Driving Licence Hassle!

[ukcharlotte 4]

I arrived in the US in October and I am waiting for my Green Card to arrive any day now (please see signature for more info). I started working as a nanny two weeks ago and thought it about time to start working towards my US driving licence (good weather, AOS finished with for 2 years, etc), but have come across a problem. I phoned the DMV to ask about the fee for the written test which I am due to take tomorrow, and during his lengthy run-through of what would happen if I passed, he mentioned that I would have to surrender my UK driving licence in order to get my US permit. I would then be 'demoted' to a learner and wouldn't be able to drive on my own.

Is that what everyone emigrating and wanting a US licence has to go through?

The earliest date available for the road test is June 14th, so it seems that if I pass the written test and get my permit I won't be able to drive alone for 4 weeks. Also, can they legally take your UK licence from you? What about driving if I go home to visit? And finally, can I take the written test and delay applying for the permit until closer to the driving test?

It seems a little fair to be demoted to learner again when you are trying to do the right thing by applying for the US licence and not relying on the UK one.

[ricnally 258]

That's a drag. I think the laws must vary from state to state. When i lived in California for a year, I had to get a Cali DL within 2 weeks of becoming a resident there. I had to do a written test and a road test, but didn't have to go through the "Learner" stage.

Or maybe it's because of the other-side-of-the-road thing?

Edited May 16, 2013 by ricnally

[Alaska2012 462]

Up here in alaska they let me keep my swedish license. Had I had an out of state license they would have taken that but according to DMV up here they have no right to take a foreign license.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

OP: Your experience contradicts the CA DMV website.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#two500

How to apply for a driver license if you are over 18

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

To apply for an original driver license if you are over 18, you will need to do the following:

• Visit a DMV office (make an Appointment(s) for faster service)
• Complete application form DL 44 (An original DL 44 form must be submitted. Copies will not be accepted.)
• Give a thumb print
• Have your picture taken
• Provide your social security number. It will be verified with the Social Security Administration while you are in the office.
• Verify your birth date and legal presence If your current name no longer matches the name on your birth data/legal presence document, see “True Full Name” and “How to Change Your Name” for more information.
• Provide your true full name
• Pay the application fee
• Pass a vision exam
• Pass a traffic laws and sign test. There are 36 questions on the test. You have three chances to pass.(Sample Test)

Note: To allow you sufficient time for testing DMV will not be administering written or audio exams after 4:30 p.m.

You will then be issued a permit if you have never been licensed before. When you practice, you must have an accompanying adult who is 18 years of age or older, with a valid California license. This person must be close enough to you to take control of the vehicle if necessary. It is illegal for you to drive alone.

If you have a license from another country, you will be required to take a driving test. If you have a license from another state, the driving test can be waived.

