Originally Posted by md95065 (Post 8629286)

More precisely, you can drive in each of the states that make up the US on an out of state license (which includes a foreign license) as a visitor. The precise rules about how long you can do this and what constitutes becoming a "resident" rather than a "visitor" are different for each and every state.

True. As it is also true so far as I am aware that ALL states require you to have a VALID driving licence/learners permit before getting behind the wheel.



If you are not considered resident in that particular state then you are a visitor as far as that state is concerned, regardless of your immigration status - heck you could be a US citizen and still be a "visitor" to a particular state where you were not resident.

You are an "unlicensed" visitor if you are resident in another State which requires you to have a license and you do not hold the requisite licence. A small but somewhat important point that is not dependant upon semantics but precedent. Judges tend to get funny over those little irritants. ;)

Saying that you are a visitor to that state is most certainly not a lie if you are not considered to be a resident of the state.

Being a visitor is fine it is being an unlicensed driver which creates the problem. I was of course referring to claiming to be an overseas visitor rather than a US citizen/PR visiting from another state. Claiming either of the later two opens a whole new can of worms.



Yes, but I think that MandyNi was mainly concerned about her temporary stay in California where, I would argue, she could reasonably claim to be an out of state visitor.

Originally Posted by MandyNi (Post 8629487)

Yeah that's my dilemma, I'm only in Va for a few days before we head back to California and then only in Cali. until mid to late September when I will head back to Va to settle. I want to do what is best/legal. I'm just trying to figure out will I need to sort something out in California and if so, will they just "hand" me a license or do I need to do a test!? Maybe I'll email the DMV!

Originally Posted by MandyNi (Post 8629487)

Yeah that's my dilemma, I'm only in Va for a few days before we head back to California and then only in Cali. until mid to late September when I will head back to Va to settle. I want to do what is best/legal. I'm just trying to figure out will I need to sort something out in California and if so, will they just "hand" me a license or do I need to do a test!? Maybe I'll email the DMV!

Originally Posted by Noorah101 (Post 8632917)

If you want to get a DL in CA, you would need to show that you are resident there (such as a rental agreement or utility bill). If you don't have that, you probably won't be able to get a DL in CA.

Originally Posted by md95065 (Post 8633017)

You do not need to prove residence in CA in order to get a CA driver's license (although you do need proof of lawful presence in the US and a social security number if you are eligible for one).

Originally Posted by md95065 (Post 8633017)

No!!!

This myth keeps on being repeated.

What the CA law says is that once you become a CA resident you must get a CA driver's license within 10 days.

You do not need to prove residence in CA in order to get a CA driver's license (although you do need proof of lawful presence in the US and a social security number if you are eligible for one).

Originally Posted by Ja5on (Post 8633164)

i don't know about CA but here in VA you deffo need to prove that you live in the area to get a licence.

Originally Posted by traceym (Post 8634365)

I arrived in CA on 30 January, my SSN didn't come until 15 February, I couldn't apply for my license without my SSN, so the 10 day rule for getting the license was impossible.
I then couldn't get an appointment at the DMV for 3 weeks, so mid March I attended the appointment no proof of residency required to apply for the license. I passed the theory and was given a temporary CA license valid until June. It then took another 4 weeks to get a test appointment, so I passed mid April.
Nobody at the DMV ever questioned me as to why I hadn't applied within 10 days (which as stated was impossible.)

Originally Posted by Ja5on (Post 8634554)

i didn't need to ssn in va but needed to prove i lived here.....it's crazy that you had to wait so long, i just turned up at the dmv, took a ticket and waited about 20min, then they gave me my written test, 5min after that i was in the car with an instructor doing the practical part.