Driver's Licence in Montana

[GrayL 47]

Hi Good People of VisaJourney,

I have a quick question. I've been in the US a year TODAY, which is great, however it means I can no longer drive on my Australian driver's licence, bummer!

Which is okay, I've been studying hard for my test, which I'm going to take on Monday.

I have a question though, as I know that the rules may change around the country, but was interested in your feedback.

It stated in the manual that in order to get a Montana drivers licence, you must turn in 'any other driver's licence'. Taken literally this would mean I would have to hand in my Australian licence.

But I'm not sure if that's exactly what they mean, I really don't want to have to turn in my Australian licence, and I don't know the benefit considering it's not legal for me to drive using it anymore, so why do they want it.

I'm hoping they mean any other US licence, for which I can totally understand, considering it would be legal to drive on a licence from another state. I just don't know why they would want my Australian licence, as it's no longer any use here?

What has your experience been? How would they even have the authority to cancel my Australian licence? That would be horrible because if my wife and I ever moved back to Australia, I would have to go through the extremely harsh licence rules again.

Thanks in advance,

GrayL

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

If you start from scratch and take the tests, then you don't turn in your license. if you try to convert your Aus license to get a MT one then I am not sure. You can always ask them before you do it. You know they are friendly, you could just call them

Personally I would just take the test and start over.

(You know as well as I that they are not too used to international people, so I really do think "any other license" means another US license, or maybe a Canadian one they are turning in for a MT one).

Edited November 16, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[inloveVEN 46]

Hi,

i think you´d better go and ask those guys. just the proper people can tell you what to do.

[MedRoni 161]

When I came back from Canada to Washington State they did not take and keep my Alberta driver's license, however I did have to give it to them. They put a hole in it with a paper punch to invalidate it and gave it back. I had it, but it became invalid at that point.

With that said, every state is different so it is better to call and ask

[GrayL 47]

Thanks for the replies.

Interesting, they are only open Monday to Wednesday, Monday being when I'm going for it. Yeah up in Montana it's pretty laid back haha!

I asked a few months after I arrived here, actually when my wife went in to change her name on her DL, they said they cannot transfer an Australian licence, and I would have to start from scratch (Written, Vision and Road Tests) so at the time I didn't think anything of it, they said at the time I was good on my Australian licence for a year. They are pretty nice, hehe.. I'm hoping as I'm starting from scratch I won't need to hand in my Australian licence. It just doesn't make sense, I could just tell them I don't have another licence as it won't change my process, but I'm not in the game of being dishonest!

It would suck having to turn in my Australian licence for no reason other than it being policy! If I went back to Australia, they have stupidly strict rules, including a mandatory 6 months driving on your learners permit, then 150 logged hours with an instructor! Then a three part driving exam, THEN 2 years wearing probational 'P' plates on my car where I have limitations on driving including a curfew, stupid, 0.02% BAC alcohol plus a speed restriction. It's a nightmare, especially considering I've been driving for 12 year! hahaha

Well what has to happen will happen I suppose, I need to drive here, that's a fact!

[GrayL 47]

When I came back from Canada to Washington State they did not take and keep my Alberta driver's license, however I did have to give it to them. They put a hole in it with a paper punch to invalidate it and gave it back. I had it, but it became invalid at that point.

With that said, every state is different so it is better to call and ask

That would work, if they just void it here. haha it's due for renewal December 2013, in which I would just get another one.. Either which way it doesn't matter about the validity of my Australian licence, I can no longer drive on it in the US!

Thanks for the reply really appreciate it.

[Lainie B 465]

That would work, if they just void it here. haha it's due for renewal December 2013, in which I would just get another one.. Either which way it doesn't matter about the validity of my Australian licence, I can no longer drive on it in the US!

Thanks for the reply really appreciate it.

I lived in Montana a while ago, so things may have changed now, but back then they would only take a US or Canadian license in exchange for a US one. I had to do the written and driving test to get a MT license. I kept my Australian one. You only have to hand it in to have it invalidated if you're using it to skip the tests to get a state license. As Harpa said they don't get many foreigners up there (they all thought I was British).

BTW if your Australian license does expire while you're overseas, it's not a big deal to renew it. You pay a little bit more but you get a new full license without having to start from scratch with your Ls and Ps. At least in Victoria. I'm pretty sure it would be the same in the other states.

