Jim Lockwood

I couldn't respond to my original post from way back presumably
because it's been archived. Instead I decided to write something new
that may, just may, help someone who is in a similar situation to me.

This is what I had to do to get my Kentucky driver licence / license:

You do need a Social Security Number card (SSN), even though they no
longer use the SSN as the drivers license number too. And you need
proof of residency. My wife phoned the drivers license bureau and
asked them what I needed to do to convert my UK license into a KY
license. They said go to this office near us (Erlanger, Kenton
County) and simply take the written test. So I went along with a load
of documents (just in case), said I wanted to convert my license and
they just said "no, we don't do that here, you need to go to get an
appointment, go to Newport with your documents, see a person there,
come back here no later than 2:30pm the same day and take your driving
test and written test. I was a little taken aback.

I called the Newport office to make an appointment, and they said as a
lawful permanent resident I could have just done it in Erlanger, and
no I didn't need to take the full driving test. The stupid woman at
Erlanger did not ask if I was a permanent resident; she just assumed
that I wasn't. Bear in mind that I had to take some time off work to
arrange this, and I didn't have any vacation time yet. So I went back
to Erlanger the next week, got the same woman, who started to tell me
the same thing, then I said "I am a lawful permanent resident". Then
everything changed. She looked at my green card, took my SSN card,
proof of residence, a check for a small sum of money and said I needed
to take the written test and eye test. Once that was done I would
have got my license, but the photo machine was broken so I had to
drive 10 miles down the road to Independence to get the license
issued. There they didn't give me back my UK license, saying they
don't usually give back licenses. Apparently they don't get a lot of
foreign applicants in these parts. I explained that if she took my
license away (the photo ID part, not the paper counterpart, which they
never asked for), I would just have to get it reissued by the DVLA at
some cost to me. She eventually gave me it back.

Here's something to be careful of though: my wife had an expired
under 21 Tennessee driver license, and she had to apply for a permit,
wait 30 days, take the full test. Initially she wasn't able to take
the test because the car was registered in Ohio. The bureaucratic
nonsense that goes on here is amazing. You have to take your test in
a car that is registered in the same state. Like it makes a
difference.

And another thing... When we initially went to take her test in
Grant county, which was our original residence (so it seemed easier to
get it there than changing the address on her permit), everyone turns
up at 8am at the court house, then waits until the examiner can be
bothered to turn up, then you just stand in a queue, she checks the
insurance papers, etc, then says "go wait in the parking lot".
Basically, you have to wait in line until other people have taken
their test (10-15 mins each) before you get to do yours. Isn't that
great? No appointment, just turn up and waste a morning of your life
that you will never get back. Of course, it wasn't until we had
waited in line for 2 hours that she said she couldn't take the test in
that car because it was registered in Ohio.

One final thing. If you have a permit, and you go to take your test,
make sure you have a KY licensed driver with you. They really do
check. The funny thing is my wife went to get the car registered in
KY on her own, forgetting that the Sheriff has to check the vehicle ID
number, and he nearly took her permit away for not being with a
licensed driver. Sraight into the lion's den.

Anyway. Kentucky is truly beautiful. Just as well you only have
renew your license every 4 years otherwise it just wouldn't be
worthwhile.

Jim

Kariml

Thanks for the post, I live in KY also. My fiance is coming from
Germany and we've had a very hard time getting a straight answer from
anyone on how he will obtain a license. Sounds like fun


