International Driving Permit 1949 doesnt give full driver entitlements

[AnneA 72]

12 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

😂😂.   What country are you from?   My husband is 52 and has had a DL for 35 years, but he had to take both anyway.

 

I believe it isn’t required for Canadians from Alberta and BC.

Denmark and 57 .. so guess both tests it is ... could of course go to Germany and get a DL there and change that ... but like the idea of a pony too 😂 ... I don't need the DL but guess it would be nice to have ... will they keep my Danish DL when I get a WA one?? Sure would hate to have to do new tests in Dk when we come here 🤔

[Scandi 4,166]

5 hours ago, AnneA said:

Denmark and 57 .. so guess both tests it is ... could of course go to Germany and get a DL there and change that ... but like the idea of a pony too 😂 ... I don't need the DL but guess it would be nice to have ... will they keep my Danish DL when I get a WA one?? Sure would hate to have to do new tests in Dk when we come here 🤔

In some states they do take your foreign license, I have heard from a couple of Swedes that their Swedish licenses were taken by DMV here in CA when they were approved for their CA license. 

 

Because of that I didn't even bring my Swedish license to DMV when I took my test, only a copy of it. No way I'll give up my Swedish one that I worked so hard for to get when I was 18 (yes it's hard - and crazy expensive - to get a DL in Sweden, in the US they hand them out like candy so I can understand why a DL isn't as holy here). 

 

They never asked anything about my Swedish license though. I mentioned that I had a foreign license since many years but I still had to take both written and driver's test. Not a big deal, they're both ridiculously easy. TOO easy, if you ask me. You barely need to know how to drive to pass the test, no wonder why Los Angeles is so full of horrible, horrible drivers.

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

4 minutes ago, Scandi said:

In some states they do take your foreign license,

Texas will allow certain immigrants to trade their home-country license for a Texas DL without taking any tests whatsoever.  But the immigrant has to agree to give up the foreign license.......that's what my wife did.....and her Texas license was valid for 7 years (she has a 2 year GC)....

[AnneA 72]

11 minutes ago, Scandi said:

In some states they do take your foreign license, I have heard from a couple of Swedes that their Swedish licenses were taken by DMV here in CA when they were approved for their CA license. 

 

Because of that I didn't even bring my Swedish license to DMV when I took my test, only a copy of it. No way I'll give up my Swedish one that I worked so hard for to get when I was 18 (yes it's hard - and crazy expensive - to get a DL in Sweden, in the US they hand them out like candy so I can understand why a DL isn't as holy here). 

 

They never asked anything about my Swedish license though. I mentioned that I had a foreign license since many years but I still had to take both written and driver's test. Not a big deal, they're both ridiculously easy. TOO easy, if you ask me. You barely need to know how to drive to pass the test, no wonder why Los Angeles is so full of horrible, horrible drivers.

Yes, it is very expensive in Denmark too and it's valid for another 20 years so no way I'll give that up.

 

I have done the written tests on the internet and they are very easy ... not so worried about the tests it's more the amount of repeated paperwork, waiting, bureaucracy and so on that's rather overwhelming and I really appriciate the Danish system now 😂

[TBoneTX 45,304]

10 hours ago, missileman said:

give up the foreign license

This requirement has always made me uneasy.  The surrendered license isn't the state's to take at will; it's the property of the foreign government that issued it.

 

I wonder what kind of arguments have erupted on the scene at the DMV when someone has brought that up.

[SalishSea 17,834]

On ‎3‎/‎20‎/‎2019 at 5:40 AM, AnneA said:

Denmark and 57 .. so guess both tests it is ... could of course go to Germany and get a DL there and change that ... but like the idea of a pony too 😂 ... I don't need the DL but guess it would be nice to have ... will they keep my Danish DL when I get a WA one?? Sure would hate to have to do new tests in Dk when we come here 🤔

Washington DMV did not take Alec's NZ license.  He will need it when he goes home to visit!

 

Welcome to WA, btw.  When you arrive, you will have to go to the Nordic Museum in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.  It is fantastic, and has recently received the designation of being the national Nordic museum.

 

Big upgrade from the days when it was housed in an abandoned school, and we kids in the neighborhood would sneak in and hide amongst the dusty 19th century immigrant trunks!

Edited March 21, 2019 by Jorgedig

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

11 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

This requirement has always made me uneasy.  The surrendered license isn't the state's to take at will; it's the property of the foreign government that issued it.

 

I wonder what kind of arguments have erupted on the scene at the DMV when someone has brought that up.

The lady at DPS told us that they send it back to the home country.  I guess it is just part of the agreement.

[Boiler 45,525]

Certainly in the UK once you emmigrate then your UK license is not longer valid, well you are required to update your address and can not have an overseas address.

Edited March 21, 2019 by Boiler

[Boiler 45,525]

Just now, missileman said:

The lady at DPS told us that they send it back to the home country.  I guess it is just part of the agreement.

There are agreements between States not Countries, well generally. Might be some really odd exceptions.

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There are agreements between States not Countries, well generally. Might be some really odd exceptions.

This is a reciprocity agreement between Taiwan and Texas....

 

"So far, 21 states have adopted reciprocal driver's license agreements with Taiwan, including Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Oregon, Arizona, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nevada, Tennessee and Colorado"

Edited March 21, 2019 by missileman

[Boiler 45,525]

4 minutes ago, missileman said:

This is a reciprocity agreement between Taiwan and Texas....

 

"So far, 21 states have adopted reciprocal driver's license agreements with Taiwan, including Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, Oregon, Arizona, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Nevada, Tennessee and Colorado"

Not the UK, seem to remember Germany has the odd one and no doubt Canada. A clue would be if you get any benefits due to where you are from getting a US license.

[Crazy Cat 41,884]

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Not the UK, seem to remember Germany has the odd one and no doubt Canada. A clue would be if you get any benefits due to where you are from getting a US license.

Some countries drive on the wrong side of the road....😀

I really don't know why only certain states....

Edited March 21, 2019 by missileman

[Boiler 45,525]

1 minute ago, missileman said:

Some countries drive on the wrong side of the road....😀

Like New Zealand?

[Ontarkie 14,226]

As you are moving to Florida on a IR1 you are a resident right off the bat. As others have said you will need a FL DL there is no way around it. 

 

 

They took my Canadian DL my husband did try to argue with them but it seems they do have Permission from the other countries to do so. I guess the other countries do the same🤷‍♀️. I wasn't going to argue with them it was a pain for them to verify my status. (10 yrs ago we could get them while just on our 90 days K1)  I got the full 7 yrs, I like they are now 10yrs. 

[Boiler 45,525]

Do not take your license with you, problem solved.