Driver Licence for US' Family Based daughter

[berth373 0]

Hi everybody,

I'm writing from Italy hence excuse me for my rough English.

I have to travel to Los Angeles in October, I'm going to escort my girlfriend to visit her parents, based in LA.

They say we "got a problem" because she seems not to be allowed driving her mom's car in the US.

Her Mom is an US citizen, her Dad has what here we say the "Green Card" and both have a California Driver Licence.

My girlfriend was born in the US, she has not an US driver licence, but she is going to have the International Driver Licence.

We will stay there for a month and we are going to need something to move with, but they keep saying that she cannot drive her Mom's car.

I'm asking you what you think about it.

In my opinion she can Drive her mom's car because, since we are going to be there as tourists, her international driver licence has the same right as an US driver licence but what about the insurance? Most of policies obviously allow to drive the vehicle as long as you have the permission from the owner and you are covered as well. Hence in my opinion she should be able to drive her mom's car just because she is a tourist, is that right?

Help me please. International Driver Licence costs 100$ here, and if it is useless, you know, we prefer to spend this money somewhere else.

[jerod_gavel 16]

International Driving Permits

The State of California does not recognize an International Driving Permit (IDP) as a valid driver license. California does recognize a valid driver license that is issued by a foreign jurisdiction (country, state, territory) of which the license holder is a resident.

The IDP is only a translation of information contained on a person’s foreign driver license and is not required to operate a motor vehicle in California. Citations issued to a person in California who has an IDP, but does not have a California driver license will be placed on the Department of Motor Vehicle database.

The IDP is also called an International Driver License, International License, etc.

For more information about travel and driver licensing requirements outside of the US, visit the US State Department Road Safety Overseas website at: http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html

[berth373 0]

thank you very much. 100$ saved!

and what about the insurance? Is it true that she can drive her mom's car with her permission and she will be covered by the insurance as well?

[Ian H. 207]

I agree with the above. Most if not all states, allow a person to drive in the US with a foreign DL as long as it is valid and they are not a resident of the state.

As for the insurance, she should be perfectly allowed to driver her mom's car, because as you said they just need the permission of the owner. She may want to find out with the insurance company or her agent to be 100% sure.

She isn't required to be listed on the policy either because she lives abroad and isn't licensed in the US, but she should be able to drive and be covered under the policy as an immediate relative.