Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Apr 20th 2019, 4:37 pm
#1
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Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
I have recently moved to Florida on a K1 visa before getting married in March.
I have my social security number now and was looking at getting hold of a Florida drivers licence. I already hold a U.K. one, but my understanding is there’s no “switch” method persé and I would have to take a test etc.
Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to go about sorting this? Do I need to do a written exam or is it just hazard perception and a practical test?
Any help would be appreciated.
I have my social security number now and was looking at getting hold of a Florida drivers licence. I already hold a U.K. one, but my understanding is there’s no “switch” method persé and I would have to take a test etc.
Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to go about sorting this? Do I need to do a written exam or is it just hazard perception and a practical test?
Any help would be appreciated.
Apr 20th 2019, 4:44 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Last edited by Hotscot; Apr 20th 2019 at 4:46 pm.
Apr 21st 2019, 1:37 am
#3
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Location: Lauren's Co. SC by way of Palmetto, Florida
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
I have recently moved to Florida on a K1 visa before getting married in March.
I have my social security number now and was looking at getting hold of a Florida drivers licence. I already hold a U.K. one, but my understanding is there’s no “switch” method persé and I would have to take a test etc.
Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to go about sorting this? Do I need to do a written exam or is it just hazard perception and a practical test?
Any help would be appreciated.
I have my social security number now and was looking at getting hold of a Florida drivers licence. I already hold a U.K. one, but my understanding is there’s no “switch” method persé and I would have to take a test etc.
Can anyone point me in the right direction on how to go about sorting this? Do I need to do a written exam or is it just hazard perception and a practical test?
Any help would be appreciated.
You definitely have to book a test, which (in Sarasota) involves driving a couple of loops of an area about the size of two tennis courts. Was a doddle in the Accord but my Tundra would have been a tad tricky negotiating the bends.
When the examiner asks you to perform a reverse you have to do it all in old retired cab driver style, ie ignore your mirrors and look over your shoulder!
Make sure your eyesight is up to scratch as the eye test is a little more sophisticated than the British way of testing.
Apr 21st 2019, 1:50 am
#5
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Yeah, the 87 is my birth year. I’m up in the Jacksonville area so I’ll look at booking myself in at the local centre.
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated!
Apr 21st 2019, 1:51 am
#6
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
but I blame an idiot on the road for that.
Apr 21st 2019, 5:02 am
#8
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
All you need to do is be able to drive a Cadillac with the left blinker on and you're set!
Seriously, it's nothing to worry about (assuming it's similar yo Georgia!). The person dealt with even forgot to take me out for the road test until I reminded her!
Seriously, it's nothing to worry about (assuming it's similar yo Georgia!). The person dealt with even forgot to take me out for the road test until I reminded her!
Apr 21st 2019, 11:42 am
#9
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
OP: Assuming you're not the kind of moron that goes on the telly to take and fail your UK test 30 times there is no reason that you shouldn't pass the Florida test first time ( the aforementioned morons might need to take it a second time, but I doubt it!!)
Apr 21st 2019, 12:51 pm
#10
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Do some reading up on the written part beforehand. Know the signs as there are some differences (e.g. divided highway). Understand the DUI laws and stopping distances.
When you're driving and see a stop sign or for whatever reason need to stop, then come to a complete stop. Feel the car motion jolt. You'll know what I mean.
The rest is mindless.
When you're driving and see a stop sign or for whatever reason need to stop, then come to a complete stop. Feel the car motion jolt. You'll know what I mean.
The rest is mindless.
Apr 21st 2019, 3:35 pm
#11
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Joined: Feb 2019
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Do some reading up on the written part beforehand. Know the signs as there are some differences (e.g. divided highway). Understand the DUI laws and stopping distances.
When you're driving and see a stop sign or for whatever reason need to stop, then come to a complete stop. Feel the car motion jolt. You'll know what I mean.
The rest is mindless.
When you're driving and see a stop sign or for whatever reason need to stop, then come to a complete stop. Feel the car motion jolt. You'll know what I mean.
The rest is mindless.
Plus I have to stop and really think about the whole right/left thing because of the driving on the other side malarkey...
Apr 21st 2019, 3:47 pm
#12
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Apr 21st 2019, 4:09 pm
#13
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Apr 22nd 2019, 12:36 pm
#14
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
Other than the other road users generally being terrible (lack of indicating, tailgating, cutting in) the biggest differences for me were really; right on red, different types of junctions with multiple stop signs, stopping in both directions when a school bus has its stop sign out . The other observation is lack of roundabouts...
I would say the only driving test I have taken that was easier than the NY one was a Cook Islands one.
Last edited by tht; Apr 22nd 2019 at 1:31 pm.
Apr 22nd 2019, 12:55 pm
#15
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Obtaining driving licence in Florida.
…. stopping in both directions when a school bus has its stop sign out. ...
There are some subtle differences in that law between states.
That varies between states too - there are a fair number in NC (nowhere near the number in the UK, of course) and more are coming. I hear it is the same in Illinois.
The other observation is lack of roundabouts...
Last edited by Pulaski; Apr 22nd 2019 at 1:05 pm.