That means you only get a driving permit if you have never had any license from anywhere before.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[Ontarkie 13,979]

~~~~Moved to Moving Here and Your New Life In America, from General Immigration-Related Discussion~~~~

I didn't have to start over they just basically traded my Canadian license for an Arkansas one. They did take my Canadian license away said you can't have two, so it was either get nothing or turn in my Canadian one. It wasn't worth the fight to keep my Canadian one.

Edited May 16, 2013 by Ontarkie

[VanessaTony 3,567]

They cannot take your UK license. It is the property of the UK government. There is no agreement that I'm aware of. You do NOT need to show it to them. It has NO BEARING on your US license. They don't need to see it, don't need to copy it, it is irrelevant.

Sounds like you got someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

In most cases you will need to take the tests again sure, but you shouldn't start from the start

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

I would forget to take it with me and start from scratch. That's what most immigrants have to do anyway. Canadians often get special privileges. And I think Germany has some kind of treaty with most states on getting a license based on their foreign one. But everybody else generally gets a learners permit by written test and real license by taking the road test. My husband took his all the same day because a time slot was available and he didn't need any practice.

The guy on the phone was perhaps thinking of trading in a license from another state. Sometimes that happens. Can you confirm your state of residence? each state will be different.

[Póg mo 1,749]

They cannot take your UK license. It is the property of the UK government. There is no agreement that I'm aware of. You do NOT need to show it to them. It has NO BEARING on your US license. They don't need to see it, don't need to copy it, it is irrelevant.

Sounds like you got someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

In most cases you will need to take the tests again sure, but you shouldn't start from the start

Agreed, unless there is some kind of reciprocal agreement to recognize your current driving license, there is absolutely no reason to surrender it.

[ukcharlotte 4]

Thanks for the replies so far. For reference, I'm living in Colorado and this is the link to the requirements for foreign nationals: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/smartstart/apply/newLicenseForeignNationals.jsf I spoke to a tier 2 supervisor regarding the matter as the guy who answered the phone was unsure.

I don't mind having to take the written and road tests, I'm just annoyed that getting a US permit invalidates my UK licence. I received my EAD over a month ago and was fortunate to start working two weeks later. Being unable to drive without being accompanied is going to mess with my job, particularly when I have been driving quite happily using my UK licence since October. I'll definitely speak to someone about it tomorrow and see what happens. If I do have to be accompanied once I receive a permit then I shall try and hold off on getting the permit until closer to the road test. Alternatively, I have found a third party who conduct road tests without having to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with the DMV. Their link, if you're curious about legitimacy, etc, is as follows: http://www.excelindriving.com/packages.htm#test

[Boiler 43,833]

Colorado does not take your UK license, no State can invalidate it. The worst case scenario is that you would get another one.

Technically once you move outside the Uk your Uk license is no more, you can not register a non UK address.

You go and do a very easy multiple guess 'exam' and get issued one pice of paper which you can drive on and then go back for the once around the block driving exam and get the full license.

The Motor Bike test is harder btw.

[AllYouCanEat 3]

I just made my US Drivers License. Nobody at the DMV ever wanted to see my German license, so I still have it and frankly they couldn't just take it away or invalidate it. I'll need it when I travel to Germany.

[Póg mo 1,749]

Thanks for the replies so far. For reference, I'm living in Colorado and this is the link to the requirements for foreign nationals: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/smartstart/apply/newLicenseForeignNationals.jsf I spoke to a tier 2 supervisor regarding the matter as the guy who answered the phone was unsure.

I don't mind having to take the written and road tests, I'm just annoyed that getting a US permit invalidates my UK licence. I received my EAD over a month ago and was fortunate to start working two weeks later. Being unable to drive without being accompanied is going to mess with my job, particularly when I have been driving quite happily using my UK licence since October. I'll definitely speak to someone about it tomorrow and see what happens. If I do have to be accompanied once I receive a permit then I shall try and hold off on getting the permit until closer to the road test. Alternatively, I have found a third party who conduct road tests without having to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with the DMV. Their link, if you're curious about legitimacy, etc, is as follows: http://www.excelindriving.com/packages.htm#test

Your UK driving license is invalid, because you are now a resident of the state of Colorado and as such you are required to have a Colorado driving license.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks for the replies so far. For reference, I'm living in Colorado and this is the link to the requirements for foreign nationals: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/smartstart/apply/newLicenseForeignNationals.jsf I spoke to a tier 2 supervisor regarding the matter as the guy who answered the phone was unsure.

I don't mind having to take the written and road tests, I'm just annoyed that getting a US permit invalidates my UK licence. I received my EAD over a month ago and was fortunate to start working two weeks later. Being unable to drive without being accompanied is going to mess with my job, particularly when I have been driving quite happily using my UK licence since October. I'll definitely speak to someone about it tomorrow and see what happens. If I do have to be accompanied once I receive a permit then I shall try and hold off on getting the permit until closer to the road test. Alternatively, I have found a third party who conduct road tests without having to wait 4 weeks for an appointment with the DMV. Their link, if you're curious about legitimacy, etc, is as follows: http://www.excelindriving.com/packages.htm#test

Well here's the thing... you're no longer a "foreign national"... well you won't be. So the part you read is here: http://www.colorado.gov/apps/dor/dmv/smartstart/apply/newAdultLicense.jsf about how to get a new adult license. The foreign national part is for people here on student visas, work visas etc.

You will start the permit as in, you get it first but as others stated you can just take the rest of the testing to get the advanced license.

In my example for instance I had to get a permit first as well. I COULD have taken the driving portion immediately and got a "full" license but my insurance doesn't cover foreign licenses so I had to get the permit, get on insurance, then go for the driving portion.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Oh man, I mixed CSC with living in CA. d'oh! The new format is odd...

Edited May 17, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[didopage 337]

It's not going to help the OP, but the DMV in CA wanted to see my french DL. I showed it to them (they wanted to see the expiration date, but there's not) and they gave it back to me.

In NY though, the DMV says you MUST surrender your foreign DL... Crazy.

"When you receive your NYS driver license, you must surrender your foreign driver license to the DMV road test examiner. The local DMV office keeps your foreign driver license, and then destroys the license after 60 days. If you plan to return to your home country and use your foreign driver license, ask the road test examiner how to make sure that your foreign driver license is not destroyed. If you need to get your foreign driver license, go to the local DMV office where you applied for your NYS driver license.

"

(http://www.dmv.ny.gov/license.htm#driversfromothernations)