[email protected] (Jim Lockwood) wrote in message news:...
    > I couldn't respond to my original post from way back presumably
    > because it's been archived. Instead I decided to write something new
    > that may, just may, help someone who is in a similar situation to me.
    >
    > This is what I had to do to get my Kentucky driver licence / license:
    >
    > You do need a Social Security Number card (SSN), even though they no
    > longer use the SSN as the drivers license number too. And you need
    > proof of residency. My wife phoned the drivers license bureau and
    > asked them what I needed to do to convert my UK license into a KY
    > license. They said go to this office near us (Erlanger, Kenton
    > County) and simply take the written test. So I went along with a load
    > of documents (just in case), said I wanted to convert my license and
    > they just said "no, we don't do that here, you need to go to get an
    > appointment, go to Newport with your documents, see a person there,
    > come back here no later than 2:30pm the same day and take your driving
    > test and written test. I was a little taken aback.
    >
    > I called the Newport office to make an appointment, and they said as a
    > lawful permanent resident I could have just done it in Erlanger, and
    > no I didn't need to take the full driving test. The stupid woman at
    > Erlanger did not ask if I was a permanent resident; she just assumed
    > that I wasn't. Bear in mind that I had to take some time off work to
    > arrange this, and I didn't have any vacation time yet. So I went back
    > to Erlanger the next week, got the same woman, who started to tell me
    > the same thing, then I said "I am a lawful permanent resident". Then
    > everything changed. She looked at my green card, took my SSN card,
    > proof of residence, a check for a small sum of money and said I needed
    > to take the written test and eye test. Once that was done I would
    > have got my license, but the photo machine was broken so I had to
    > drive 10 miles down the road to Independence to get the license
    > issued. There they didn't give me back my UK license, saying they
    > don't usually give back licenses. Apparently they don't get a lot of
    > foreign applicants in these parts. I explained that if she took my
    > license away (the photo ID part, not the paper counterpart, which they
    > never asked for), I would just have to get it reissued by the DVLA at
    > some cost to me. She eventually gave me it back.
    >
    > Here's something to be careful of though: my wife had an expired
    > under 21 Tennessee driver license, and she had to apply for a permit,
    > wait 30 days, take the full test. Initially she wasn't able to take
    > the test because the car was registered in Ohio. The bureaucratic
    > nonsense that goes on here is amazing. You have to take your test in
    > a car that is registered in the same state. Like it makes a
    > difference.
    >
    > And another thing... When we initially went to take her test in
    > Grant county, which was our original residence (so it seemed easier to
    > get it there than changing the address on her permit), everyone turns
    > up at 8am at the court house, then waits until the examiner can be
    > bothered to turn up, then you just stand in a queue, she checks the
    > insurance papers, etc, then says "go wait in the parking lot".
    > Basically, you have to wait in line until other people have taken
    > their test (10-15 mins each) before you get to do yours. Isn't that
    > great? No appointment, just turn up and waste a morning of your life
    > that you will never get back. Of course, it wasn't until we had
    > waited in line for 2 hours that she said she couldn't take the test in
    > that car because it was registered in Ohio.
    >
    > One final thing. If you have a permit, and you go to take your test,
    > make sure you have a KY licensed driver with you. They really do
    > check. The funny thing is my wife went to get the car registered in
    > KY on her own, forgetting that the Sheriff has to check the vehicle ID
    > number, and he nearly took her permit away for not being with a
    > licensed driver. Sraight into the lion's den.
    >
    > Anyway. Kentucky is truly beautiful. Just as well you only have
    > renew your license every 4 years otherwise it just wouldn't be
    > worthwhile.
    >
    > Jim

Jim Lockwood

I would expect the experience coming from Germany to be similar to my
own. The written test should be easy for an experienced driver who
knows the basics.

Of course, one thing that I wasn't prepared for is how scary it is
driving on US roads, and someone from Germany might be the same
because drivers in Germany yield to everything (bikes, people, etc).
I mean, France and Italy have some scary drivers, but here they are
less aware of what's going on around them than most drivers in the UK.
Passing on the left, right, switching lanes frequently, driving too
close to another car, running red lights, not allowing other cars to
come onto the freeway. Couple that with the huge number of SUVs and
trucks and the fact that few people (in Kentucky, anyway) wear
seatbelts, and it's no wonder so many people die on the roads.

One thing I will never get used to is how most drivers, even if they
can see their lane is about to end, will come right up along side you
and then seem suddenly surprised that there is a car to the left of
them and they have to force their way over. On the opposite side of
the scale, I tried to let someone who was in a lane that was blocked
by road works come across into my lane by slowing down a long time in
advance, flashing them, and actually came to a full stop for several
seconds, and they still didn't come over. I eventually gave up and
floored it, exasperated. With hindsight I expect they were probably
on a cell phone, paying no attention to the traffic.

Sorry I'm bitching. Once I got used to the unsafe driving, and knew
how to avoid trouble, it's not too bad. Traffic flows freer here than
it did in the UK, because people overtake on both sides. One piece of
advice that has saved me a couple of accidents: BUY A BLIND-SPOT
MIRROR.

Good luck with your fiance's license.

