this has probably been posted about a million times before so apologies...

Am I right in thinking that I need to sit my written test, then get my learners permit before I can sit the actual driving test?

...I need to be mobile by dec 1st as that's when I start work!

OH & I didn't get a learner's permit - we did our written (well, computer) test and practical driving test in one day.

Not sure where in Dallas you are, but one tip we had was to go to a quieter DPS office - we went to the one up in McKinney, but that might be a bit too far from where you are.

I'm pretty sure the only people that get learner's permits, anywhere, are teens before they reach the age to drive or 18.

This most likely depends on your state. That exactly what my Mark was required to do to get his Virginia drivers license back in 2004: Take the written test, hold a learner's permit for 30 days, then take the practical test. He was NOT required, however, to take any driving lessons.


Not necessarily. See my comments above -- Mark was 32 years old and had been driving in the UK for 12 years, but he still had to have a Virginia learner's permit for 30 days. The learner's permit was required because he was over the age of 19 but had never held a drivers license from the US or Canada.

That was back in 2004 though, so it's possible that things have changed since then.

~ Jenney

Would be interesting to know what States do that then....I had never heard of it, well not in California, Oregon or Washington.

As Jenney said it depends on the state...each state as different rules and regs. In NJ we had to sit a multiple question driving test...there was no practical test as we already had UK licence.

Use Google to search for the DMV for your state...the info should be on their website. The length of time you can drive on a UK licence also varies from state to state...again the info should be on the DMV website.

What state is the OP in?

Most don't require a learners permit, but some do. In Maine, if you've had a license less than 3 years and/or under 25 you'd need a permit for x amount of time, 6 weeks first, but you could drive on your own without a licensed driver...makes sense because a new license/permit means you have half the points to play with, and any speeding or other moving violations would mean losing your license for a minimum of 30 days instantly.

Under Meryl's name it says 'Dallas' which I took to mean her location, but I could be wrong

didn't see that earlier...

yup, I'm now a Dallas residant

look in the wiki - i put a list of DVL sites by state there a while ago.

Cant find any info on the DMV California website for someone with a UK drivers licence... I guess i could drive a rental till you find more info.. justs like a holiday haha

Then you won't get a "learners permit". You'll sit the written test, then take the driving test whenever you've booked it. Like many people here, I had it booked for the same day as the written test.

Unfortunately, Texas still makes you take both parts of the test, even if you have a valid foreign license.

NOTE: Do NOT take your UK license with you, and do NOT surrender it if they demand it. Holders of drivers licenses from other US States are required to surrender them for disposal when they get a Texas license, but this does NOT apply to a foreign license, and you may have need of your UK license in the future and it'll be bloody difficult to get a replacement while you're resident in the US.

great, thanks for the heads up

For California you will have to take a practical test unless you already have a license from another state - in which case this is waived (doesn't sound like you do...) - it's under "new to california" on the DMV website. Link here http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#two500

In all cases you have to take a theory test - pretty easy - but read the drivers handbook while you are waiting for things like blood/alc levels etc.

It looks to me like you then have to make an appointment for a practical - so during this time if you are operating a car under your CA license you will have to be accompanied! You can as you say drive a hire car with your UK license during this time (that's what I did - it was in another state - when I moved to CA I only had to do the theory as I was already licensed) You can't drive a private car though (even your own) as you will find it very difficult to be insured - I think from memory Progressive does do insurance if you don't have a US license but the costs are huge

Hope this helps!

PS Where are you in CA? If in the San Diego area - drive to San Ysidro DMV on border...waiting times are 2 hours less than others. Also all (I think) CA DMV's are shut 3 fridays a month