Go Back  British Expats > Living & Moving Abroad > USA
Reload this Page >

Emigrating to the USA soon

Wikiposts

Emigrating to the USA soon

Thread Tools
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 3:25 am
  #16  
Glasgow Girl's Avatar
Furby
 
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,188
From: St. Louis, MO.
Glasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond reputeGlasgow Girl has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

If you cannot pass the test you should not be on the road. It is ridiculously easy.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 3:56 am
  #17  
Lion in Winter's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,384
From: East Seaxe
Lion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Glasgow Girl
If you cannot pass the test you should not be on the road. It is ridiculously easy.

US driving test.

"Drive around the block at 25mph, operate turn signals, look in mirrors, stop at stop signs, park in a giant space, and don't actually hit anything. Pass."
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 3:59 am
  #18  
civilservant's Avatar
Often not so civil...
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 9,612
From: The Boonies, GA
civilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond reputecivilservant has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter
US driving test.

"Drive around the block at 25mph, operate turn signals, look in mirrors, stop at stop signs, park in a giant space, and don't actually hit anything. Pass."
I actually had to do a 3 point turn for mine

On a public road, no less!

Last edited by civilservant; May 10th 2021 at 4:12 am.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 4:11 am
  #19  
robin1234's Avatar
Heading for Poppyland
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 17,526
From: North Norfolk and northern New York State
robin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond reputerobin1234 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter
US driving test.

"Drive around the block at 25mph, operate turn signals, look in mirrors, stop at stop signs, park in a giant space, and don't actually hit anything. Pass."
I was lucky. I got my Massachusetts driver’s license in 1976, just by showing my British one. (Oh, there was a written test too. Multiple choice..)
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 4:11 am
  #20  
Lion in Winter's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,384
From: East Seaxe
Lion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by civilservant
I actually had to do a 3 point turn for mine On a puc

On a public road, no less!

They're tough where you are.

While my test was toddler-level in difficulty, my actual lessons were hair raising. I learned on Manhattan, rush hour. Being a new driver on Riverside Drive was - interesting.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 4:13 am
  #21  
Lion in Winter's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,384
From: East Seaxe
Lion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by robin1234
I was lucky. I got my Massachusetts driver’s license in 1976, just by showing my British one. (Oh, there was a written test too. Multiple choice..)

Sounds like my moped provisional license in the UK.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 5:00 am
  #22  
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 13,212
From: San Francisco
Giantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond reputeGiantaxe has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by robin1234
I was lucky. I got my Massachusetts driver’s license in 1976, just by showing my British one. (Oh, there was a written test too. Multiple choice..)
Me too. I then parlayed my MA license into a CA one, so I've never taken a road driving test in the US.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 5:45 am
  #23  
Steerpike's Avatar
Lost in BE Cyberspace
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,682
From: Bay Area, CA
Steerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond reputeSteerpike has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Lion in Winter
US driving test.

"Drive around the block at 25mph, operate turn signals, look in mirrors, stop at stop signs, park in a giant space, and don't actually hit anything. Pass."
This is hardly an exaggeration! BUT - the written (multiple choice) test is not so easy. It's not HARD, either, but there are enough 'obscure' questions that you can get tripped up! Can't be bothered to look up the questions, now, but as a hypothetical, they may ask 'what is the safe-stopping distance when travelling at 50 mph? Is it 120, 140, 160 feet? Now, that's not something I carry in my head. When actually driving, I have a good sense of safe stopping distance, but I don't know how to translate that 'instinct' to 'feet'.

You can get up to 5 wrong I believe. I got six wrong . But - all my wrong answers were 'on the safe side' so the lady at the window simply gave me another 5 questions, which I got right, and she passed me!
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 5:51 am
  #24  
BE Forum Addict
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2,218
From: Athens GA
MidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond reputeMidAtlantic has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Steerpike
When actually driving, I have a good sense of safe stopping distance, but I don't know how to translate that 'instinct' to 'feet'.
Unlike 99% of the drivers around here, who seem to think that 3 feet off my rear bumper at 50mph is fine
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 6:08 am
  #25  
Nutmegger's Avatar
Deep in the woods of CT
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 7,511
Nutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond reputeNutmegger has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by MidAtlantic
Unlike 99% of the drivers around here, who seem to think that 3 feet off my rear bumper at 50mph is fine
And that the appropriate time to operate the turn indicator is when already stationary at the junction, probably somewhere midway between the left and right lanes.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 6:15 am
  #26  
Lion in Winter's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,384
From: East Seaxe
Lion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Nutmegger
And that the appropriate time to operate the turn indicator is when already stationary at the junction, probably somewhere midway between the left and right lanes.

