Driving Licence Reciprocracy

[buster2209 2]

I've been living in Pa for over 6 months now and am eagerly awaiting my Green Card.

I've hunted through the PA DMV website but am unable to find the answers to the questions I have so I am hoping someone on this forum can help.

Once I receive my green card;

1. Do I have to take a driving test or can I swap my FULL UK Driving Licence for a reciprocal PA licence?
   
2. How long can I legally drive in PA on my UK Licence?
   

Thanks in advance!

Edited February 21, 2010 by buster2209

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Is an international Driver’s License valid in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania honors a valid foreign driver’s license with an international driving permit for a period of up to one year. If the foreign license and/or international permit expires before one year, the individual must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit to continue to drive in this state.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/faq/faq-misc.shtml#Q05

According to their state DMV, you need to have the international driving permit for your international driver's licence to be valid for up to one year, do you have that?

Here's the info for new residents

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/new_residents/d...r_license.shtml

Good luck.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

2. From: http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/faq/faq-misc.shtml#Q05

"Is an international Driver’s License valid in Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania honors a valid foreign driver’s license with an international driving permit for a period of up to one year. If the foreign license and/or international permit expires before one year, the individual must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit to continue to drive in this state. "

I think that then answers Q1 in that you must obtain a learners permit... (and so take a test) but I'll keep looking. (Edit - just saw someone posted at the same time as me. Well then, **fingers crossed** you can just transfer it, like an out of state licence)

I know for IA that i have to at least take a test, but I'm pretty sure I will start with a full licence and not have to start from the start (i.e. Learners).

Edited February 21, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[buster2209 2]

I don't have an international driving licence, only a UK licence....

I found the bit about the International Licence but I don't have one

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I don't have an international driving licence, only a UK licence....

I found the bit about the International Licence but I don't have one

Ummm that IS an international drivers licence.. it's a licence from an international location.

You're confusing "International driving permit" and driving licence.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

Perhaps you should call them to verify that you are diving in accordance to the law. It would be awful if you got pulled over and then it turned into a bad day

Good luck.

[buster2209 2]

Ummm that IS an international drivers licence.. it's a licence from an international location.

You're confusing "International driving permit" and driving licence.

Yeah, I think I was. But from your previous post;

"Pennsylvania honors a valid foreign driver’s license with an international driving permit for a period of up to one year. If the foreign license and/or international permit expires before one year, the individual must apply for a Pennsylvania learner’s permit to continue to drive in this state. "

Still wondering about the reciprocation though when exchanging for a PA licence though......

I'll give the DMV a call tomorrow.

Thanks for the replies!

Edited February 21, 2010 by buster2209

[Damian&Kelly 16]

My husband moved here to PA from England as well. He could drive with his UK license for 1 year from the date of entry to the US. He didn't need an international drivers permit because his UK license is in English. Now I called my car insurance and made sure he was covered while driving with his UK license. And Allstate said He's covered as long as he has permission from me to drive.

He had to get a PA permit (written test) and also take the driving test. To get the permit all you need is EAD(or Green Card), Marriage certificate, passport, social security card, 2 pieces of mail to prove you live in PA (we used the NOA from the AOS and a bank statement). He also needed to get a physical, very simple really, nothing like the physical to come to the US!! For the driving test, He needed to show proof of insurance for the car he'd be taking the test in, ID and permit. He had to show he could work the lights, parallel park and drive on the road for about 5 minutes, it was very very easy!

[buster2209 2]

My husband moved here to PA from England as well. He could drive with his UK license for 1 year from the date of entry to the US. He didn't need an international drivers permit because his UK license is in English. Now I called my car insurance and made sure he was covered while driving with his UK license. And Allstate said He's covered as long as he has permission from me to drive.

He had to get a PA permit (written test) and also take the driving test. To get the permit all you need is EAD(or Green Card), Marriage certificate, passport, social security card, 2 pieces of mail to prove you live in PA (we used the NOA from the AOS and a bank statement). He also needed to get a physical, very simple really, nothing like the physical to come to the US!! For the driving test, He needed to show proof of insurance for the car he'd be taking the test in, ID and permit. He had to show he could work the lights, parallel park and drive on the road for about 5 minutes, it was very very easy!

Rang the DMV and they basically said what you posted.

The lady also recommended that I take a minimum of 50 hours of driving tests between passing the theory and taking the practical.....

I have an exceptional extensive list of categories on my licence and 10's of thousands of hours driving all over the world.

Anyway, after the whole emigration process, figuring out which pedal makes the car go faster and which makes it go slower should be easy...

[Damian&Kelly 16]

They recommend 50 hours between permit and driving test. They give you a book that you're suppose to fill out but I believe it's only for the new drivers. My husband didn't fill out the book nor did they ask for it. The permit (written test) is taken on a computer, you have to get 15 out of 18 correct. It's dead simple mainly about drinking and driving. As for the driving test, they told my husband to drive about 5 miles, did 3 left turns and a right, and like 3 or 4 stop signs. Along with the parking and knowing how to work your lights.

[justashooter 430]

theoretically you can take the practical course the day after you get your permit. trouble is, tests are scheduled full for weeks or months out, depending on the time of the year. the worst is early summer, because of the school kids taking first test. you cannot schedule appt till you have permit, but you can call and schedule thew day you get it.

i was never able to find text allowing a permitted driver to drive unaccompanied, but believe that tehy can if over age 18.

PS, remember to drive on the right side of the road. it's the right, right?

[Damian&Kelly 16]

I don't think a permit holder can driver to the test alone seeing as they asked for the license of the person who accompanied my husband to his test. But if you have your UK license and can prove it's been less then a year then what's stopping you from driving alone? My husband waited over the year mark so his UK license was no longer valid.

As for scheduling a date, you can do that online. My husband wanted to get in before the end of this January and we were only scheduling the first week of Jan. So we got in a week and a half later but had to drive an 40 minutes for that opening.

[kytwell 179]

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/pub195nc.pdf

A minimum of one year legal presence is required by Pennsylvania law. PennDOT

determines the expiration date of products based on your length of stay documents (typically the I-94) along with information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Does that mean she needs to live here for 1 year before even applying for a license?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I love your idea of swapping your U.K. license for an Amish one outright! Then, when you are back in the Uh-kay you swap again, and once back in the U-ess-ay you swap once again. That sounds like so much fun! How often do you think you can play this funny game until they lock you up in a house that has padded walls?

Joking aside: you keep you U.K. license for the U.K. and get a Penna license for the U.S. On the same token you will keep your Brit passport for Britanny, and once you are able to get a U.S. passport you keep it for Yankeeland.

Get used to the idea that you from now on have to think Old World plus New World. If you want to make it even more interesting, do what I did when naturalizing: choose an entirely different name for the U.S. while keeping your old name for the Kingdom and the E.U. Don't mix things up unless you enjoy confusion and problems.

[TBoneTX 45,298]

Before its revival, this thread was 1.5 years old.