UK Driving License - New York

[Nicola and Jordan 668]

Hey,

 

So now that my AOS has been approved and I waiting for my GC to arrive I want to look into getting my DL here in New York (NYC). I read in their manual that you have to give them your foreign DL before they will issue you a NY one. If you want them to keep your foreign DL on file then they will but you will need to give them your NY DL back before they will give it back  to you. 

 

I want to keep my UK DL with me just in case I have to go back for any reason and I do not want the hassle of getting it back. Has anyone dea lt with this before who can let me know how they got on with it? 

 

Or am I being stupid and reading this all wrong which is likely 🤡

 

 

https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/mv21.pdf    Page 17

 

TIA! 

[Julianni 16]

I originally got my DL in the US. When I moved back to my country (Finland), I had to give them my US license to get a Finnish license. Then I moved back to the US and got a new US license there, but they were confused and hesitent to give me one (without doing a drivers test etc) until I showed them my US learners permit to prove I got my license there. It's a hassle, I've had to spend wayyy too much time at DMV's and Finnish police stations for this issue. You might have to give it to them.. 

[aratamorne 164]

So unless you plan on moving back to the UK, you can just get an IDP to go with your US Driver's License.  And that is only if you are getting a rental and the rental company asks for one. 

 

https://www.tripsavvy.com/international-driving-permits-for-the-uk-1662365

 

 

[Wuozopo 4,285]

United Kingdom does not need an IDP for an American licence. They can read English and don’t require a translation. Rental car agencies in the UK will want the US license if your address is in the US.

[Nicola and Jordan 668]

27 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

United Kingdom does not need an IDP for an American licence. They can read English and don’t require a translation. Rental car agencies in the UK will want the US license if your address is in the US.

Ok so giving up my UK DL is no big deal and I will just use my US DL when visiting UK

 

Thanks everyone !

[Wuozopo 4,285]

24 minutes ago, Nicola and Jordan said:

Ok so giving up my UK DL is no big deal and I will just use my US DL when visiting UK

 

Thanks everyone !

I think I would say my licence is lost if I really really wanted to keep it. No experience with that since I was not asked to give mine up. But when I have hired a car at Heathrow, they require my US licence over the UK licence. (Hertz and Enterprise)

Edited July 9, 2020 by Wuozopo

[Nicola and Jordan 668]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

I think I would say my licence is lost if I really really wanted to keep it. No experience with that since I was not asked to give mine up. But when I have hired a car at Heathrow, they require my US licence over the UK licence. (Hertz and Enterprise)

Ok thanks I’ll just see what happens then when I get to it. If anything, like you said, I’ll have my US one (hopefully!) thanks again! 

[Fr8dog 312]

Virginia let me keep my foreign license, so I had no issue with than. I know people have "claimed" not to have a foreign license in the past to make sure their license did not get destroyed. You could also see if it is possible to apply for a lost UK license from the US. Or just forget about the UK one, it's not like you need it when going back to visit.

[Thegirl 224]

On 7/9/2020 at 2:19 PM, Nicola and Jordan said:

Hey,

 

So now that my AOS has been approved and I waiting for my GC to arrive I want to look into getting my DL here in New York (NYC). I read in their manual that you have to give them your foreign DL before they will issue you a NY one. If you want them to keep your foreign DL on file then they will but you will need to give them your NY DL back before they will give it back  to you. 

 

I want to keep my UK DL with me just in case I have to go back for any reason and I do not want the hassle of getting it back. Has anyone dea lt with this before who can let me know how they got on with it? 

 

Or am I being stupid and reading this all wrong which is likely 🤡

 

 

https://dmv.ny.gov/brochure/mv21.pdf    Page 17

 

TIA! 

I didn't have to give up my foreign DL and no one asked me about it, to see it, if it existed etc at any point. I still use my Home country DL when I go there. And I got my US license in NYC.

[Nicola and Jordan 668]

10 hours ago, Thegirl said:

I didn't have to give up my foreign DL and no one asked me about it, to see it, if it existed etc at any point. I still use my Home country DL when I go there. And I got my US license in NYC.

Oh that's great! Thanks