driving in USA using PI license

[geowife10 0]

Hello everyone espicially those ffellow filipino from California and Arizona, I will be in USA soon and my hubby will meet me in California, since where in California already where thinking to have another 4rt honeymoon ..Anyway i was thinking to help my hubby to drive back home in Arizona since it is long drive. Can i use my Philippine drivers license to drive in US? or do i need to get IDL?..thanks in advance

[AbbynSheryl 0]

i think u can drive on the philippines licence for 30 days

i used my pakistan licence for 2 months and got pulled over one time then the cop only gave me warning to get the usa licence.

but u can check with the immigration or DMV first

good luck

abby n sheryl

[rheanick 42]

Hello everyone espicially those ffellow filipino from California and Arizona, I will be in USA soon and my hubby will meet me in California, since where in California already where thinking to have another 4rt honeymoon ..Anyway i was thinking to help my hubby to drive back home in Arizona since it is long drive. Can i use my Philippine drivers license to drive in US? or do i need to get IDL?..thanks in advance

In Arizona, you could use your PI license for 6 months.

But i would suggest that you read CA or AZ Driving manual. You need to unlearn some of your PI driving attitude.

Been driving for almost 6 months now using my PI drivers license here in AZ.

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

[geowife10 0]

i think u can drive on the philippines licence for 30 days

i used my pakistan licence for 2 months and got pulled over one time then the cop only gave me warning to get the usa licence.

but u can check with the immigration or DMV first

good luck

abby n sheryl

Hello everyone espicially those ffellow filipino from California and Arizona, I will be in USA soon and my hubby will meet me in California, since where in California already where thinking to have another 4rt honeymoon ..Anyway i was thinking to help my hubby to drive back home in Arizona since it is long drive. Can i use my Philippine drivers license to drive in US? or do i need to get IDL?..thanks in advance

In Arizona, you could use your PI license for 6 months.

But i would suggest that you read CA or AZ Driving manual. You need to unlearn some of your PI driving attitude.

Been driving for almost 6 months now using my PI drivers license here in AZ.

thank you so much for the info ..

[geowife10 0]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

thanks for the suggestion, ..hmm i guess i will get IDP then just to be safe.. ..thanks again

[rheanick 42]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

thanks for the suggestion, ..hmm i guess i will get IDP then just to be safe.. ..thanks again

Check the requirements for California. That is your only main concern. If CA recognize IDP then go for it. I doubt if CA recognize IDP.

IDP is not required here in AZ. You might just be wasting effort and money.

Not sure where you are located, but IDP is not applied in LTO. Its in separate location.

[ruby_jade 0]

call DMV to make sure, i can drive here in Maryland with my DL from pinas up to a year!

[eros_EX_Plumber 0]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

thanks for the suggestion, ..hmm i guess i will get IDP then just to be safe.. ..thanks again

Check the requirements for California. That is your only main concern. If CA recognize IDP then go for it. I doubt if CA recognize IDP.

IDP is not required here in AZ. You might just be wasting effort and money.

Not sure where you are located, but IDP is not applied in LTO. Its in separate location.

It really depend on the POLICE OFFICER, if you find one that had a BAD day, he will find any excuse to make your life miserable.

No state in USA will recognize an IDP just by itself, because the IDP by itself worthless, still need to show your valid RP license.

IDP is helpful especially if your license is any language other then English.

But at the end is your decision to save the few extra $$ or Pesos in your case.

[rheanick 42]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

thanks for the suggestion, ..hmm i guess i will get IDP then just to be safe.. ..thanks again

Check the requirements for California. That is your only main concern. If CA recognize IDP then go for it. I doubt if CA recognize IDP.

IDP is not required here in AZ. You might just be wasting effort and money.

Not sure where you are located, but IDP is not applied in LTO. Its in separate location.

This is written in CA DMV 2009

Adults Visiting California

Visitors over 18 years old with a valid driver license from their home state or country may drive in California without getting a driver license as long as their home state license remains valid.