That drives me insane. The whole concept of "advance warning" seems to be missing.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 6:16 am
  #27  
Lion in Winter's Avatar
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 79,384
From: East Seaxe
Lion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond reputeLion in Winter has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Steerpike
This is hardly an exaggeration! BUT - the written (multiple choice) test is not so easy. It's not HARD, either, but there are enough 'obscure' questions that you can get tripped up! Can't be bothered to look up the questions, now, but as a hypothetical, they may ask 'what is the safe-stopping distance when travelling at 50 mph? Is it 120, 140, 160 feet? Now, that's not something I carry in my head. When actually driving, I have a good sense of safe stopping distance, but I don't know how to translate that 'instinct' to 'feet'.

You can get up to 5 wrong I believe. I got six wrong . But - all my wrong answers were 'on the safe side' so the lady at the window simply gave me another 5 questions, which I got right, and she passed me!

This is where GCSEs stood me in good stead. My capacity to simply memorise vast quantities of material is still vast.
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 7:42 am
  #28  
Nicola1234's Avatar
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
Nicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

I am in the process of moving from NY to CT. As I lived in the city I never needed to take my driving test but now I need to! At the CT DMV I had to take a theory test and I have my practical this weekend which will be on the road not a carpark (not sure which I would prefer). Luckily as I had my UK license I didn't have to wait the 90 days between theory and practical but I did have to sit through an 8 hour online safety course one Saturday
 
Old May 10th 2021 | 9:05 am
  #29  
tht
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,019
tht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond reputetht has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by Nicola1234
I am in the process of moving from NY to CT. As I lived in the city I never needed to take my driving test but now I need to! At the CT DMV I had to take a theory test and I have my practical this weekend which will be on the road not a carpark (not sure which I would prefer). Luckily as I had my UK license I didn't have to wait the 90 days between theory and practical but I did have to sit through an 8 hour online safety course one Saturday
I did mine in the city before I moved out to CT, in the city really meant Yonkers, I don’t think they have actual test routes in Manhattan etc. I miss driving mini Cooper zip cars around the city 😀. The biggest difference is no right on red unless there is a posted sign in the city, out here it’s right on all reds unless there is a located sign.

If you 8 hour safety course is the same as mine in NYC it was basically videos from the 90’s telling you not to drink drive….

The practical test in NY was an order of magnitude easier than the one I did in the UK. The examiner was unimpressed with my double de clutch downshift when we hit the National speed limit area of the test, and basically told me he wanted to fail me, I guess track days are not the place to learn for test passing.
 
Old May 11th 2021 | 6:20 am
  #30  
Nicola1234's Avatar
Forum Regular
 
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 111
Nicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond reputeNicola1234 has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: Emigrating to the USA soon

Originally Posted by tht
I did mine in the city before I moved out to CT, in the city really meant Yonkers, I don’t think they have actual test routes in Manhattan etc. I miss driving mini Cooper zip cars around the city 😀. The biggest difference is no right on red unless there is a posted sign in the city, out here it’s right on all reds unless there is a located sign.

If you 8 hour safety course is the same as mine in NYC it was basically videos from the 90’s telling you not to drink drive….

The practical test in NY was an order of magnitude easier than the one I did in the UK. The examiner was unimpressed with my double de clutch downshift when we hit the National speed limit area of the test, and basically told me he wanted to fail me, I guess track days are not the place to learn for test passing.

Haha yeah I currently live in Manhattan and there is no way I would ever do my test here it reminds me of Mario Karts lol.

Yeah the course was full of old videos but it was via Zoom and mic and cameras were off so I just potted about the house lol.
 


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Your Privacy Choices

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.