Washington, DC Driver's License

[kdc0224 7]

This post is specific for Canadians and Ontario (former) residents.

I'll be moving to DC in a week. Do you think the Washington, DC DMV will transfer my valid Ontario G license to a DC license without having me take any additional knowledge or road tests. The rules are pretty much the same and I've had my license for a while and can give them my (clean) record/license history to prove it.

I couldn't find any information on the DC DMV site specific to Canadians - is there a specific rule or is it more of an "up to the discretion of the DMV."

Do any Canadians who moved to DC have any experience with this?

[Elf 146]

Not a Canadian, and not quite in DC (although it's only about 10 minutes drive away...), but I believe that DC residents with Canadian licenses are covered by the same rules as residents holding any other non-US license, as noted here on the DC DMV site, i.e.

• If you have a valid out-of-country driver license, you will still have to take and pass the DC DMV driver knowledge test before you can get a DC DMV REAL ID driver license.

You will be allowed to keep your out-of-country driver license along with your DC DMV REAL ID driver license. DC DMV does not accept international driver licenses.

If your valid, non-US driver license is not in English, you must attach an English translation from your embassy or from a certified translator. The embassy translation must be on official embassy letterhead. The date of the translation must be on or after the actual date of the non-English language driver license. Certified translator copies must have a certification stamp.

• If you have a valid non-US driver license, you will not have to take the DC DMV road skills test, but you will have to provide proof of your ability to drive.

Your unexpired out-of-country license is accepted by the DC DMV as "proof of your ability to drive".

Edited November 1, 2015 by Elf

[military-wife 9]

I don't live in DC (but I do live in Virginia)... I've been to the DMV with my husband and was told that they honor Canadian driver's license, but not sure if this is specific to my state. So basically they would just transfer it to an American license.

[Boiler 46,241]

Varies by State, some have deals for Canadians, most do not.

[Elf 146]

Maryland also exempts anyone holding an unexpired Canadian license from the knowledge and skills tests (and even from the "3-hour alcohol and drug education program", woohoo) , but as Boiler says, drivers license reciprocity agreements are made on a state-by-state basis, not federally. I can't find anything that says that Canadians are exempt from the knowledge test in DC, only that they're exempt from the skills test.

(The standard of driving on display in DC occasionally makes me think that perhaps everyone's been exempted from the skills test, but that's another matter altogether )

[military-wife 9]

I suggest just going to the DMV and asking... The person at the info desk is very knowledge and will tell you right away.

[Boiler 46,241]

That is different to my DMV experiences.

[kdc0224 7]

Thank you all for getting back to me so quickly A knowledge test isn't so bad.

I'm guessing I need to wait until I get an SSN before I can even go to the DC DMV, correct?

[Elf 146]

I'm guessing I need to wait until I get an SSN before I can even go to the DC DMV, correct?

Yes.

Well, technically no, but practically, yes.

For a REAL-ID compliant license, DC requires that you have either proof of SSN, or an official letter from the SSA stating that you're ineligible for an SSN.

DC issues a "limited purpose" license to people who "have never been issued a social security number, previously been issued a social security number but cannot establish legal presence in the United States at the time of application, or [are not] eligible for a social security number.", but only if they can prove at least 6 months of DC residency. You'll have a perfectly good SSN in a couple of weeks, so you'll be eligible for a REAL-ID license long before you could get one of the limited licenses. Plus if you applied for the limited-purpose license, you'd have to take the road test,

Edited November 1, 2015 by Elf

[DCCanadian 2]

Figured I would register and reply, as I had the same question before converting my license and found this thread while googling for an answer.

You do NOT need to take the knowledge test, even though it doesn't say that anywhere on the website. You have the option of waiving the knowledge test and they'll void your Canadian license. If you want to keep your existing license, then you have to take the knowledge test.

My Nova Scotia license expired on November 3rd so I just voided it. Interestingly, I still had an N on my license (new driver under the graduated system) because I rarely drive and haven't lived in Nova Scotia in years, but converted to a full license that expires concurrent with my TN Visa in 2017. Hope that helps and welcome to DC!

Edited November 10, 2015 by DCCanadian