Florida Driving Licence

[UKtoUSAsoon 0]

UKC moving to FL.

 

I know I need to take knowledge check and driving test practical to get FL licence.

Does anyone who has done this have any recommendations or tips, like do you suggest I take some lessons with local driving instructor before the test ? Im a professional driver in the UK and driven thousands of miles in US before .

 

Has anyone booked knowledge check and practical test on same day, and what vehicle did you use for the test ? is a hire car ok as this will obviously have insurance , what documents do they need to see on the practical test relating to the vehicle being used ?

 

Thank you 

[aaron2020 11,651]

As a  professional driver, you don't need a local driving instructor.  You know how to drive.  

 

First recommendation, learn to drive on the right side of the road.  You've been driving on the wrong side.  lol

 

It's pretty easy to pass the written test.  

 

Some offices takes appointments.  Others only takes walk in.  Check with your local FLHSMV office. 

 

You can use a rental vehicle.  

[UKtoUSAsoon 0]

1 minute ago, aaron2020 said:

As a  professional driver, you don't need a local driving instructor.  You know how to drive.  

 

First recommendation, learn to drive on the right side of the road.  You've been driving on the wrong side.  lol

 

It's pretty easy to pass the written test.  

 

Some offices takes appointments.  Others only takes walk in.  Check with your local FLHSMV office. 

 

You can use a rental vehicle.  

Thanks

 

Am I correct in saying that I do not need to do the drugs and alcohol exam as Im already a driver all be it out of state

[jkstark 97]

Don't know the Florida rules directly, but in most cases to get to the appointment you typically need a licensed driver to go with you...  You don't have a license there yet, so you can't drive yourself alone...

 

I did drive to the test when I took it many years ago, but I had my father-in-law with me.  Even if you would be permitted based on the timeline to use your out-of-country license for a time, I would not attempt to show up for a test without another licensed driver with you - the examiner would probably look at it unkindly...

 

I managed to get my original license in Finland in a similar way; we had been living in southeast asia for a while, and got my first license there.  When I moved back to Finland, I showed up at the license office and put my car keys on the counter when I went to turn in the paperwork and got a funny look from the clerk - showed them that I was licensed and was permitted to drive on the foreign license for the short amount of time that I had been back, and all went OK, but the look was priceless when they saw the keys and asked me how I got there... 

[C90 376]

2 minutes ago, UKtoUSAsoon said:

UKC moving to FL.

 

I know I need to take knowledge check and driving test practical to get FL licence.

Does anyone who has done this have any recommendations or tips, like do you suggest I take some lessons with local driving instructor before the test ? Im a professional driver in the UK and driven thousands of miles in US before .

 

Has anyone booked knowledge check and practical test on same day, and what vehicle did you use for the test ? is a hire car ok as this will obviously have insurance , what documents do they need to see on the practical test relating to the vehicle being used ?

 

Thank you 

I got my DL in PA without driving lessons. It took me 3 times for one simple reason: Not stopping BEFORE but on top of the white line at a stop sign (and once cause I rolled through the stop signs) So make sure you come to a complete stop before the white line (bumper can not be over the line either, it's a fail)

 

I drove for 6 months before I got my license, it's good to have some experience before you take your DL, but imo you don't need lessons (as long as it's not required by the state)

 

The DMV's in PA were so busy that I got my DL 4 months after my drivers permit, but that could be different in your area. You just use your own car (I assume you have a car with insurance, since it's illegal to drive around without insurance) and you need to show proof of insurance, registration, inspection stickers and the DL of the person who drives you to the exam (In PA, if that person is you, you have to show your UK DL and an international DL, but double check your DMV website)

[aaron2020 11,651]

1 minute ago, UKtoUSAsoon said:

Thanks

 

Am I correct in saying that I do not need to do the drugs and alcohol exam as Im already a driver all be it out of state

There's no drug or alcohol exam.  

[C90 376]

2 minutes ago, UKtoUSAsoon said:

Thanks

 

Am I correct in saying that I do not need to do the drugs and alcohol exam as Im already a driver all be it out of state

I did have to get a medical (not drug or alcohol, just doctor check up) done to get my permit, check if Florida has that rule too (I had a Dutch license, but they don't care, everyone needs to get a medical done in PA)

Edited April 17, 2019 by C90

[aaron2020 11,651]

Make sure that you bring your Social Security Card with you.  

[aaron2020 11,651]

Do you have a US driver's license?

[UKtoUSAsoon 0]

1 minute ago, aaron2020 said:

Do you have a US driver's license?

No, thats why I need to take the knowldege check and test, otherwise I would exchange

[JFH 12,190]

8 minutes ago, C90 said:

I got my DL in PA without driving lessons. It took me 3 times for one simple reason: Not stopping BEFORE but on top of the white line at a stop sign (and once cause I rolled through the stop signs) So make sure you come to a complete stop before the white line (bumper can not be over the line either, it's a fail)

 

I drove for 6 months before I got my license, it's good to have some experience before you take your DL, but imo you don't need lessons (as long as it's not required by the state)

 

The DMV's in PA were so busy that I got my DL 4 months after my drivers permit, but that could be different in your area. You just use your own car (I assume you have a car with insurance, since it's illegal to drive around without insurance) and you need to show proof of insurance, registration, inspection stickers and the DL of the person who drives you to the exam (In PA, if that person is you, you have to show your UK DL and an international DL, but double check your DMV website)

One error (rolling through a stop) caused a fail? That’s unusual. I’m looking at my WA test sheet (which I have kept as a souvenir) and you need to score 80 points to pass. So you would have to make 3 errors to fail.

 

I messed up the parallel parking because there was about 6 inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing heavily and I couldn’t see the lines properly. Wasn’t enough to fail though. 

[C90 376]

4 minutes ago, JFH said:

One error (rolling through a stop) caused a fail? That’s unusual. I’m looking at my WA test sheet (which I have kept as a souvenir) and you need to score 80 points to pass. So you would have to make 3 errors to fail.

 

I messed up the parallel parking because there was about 6 inches of snow on the ground and it was snowing heavily and I couldn’t see the lines properly. Wasn’t enough to fail though. 

Yeah, I passed my written test the first time, but I had really bad luck with 2 of my examiners at my road test. Even my husband said it was weird that they failed me the second time for stopping before the line, but my bumper was on the line  We think it's because I drove myself, so they might've expected me to drive excellent. Luckily my third examiner was really nice, made me feel comfortable and I passed (I took the test at 3 different DMV's lol)

Edited April 17, 2019 by C90