Can I drive myself to my road test?
#16
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Why? If you have a valid UK DL and you have informed your auto insurance company you are driving using a UK DL...there should be no problem. Of course driving instructors will tell you they have to take you because they charge you for the privilege.
We were in NJ...hubby drove to the DMV for our test.
We were in NJ...hubby drove to the DMV for our test.
#17
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
You can drive for 12 mths on a foreign DL in Penn.
Straight from the horse’s mouth...
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Pages/FAQ%20Pa...stions.aspx#Q5
Straight from the horse’s mouth...
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Pages/FAQ%20Pa...stions.aspx#Q5
#18
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Why? If you have a valid UK DL and you have informed your auto insurance company you are driving using a UK DL...there should be no problem. Of course driving instructors will tell you they have to take you because they charge you for the privilege.
We were in NJ...hubby drove to the DMV for our test.
We were in NJ...hubby drove to the DMV for our test.
#19
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 122
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Found this
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
#20
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Found this
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
#21
I don't (often) bite
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL
Posts: 194
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
At the risk of getting shot down, that's contrary to the information I was told by the DMV themselves when I went to the office to ask the same question. They claimed the information about the ability to drive in PA for one year applied to visitors, but as soon as you establish PA residency, you have 60 days (as Pulaski said), as stated on this page.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
#22
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
No you can't! That a common myth and simply not true - once you become resident you have 60 days, under PA law.
The "12 months on a foreign licence" is a federal law that applies to visitors to the US, but once you take up residence in a state, any state, the state rules apply, which means getting a local license somewhere between 10 and 90 days (depending on the state) after you arrive and become resident. Becoming resident is typically caused by things such as buying or renting a home, starting work, enrolling your child in a school, etc.
And FWIW if you are involved in an accident and found to not have a valid license, i.e. are driving beyond the permitted 60 days in PA, then (i) you can be prosecuted for that in addition to any other infractions, and potentially worse, you may find that you insurance company voids your insurance, leaving you personally liable for damages.
In any case as the written and road tests in any/all US states are pretty much a joke, there is IMO no reason not to get a local license ASAP anyway.
The "12 months on a foreign licence" is a federal law that applies to visitors to the US, but once you take up residence in a state, any state, the state rules apply, which means getting a local license somewhere between 10 and 90 days (depending on the state) after you arrive and become resident. Becoming resident is typically caused by things such as buying or renting a home, starting work, enrolling your child in a school, etc.
And FWIW if you are involved in an accident and found to not have a valid license, i.e. are driving beyond the permitted 60 days in PA, then (i) you can be prosecuted for that in addition to any other infractions, and potentially worse, you may find that you insurance company voids your insurance, leaving you personally liable for damages.
In any case as the written and road tests in any/all US states are pretty much a joke, there is IMO no reason not to get a local license ASAP anyway.
#23
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
The OP isn't a permanent resident. Looks like husband is on a 2 year contract.
I would take a screen shot from the dmv website shown in the link I gave...then I would show the staff that if there were problems.
I would take a screen shot from the dmv website shown in the link I gave...then I would show the staff that if there were problems.
At the risk of getting shot down, that's contrary to the information I was told by the DMV themselves when I went to the office to ask the samoe question. They claimed the information about the ability to drive in PA for one year applied to visitors, but as soon as you establish PA residency, you have 60 days (as Pulaski said), as stated on this page.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Mar 7th 2018 at 4:06 pm.
#24
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Found this
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
15. If I have my International Permit and Foreign License, do I need to bring a licensed driver over the age of 21?
If you hold an International Permit and Foreign License, you are not required to have a licensed driver accompany you to the exam.
I don’t have an international license just my UK one, so assume you need both to drive yourself.
#25
I don't (often) bite
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL
Posts: 194
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
Nor am I, yet. At the time I was (and still am) on an L1. It's conflicting information which even some staff aren't aware of which rule to follow. You and lansbury make good and valid points though.
#26
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 122
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
At the risk of getting shot down, that's contrary to the information I was told by the DMV themselves when I went to the office to ask the same question. They claimed the information about the ability to drive in PA for one year applied to visitors, but as soon as you establish PA residency, you have 60 days (as Pulaski said), as stated on this page.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
http://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Service...Residents.aspx
Anyway OP, sounds like you're getting close to this not mattering anymore. The road test is a breeze BTW. When I took mine, the examiner heard my English accent, put her clipboard down and said "oh, well this will be easy". Which DMV are you taking yours at? I took mine at Malvern.
I’m probably going to go to Malvern unless I can get an earlier appointment at Media.
Did you drive yourself there?
#27
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
An International Driving Permit is just a translation of your licence into a specific language, which would be English here obviously. I think you'd be incredibly unlucky to run into even a DMV employee that would insist on an IDP for a licence that's already in English, TBH.
When I was going through exactly what the OP is going through, in PA, when getting insurance sorted the Allstate person insisted on an IDP because the system told her to. I had one - easier to show and move on that get into wasted debate.
#28
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 122
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
An International Driving Permit is just a translation of your licence into a specific language, which would be English here obviously. I think you'd be incredibly unlucky to run into even a DMV employee that would insist on an IDP for a licence that's already in English, TBH.
#29
I don't (often) bite
Joined: Dec 2015
Location: Deerfield Beach, FL
Posts: 194
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
It actually says new residents with out of state licenses have 60 days not those with foreign licenses. I agree it’s confusing. The DMV put me into PennDOT as they weren’t sure and PennDOT confirmed I can drive here on my UK license for a year.
I’m probably going to go to Malvern unless I can get an earlier appointment at Media.
Did you drive yourself there?
I’m probably going to go to Malvern unless I can get an earlier appointment at Media.
Did you drive yourself there?
I actually booked myself a driving lesson which included the loaner use of his car for the test. That way, he could present his insurance to the examiners and I took it out of the equation. The Malvern route for the road test is ridiculous. PM me, if you want details of where they take you!
#30
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 122
Re: Can I drive myself to my road test?
That was the point that the guy at the DMV made. He said that a UK license was technically an out-of-state license. It would seem, he was wrong!
I actually booked myself a driving lesson which included the loaner use of his car for the test. That way, he could present his insurance to the examiners and I took it out of the equation. The Malvern route for the road test is ridiculous. PM me, if you want details of where they take you!
I actually booked myself a driving lesson which included the loaner use of his car for the test. That way, he could present his insurance to the examiners and I took it out of the equation. The Malvern route for the road test is ridiculous. PM me, if you want details of where they take you!
I’ll let you know if I book Malvern - info on the test route would be good!!