Print out CA DMV 2009, in case you got pull over, show them print out of CA DMV. BTW, i would assume that you are a visitor of CA since you are just passing by and your official address is still the Philippines since you have not establish your residency (no green card) yet in the US....

[bluemist 0]

Suggest that also get IDP in Philippines since it has to be issued by same country that Driving license is issued...

If you get stopped....you need to show both of them IDP and RP driver license...and your RP passport too... just to play safe.

http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States

1. An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this document before traveling to the U.S.

thanks for the suggestion, ..hmm i guess i will get IDP then just to be safe.. ..thanks again

Check the requirements for California. That is your only main concern. If CA recognize IDP then go for it. I doubt if CA recognize IDP.

IDP is not required here in AZ. You might just be wasting effort and money.

Not sure where you are located, but IDP is not applied in LTO. Its in separate location.

This is written in CA DMV 2009

Adults Visiting California

Visitors over 18 years old with a valid driver license from their home state or country may drive in California without getting a driver license as long as their home state license remains valid.

Print out CA DMV 2009, in case you got pull over, show them print out of CA DMV. BTW, i would assume that you are a visitor of CA since you are just passing by and your official address is still the Philippines since you have not establish your residency (no green card) yet in the US....

There is one VJ member too who I talk to sometime,she said she can drive in CA using her Non-Pro License and International Driving Permit from Pinas.

So I guess you need IDP in CA...since that VJ member lives in CA,thats according to her.

Anyway,I got my license and IDP too...I applied my IDP at LTO in our branch and can use it here in FL.

[Jose Rizal 1]

CA does not honor IDP but the license in the native or home country.

Follow the speed limits esp. in Arizona and do not be temted to floor it. There are a lot of cops plus photo enforced zones and radars in the freeway especially in Arizona.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state without getting a California driver license as long as your home state license remains valid.

If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowner’s property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents.

If a police officer asks you if you have a California address and you say yes, and then if he asks you how long have you been in California, he may write you an expensive ticket if it has been longer than ten days. If you are a visitor and not living or working in California, make sure you make that clear to the officer. Too many folks with Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona plates work and live in California, and the local PD and CHP are always looking for a reason to pull them over.

Nonresident Driver

12502. (a) The following persons may operate a motor vehicle in this state without obtaining a driver's license under this code:

(1) A nonresident over the age of 18 years having in his or her immediate possession a valid driver's license issued by a foreign jurisdiction of which he or she is a resident, except as provided in Section 12505.

(2) A nonresident, 21 years of age or older, if transporting hazardous material, as defined in Section 353, in a commercial vehicle, having in his or her immediate possession, a valid license with the appropriate endorsement issued by another state or other jurisdiction that is recognized by the department, or a Canadian driver's license and a copy of his or her current training certificate to transport hazardous material that complies with all federal laws and regulations with respect to hazardous materials, both of which shall be in his or her immediate possession.

(3) A nonresident having in his or her immediate possession a valid driver's license, issued by the Diplomatic Motor Vehicle Office of the Office of Foreign Missions of the United States Department of State, for the type of motor vehicle or combination of vehicles that the person is operating. .

(B') Any person entitled to the exemption contained in subdivision (a), while operating, within this state, a commercial vehicle, as defined in subdivision (B') of Section 15210, shall have in his or her possession a current medical certificate of a type described in subdivision © of Section 12804.9, which has been issued within two years of the date of operation of that vehicle.

© A nonresident possessing a medical certificate in accordance with subdivision (B') shall comply with any restriction of the medical certificate issued to that nonresident.

Amended Ch. 272, Stats. 1993. Effective August 2, 1993.

Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 103, Stats. 2002. Effective July 2, 2002.

Residency

12505. (a) (1) For purposes of this division only and notwithstanding Section 516, residency shall be determined as a person’s state of domicile. "State of domicile" means the state where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home and principal residence and to which he or she has manifested the intention of returning whenever he or she is absent.

