DMV test

[ben53572 0]

Hey everyone!

I just enrolled in a driving school and hopefully i can start the driving test soon. My job is so demanding and driving is so essential.Can anybody share their experience on road test? Any tips? Do's and Dont's?

Also, what's the best way to get a cheaper insurance for 1st time drivers? If my husband would add me to his car insurance, would that work?

Appreciate any response.

[Lansbury 19]

One of the weird things I found over here is that your credit rating effects your car insurance premium.

When we moved back we got a car each and had the cars insured in both our names for both to drive. It worked out cheaper overall as the insurance for my Jeep dropped because of my wife's excellent credit score. We saved nearly $200 a year, compared to insuring a car each.

Not sure if you are taking lessons because you never had a licence or just for the US test. If you had insured a car overseas some insurers accept the certificate from there as evidence of previous insurance and that gets a discount, ours certainly did and that reduced the premium by I think about 20%.

The US test is quite straight forward and you have to try really hard not to pass.

[L_n_O 3]

good luck!

[Toshtishtash 1]

How long do you actually have to live in the States before you can start to take your driving lessons etc?

Someone said that you had to prove that you had been a resident for over 90 days, but then someone else said that you could as soon as you got an SS number?

Anyone know?

[Cécy 44]

I came here with a J1 2 years ago, I just had to show my SS# and they had me take the written test and the driving test (NC doesn't recognize the French driving license).

But I can't really answer your question because I didn't need driving lessons.

What I remember from the written test: super easy, I was almost laughing compare to what I had to go through in France. And remember that the highest crime is pretty much to pass a school bus loading or unloading children.

Take a liflet at the DMV to learn the rules and the signs.

The driving test itself was supper easy too, I assume because the guy knew I already had a driving license and he just did it because it was required.

You usually take the driving test with your own car, which is good because you know the car and you have practiced on it before so no surprise. Just like in every country, check your mirrors, breathe and don't hesitate to chat with the instructor (if nice), it's a good way not to stress and show that you don't stress about it.

I think being put on your spouse's insurrance is a good option. If you can get documents about driving in your home country it's even better as said above.

[cshell 0]

How long do you actually have to live in the States before you can start to take your driving lessons etc?

Someone said that you had to prove that you had been a resident for over 90 days, but then someone else said that you could as soon as you got an SS number?

Anyone know?

It shouldn't depend upon how long you are here. It all depends on what your state requirements are. For us in NY - having the SS # helped and we needed to apply before the I-94 expired. My husband needed enough "points" or forms of identification before he copuld apply. As in NY different types of documents are given points: SS card 2 pts, visa with valid I-94 3 pts. He needed to havee 6 pts so we had to wait til we were married and then use the marriage certificate 1 pt along with the SS card and visa/I-94. So we only had a short window of 2 weeks that he was able to apply. Contact your states department of motor vehicle and also do a search with your state here on VJ to see what other people have found. Good luck

[cshell 0]

Toshtishtash,

I forgot to add:

In NY you are not able to take driving lessons until you apply for your learner's permit, take a written test, pass the test, next take a 5 hour class, then you can practice driving and take lessons. So in my above quote that was the steps for my husband to apply for his learner's permit.

cshell

[Toshtishtash 1]

How long do you actually have to live in the States before you can start to take your driving lessons etc?

Someone said that you had to prove that you had been a resident for over 90 days, but then someone else said that you could as soon as you got an SS number?

Anyone know?

It shouldn't depend upon how long you are here. It all depends on what your state requirements are. For us in NY - having the SS # helped and we needed to apply before the I-94 expired. My husband needed enough "points" or forms of identification before he copuld apply. As in NY different types of documents are given points: SS card 2 pts, visa with valid I-94 3 pts. He needed to havee 6 pts so we had to wait til we were married and then use the marriage certificate 1 pt along with the SS card and visa/I-94. So we only had a short window of 2 weeks that he was able to apply. Contact your states department of motor vehicle and also do a search with your state here on VJ to see what other people have found. Good luck

Toshtishtash,

I forgot to add:

In NY you are not able to take driving lessons until you apply for your learner's permit, take a written test, pass the test, next take a 5 hour class, then you can practice driving and take lessons. So in my above quote that was the steps for my husband to apply for his learner's permit.

cshell

Thanks very much for that! I will investigate