South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15
South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
Hi, im planning to move to Chasleston SC in January on a J-1 visa for 6 months pending my interview in London. I will need to get a car to travel to and from my place of training as there is no bus service! In order to get cheaper insurance i was hoping that having a SC DL would fix it but would i need to re-sit at test there? And what paper work will i need?
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks
#2
Re: South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
Originally Posted by Haroulli
Hi, im planning to move to Chasleston SC in January on a J-1 visa for 6 months pending my interview in London. I will need to get a car to travel to and from my place of training as there is no bus service! In order to get cheaper insurance i was hoping that having a SC DL would fix it but would i need to re-sit at test there? And what paper work will i need?
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks
#3
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15
Re: South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
Originally Posted by meauxna
May I suggest you post this also in the 'USA' Forum? You'll find all the help you want and then some
Just to update i've had a PM from Muswell Hill and they stated that its only a 10min test with a few multi choice q's.
Im just trying to see if i can just get one on the basis of having a UKDL and an IDP.
They also suggested that to get insured and registerd on a car i'll need to have a SCDL but my roommate is also a UK citizen and he still has his UKDL and no SCDL and he has his own car registration and insurance no problems anybody shed some light on this?
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
> Im just trying to see if i can just get one on the basis of having a
> UKDL and an IDP.
> They also suggested that to get insured and registerd on a car i'll
need
> to have a SCDL but my roommate is also a UK citizen and he still has
his
> UKDL and no SCDL and he has his own car registration and insurance no
> problems anybody shed some light on this?
I guess this is really OT by now, but anyways. I am a Danish citizen,
and recently lived in Virginia for a while. OK, SC rules are not the
same, but here is what I got from the SC DMV website:
No, you cannot exchange your UK lisense for a SC one (but you could
always try showing them it anyway).
You would have to do the vision test + multiple choice test, then get a
beginner's permit for 180 days, before you can do the road test (which
is probably a piece of cake compared to what you did for your UK road
test). Then you can get a real DL.
Now, that doesn't really help you, since you're there for 6 months
only. However, you probably can't legally drive on your UK lisense for
more than 90 days, so go ahead and try it out.
For insurance, I think you'll just have to pay. I paid about 3.5 times
as much in my first year in VA, since I didn't have a VA lisense. VA
has regulations that ensures that if an insurance company want to offer
car insurance in VA, then they need to participate in the state program
for high-risk motorist. Yep, that includes those with no local lisense.
You might need to go to an insurance broker rather than an insurance
company to get insurance at all.
Of course, this is just based on my experience and a 2 min nose around
on the website.
HTH,
Hanne in London
> UKDL and an IDP.
> They also suggested that to get insured and registerd on a car i'll
need
> to have a SCDL but my roommate is also a UK citizen and he still has
his
> UKDL and no SCDL and he has his own car registration and insurance no
> problems anybody shed some light on this?
I guess this is really OT by now, but anyways. I am a Danish citizen,
and recently lived in Virginia for a while. OK, SC rules are not the
same, but here is what I got from the SC DMV website:
No, you cannot exchange your UK lisense for a SC one (but you could
always try showing them it anyway).
You would have to do the vision test + multiple choice test, then get a
beginner's permit for 180 days, before you can do the road test (which
is probably a piece of cake compared to what you did for your UK road
test). Then you can get a real DL.
Now, that doesn't really help you, since you're there for 6 months
only. However, you probably can't legally drive on your UK lisense for
more than 90 days, so go ahead and try it out.
For insurance, I think you'll just have to pay. I paid about 3.5 times
as much in my first year in VA, since I didn't have a VA lisense. VA
has regulations that ensures that if an insurance company want to offer
car insurance in VA, then they need to participate in the state program
for high-risk motorist. Yep, that includes those with no local lisense.
You might need to go to an insurance broker rather than an insurance
company to get insurance at all.
Of course, this is just based on my experience and a 2 min nose around
on the website.
HTH,
Hanne in London
#5
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4
Re: South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
i happen to know a lot about how to get a SC driver license (or learning permit). as a foreigner, you will need all the following documents:
passport
SSN card
a valid visa or other document to show that you are legally staying
a letter from your employer (or school if you are F1 student) stating that you are employed.
a utility bill (water, electricity, cable etc.) has the current address you are living in.
you have to go to certain DMVs. Not all the DMVs handle the foreigners. you can check this imformation out by visiting the DMV website.
after they accept your application, they will issue you a temperary paper driver license(not photo ID). the real driver license will arrive in your mailbox in about 3 weeks.
hope this help
passport
SSN card
a valid visa or other document to show that you are legally staying
a letter from your employer (or school if you are F1 student) stating that you are employed.
a utility bill (water, electricity, cable etc.) has the current address you are living in.
you have to go to certain DMVs. Not all the DMVs handle the foreigners. you can check this imformation out by visiting the DMV website.
after they accept your application, they will issue you a temperary paper driver license(not photo ID). the real driver license will arrive in your mailbox in about 3 weeks.
hope this help
#6
Re: South Carolina Drivers License + other general questions
Originally Posted by Haroulli
Hi, im planning to move to Chasleston SC in January on a J-1 visa for 6 months pending my interview in London. I will need to get a car to travel to and from my place of training as there is no bus service! In order to get cheaper insurance i was hoping that having a SC DL would fix it but would i need to re-sit at test there? And what paper work will i need?
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks
I assume i will need a: SS# my UK DL and/or my IDP anything else? I really dont want to have to sit another test though especially for 6months. I have looked at the DMV.ORG site and looked in the SC section but the link i need "New to SC" isn't working
Also if i buy a car i'll have to get plates as plates belong to people not the car like in the UK right? What process does that take? SS# and DL and if so is it possible to get them on a IDP and/or UK DL?
What about Banking? I will need to transfer funds from my UK account to a new US account which i'll need to setup? My branch in the UK said that this can be done via Wire Transfer. However, i have read that some banks in the USA don't like wire transfers etc? Does anybody know of banks that do for sure accept wire transfers from over seas?
Sorry but i am a complete noobie to this and I haven't caught on with most of the lingo like whats a EAD?
Many Thanks