moNYC

Hi all

I am sorry for posting about this as I have read countless posts on driving licenses and I thought I understood what I had to do once we get to NY. HOWEVER, my husband is already in NY and just called me to say he met up with our relo person who went through everything with him and the very clear information from relo is:

we can drive with our UK licenses for one year.

I told my husband the thing about how that doesn't apply to residents but he is adamant that it is okay as these are very experienced relo people for NY.

So, what is going on here? Any idea?

This would be amazing for me as I have been very worried about how I am going to sit this 5 hour lesson with a breastfed baby, so if I can wait and do it a bit later it will be awesome. - thanks!

Hotscot

Maybe this will help?

'If you move to New York State and become a resident 1, you must get a NYS driver license within 30 days.'


Moving to New York State? Exchange your out-of-state driver license | New York State DMV

(However I don't know if there's a distinction between exchanging one and getting one for the first time.)

Bob

The relo person is wrong.

Jerni

Relo person is indeed wrong. Also no exchange of UK licenses in NY, you have to start from scratch.

scrubbedexpat099

5 hours?

Move to Colorado.

10 minutes.

moNYC

Apparently the relo person told my husband that the 30 day period only applies for those coming from other US states...

This should basic info, right? I am shocked that they would get that wrong...

Thanks all!

Jerni

There is no distinction between people moving from out-of-state and people moving internationally. You are expected to get a NYS license within 30 days if you become a *resident* of the state, i.e. you live here.

Pulaski

I presume this "very experienced" relo person is a US citizen. The worst possible source of advice for immigration matters in the US (aside from a few specialist lawyers) is a USC; I would suggest that the same is true for advice on driving in the US on a foreign driving licence.

Michael

I don't know where you got that information from that you need to take a 5 hour driving lesson prior to getting a license (possibly relo person?) but from everything I've read on the internet, that is only required for people that need learner's permits. Since you appear to have a UK driver's license, I don't think you need a learner's permit but get a driver's license once you pass the test.

On the DMV web site it isn't clear since normally they talk about exchanging an out of state license for a NY license and don't refer to anything about a person that has a foreign license.

jaffy23

Nope - NY State mandates the 5 Hour Prelicensing Course. Without that MV-278 certificate, you can't book your driving test. Being over 21 does exempt you from the driving hours requirement however.

Pulaski

As per Jaffy, I had to do 5hrs compulsory classroom ed before I was allowed to book a road test in NY, after I first immigrated to the US.

scrubbedexpat099

Somebody told somebody who told somebody.

Michael

Most other states only require driver's ed and/or classroom ed for new driver's and often those requirement are only for young drivers so I incorrectly assumed that may also be the same for New York.

Pulaski

The 5hrs of compulsory drivers ed explains why drivers in NY are so much better than drivers in other parts of the US. ....... ..........

For completeness and clarity, I should confirm that I was over 21 when I arrived in NY in 2001.

scrubbedexpat099

I was wondering, thanks for the clarification.

What do you do for 5 hours?