Getting a Drivers Licence in Florida

[Saffyre 0]

I will be moving to FL on JUly 29th with my K1 and after several calls to DMV about getting a FL licence i'm no wiser.

One person told me i'd need to take a test, another told me I could transfer my licence for the period of my I-94 and another told me I could transfer it for the length of validity on my visa which is 6 months.....

Has anyone actually done this in FL and do you know what I ACTUALLY need to do?

I don't have to take a test when I have a valid UK licence do I?

[NavarreMan 10]

Try this link: Florida ID or DL

Print it and take it with you!!! They have a harder time arguing if you have the rules handy.

[Saffyre 0]

Try this link: Florida ID or DL

Print it and take it with you!!! They have a harder time arguing if you have the rules handy.

But this doesn't say anything about having a foreign DL and whether I have to take a test.......I guess I just wont know till I get there

[Krikit 1,164]

Weird. Not 5 or 10 minutes ago I had someone PM me asking the same question. I have pasted what I responded, below. My response is specific to Canadians but a lot of the details are the same. I'm sure there'll be a UK person along, shortly, to add their own info.

[paste]

I went to the DMV Online Appointment page and made an appointment at my local DMV. I took my passport and my Canadian driver's license, as well as a copy of my AOS I-797 receipt notice. They did an eye test, took my picture, then gave me a temporary license until I received my new license in the mail. They did not keep my Canadian license.

Here is the link to the Canadian Citizens Information. Normally they will give Canadians a driver's license or a Florida Resident Card, but since you're coming on a K-1 they will wait until you receive your AOS notice for the license. At least that was my experience. They did issue me with a Florida Resident Card until then, though. When I went back for my license they kept the resident card. You can keep driving on your Canadian license until you're ready to go in for your Florida one, but they will not take it away from you.

I had applied for my SSN not long after I got here so I already had one when I went in. My advice is to apply as soon as possible.... you need it for everything here.

If I recall correctly, I think I did need to provide proof of address. I just took in any old letter which was addressed to me and that was sufficient. I also took in my marriage certificate to show proof of name change.

Here is Florida's DMV Website if you need further info.

Good luck!

[Sal and Jay 2]

Saffrye

While your in the uk I would get a international drivers permit, you can get the form from the post office, apparently that will let you drive for a year.

[Krikit 1,164]

Saffrye

While your in the uk I would get a international drivers permit, you can get the form from the post office, apparently that will let you drive for a year.

It's okay. You don't need an international drivers permit..... the UK license is fine. Here's a couple of more links for you, Saffyre:

New Resident Who Already Has a License

ID for Non-United States Citizens

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Saffrye

While your in the uk I would get a international drivers permit, you can get the form from the post office, apparently that will let you drive for a year.

Sally -- just so you know, if your non-US licence is in English, you do not need an international driver's licence. All the IDL does is translate your licence into other languages, and is not valid without the "real" licence. If your licence is already in English, there's no need to translate it!

[Saffyre 0]

Saffrye

While your in the uk I would get a international drivers permit, you can get the form from the post office, apparently that will let you drive for a year.

It's okay. You don't need an international drivers permit..... the UK license is fine. Here's a couple of more links for you, Saffyre:

New Resident Who Already Has a License

ID for Non-United States Citizens

Ahh you're a star! I'll sleep much better now....

[Damian&Kelly 16]

Saffrye

While your in the uk I would get a international drivers permit, you can get the form from the post office, apparently that will let you drive for a year.

Sally -- just so you know, if your non-US licence is in English, you do not need an international driver's licence. All the IDL does is translate your licence into other languages, and is not valid without the "real" licence. If your licence is already in English, there's no need to translate it!

My local DMV and my insurance company both told me without the International Drivers Permit, He'll lose his UK license if he gets pulled. Is this not true?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

My local DMV and my insurance company both told me without the International Drivers Permit, He'll lose his UK license if he gets pulled. Is this not true?

That sounds like the usual DMV bullsh*t, and the insurance company isn't listening to you. Your fiance is British; they speak English. We speak English. End of. I don't know who you use for insurance, but GEICO had no probs with Bruce being insured under his UK licence without an international permit. They never even mentioned it, and he was the named party on the insurance because I didn't have a licence yet.

The US Dept of Transportation's own website says: "An international drivers license or international drivers permit is a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver license." If the licence is in English, what is there to translate? I doubt a DMV would have the power to revoke a licence issued by a sovereign nation. You need to find out what the time frame is for the validity of his UK licence in the US; in Connecticut it's a year, but other states have much smaller time frames.

If you feel more comfortable getting one anyway due to the DMV and insurance company's ignorance, you should.

[Damian&Kelly 16]

My local DMV and my insurance company both told me without the International Drivers Permit, He'll lose his UK license if he gets pulled. Is this not true?

That sounds like the usual DMV bullsh*t, and the insurance company isn't listening to you. Your fiance is British; they speak English. We speak English. End of. I don't know who you use for insurance, but GEICO had no probs with Bruce being insured under his UK licence without an international permit. They never even mentioned it, and he was the named party on the insurance because I didn't have a licence yet.

The US Dept of Transportation's own website says: "An international drivers license or international drivers permit is a translation of information contained on a person's foreign driver license." If the licence is in English, what is there to translate? I doubt a DMV would have the power to revoke a licence issued by a sovereign nation. You need to find out what the time frame is for the validity of his UK licence in the US; in Connecticut it's a year, but other states have much smaller time frames.

If you feel more comfortable getting one anyway due to the DMV and insurance company's ignorance, you should.

Thanks. I thought it was just to translate it but then everyone was telling me different. I was so confused.. thank you

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Glad to be of help!

[darkhorse 0]

I got my DL in Florida.

I have a Dutch DL. I had to take all tests, eye, written and road tests. It was really easy! Now I see why people can't drive her It seemed like it was very important that you know how to honk your horn. The lady asked me to honk my horn and I had to drive the car out of the parkingspot and drive around the parking, turn around and park the car again

In my case they told me I had to get the DL more than 30 days before my I-94 expired because the temporary DL would only be valid until the I-94 would expire. And it would take about 30 days to GET the DL in your hands. They did give me a paper stating I passed all tests and an expiration date (same date as the I-94)

They wouldn't put my married name on there because in my passport and on the I-94 it said my maiden name...

I showed them my ssn card (with married name) and the marriage cert. but they still wouldn't put my married name on there.

I was told to come back when I got a greencard that said my married name.

A few weeks later I went back and talked to another lady who was very helpfull. I showed her my NOA1 for AOS and she changed the name for me.

[darkhorse 0]

Hence I don't have my GC yet

I guess it is all about if the person at DMV has a good day and feels like helping you or not.

Oh and before I forget, my DL is good for a year now iso the expiration date on my I-94.

[Saffyre 0]

Try this link: Florida ID or DL

Print it and take it with you!!! They have a harder time arguing if you have the rules handy.

I took this with me, and the people at the Haines City office insist I have to sit all the tests within 30 days nof entering the country.....