USA Driving licence
Oct 7th 2014, 5:35 am
#46
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2014
Location: Bend, OR
Posts: 13
Re: USA Driving licence
The Oregon drive test is really difficult! I was okay with the eight right turns but they also wanted me to turn left three times!
The manoeuvre was to pull over, reverse a little and then drive off.
If you can drive in the UK and have a basic understanding of US roads you can pass your test. Do add in extra looking over your shoulder rather than using the perfectly good mirrors though, they seem to like that.
The manoeuvre was to pull over, reverse a little and then drive off.
If you can drive in the UK and have a basic understanding of US roads you can pass your test. Do add in extra looking over your shoulder rather than using the perfectly good mirrors though, they seem to like that.
Nov 20th 2014, 6:06 pm
#47
dodgin' the potholes
Joined: Mar 2014
Location: Atlanta area
Posts: 20
Re: USA Driving licence
Pulaski's advice, certainly in our case, is spot on in Georgia. It was not physically possible for us to complete our driving test within the required 30 day period of arriving in Georgia. It took a couple of weeks to get our social security numbers, then drove up to Cumming (don't laugh), Georgia (our local preferred DMV center) to take the knowledge test, which was fairly straight forward, but then the earliest date available to take our practical test was outside of the 30 day limit.
Although we were in the "legal grey area" we were extra careful and figured if we did get stopped we could at least produce our temporary Georgia license (you get that after completing the knowledge test) together with our full UK license. We were also fully insured to drive on our UK license and could also show them our appointment slip for our road test. So "in theory" hopefully we had enough paperwork in the glove box to satisfy an officer of the lewer.. but also glad we never had to test that theory. Luckily we both passed the practical driving test first time, which looking back was easy enough, but nerves don't make it feel that way at the time.
Also, contrary to many posts on the forum, we were never asked to surrender our UK driving licenses so still carry both.
Although we were in the "legal grey area" we were extra careful and figured if we did get stopped we could at least produce our temporary Georgia license (you get that after completing the knowledge test) together with our full UK license. We were also fully insured to drive on our UK license and could also show them our appointment slip for our road test. So "in theory" hopefully we had enough paperwork in the glove box to satisfy an officer of the lewer.. but also glad we never had to test that theory. Luckily we both passed the practical driving test first time, which looking back was easy enough, but nerves don't make it feel that way at the time.
Also, contrary to many posts on the forum, we were never asked to surrender our UK driving licenses so still carry both.
All of the above (Bob and Sir Eccles)
In many (most?) states it may be difficult if not impossible to book and complete the drivers ed, and then book and take the road test within the prescribed time, which leaves you in a legally grey area. Generally you will be OK to drive despite technically being outside of the period to get a local license, but you should (i) be extra careful, and (ii) in the event you are stopped by the police, you should make certain you can prove you have used your best endeavours to get a local license but have been prevented (only) by a lack of drivers ed and/or testing time slots from completing the process. BTW you can often complete the road test sooner by going out into a small town in a rural area to take it.
In many (most?) states it may be difficult if not impossible to book and complete the drivers ed, and then book and take the road test within the prescribed time, which leaves you in a legally grey area. Generally you will be OK to drive despite technically being outside of the period to get a local license, but you should (i) be extra careful, and (ii) in the event you are stopped by the police, you should make certain you can prove you have used your best endeavours to get a local license but have been prevented (only) by a lack of drivers ed and/or testing time slots from completing the process. BTW you can often complete the road test sooner by going out into a small town in a rural area to take it.
Nov 20th 2014, 6:14 pm
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 64
Re: USA Driving licence
You might want to try New Jersey. No driving test required, just a eye and theory test....pretty easy really.
Nov 20th 2014, 6:18 pm
#50
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Sleepy Hollow, New York
Posts: 2,536
Nov 20th 2014, 6:20 pm
#51
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2013
Location: Florida
Posts: 64
Re: USA Driving licence
Biggest challenge is avoiding pot holes & taxi drivers! Best to avoid driving altogether which is of course entirely possible and preferable in a big city. Drive defensively and you'll be fine!