[GrayL 47]

I lived in Montana a while ago, so things may have changed now, but back then they would only take a US or Canadian license in exchange for a US one. I had to do the written and driving test to get a MT license. I kept my Australian one. You only have to hand it in to have it invalidated if you're using it to skip the tests to get a state license. As Harpa said they don't get many foreigners up there (they all thought I was British).

BTW if your Australian license does expire while you're overseas, it's not a big deal to renew it. You pay a little bit more but you get a new full license without having to start from scratch with your Ls and Ps. At least in Victoria. I'm pretty sure it would be the same in the other states.

OoooOOOooooohhh, that would be good if I have to hand it in, I wouldn't have to go through all that crud again just to drive over there. I had always planned to keep my Australian licence just in case my wife and I ever wanted to move to Australia, I know you can renew it from abroad, I looked into that.

That makes a lot of sense. I will ask them on Monday when I go. All said and done if I have to sacrifice it I do, it's not a huge deal..

I will do some research on transferring a US licence for an Australian licence.. that may be interesting.

Thanks for the reply! Victoria, ha, I can see why you wanted to move from there, *joking* And that is funny you say that, I've been asked if I was Australian, British, Irish, even German (go figure), I was adamantly asked to say "See you in another life brotha" ie Desmond from Lost! My response was, "Ummm you do realize he's Scottish, and I'm Australian".. haha silly Montanians.

Edited November 16, 2012 by GrayL

[Lainie B 465]

OoooOOOooooohhh, that would be good if I have to hand it in, I wouldn't have to go through all that crud again just to drive over there. I had always planned to keep my Australian licence just in case my wife and I ever wanted to move to Australia, I know you can renew it from abroad, I looked into that.

That makes a lot of sense. I will ask them on Monday when I go. All said and done if I have to sacrifice it I do, it's not a huge deal..

I will do some research on transferring a US licence for an Australian licence.. that may be interesting.

Thanks for the reply! Victoria, ha, I can see why you wanted to move from there, *joking* And that is funny you say that, I've been asked if I was Australian, British, Irish, even German (go figure), I was adamantly asked to say "See you in another life brotha" ie Desmond from Lost! My response was, "Ummm you do realize he's Scottish, and I'm Australian".. haha silly Montanians.

I doubt very much you'll need to hand it in if you're taking the driving test. They don't really care about foreign licenses.

I was once told by somebody in Montana, when I told them where I was from, that I "speak English real good"

But I must say that they are incredibly nice people in Montana

[Touch of Treble 39]

In NYS they took my license away. Gone. It was still good for another 2 years. The ruling they have here is to keep the Aussie license so I don't use it to avoid getting stung if I break the rules. I could have asked them to hold onto it for me and if I needed it I could return my NYS one and they would give me the Aussie one back. So maybe if you can't keep yours you could ask them to hold onto it in case you need to have it back sometime.

Good luck

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

**** Moving from General Immigration to Your New LIfe forum ****

[bigdog 376]

Motor Vehicle Division Driver Licensing

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New Drivers

Individuals wishing to obtain a Montana driver license must:

• provide parental consent and complete the graduated driver licensing process if they are under 18
• pass written, vision and driving tests
• provide the required documents
  • proof of identity
  • proof of Montana residency
  • proof of authorized presence

  Doesn't seem to the that complicated, pay money, take tests, get a license. Oh get a ride to drivers licensing. Yea, you drove in a foreign country, no, someone drove you to get a license, their vehicle is licensed and insured so you can take the driving test.

[GrayL 47]

Thanks everyone for your replies, always appreciated. Tomorrow is the day so I'll reply back afterward for archiving purposes.

Fingers crossed for me!

[JEC777 13]

Thanks everyone for your replies, always appreciated. Tomorrow is the day so I'll reply back afterward for archiving purposes.

Fingers crossed for me!

Hey there, how'd your test go?? So funny, I did mine here in Australia over 20 years ago, so strange to think I'll have to sit my test again too when I go for my MT licence.

Got my interview scheduled December 18th....scared to death

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hey there, how'd your test go?? So funny, I did mine here in Australia over 20 years ago, so strange to think I'll have to sit my test again too when I go for my MT licence.

Got my interview scheduled December 18th....scared to death

You are also moving to MT? Another aussie moving to MT? (I am from Montana)