FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
#16
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by GaryK
I moved to DC in August and am moving back to the UK in May, and I've been driving around with my UK licence for all this time and haven't really given much thought to getting a local licence. In light of the 90-day comment, should I? If I were pulled over, how would the police know for sure how permanent or temporary a visitor I am (unless they looked at my visa of course)? I wonder where I could find out about this for certain?
#17
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by GaryK
.... I've been driving around with my UK licence for all this time and haven't really given much thought to getting a local licence. In light of the 90-day comment, should I? .....
Why did it never occur to you to find out what the legal situation was with respect to the legal requirements for driving in the US before you arrived, or very soon after? ..... I bet you'd be one of the first to complain if a US immigrant to the UK caused an accident involving you and it turned out that he/she hadn't even bothered to find out whether they were driving legally or not!
Last edited by Pulaski; Nov 25th 2006 at 2:32 am.
#18
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 360
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by GaryK
I moved to DC in August and am moving back to the UK in May, and I've been driving around with my UK licence for all this time and haven't really given much thought to getting a local licence. In light of the 90-day comment, should I? If I were pulled over, how would the police know for sure how permanent or temporary a visitor I am (unless they looked at my visa of course)? I wonder where I could find out about this for certain?
Check your district/state DMV/BMV. ASAP. I got 30 days, technically, and the insurance company gave me 6 months or they said they would drop me. It was all very carefully spelt out on the BMV website that once you become a resident, which in their terms means you accept a job, buy a house/sign a lease, etc., you are a resident and all residents must have a licence. Got conflicting info when I went in and asked them, so check online for the written word.
My insurance premiums dropped quite a bit once I had a US license-another plus. And, I found that I needed the ID for check-cashing, bank matters as it was easier than carrying around my passport (whilst waiting for the PRC).
As for how they can tell, well all they need to do is look at your visa or PRC (which one is supposed to carry at all times) and check your dates.
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Mumbai, India
Posts: 42
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by Pulaski
Why did it never occur to you to find out what the legal situation was with respect to the legal requirements for driving in the US before you arrived, or very soon after? ..... I bet you'd be one of the first to complain if a US immigrant to the UK caused an accident involving you and it turned out that he/she hadn't even bothered to find out whether they were driving legally or not!
I'm a member of Zipcar, so they take care of my insurance policies and other paperwork for me. When I signed up, all they needed was my UK licence and nothing else - they were certainly under the assumption that I would not need a US licence for driving here.
Also, I find the rudeness of certain individuals very unnecessary and unhelpful. There's lots of complaints about Americans being rude on this board, but it seems to me that some Brits aren't better at all
#20
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
We had a year before we needed a MA licence...then found out it could be 2 years if our Ins company was anything to go by...no-one here will ever tell you the same thing twice...
#21
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,717
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
My wife recently had to study in NC and TN, we had to book hire cars for her stays there.
We found www.priceline.com 'name your price' to offer the best deals.
Priceline was always the same price as the cheapest of the others, but you can 'name your price'. We found the lowest accepted price was no more than 25% off the normal rental price. So we just offered 25% less than the quoted price and got it on both occasions. The car and service was as expected.
We found www.priceline.com 'name your price' to offer the best deals.
Priceline was always the same price as the cheapest of the others, but you can 'name your price'. We found the lowest accepted price was no more than 25% off the normal rental price. So we just offered 25% less than the quoted price and got it on both occasions. The car and service was as expected.
#22
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by Ray
22 it appears .............Surcharge on the car hire in some
State for the under 25s
State for the under 25s
#23
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by Ray
Internation Driving licences are only good if you own county licence
is not in English ...
.
is not in English ...
.
#24
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by krizzy
We had a year before we needed a MA licence...then found out it could be 2 years if our Ins company was anything to go by...no-one here will ever tell you the same thing twice...
#25
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by Bob
MA....you've got 30 days I thought...it was 12 months in ME though, but getting insurance is the problem.
If you have a SSN...you can take your test anytime...if not you can drive on your Brit License until they give in and give you an MA one....that took me 9 months without a SSN....they told me I was not a resident of MA so did not need a MA licence...I went to SS office got a letter to say I could not have a number...but did not need one to get a MA license...it was looked at in wonder for many hours in the DMV office...I was given a leaner's permit...booked a test...told by the Trooper he could give me the test but I may not get a licence...I passed...he went to the desk to recommend I have one...and I got one....
My daughter had no SSN...but went through a driving school...and she had no trouble....
We had no trouble getting Ins ...they took my full no claims too..
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by krizzy
We were told 12 months...by the DMV...State Trooper who does the test....and Ins company...that was if you had an English licence...its 30 days if you have an out of State one....
If you have a SSN...you can take your test anytime...if not you can drive on your Brit License until they give in and give you an MA one....that took me 9 months without a SSN....they told me I was not a resident of MA so did not need a MA licence...I went to SS office got a letter to say I could not have a number...but did not need one to get a MA license...it was looked at in wonder for many hours in the DMV office...I was given a leaner's permit...booked a test...told by the Trooper he could give me the test but I may not get a licence...I passed...he went to the desk to recommend I have one...and I got one....
My daughter had no SSN...but went through a driving school...and she had no trouble....
We had no trouble getting Ins ...they took my full no claims too..
If you have a SSN...you can take your test anytime...if not you can drive on your Brit License until they give in and give you an MA one....that took me 9 months without a SSN....they told me I was not a resident of MA so did not need a MA licence...I went to SS office got a letter to say I could not have a number...but did not need one to get a MA license...it was looked at in wonder for many hours in the DMV office...I was given a leaner's permit...booked a test...told by the Trooper he could give me the test but I may not get a licence...I passed...he went to the desk to recommend I have one...and I got one....
My daughter had no SSN...but went through a driving school...and she had no trouble....
We had no trouble getting Ins ...they took my full no claims too..
My wife had no SSN when we first moved out but signed an affidavid stating she wasnt elgible for one and that was fine in TX - i know its not the case in all States though!!
#27
Re vera, potas bene.
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Cod MA..Davenport FL
Posts: 2,405
Re: FULL Clean UK Driving Licence
Originally Posted by Big D
My wife had no SSN when we first moved out but signed an affidavid stating she wasnt elgible for one and that was fine in TX - i know its not the case in all States though!!