LINY

Here at last and finally trying to get my New York State driving license sorted process of written test done.. Waiting for provisional photo Card to come through but wanted to know a couple of questions.

I still have my UK driving license so presume, as I can find no information otherwise, that I am ok to drive still?

Secondly am hopefully doing my 5 hour pre license course next week on my temporary license presume this is ok? driving myself to the course presuming I am still ok to drive on my UK license!

Thirdly the road test.. I have a rental... Issued in my husbands name (he has yet to get his NYS license too) does he have to come with me to the road test and can I use the rental car for the test? I am assuming I can't drive in by myself!

The only issue with all the wonderful information out on the web it doesn't specify anything if you can currently drive!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers LINY

Pulaski

Yes to all questions!

I drove myself to my own NY test, and took it in a rental car. Driving solo to a US road test using a UK license is apparently not uncommon, someone else reported the same thing here on BE within the past few weeks.

Your UK licence is fine, so long as you're working towards getting your NY license it is highly unlikely anyone will bat an eyelid, though technically I think it is only good for 30 days after taking up residence in NY, however there is, in practice, no easy way for anyone (police) to determine what day was your first day of residence!

Samxboy

Your UK license is good until the time that they take it away....you realise that NY does that? That's why amongst other things like no city taxes to pay, lower sales taxes and almost sensible housing rental costs, I chose New Jersey to live. ( I work in manhattan so it's an easy choice for me)... You can get your license in a couple of hours as well. Realize that doesn't answer all your questions, as far as your license goes it's fine to
keep on using it.

LINY

Thanks for that my mind has been put at rest.

LINY

Unluckily New Jersey is just too far a commute for the job!

celticgrid

Only if you are applying for a license while visiting, remaining resident overseas. As a new resident you get treated just like everyone else....take the tests, pass, get given a NYS license.

Pulaski

That's how it worked for me. And they did most certainly not take my British licence from me!

davejc

Hey,

I'm about to do this myself, what documents should I be taking with me to the DMV? i'm going to hit what I believe is a relatively quiet one where I now live (Seneca Falls!) I just wanted to make sure I take all the right things!

thinking Soc Sec Card, Passport, I797?

Thanks in advance

David

notonuksoil

Both myself and OH took our tests in NY and both still have our UK licences - neither of had to hand them in

scrubbedexpat099

5 hours

LINY

Pulaski quick question... Did you show just your uk license when you took yourself to the test? The reason I ask I have had the 5 hr pre licensing course and was told I wouldn't be able to take myself unless I had an international license, but I'm not sure if he meant foreign or international (as in the translation of our uk licence... As in my haste to get here I forgot to get that bit!)

As for getting a licence in 30 days I can't find any tests till the beginning of December so no idea how that can be achieved!

LINY

Or there abouts!

Pulaski

I think so, but I know for sure that it was NOT the "international license". I never had one because they are worthless if your license is already in/includes English.
I had that problem too, but worse. In early December 2001 the next available local test in Westchester County was in late February! Mrs P started trawling county web sites for me, looking further and further north and west across the state, until she found a test slot available the next week in Herkimer, so that is where I did my US road test!

LINY

Thanks... Unfortunately being on Long Island my choices remain limited! Not to mention several road test sites with no available appointments online! Think I will be ringing them to see if I can get this sorted earlier as per their 30 day requirements!

jaffy23

I definitely kept my UK driving license. Actually I updated the address to my parents house and sent in to the DVLA from here!

The 5 hour pre-licensing is a doozy. I did mine from 5-10pm in the city...