alexmar

Hi all, did a search and found a few much older threads that didn't answer this question so figured I'd start a new one.

I am planning on getting my NY drivers license, but got scared of this line on the DMV website:

"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."

Has anyone done this??? I travel back to Europe quite a lot so don't want to have to go and get my license each time from the DMV. Initial thoughts are to not even mention that I have a UK license but will that put me in a different type of test as a 'new driver', and will it affect insurance if I get a car, or any other effects??

Any help would be great.. thank you!!!

Also.. been driving for almost 20 years in England/Greece/Middle East.. do I need to take a few lessons over here to get used to US driving for the test? I've already driven here a lot with rentals, but not sure if I would pass just walking into a road test, are there a lot of intricacies and tips I would need?

Lots of questions I know.. thank you in advance!!!!

MMcD

Looks like you may be caught in a bit of a "catch-22"

Don't know the best answers to your questions but can say for sure that insurance companies here do base their rates on several considerations - one of which is your years as a licenced driver.

Not disclosing your foreign license would result in your being rated as a new driver - higher rate.

In your position I'd try to find out whether x number of years with a foreign license (as opposed to one from another US state) might also put you, for insurance purposes, into the same new-driver rating category.

I have no idea as to the answer but think it's worth finding out - because if it would....maybe you'd want to consider whether or not to reveal it.
Note: I'm not advising you to do anything illegal. Only raising issues and possibilities I'd consider in your place.

Can't advise about the NY test. (Unlike the UK - there's no "US Driver's Licence"....here it's state by state; rules are different in each).

JAJ

If you are living in New York and just visiting other countries then what's wrong with using a New York license as a visitor (with International Driving Permit if that other country requires it).


There's no "U.K. licence" either. Northern Ireland has its own system.

Pulaski

I took my US road test in NY, and I deliberately didn't take my UK DL with me, but in any case I wasn't asked for it.

When you travel to the UK, Europe, and other countries you can use your US DL (an Intl Drivers Permit may be required in some countries, esp non English speaking countries, but you don't need one for the UK).

If you have driving experience you are highly unlikely to learn anything useful from US lessons. Do take a look at US road signs as you might be asked about those. In NC you are asked to identify yellow warning signs by their shape alone, so a house shape is a school, a round is a railroad, and a pennant is a no-passing zone. The test is embarrassingly easy, though I had to do a parallel park manoeuvre, which hadn't been in the test when I took my test in the UK. Just be sure to do exactly what the road signs say, abide by the speed limits, stop completely at STOP signs, etc. and when turning left into a four lane road or dual carriageway be sure to turn into the left hand lane (move to the right if necessary/ appropriate after checking for traffic and indicating), which I was criticized for not doing in my test, but not failed for.

Pulaski

On the contrary, I would argue there are TWO UK DLs, one for Northern Ireland, and one for the rest of the UK.

MMcD

[QUOTE=JAJ;1134950 There's no "U.K. licence" either. Northern Ireland has its own system.[/QUOTE]

Ah, yes thanks - should have said GB licence

alexmar

thank you all for your help!!

Jan Alaska

It is my understanding that once you are a PR in the USA you can't use your GB license when you use the UK anyways. Personally I've never had a problem using my DL from over here while visiting the UK.

Hotscot

I use both. Not sure if it violates any rules.

Jerseygirl

There are three things I swear I will never give up...my UK driving license, my UK passport and my UK bank account.

When I first went for my NJ driving license I had to provide my old pink UK license to obtain it. The DMV wanted to keep it but I refused saying it belonged to the Queen and therefore they had no right to take it from me. The woman sent for the manager...I managed to confuse them so much that they let both of us keep our UK DLs. I think they were just glad to see the back of me.

Chapmandan

That would be exactly the line i would take

Hotscot

That's the point...how can they have any jurisdiction over a document legally issued by another country?

Jerseygirl

Similar happened to me about 10 years ago when we were checking in for a Royal Caribbean cruise from New Jersey. At check in they wanted to keep my UK passport until we returned. Again I said it was the property of the Queen and they had no right to keep it. Hubby and daughter were worried that they wouldn't let me embark the ship...but there was absolutely no way I was going to let them keep my PP. In the end I got my way and enjoyed the cruise to Bermuda.

MMcD

How b****y well dare they!
Good for you JG....that's so funny

JAJ

They can insist that it be surrendered and either keep it (for return later on) or return it to the issuing authority. You obviously don't have to comply, but they don't have to issue a local license either. And they can (and generally do) say the the out of jurisdiction license is invalid for local use after X days of residence.