PootleK

I recently moved to New Jersey and got my non driver's ID. I'm just not in the mood for taking 3 months of lessons and then taking a test as I don't require a car at the moment. However, I have just learnt that New Jersey will swap some foreign driver's licenses for NJ ones, only requiring the written test. Does anyone know if the UK is one of the foreign licenses they'll accept?

Englishmum

In NJ you will have to take both the written (on a computer screen) and road test. Both easy peasy.

At some driving test centres eg. Wayne the road test isn’t taken on public roads....and only takes 10 mins. What makes you think you have to do 3 months of lessons?

You can go to any testing centre in NJ eg. If you have to wait a few weeks in northern NJ then go somewhere like Eatontown (where the staff are kinder too!)

BritInParis

No US state exchanges a GB licence.

Englishmum

Just to add - they can’t keep your GB driving licence either

PootleK

The NJ driver's Manual says you after you get an examination permit you must practise with a supervising adult for at least 3 months before taking the driving test and getting your probationary license.

However it seems like maybe foreign driving experience might count for driving experience. I don't know, their literature isn't exactly clear. I'll have to do the unthinkable and phone them (or go visit them ARGH)

Olly_

In 2015 they accepted my UK drivers license to waive the road test, so unless it's changed in the last few years you don't need to do the road test.

You do still have to do the theory test though.

Geckz

With a full valid UK car drivers licence - you just need to pass the theory. You do not need to do the actual driving test

With the UK motorcycle licence - you need to do both the theory and the actual driving test.

Englishmum

It did change! My husband had an NJ driving licence for 8 years, then relocated with his employer back to Singapore and then Switzerland.

He moved back to NJ in July 2016 and printed off his (clean) NJ driving record when applying for a new driving licence, hoping that a new one would be reissued; sadly no chance. He had to do the theory test and the road test.

However, the guy doing the road test was ex-military pleasantly surprised to be testing an adult instead of a 17 year old high school kid and was happily chatting about his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and asking my spouse about the countries he has lived in....and then apologized as he was so engrossed in conversation that he had forgotten to tell him to take a few turns. The examiner
admitted that within the first minute that he knew my husband was an experienced and capable driver so it was basically a formality that he had to do the road test.

CA-NY

We did not have to do road tests in NJ in 2012 and despite what others have said, I've never been able to find anything official that says the rules changed and a road test will definitely be required. The official line for non citizens is that a road test is possibly required. I suspect it depends on which center you go to and who you speak to on the day. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission - Licenses For Non-citizens

Ecto17

discoviking

II believe whether or not you have to take a test depends on which country the license you wish to exchange was issued in and whether or not there is a treaty on accepting each others licenses. For example, when I moved to Quebec 3 years ago, I was told that there is a treaty between USA and Canada on this, and I just swapped my NJ license for a Quebec one with no written or road test required. The exchange has to be done within 6 months of arriving, though.

Ecto17

PeterNem

Another NJ nod here for having gotten an NJ license without a road test. Just the theory test.

Chins

Did my theory earlier this year, no road test.

Another nod to revising. I failed twice much to my wife's amusement. Read the manual throughly. They have various ways to get your first license as a 15,16 etc year old. Why I needed to know this as a 50 year old i'm not sure but i had quite a few questions on it.
I am also well aware that beer is the biggest source of DUI's. That has helped my driving come on leaps and bounds .
Where you stop for fire and schools kept coming up and who has right of way.

They just forgot to train you in how to drive where people only indicate once they have completed a lane change

Make sure you have your 6 points of ID in order before you visit a test centre
Make sure it does theory tests - some MVC offices are not test centres
Make sure you have a good 3 hours free - my excuse for failing the second time round was i needed to get to the airport and rushed.

PootleK

Thanks everyone, my driver's licence should arrive from the UK any day now (I'd left it at a friend's house in London) so as soon as I get it I'll give it a go and report back here!