Driver's License

[MissStacey 1]

The eye test was a b!tch- the letters were tiny! I have good eyesight but I struggled a little.

[raymaga 25]

I had a Canadian driver's licence for 30 years, and still had to take the written AND driving test in Washington state.

Good part was, the tester knew darn well that if I had been driving for 30 years, there probably wasn't going to be any issues, so basically, all we did was drive around and she asked me questions about how immigration works.

I wouldn't worry about having to take the test. You obvious are capable of doing everything because you have been driving with a Canadian licence.

[bluegreen 0]

No road test in Colorado, just a straight swap unless I wanted to keep my actual Canadian license—then they make you take it. That's why I got it there the day before moving to California. Now I just have to trade my CO license for a CA one with just a simple theory test. Sound convoluted? Yes, but I absolutely hate road tests and get very nervous.

[PlatyPius 5]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

[Marilyn. 340]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

no, it is going to the DMV and waiting around for hours before you can take your test etc...

[MissStacey 1]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

I didn't have to do a parallel park for my LA license!!

[PlatyPius 5]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

no, it is going to the DMV and waiting around for hours before you can take your test etc...

Must be a "Big City" thing. The normal wait at the DMV here in my town in "Fly-Over" land is about 30 seconds.

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

I didn't have to do a parallel park for my LA license!!

Of course not. People just park their rusted-out pickups wherever they want down there.

[MissStacey 1]

Mine took almost all day- I waited several hours before I was called to do the written. When that was done- they asked me to come back in the afternoon after the lunch break to do the driving test- again, it took a few hours before I got called to do that.

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

no, it is going to the DMV and waiting around for hours before you can take your test etc...

Must be a "Big City" thing. The normal wait at the DMV here in my town in "Fly-Over" land is about 30 seconds.

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

I didn't have to do a parallel park for my LA license!!

Of course not. People just park their rusted-out pickups wherever they want down there.

You know it!

[antda 13]

Hi Annie & Tim,

From my experience here in New York State, I got my (Ontario, restricted G2 level) Canadian license transferred over, as NYS has an exchange agreement with Canada. I only had to pay the $40 license fee, which is good for 5 years (though my conditional green card was valid for 2 yrs..lol). No written tests or road tests required for me either here. Only a quick reading of the eye chart for the vision test was required (easy, peasy). What's needed for a NYS driver's license though is a SS#, which I got a couple of weeks later after I got my Green Card (see my timeline for more info about that).

By the way, it is definitely a lot easier to get a license (and to drive) here in the USA. Sigh, I wish I learned how to drive here in NYS instead of in Canada in the first place, as I sure wasted a lot of time and money before in Canada going through their stupid graduated licensing system there. No more G1, G2, G, graduated licencing ####### to deal with here in NYS! Lucky me, I skipped the Ontario G2 exit/G test, and got a full/unrestricted 5yr NYS driver's license here instead! One less road test for me to do, indeed! After all, why waste time re-testing one's driving skills, when they already know how to drive and passed the road test and written test before?

For more information regarding the NYS DMV and exchanging Canadian driver's licenses see here: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/license.htm#newdrivers

http://' target="_blank">"Drivers From the US or Canada Who Move to NYS

NYS recognizes valid driver licenses held by residents of other US states, US territories and Federal districts and Canadian provinces. "

Hope this helps! Good luck on on your immigration journey!

Ant

Hi all,

I know there are a few States that do not require a road test to get a DL from a Canadian license, but I cannot find which ones. We currently live in WA, but my husband will be considering new employment contracts from several states in the New Year and all things being equal, I would prefer a State where I wouldn't have to take a road test to get a DL.

Please let me know if you are in a State where you were able to get a DL without a road test....Thanks a bunch!

Annie

[sj5 4]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

I didn't have to do a parallel park for my LA license!!

Some people do freak out with DMV examiner because they're too strict. My road test took 25minutes. Its involves starting, hand signals, traffic, turning, rail road tracks, and residential area but didn't ask me to do a parallel park. On the other hand, I often do a parallel park at my school. Btw, I don't think, I'm ready to drive in LA. I can handle San Diego but not in LA...bahahaha

Edited November 21, 2008 by SJ

[Carlawarla 1]

Road test in Missouri, and nothing can happen unti you have your GC. Period.

I'll throw something out here for some discussion...do you know that in the NE States, you can get your license without a driving test, even if the State requires it for anyone transferring in, UNLESS you're from Germany?

Edited November 21, 2008 by Carlawarla

[Emancipation 2]

Weird. Why is everyone so "down" on road tests? As far as I know, it's a one-time thing most places here, usually doesn't take very long (mine was about 10 minutes), and involves stopping, starting, turning, and parallel parking. Is it the parking that freaks people out?

I went for a road test about 5 yrs ago for my 15 passenger van endorsement on my licence.. I think my driving test guy summed it up well "you've been driving for 9 years, you have forgotten most of the rules of the road, you probably don't stop fully at stop signs. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your time and try to think WAAAY back to when you first took drivers ed.. other wise I'll have to fail ya".

[badspellor 0]

Ohio requires Written, Road and Vision tests. The only thing having a Canadian licence saves you is not having to pay for the Ohio temp packet.

Pennsylvania does not require a road test and as previously mentioned, neither does New York.

[Brian and Jenn 0]

My Ontario license expired a month ago. I live in Florida where there is a no drive test, just a transfer. Will the expired license cause me to have to take the driving test?

[Flames9_RN 358]

i ALMOST had to take the test and road test,and loose my motorcycle endorsement because I was actually driving on an EXPIRED Virginia drives license! DUH!!!! Did that for like 3 weeks. Onoly reason I knew it was expired was that I went to the Liquor store, handed over my drivers license and the teller stated he could not accept it has it was expired DUH!! So I went to the DMV (hell ya I drove,lol) And the lady at first stated since it was expired, i would have to start from square 1, NOOOOOOO!!! But she talked to her manager and since I had not been expired for that long, they allowed me to renew it without penalty, whewwwwwwwww!!