Another driving license question

[lovelyalex 99]

Okay, first of all, I am sorry for any duplication but I can't find anything concrete to back this up and I can't get through to my DMV offices: local and the specific one for non residents in Concord (I'm in NH) THEY NEVER ANSWER THEIR PHONE AND MY LOCAL OFFICE ARE IDIOTS AND KEEP REFERRING ME TO CONCORD but I can't get there during the day at the moment.

I am trying to find it written somewhere, other than from people telling me, that I can drive on my (full) UK driving license for upto a year before I have to get my local NH one.

I am happy to drive, and really need to get out and about before I go mad. I am insured on my MILs car (and I would have thought that this would have been a problem in doing if it wasn't allowed) but don't want to go out without knowing for sure that I am okay, in case I get pulled over.

I obviously have both my paper and photocard license from the UK, with no convictions or tickets.

In NH you don't need a learners permit, but if I am to go and get my license, I have to get out and practice before I go upto Concord (an hour away!).

If anyone can share with me a link that I can read and print etc, I'll be most grateful. The UK embassy website has information for US drivers in the UK, both resident and tourists, but the US embassy one only really mentions tourists and hire cars.

[rsn 135]

Since you can only drive on an out-of-state license in NH for 60 days after you have moved there, I can't imagine why you would be able to drive on a foreign license for 1 year. If you are living in NH, you are a resident.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

He's a resident, once he's a resident. He's a resident once it has been formally established -- a.k.a. as documented -- that he's a resident. Once he has that documentation -- most likely in form of a Green Card -- he has 60 days to get his NH driver license thing going.

Until his residency has been established, he is a visitor, transitioning to resident. Visitors from other countries are expected to use the driving license of their respective country.

[rsn 135]

He's a resident, once he's a resident. He's a resident once it has been formally established -- a.k.a. as documented -- that he's a resident. Once he has that documentation -- most likely in form of a Green Card -- he has 60 days to get his NH driver license thing going.

Until his residency has been established, he is a visitor, transitioning to resident. Visitors from other countries are expected to use the driving license of their respective country.

Of course. Using that as a guide, he has 39 days left on the clock since he received his GC on 3/9.

[lovelyalex 99]

Bollocks. I wonder why other people keep telling me otherwise.

Thanks for your help. I am good to practice with someone in the car in the meantime, I just need to chase up the DMV in Concord to ask if I can swap over my existing license (which I think you can do in Mass) or if I have to take it all again (I only need to know this because I have to find a babysitter if I have to do the latter).

[lovelyalex 99]

ps, I'm a she!

[rsn 135]

Bollocks. I wonder why other people keep telling me otherwise.

They likely don't understand how this works or they don't care. I've seen both types on this issue. I personally know a couple people who continue to drive on their foreign DL even though their state requires them to obtain a state license to legally drive. Their logic: if I don't get caught it doesn't matter & I have insurance anyway. A ticket is not the biggest concern. Just because they "have insurance" doesn't mean the insurance company will pay out if they wreck their car or injure/kill someone while driving. I suspect the insurance company would not pay out any claims if the driver of the car is not legally licensed.

ps, I'm a she!

Oops! My apologies.

[Lansbury 19]

Bollocks. I wonder why other people keep telling me otherwise.

because the 1949 Geneva Convention on Driving Licenses to which the USA is a signatory says so. The problem is most States either don't know the US is part of that agreement of choose to ignore it. Oregon is one that allows for it and I used my UK license for nearly three months and not the 30 day rule for someone moving to Oregon from another State. The Convention allows for someone residing in a signatory country to be classed as a non resident for driving license purposes until they have been in the country for more than one year. As I've said most States don't abide by it and unless you fancy a long expensive Court case and appeals to prove a point, you really need to abide by what you State DMV says. Another source who usually know the State policy will be the State Police.

[SunDrop 59]

Each state has its own way of determining what constitutes residency. And in NH, it is as follows:

TITLE I

THE STATE AND ITS GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 21

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

21:6 Resident; Inhabitant. – A resident or inhabitant or both of this state and of any city, town or other political subdivision of this state shall be a person who is domiciled or has a place of abode or both in this state and in any city, town or other political subdivision of this state, and who has, through all of his actions, demonstrated a current intent to designate that place of abode as his principal place of physical presence for the indefinite future to the exclusion of all others.

Applying for AOS would be a demonstration of a current intent to designate that place of abode as your principal place of physical residence, surely? I'd argue that for the sake of licensing requirements, you'd be considered already resident and have been since you filed your AOS paperwork.

NH cops are known for being absolute bastards about out-of-state/ resident licensing requirements. So much for "Live Free Or Die" lol.

[SunDrop 59]

oops, clicked submit too many times! lol, sorry

Edited March 30, 2010 by SunDrop

[rsn 135]

Applying for AOS would be a demonstration of a current intent to designate that place of abode as your principal place of physical residence, surely? I'd argue that for the sake of licensing requirements, you'd be considered already resident and have been since you filed your AOS paperwork.

Also a good point. With this in mind, it may be wise to cease driving activities entirely until you obtain a learner's permit or a full DL.

[lovelyalex 99]

well in NH you dont need a learners permit! So I am fine on those grounds, as long as I have a licensed driver over 20something in the car with me.

I'm going to try and get upto Concord before 1st March +60 days and see if we can sort this out asap

[ltly68 0]

Once you officially move to any state in the US the department of licensing requires you to get your new license with in thirty days other wise if you are caught you will be fine…your license is good for rental vehicles and vehicles not registered in your name, however if you plan on purchasing any autos they will require you at that time to get a new drivers license or a International license.

Edited March 31, 2010 by ltly68