Pulaski

That's because most foreign licences are not in English. If it is in English it is unnecessary.
The overwhelming majority of new arrivals in PA (or any state) are from another state or Canada, but being from further afield does not excuse you from the requirement to obtain a local license within 60 days, and as embarrassingly easy as the test process is, there is absolutely no good reason not to go ahead and get a local license ASAP. As it serves as a "standard ID", a local license has a myriad uses beyond being evidence of the right (though obviously not the ability ) to drive.

Phyzz

Getting an IDP is very easy, so why not get one if it is advised?

With (or without) the IDP you are permitted to drive for one year, so you do not need the PA drivers license to drive. As I mentioned there is value in getting the license earlier as a form of State ID which will be needed to register a car. It is not required as you can obtain the State ID without doing any of the driver testing.

I did it this way as I did not know at that point how simple the testing procedure was.

boltonreddave

Thanks Phyzz, we are also getting a car through IAS, about 60 days after we arrive actually. Am I safe to assume that there is no obligation to surrender your UK license and that we can continue to drive using it while we go through the PA learner permit and test process?

Dave

Bob

Erm....I just told you, with some examples. You're not visiting.

UK license has nothing to do with this, but having one usually means you forgo the need to do the pre-testy stuff such as having x number of hours and learners ed, you just do the theory test for the learners permit and then book the road test and that's it.

You don't surrender the UK license. You're only meant to have one US state license, so if you move states, you swap it for the state you move to without the need to take another test, usually.

Bob

Because it is a waste of a fiver and not needed. It's just a translation of your license and is not valid as a drivers license.

If you have the old paper version of the UK license, it might be handy as a photo ID companion, but that is all.

And you are wrong. You are considered resident of the state once you move there, getting a rental, a job etc. So the 60 day rule applies.

Reality of it though, you probably won't have any issues. Thing is, you get into a fender bender with an expensive car or disable someone, your insurance company will look more closely and you'll have your cover voided for driving without a valid license, which down my way results in your registration automatically being voided too. So you get a ticket for driving without a license, without registration, whatever you did to cause the accident and the massive lawsuit on top and you lose the license before you even get it.

Phyzz

I obtained an IDP prior to leaving the UK, but this was not asked for at any point when I was taking my tests. For taking the tests at DMV I was a newbie as far as they were concerned .

I was treated in exactly the same way as my daughter when she applied for her learners permit.

boltonreddave

OK, but after you got your learners permit, and before you passed the tests, can and did you legally continue to drive on you UK/IDP license?

Phyzz

Yes I did.

boltonreddave

Yep, I just call Penn DMV and they confirmed you are ok on UK license while transitioning from PA learners permit to full license.

thinbrit

Congratulations on your parole from Lancashire

I was born in Chorley. I've been in the US since 2005. Never looked back.

steveq

Mrs Q did that, but, as others have said, to get a car, I needed a Pa. licence, so I did the test within a month of arriving here.

boltonreddave

Thanks thinbrit. Born and bred in Lancaster but have been in Chorley for the last 8 years. I am looking forward to my Lancashire accent going down a storm. Ey up, is dinner int th'oven?

hoffage123

Missus and I lived in Lancaster from 2006 - 2014 - nice to know a fellow 'Lancastrian' is moving over

Hoffage

dbd33

Now it becomes clear why you would pay for a translation of your driving license.

thinbrit

My US born wife (from Cincinnati) thinks it is 'sexy' when I talk 'in the dialect' as she calls it. The more I lay it on the sexier she thinks it is.