Can my wife avoid the restrictions of her drivers permit?

[Nick L 0]

My wife is from Slovenia. We found out that, because of Massachusetts law, she cannot just simply change her foreign drivers license to an Massachusetts one, she has to go though the whole process of getting a learners permit, doing the written tests, and even the road test.

She now has her driving permit, but she also still has her driving license from Slovenia (still valid). Her parents are visiting in less than two weeks (July 7) and we wanted to do the road test before then so I won't be obligated to sit in the car for every trip. Unfortunately we cannot book an appointment before August.

​The solution for the time being... for example, if my wife and mother-in-law want to go to the mall, her mother will drive using her foreign license.

​Does this mean my wife can also drive and use her foreign license in case she is pulled over? It seems logical that her and her mother have the same right to use that documentation.

​Anyone know if this is ok? Has anyone her been in a similar situation?

(BTW, my wife currently has a 2 year greencard.)

Edited June 27, 2016 by Mike Teevee

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Your wife already has her green card and considered as Massachusetts US resident. So she must follow the DMV rules to convert the foreign license to local one.

Once you have established residence in Massachusetts, you must obtain a Massachusetts driver's license to retain your driving privileges. There is no grace period.

https://www.massrmv.com/Portals/30/docs/dmanual/chapter_1.pdf

[subwayguy 100]

depends on the state.check with your local DMV

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Your mother-in-law cannot use her foreign driver's license to drive in MA because she will have to go through the same process you are trying to avoid.. If it was that easy, then your wife's license should have been enough.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Your MIL will need an international driver's license in addition to her driver's license in other to drive in MA.

http://www.dmv.org/international-driver-permits.php#What-Is-an-International-Driving-Permit

[MADDEN 40]

I was recently at the DMV in Pennsylvania and asked this very question. I was told that even tho I would hold a learners permit I could still drive on my Australian licence (for one year from arrival into the US or until my Australian licence expired, which ever came first) until I got my full US licence.

Now this could be different from state to state so I would call and ask if she can continue to use her Slovenia licence.

[Harmonia 211]

My wife is from Slovenia. We found out that, because of Massachusetts law, she cannot just simply change her foreign drivers license to an Massachusetts one, she has to go though the whole process of getting a learners permit, doing the written tests, and even the road test.

She now has her driving permit, but she also still has her driving license from Slovenia (still valid). Her parents are visiting in less than two weeks (July 7) and we wanted to do the road test before then so I won't be obligated to sit in the car for every trip. Unfortunately we cannot book an appointment before August.

​The solution for the time being... for example, if my wife and mother-in-law want to go to the mall, her mother will drive using her foreign license.

​Does this mean my wife can also drive and use her foreign license in case she is pulled over? It seems logical that her and her mother have the same right to use that documentation.

​Anyone know if this is ok? Has anyone her been in a similar situation?

(BTW, my wife currently has a 2 year greencard.)

No, your wife has a MA learner's permit and cannot drive without a licensed MA driver seated alongside her in front.

My husband was in the same situation. We made a mistake where he drove to the RMV on the day of his road test, and he dropped me off at the entrance because it was pouring and went to park. We didn't think twice about it, honestly. But the RMV adjudicator saw and failed him instantly because he operated a car without me present, even though he had a valid foreign license.

This was in Southbridge, which is over an hour and a half from where we live. We booked an appointment there because it was the soonest available.

We had to wait several weeks and pay for a 2nd appointment in Brockton, 45 min. from where we live.

Edited June 27, 2016 by Harmonia

[Harmonia 211]

I was recently at the DMV in Pennsylvania and asked this very question. I was told that even tho I would hold a learners permit I could still drive on my Australian licence (for one year from arrival into the US or until my Australian licence expired, which ever came first) until I got my full US licence.

Now this could be different from state to state so I would call and ask if she can continue to use her Slovenia licence.

Every US state is different. Driving permission is state regulated. Every state has a different age at which you can get a license, different requirements for drivers education, different graduated licensing, insurance regulations, etc.

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to Moving to the US and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

[Mena28 35]

I had the same problem (also MA), and was unable to drive until I had my full license. When I was here before though, I just drove on my foreign license, with an international license along with it, and that was fine, because I was a visitor. So your MIL can use her foreign license (bring an international one along), but your wife cant. Wait times suck, I am sorry

[RodDetroit 118]

its up to her , but if she gets pulled over and the cop finds out that she does have a MA permit she is gonna get fined and that means her insurance will go up.

[N-o-l-a 7,167]

We had this issue in CT and I was told that you can drive on the foreign license for the period of time the state allows for new residents, but once the learner's permit is issued, then that is the license rules. It was inconvenient, but I guess the foreign parents will have to drive.

Can you try and book an appointment somewhere way far out of the way? Some places seem to have less of a wait time.

[SusieQQQ 11,584]

Are you sure it's a learner's permit and not a temporary driving one? In CA we got temporary permits after the written test, and could use those (I seem to recall we needed to keep our foreign licenses with us too) until the behind the wheel test and state driver license was issued. It was made clear this was not the same as a learner permit though. I know different states have different rules, but it seems odd to give people in this situation a restricted learner permit.

Edit: having read further posts it looks like it is indeed learner permits that MA issues. How totally inconvenient. P

Edited June 27, 2016 by SusieQQQ

[Nick L 0]

Thanks to everyone for the responsive and helpful answers! Looks like mother-in-law will drive if I'm missing in action.

We had this issue in CT and I was told that you can drive on the foreign license for the period of time the state allows for new residents, but once the learner's permit is issued, then that is the license rules. It was inconvenient, but I guess the foreign parents will have to drive.

Can you try and book an appointment somewhere way far out of the way? Some places seem to have less of a wait time.

Yeah, I checked throughout Massachusetts, I was willing to drive 2-3 hours if I was able to get it in July. Sadly they're only enrolling for August anyway, so August 3rd is the earliest.

I just want to mention that the RMV said that it's possible that someone might cancel... so I'll be checking everyday just in case.

[caliliving 606]

Are you sure it's a learner's permit and not a temporary driving one? In CA we got temporary permits after the written test, and could use those (I seem to recall we needed to keep our foreign licenses with us too) until the behind the wheel test and state driver license was issued. It was made clear this was not the same as a learner permit though. I know different states have different rules, but it seems odd to give people in this situation a restricted learner permit.

Edit: having read further posts it looks like it is indeed learner permits that MA issues. How totally inconvenient. P

Yeah CA seemed to be really laxed about the driving test and it was indeed a temporary driving card until we did the driving test and i think we had a year to do it but could drive alone the entire year.

Are you sure it's a learner's permit and not a temporary driving one? In CA we got temporary permits after the written test, and could use those (I seem to recall we needed to keep our foreign licenses with us too) until the behind the wheel test and state driver license was issued. It was made clear this was not the same as a learner permit though. I know different states have different rules, but it seems odd to give people in this situation a restricted learner permit.

Edit: having read further posts it looks like it is indeed learner permits that MA issues. How totally inconvenient. P

Yeah CA seemed to be really laxed about the driving test and it was indeed a temporary driving card until we did the driving test and i think we had a year to do it but could drive alone the entire year.