Driving in the USA

[Lisax 0]

I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but I was just looking on the DMV website for RI to find out if I can just get a drivers license to drive over here. I've had a license for 6 years. Does anyone know if you have to take the test, I know it is different in every state, but I can't find the information that says, if you've like moved over here from another country to then obtain a license for over here.

Anyone have any info on the subject? I tried going to the DMV today, but they're closed, typical.

[Boiler 46,057]

Does it say that you do not need to take the test?

Usually you do.

[billsgirl 0]

New Residents

If you are a new resident, you must meet the following qualifications before receiving a Rhode Island driver's license:

Surrender a license that has not been expired for longer than one year.

Furnish proof that you are now a Rhode Island resident.

Display your Social Security card.

Pay a $30 fee.

Your first Rhode Island driver's license will be a two-year license that expires on your birthday. After this, you will be allowed to renew for the normal five-year license.

this was on their site.....its the same for me here in vermont, i dont need to take test except for an eye exam...

good luck to ya!!

[Lisax 0]

Excellent! thank you! great to know I don't have to take the test, is a bit pointless really, but anyway, thank you again!

[munchkins 0]

wow, I had been driving for over 35 years in the UK and still had to take a theory test and a driving test here in Jacksonville Florida. Mind you the driving test was laughable,over in about 10 mins and we never left the car park!!!!!!. emergency stop whilst driving at 20 mls per hour, I was feeling like i was stopped anyway a "3 point turn" which many people apparently can't do and have to take more than the couple of moves and a 50ft reverse. The rest was just making sure you stop at the stop signs and that you can park in a parking place, doddle

[Lisax 0]

wow! that test couldn't have been more easier! lol the test are waaaaaaaaaaay more harder in England, still glad I don't have to do it anyway, but wow, was very easy for you B)

[luv2teach77 41]

I had to take both a theory test and a driving test here in Illinois but it was a cake walk compared to my test in the UK. I took the test in a small town with very little traffic. Test consisted of me driving around the block, performing a 'turnaround using an alleyway", no emergency stop. I think I was done in under 10 minutes. The funniest part was sitting in the car before we left the DMV and being asked to beep the horn to check it was working

[rebeccajo 14]

I had to take both a theory test and a driving test here in Illinois but it was a cake walk compared to my test in the UK. I took the test in a small town with very little traffic. Test consisted of me driving around the block, performing a 'turnaround using an alleyway", no emergency stop. I think I was done in under 10 minutes. The funniest part was sitting in the car before we left the DMV and being asked to beep the horn to check it was working

Mark!

Where the heck have you been?

[Lisax 0]

I had to take both a theory test and a driving test here in Illinois but it was a cake walk compared to my test in the UK. I took the test in a small town with very little traffic. Test consisted of me driving around the block, performing a 'turnaround using an alleyway", no emergency stop. I think I was done in under 10 minutes. The funniest part was sitting in the car before we left the DMV and being asked to beep the horn to check it was working

[Anyta Holland 1]

In TX me and my hubby had to take the test over again, no matter how many years we had been driving.

Over here, you can transfer you license if you come from another state or from Canada, but any other country has to do the test.

The written part wasn't very simple, hubby actually failed it the first time... The driving one, was so easy it was stupid... I ahd to do mine in the UK twice, and I found both very very difficult, I didn't do any maneuvers apart from paralell parking (which everyone has to do) and that was it!

[Lisax 0]

So I went to the DMV today and if anyone lives in RI you do have to take the drivers test, written test and eye test, so all of these I'm going to have to take at some point, I can use my UK drivers license for 1 year, so I can at least drive around, I just got a new car and insurance is not cheap! just a little info for anyone who is in RI, you have to take everything.

[homesick_american 1]

In TX me and my hubby had to take the test over again, no matter how many years we had been driving.

Over here, you can transfer you license if you come from another state or from Canada, but any other country has to do the test.

The written part wasn't very simple, hubby actually failed it the first time... The driving one, was so easy it was stupid... I ahd to do mine in the UK twice, and I found both very very difficult, I didn't do any maneuvers apart from paralell parking (which everyone has to do) and that was it!

Weird; my TX road test took longer and involved more activities than people here are mentioning. All in all it took about 20 minutes, and it was about the same as a UK road test. This was in 1991, though; maybe they've loosened their standards since then....or maybe the guy who was testing me was just a harda$$ who was angry because the A/C in my mom's car was broken. I took my test in JULY. :lol:

I thought the written part was really easy.

So I went to the DMV today and if anyone lives in RI you do have to take the drivers test, written test and eye test, so all of these I'm going to have to take at some point, I can use my UK drivers license for 1 year, so I can at least drive around, I just got a new car and insurance is not cheap! just a little info for anyone who is in RI, you have to take everything.

Would your insurance be any cheaper if you got a RI driver's license?

[Anyta Holland 1]

Insurance in the US seems to be expensive if you do not have at least 3 years in the USA with no problems (ie traffic tickets, claims, etc), stupid but true... Again your previous experience doesn't count!

You can get a few bucks knocked off if you take a defensive driving test, which you can do online and costs about $40. Benefit I think is about $10 a month... Maybe not much, but you'll probably be saving $80 a year...

[Lisax 0]

In TX me and my hubby had to take the test over again, no matter how many years we had been driving.

Over here, you can transfer you license if you come from another state or from Canada, but any other country has to do the test.

The written part wasn't very simple, hubby actually failed it the first time... The driving one, was so easy it was stupid... I ahd to do mine in the UK twice, and I found both very very difficult, I didn't do any maneuvers apart from paralell parking (which everyone has to do) and that was it!

Weird; my TX road test took longer and involved more activities than people here are mentioning. All in all it took about 20 minutes, and it was about the same as a UK road test. This was in 1991, though; maybe they've loosened their standards since then....or maybe the guy who was testing me was just a harda$$ who was angry because the A/C in my mom's car was broken. I took my test in JULY. :lol:

I thought the written part was really easy.

So I went to the DMV today and if anyone lives in RI you do have to take the drivers test, written test and eye test, so all of these I'm going to have to take at some point, I can use my UK drivers license for 1 year, so I can at least drive around, I just got a new car and insurance is not cheap! just a little info for anyone who is in RI, you have to take everything.

Would your insurance be any cheaper if you got a RI driver's license?

No, the insurance isn't going to be any cheaper, it's only going to gradually go down after every 6 months. It's a bit annoying really, but I guess it's another thing we have to do, you know?

[homesick_american 1]

Insurance in the US seems to be expensive if you do not have at least 3 years in the USA with no problems (ie traffic tickets, claims, etc), stupid but true... Again your previous experience doesn't count!

Insurance is about one of the only things that's more expensive in the US than in the UK. Our car insurance here is dirt cheap and was from the very beginning...and we have coverage with Norwich Union which isn't exactly the cheapest company out there. (They were damn good when my husband crashed the car, though!)