Drivers Permit

[Andrew_Qin 0]

My wife's command of English is quite limited. She has had a Chinese drivers permit for years and drives regularly. Unfortunately, Florida provides no facility for non-English speakers (with the exception, of course, of Spanish) to take the learners permit test in Chinese. Furthermore, they do not provide a drivers instruction manual in Chinese. I read an earlier post on the CFL website that advised that the Florida learners permit test can be taken online, but that program is now discontinued.

I estimate it would take her about six months to be proficient enough in English to take the learners permit test. My business requires that I travel out of the country frequently, and I live in an area where it is impossible to go anywhere without a car. I must solve the problem how, in the meanwhile, my wife can get around during the times I am away.

A DMV worker told me that if my wife had an International Drivers Permit, she is permitted to drive in the US. She advised me to call the AAA to make an application. Upon calling AAA, however, I was told that the US is not one of the countries listed that accept the International Drivers Permit. The AAA suggested that my wife try to obtain an International Permit in China.

Anyway, those Floridians among you who have Chinese spouses must have run up against this hurdle. I'd appreciate your advice.

Edited June 3, 2011 by Andrew_Qin

[Casprd 167]

The person at AAA is mistaken. The US does accept international drivers permits, but they are generally only needed if the foreign drivers license is in a language that is not easily readable by the local police (like Chinese). AAA won't be able to issue her an international permit though. That would have to be issued in her home country since it is mainly a certified translation of the pertinent information on the license. might want to check on the CFL or CFV forums for more specific information. You can also check the Chinese consulate website to see if they can issue the international permit.

[justashooter 430]

agreed that the IDL is only a translation of the original liscense, both of which must be in possession to drive in USA. sometime back in the 1940's an international agreement was signed by about 75 countries, including the USA, to allow drivers from signatory states to operate in all signed countries.

you can get an IDL translation on the internet for about $75 in about a week by submitting a scanned color copy of your china liscense and a passport style photo (both in jpeg) to a provider you can find with google search. the provider validates the actual liscense and issues a translation card that is good for 1 year after immigrating to USA, or until the expiration date of her chinese liscense.

as far as her actual ability to drive in USA, beware. chinese driving rules and style are nothing like USA rules and style. you will also find that she does not take direction well in terms of processing speed. this is common to all chinese drivers that immigrate. they are not designed with the same sense of time-urgency that we are.

[ScottThuy 140]

Florida will allow a third party to translate for her and spanish is not the only language other than English.. they also have books and tests Creole...

IMO its discrimination based on national origin that they dont provide the same resources to everyone regardless of language.. if they are going to have text in one language do it for all or english only and be fair to all...

[Darnell 8,479]

I would be looking into the local Chinese associations and groups in yer area, for assistance on this particular thing - trust me ,they've already sussed out how to 'make it work'.