Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Oct 22nd 2010, 12:34 pm
#16
Joined: Jun 2010
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 2,262
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Oh bugger. Last time I did that I was 17.
Oct 22nd 2010, 5:06 pm
#18
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 478
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
I'm not sure mine was even as difficult as that. I had to drive around a block, all right hand turns, and on the slow traffic side of the block I had to reverse into a driveway of a parking lot of a company... not even into a parking space or something narrow. It was scary how simple it was.
Oct 23rd 2010, 3:13 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
So what have you been doing all these months in US without a US license? From memory you were in Nevada to start off with and this is perhaps 6 months or more ago. You moved to LA (per your posts). Technically you should have had a license in 10 days. So you are telling us that you have been driving without a CA license? Or you didn’t have to drive all this while at all?
Australian license does not mean anything for CA (I have an Aussie license too). Period. You need to give a written and a behind the wheel. When you pass a written, you will be issued a ‘full license’ in a temporary paper format until you can take your behind the wheel. Note that behind the wheel tests are appointment only.
Australian license does not mean anything for CA (I have an Aussie license too). Period. You need to give a written and a behind the wheel. When you pass a written, you will be issued a ‘full license’ in a temporary paper format until you can take your behind the wheel. Note that behind the wheel tests are appointment only.
Oct 23rd 2010, 5:17 am
#21
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Joined: Nov 2008
Location: Seal Rock, Oregon
Posts: 842
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Could you rent something smaller to take the test in? When I took mine in California, it was really simple. Drive around a couple of blocks and answer some questions about the car controls. No parking, reversing or anything. Took my test at the Campbell, CA DMV as the Santa Clara and San Jose ones had long waiting lists for the test. Plus Campbell was nice and quiet to drive around.
Oct 23rd 2010, 5:36 am
#23
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Could you rent something smaller to take the test in? When I took mine in California, it was really simple. Drive around a couple of blocks and answer some questions about the car controls. No parking, reversing or anything. Took my test at the Campbell, CA DMV as the Santa Clara and San Jose ones had long waiting lists for the test. Plus Campbell was nice and quiet to drive around.
Oct 23rd 2010, 8:13 am
#24
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
You really have to try to fail over here to not pass, even the parallel parking is a joke, it's not like it's done between two cars with a couple inches on each side to spare.
Oct 24th 2010, 8:47 am
#26
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 766
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Just for the record, I've met at least 2 Aussies and 1 Italian guy with full CA DL without taking the test - just some sort of "conversion".
Again seems like there is no consistency when it comes to different DMV offices...
Again seems like there is no consistency when it comes to different DMV offices...
Oct 24th 2010, 9:34 am
#27
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,176
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
other countries might have reciprocal agreements, the UK on the other hand doesn't.
Oct 25th 2010, 4:37 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
This conversation with the 2 Aussies and 1 Italian took place after a couple of drinks? Coz I doubt it very much. May be they just went to a countryside DMV or wahtever and the guy there handed over the licenses (being lazy).
Oct 25th 2010, 4:40 am
#30
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: East Bay Area
Posts: 2,192
Re: Overseas Driver's license to Californian
Oh and for the record, were you driving for the past 6 months or so with the Aussie license or is your BMW still parked in the storage facility in Vegas?