Jim

[email protected] (kariml) wrote in message news:...
    > Thanks for the post, I live in KY also. My fiance is coming from
    > Germany and we've had a very hard time getting a straight answer from
    > anyone on how he will obtain a license. Sounds like fun
    >
    >
    > [email protected] (Jim Lockwood) wrote in message news:...
    > > I couldn't respond to my original post from way back presumably
    > > because it's been archived. Instead I decided to write something new
    > > that may, just may, help someone who is in a similar situation to me.
    > >
    > > This is what I had to do to get my Kentucky driver licence / license:
    > >
    > > You do need a Social Security Number card (SSN), even though they no
    > > longer use the SSN as the drivers license number too. And you need
    > > proof of residency. My wife phoned the drivers license bureau and
    > > asked them what I needed to do to convert my UK license into a KY
    > > license. They said go to this office near us (Erlanger, Kenton
    > > County) and simply take the written test. So I went along with a load
    > > of documents (just in case), said I wanted to convert my license and
    > > they just said "no, we don't do that here, you need to go to get an
    > > appointment, go to Newport with your documents, see a person there,
    > > come back here no later than 2:30pm the same day and take your driving
    > > test and written test. I was a little taken aback.
    > >
    > > I called the Newport office to make an appointment, and they said as a
    > > lawful permanent resident I could have just done it in Erlanger, and
    > > no I didn't need to take the full driving test. The stupid woman at
    > > Erlanger did not ask if I was a permanent resident; she just assumed
    > > that I wasn't. Bear in mind that I had to take some time off work to
    > > arrange this, and I didn't have any vacation time yet. So I went back
    > > to Erlanger the next week, got the same woman, who started to tell me
    > > the same thing, then I said "I am a lawful permanent resident". Then
    > > everything changed. She looked at my green card, took my SSN card,
    > > proof of residence, a check for a small sum of money and said I needed
    > > to take the written test and eye test. Once that was done I would
    > > have got my license, but the photo machine was broken so I had to
    > > drive 10 miles down the road to Independence to get the license
    > > issued. There they didn't give me back my UK license, saying they
    > > don't usually give back licenses. Apparently they don't get a lot of
    > > foreign applicants in these parts. I explained that if she took my
    > > license away (the photo ID part, not the paper counterpart, which they
    > > never asked for), I would just have to get it reissued by the DVLA at
    > > some cost to me. She eventually gave me it back.
    > >
    > > Here's something to be careful of though: my wife had an expired
    > > under 21 Tennessee driver license, and she had to apply for a permit,
    > > wait 30 days, take the full test. Initially she wasn't able to take
    > > the test because the car was registered in Ohio. The bureaucratic
    > > nonsense that goes on here is amazing. You have to take your test in
    > > a car that is registered in the same state. Like it makes a
    > > difference.
    > >
    > > And another thing... When we initially went to take her test in
    > > Grant county, which was our original residence (so it seemed easier to
    > > get it there than changing the address on her permit), everyone turns
    > > up at 8am at the court house, then waits until the examiner can be
    > > bothered to turn up, then you just stand in a queue, she checks the
    > > insurance papers, etc, then says "go wait in the parking lot".
    > > Basically, you have to wait in line until other people have taken
    > > their test (10-15 mins each) before you get to do yours. Isn't that
    > > great? No appointment, just turn up and waste a morning of your life
    > > that you will never get back. Of course, it wasn't until we had
    > > waited in line for 2 hours that she said she couldn't take the test in
    > > that car because it was registered in Ohio.
    > >
    > > One final thing. If you have a permit, and you go to take your test,
    > > make sure you have a KY licensed driver with you. They really do
    > > check. The funny thing is my wife went to get the car registered in
    > > KY on her own, forgetting that the Sheriff has to check the vehicle ID
    > > number, and he nearly took her permit away for not being with a
    > > licensed driver. Sraight into the lion's den.
    > >
    > > Anyway. Kentucky is truly beautiful. Just as well you only have
    > > renew your license every 4 years otherwise it just wouldn't be
    > > worthwhile.
    > >
    > > Jim

Kariml

I do agree with your bitching. People in the U.S. drive like maniacs
and completely disregard everyone on else on the road. Good luck to
you and watch out for those SUVs as they are only getting larger

