Pulaski

Quite. It usually appears that the overriding requirement is to be able to show you are using your best endeavours to get a local license as soon as possible and annecdotally, it appears that the police are usually understanding so long as you are "in the system" towards getting your license ASA reasonably P.

steveq

I couldn't.get insurance or a car loan without a local licence either.

ubernathan

We've just completed this dance, in MA.

1) we purchased a car and could get insurance (geico) using our UK licenses. The premium is on the high end though, because of the out-of-country license.

2) Studied the RMV manual. You can't wing the theory test -- it asks about the fines and suspension periods for random offences. The online example tests mislead you into thinking that's not going to be asked.

3) Took the MA theory test to get a learners permit. This does ask for your out-of-country driving license info. I think this avoids having to do the whole drivers-ed course and show log of driving lessons etc at road test time.

4) Booked road test. The soonest we could get one was 6 weeks after we got the learners permit. We're in Boston, but took the test at Milford as closer in was impossible to book. It's completely impossible to fulfil the 30 day requirement.

5) Took a driving lesson to get instruction on how to pass the road test. This imparted useful information.

6) Found a local friend to be a sponsor, which you need to take the road test. They accompany you on the test. The sponsor must be an MA resident over 21 with an MA license for at least a year.

7) Turned up to road test with vehicle with handbrake that can be operated by passenger. A necessary requirement (you also need to disable navigation, parking sensors etc). Must have vehcle registry doc (but you need that in the vehicle anyway).

8) Road test itself was fairly straight forward. Needed to
a) know hand signals
b) how to park on a hill
c) demonstrate parallel park behgind another vehicle (but not between vehicles)
d) demonstrate 3 point turn
e) demonstrate reverse in straight line

It took about 15 minutes.

At no point did I have to show my UK license -- so no danger of it being hole punched.

hungryhorace

The cops - in keeping with their usual tradition - know nothing about this. I asked numerous different cops when I moved here and none gave me the correct answer. The correct answer, after reading the MGL is:

Section 10, Chapter 90. Operating without being licensed.

Statutory exceptions. General Laws c. 90, § 10 contains seven exceptions to the requirement of a Massachusetts license: (1) a person who is licensed in another state or country, has applied for a Massachusetts license but has not yet been given a drivers test, and has been issued a 60-day temporar permit by the Registry of Motor Vehicles;

So, in a nutshell: get your learners permit. You are then perfectly permitted to continue to drive on your UK DL until you take the MA road test in <= 60 days.

hungryhorace

I got both, without any issues using my UK DL. The only thing I couldn't use my UK DL for was to pass the silly TSA inspection points at the airport. Had to provide my MA DL instead.

MarylandNed

Driving license laws are controlled by the states.

Like I said, controlled by the state. You just stated the timeline - "upon residency". So as soon as you become a resident, start working on getting a MA license.

Massachusetts RMV - Converting an Out-of-State License

"If you have recently moved to Massachusetts, you must obtain a valid Massachusetts license upon becoming a resident."


No - it's the law of MA and other states that residents obtain a state driving license. You'll save yourself a lot of hassle by getting a MA license. Remember that you might be stopped by any of several levels of police depts (city, county, state etc) inside or outside MA.

With all due respect, no-one cares what you want. Abide by the law or suffer the consequences. In addition to driving itself, you will find your MA license useful for other things like ID, proving address, etc.

hungryhorace

I find it most useful for using when driving in England

Pulaski

A US state license is, in deed, most useful for that purpose.

Bob

Buying booze....it's very useful for that...

hungryhorace

That's the wife's job

Bob

Along with scraping the ice off the car windows?

hungryhorace

I was thinking more snow blowing the drive way lol

Pulaski

So anything that involves something with handles, that she can push around. I hear that's her area of expertise.

hungryhorace

It isn't a blank 60 days. The requisite is that you have obtained your provisional licence THEN you have 60 days from which you can drive on your international licence.

I've repeated this and cited the MGL law countless times. Getting bored repeating it now to be honest.

Amie06

So it is useful as well for photo ID when asked for by the numerous authorities that request it?