Prima facie evidence of residency for driver’s licensing purposes includes, but is not limited to, the following:

(A) Address where registered to vote.

(B') Payment of resident tuition at a public institution of higher education.

© Filing a homeowner’s property tax exemption.

(D) Other acts, occurrences, or events that indicate presence in the state is more than temporary or transient.

(2) California residency is required of a person in order to be issued a commercial driver’s license under this code.

(B') The presumption of residency in this state may be rebutted by satisfactory evidence that the licensee’s primary residence is in another state.

© Any person entitled to an exemption under Section 12502, 12503, or 12504 may operate a motor vehicle in this state for not to exceed 10 days from the date he or she establishes residence in this state, except that he or she shall obtain a license from the department upon becoming a resident before being employed for compensation by another for the purpose of driving a motor vehicle on the highways.

(d) If the State of California is decertified by the federal government and prohibited from issuing an initial, renewal, or upgraded commercial driver’s license pursuant to Section 384.405 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the following applies:

(1) An existing commercial driver’s license issued pursuant to this code prior to the date that the state is notified of its decertification shall remain valid until its expiration date.

(2) A person who is a resident of this state may obtain a nonresident commercial driver’s license from any state that elects to issue a nonresident commercial driver’s license and that complies with the testing and licensing standards contained in subparts F, G, and H of Part 383 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

(3) For the purposes of this subdivision, a nonresident commercial driver’s license is a commercial driver’s license issued by a state to an individual domiciled in a foreign country or in another state.

(e) Subject to Section 12504, a person over the age of 16 years who is a resident of a foreign jurisdiction other than a state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or Canada, having a valid driver’s license issued to him or her by any other foreign jurisdiction having licensing standards deemed by the Department of Motor Vehicles equivalent to those of this state, may operate a motor vehicle in this state without obtaining a license from the department, except that he or she shall obtain a license before being employed for compensation by another for the purpose of driving a motor vehicle on the highways.

(F') Any person from a foreign country, except a territory or possession of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or Canada, shall obtain a class A or a class B license from the department before operating on the highways a motor vehicle for which a class A or class B license is required, as described in Section 12804.9. The medical examination form required for issuance of a class A or class B driver’s license shall be completed by a health care professional, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 12804.9, who is licensed, certified, or registered to perform physical examinations in the United States of America. This subdivision does not apply to (1) drivers of schoolbuses operated in California on a trip for educational purposes or (2) drivers of vehicles used to provide the services of a local public agency.

(g) This section does not authorize the employment of a person in violation of Section 12515.

(h) This section shall become operative on September 20, 2005

Amended Sec. 10, Ch. 766, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996.

Amended Sec. 3, Ch. 952, Stats. 2004. Effective January 1, 2005. Operative September 20, 2005.

Edited June 23, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[geowife10 0]

thanks everyone for the suggestion... .... right now I only have my proffesional drivers license in PI, but i do not have IDP yet, hopefully if time permits i can get IDP .. i appreciate everyones reply

[Brian and Dona 0]

Hello everyone espicially those ffellow filipino from California and Arizona, I will be in USA soon and my hubby will meet me in California, since where in California already where thinking to have another 4rt honeymoon ..Anyway i was thinking to help my hubby to drive back home in Arizona since it is long drive. Can i use my Philippine drivers license to drive in US? or do i need to get IDL?..thanks in advance

I have been to the Philippines several times and it maybe a good idea to get used to the driving here, because the driving in the Philippines is much different from over there. First we don't use the horn as much, second we stay in our lane as much as possible and interstate driving can be fast because of the difference in mph and kph. And in the Philippines, if someone goes through a red light it is not that big of an accident(mostly in manila since the traffic congestion), but in the US running a red light or stop sign can have severe and deadly consequences because the US is much more spread out and not as packed, so we can drive faster. A 25 mph collision is much less than a 45-50 mph collision. I am saying this because some people forget that driving can be dangerous in situations where you are not familiar with. I would say only drive if you are comfortable doing so and you can drive for at least 30 days on the ph lic.