[email protected] (Jim Lockwood) wrote in message news:...
    > I would expect the experience coming from Germany to be similar to my
    > own. The written test should be easy for an experienced driver who
    > knows the basics.
    >
    > Of course, one thing that I wasn't prepared for is how scary it is
    > driving on US roads, and someone from Germany might be the same
    > because drivers in Germany yield to everything (bikes, people, etc).
    > I mean, France and Italy have some scary drivers, but here they are
    > less aware of what's going on around them than most drivers in the UK.
    > Passing on the left, right, switching lanes frequently, driving too
    > close to another car, running red lights, not allowing other cars to
    > come onto the freeway. Couple that with the huge number of SUVs and
    > trucks and the fact that few people (in Kentucky, anyway) wear
    > seatbelts, and it's no wonder so many people die on the roads.
    >
    > One thing I will never get used to is how most drivers, even if they
    > can see their lane is about to end, will come right up along side you
    > and then seem suddenly surprised that there is a car to the left of
    > them and they have to force their way over. On the opposite side of
    > the scale, I tried to let someone who was in a lane that was blocked
    > by road works come across into my lane by slowing down a long time in
    > advance, flashing them, and actually came to a full stop for several
    > seconds, and they still didn't come over. I eventually gave up and
    > floored it, exasperated. With hindsight I expect they were probably
    > on a cell phone, paying no attention to the traffic.
    >
    > Sorry I'm bitching. Once I got used to the unsafe driving, and knew
    > how to avoid trouble, it's not too bad. Traffic flows freer here than
    > it did in the UK, because people overtake on both sides. One piece of
    > advice that has saved me a couple of accidents: BUY A BLIND-SPOT
    > MIRROR.
    >
    > Good luck with your fiance's license.
    >
    > Jim
    >
    > [email protected] (kariml) wrote in message news:...
    > > Thanks for the post, I live in KY also. My fiance is coming from
    > > Germany and we've had a very hard time getting a straight answer from
    > > anyone on how he will obtain a license. Sounds like fun
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] (Jim Lockwood) wrote in message news:...
    > > > I couldn't respond to my original post from way back presumably
    > > > because it's been archived. Instead I decided to write something new
    > > > that may, just may, help someone who is in a similar situation to me.
    > > >
    > > > This is what I had to do to get my Kentucky driver licence / license:
    > > >
    > > > You do need a Social Security Number card (SSN), even though they no
    > > > longer use the SSN as the drivers license number too. And you need
    > > > proof of residency. My wife phoned the drivers license bureau and
    > > > asked them what I needed to do to convert my UK license into a KY
    > > > license. They said go to this office near us (Erlanger, Kenton
    > > > County) and simply take the written test. So I went along with a load
    > > > of documents (just in case), said I wanted to convert my license and
    > > > they just said "no, we don't do that here, you need to go to get an
    > > > appointment, go to Newport with your documents, see a person there,
    > > > come back here no later than 2:30pm the same day and take your driving
    > > > test and written test. I was a little taken aback.
    > > >
    > > > I called the Newport office to make an appointment, and they said as a
    > > > lawful permanent resident I could have just done it in Erlanger, and
    > > > no I didn't need to take the full driving test. The stupid woman at
    > > > Erlanger did not ask if I was a permanent resident; she just assumed
    > > > that I wasn't. Bear in mind that I had to take some time off work to
    > > > arrange this, and I didn't have any vacation time yet. So I went back
    > > > to Erlanger the next week, got the same woman, who started to tell me
    > > > the same thing, then I said "I am a lawful permanent resident". Then
    > > > everything changed. She looked at my green card, took my SSN card,
    > > > proof of residence, a check for a small sum of money and said I needed
    > > > to take the written test and eye test. Once that was done I would
    > > > have got my license, but the photo machine was broken so I had to
    > > > drive 10 miles down the road to Independence to get the license
    > > > issued. There they didn't give me back my UK license, saying they
    > > > don't usually give back licenses. Apparently they don't get a lot of
    > > > foreign applicants in these parts. I explained that if she took my
    > > > license away (the photo ID part, not the paper counterpart, which they
    > > > never asked for), I would just have to get it reissued by the DVLA at
    > > > some cost to me. She eventually gave me it back.
    > > >
    > > > Here's something to be careful of though: my wife had an expired
    > > > under 21 Tennessee driver license, and she had to apply for a permit,
    > > > wait 30 days, take the full test. Initially she wasn't able to take
    > > > the test because the car was registered in Ohio. The bureaucratic
    > > > nonsense that goes on here is amazing. You have to take your test in
    > > > a car that is registered in the same state. Like it makes a
    > > > difference.
    > > >
    > > > And another thing... When we initially went to take her test in
    > > > Grant county, which was our original residence (so it seemed easier to
    > > > get it there than changing the address on her permit), everyone turns
    > > > up at 8am at the court house, then waits until the examiner can be
    > > > bothered to turn up, then you just stand in a queue, she checks the
    > > > insurance papers, etc, then says "go wait in the parking lot".
    > > > Basically, you have to wait in line until other people have taken
    > > > their test (10-15 mins each) before you get to do yours. Isn't that
    > > > great? No appointment, just turn up and waste a morning of your life
    > > > that you will never get back. Of course, it wasn't until we had
    > > > waited in line for 2 hours that she said she couldn't take the test in
    > > > that car because it was registered in Ohio.
    > > >
    > > > One final thing. If you have a permit, and you go to take your test,
    > > > make sure you have a KY licensed driver with you. They really do
    > > > check. The funny thing is my wife went to get the car registered in
    > > > KY on her own, forgetting that the Sheriff has to check the vehicle ID
    > > > number, and he nearly took her permit away for not being with a
    > > > licensed driver. Sraight into the lion's den.
    > > >
    > > > Anyway. Kentucky is truly beautiful. Just as well you only have
    > > > renew your license every 4 years otherwise it just wouldn't be
    > > > worthwhile.
    > > >
    > > > Jim