking the good news to The Mirror, she enthused: “I passed! I’m so pleased. It’s such a relief. I got a couple of minors, nothing big. Honest to God, it’s a joke - I’m 75. I’ve been driving since I was 16.
“My husband was so pleased. He sent messages all over the world to friends of ours. He’s so proud. At 75 it’s quite an achievement.”
She added: “I told my instructor ‘I’m going to have a glass of Champagne’. ‘You won’t drive after that, will you?’ he joked. ‘I will not’, I told him.”
Suzi Quatro releases her new studio album ‘Freedom’ on Friday 27th March and she embarks on a 10-date greatest hits UK tour in April. Tickets are on sale from Planet Rock Tickets now.
Suzi Quatro’s UK tour dates:
APRIL 2026
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall – Tue 7th
Gateshead The Glasshouse International Centre For Music – Wed 8th
Manchester Opera House – Thu 9th
Watford Colosseum – Sat 11th
Oxford New Theatre – Sun 12th
Southend Cliffs Pavilion – Tue 14th
London Palladium – Wed 15th
Bath Forum – Fri 17th
Birmingham Symphony Hall – Sun 19th
Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre – Mon 20th