Driving in the states
Jun 22nd 2008, 2:59 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7
Driving in the states
If an american moves to the UK they have 1 years grace using their american license to drive on the UK roads before they need a UK license. Does anyone know if there is a similar rule for UK people moving to the USA or will i need to get a US license pretty much straight away?
Jun 22nd 2008, 3:01 pm
#2
I'm off to find a spanner
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,867
Re: Driving in the states
If you know what state you are moving to do a search for their DMV (department of motor vehicle) and check what it says about international drivers in that state.
Jun 22nd 2008, 3:01 pm
#3
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Driving in the states
If an american moves to the UK they have 1 years grace using their american license to drive on the UK roads before they need a UK license. Does anyone know if there is a similar rule for UK people moving to the USA or will i need to get a US license pretty much straight away?
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:29 pm
#6
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Driving in the states
BTW, issue also revolves around immigration status -- or rather DMV's interpretation of it! Some poor guy on here the other month couldn't be issued one in WI (iirc) on an L1, believe it or not! CA also seems to have driven numerous posters to despair.
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:44 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Location: Avon Lake, OH
Posts: 5,270
Re: Driving in the states
If an american moves to the UK they have 1 years grace using their american license to drive on the UK roads before they need a UK license. Does anyone know if there is a similar rule for UK people moving to the USA or will i need to get a US license pretty much straight away?
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:46 pm
#8
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2002
Location: Atlanta via Dubai, Belgium, Greece, Saudi Arabia
Posts: 953
Re: Driving in the states
It would appear that many states laws state that within 'x' days of becoming a resident you have to obtain a driving licence, however as many of us moving for business reasons to the US don't have a permanent address proving residence via a utility bill in our name and also dont have a SSN# because it can take weeks or months for the Social Security Administration to cough one up, what happens then, do we have to sit at home on our hands?
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:48 pm
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Driving in the states
The state laws that require you to get a driver's license within a certain time period are pretty much all triggered by your becoming resident in that particular state. In this case, the meaning of "resident" is defined by the state and has nothing to do with USCIS or your immigration status.
Your ability to actually get a driver's license in a particular state will, however, depend on your being able to produce the particular documents which that state requires in order to prove your identity and that you are legally present in the US. You might imagine that, since these requirements are largely driven by the Federal government's "Real ID Act" that the list of acceptable documents would be the same in every state but, of course, you would be wrong
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:52 pm
#10
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Driving in the states
Being even more pedantic ...
The state laws that require you to get a driver's license within a certain time period are pretty much all triggered by your becoming resident in that particular state. In this case, the meaning of "resident" is defined by the state and has nothing to do with USCIS or your immigration status.
Your ability to actually get a driver's license in a particular state will, however, depend on your being able to produce the particular documents which that state requires in order to prove your identity and that you are legally present in the US. You might imagine that, since these requirements are largely driven by the Federal government's "Real ID Act" that the list of acceptable documents would be the same in every state but, of course, you would be wrong
The state laws that require you to get a driver's license within a certain time period are pretty much all triggered by your becoming resident in that particular state. In this case, the meaning of "resident" is defined by the state and has nothing to do with USCIS or your immigration status.
Your ability to actually get a driver's license in a particular state will, however, depend on your being able to produce the particular documents which that state requires in order to prove your identity and that you are legally present in the US. You might imagine that, since these requirements are largely driven by the Federal government's "Real ID Act" that the list of acceptable documents would be the same in every state but, of course, you would be wrong
Pretty accurate but continuing with the pedanticity (sorry, made that word up)...
You forgot to include the random factor of the DMV drone making it all up as they go along.
Jun 22nd 2008, 4:58 pm
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Driving in the states
Agreed that I missed that last and very important point, but disagree that particular factor is "random" - the information that you get is indeed random (or, more accurately, random and incorrect), but the fact that the DMV employee has no idea what they are doing and is just making it up as they go along is pretty much guaranteed.
Last edited by md95065; Jun 22nd 2008 at 5:02 pm.
Jun 22nd 2008, 5:02 pm
#12
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Driving in the states
Agreed that I missed that last and very important point, but disagree that particular factor is "random" - the information that you get is indeed random (or, more accurately, random and incorrect), but the fact that the DMV employee has no idea what they are doing and is just making it up as they go along is pretty much guaranteed.
Jun 22nd 2008, 7:14 pm
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Maryland
Posts: 485
Re: Driving in the states
Being even more pedantic ...
The state laws that require you to get a driver's license within a certain time period are pretty much all triggered by your becoming resident in that particular state. In this case, the meaning of "resident" is defined by the state and has nothing to do with USCIS or your immigration status.
Your ability to actually get a driver's license in a particular state will, however, depend on your being able to produce the particular documents which that state requires in order to prove your identity and that you are legally present in the US. You might imagine that, since these requirements are largely driven by the Federal government's "Real ID Act" that the list of acceptable documents would be the same in every state but, of course, you would be wrong
The state laws that require you to get a driver's license within a certain time period are pretty much all triggered by your becoming resident in that particular state. In this case, the meaning of "resident" is defined by the state and has nothing to do with USCIS or your immigration status.
Your ability to actually get a driver's license in a particular state will, however, depend on your being able to produce the particular documents which that state requires in order to prove your identity and that you are legally present in the US. You might imagine that, since these requirements are largely driven by the Federal government's "Real ID Act" that the list of acceptable documents would be the same in every state but, of course, you would be wrong
Here in MD, you don't need to show legal presence....
Jun 22nd 2008, 7:20 pm
#14
I'm off to find a spanner
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Maine
Posts: 2,867
Re: Driving in the states
I think it is a federal requirement to have an ssn to get a driving licence anywhere in the US (well that's what it said on my ME licence renewal notice anyway). I think you have to show proof to get the ssn but not directly for the licence.
Jun 22nd 2008, 7:55 pm
#15
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 7
Re: Driving in the states
So to get a driving license i need a social security number?