Ohio driver's license

[happyimmigrant 0]

I went to the Social Security office last week to order my new card without the restrictions printed on it. That card arrived on Monday, so today I took it, my green card, and my Ontario driver's license down to the local BMV (which is what Ohio calls the DMV). I walked in at about 9:15 without an appointment. They had me do a written test on a computer which was surprisingly difficult - I missed 5 out of 40 questions. The questions I missed were about what happens when you are caught driving drunk (2 questions), what speed you're limited to when carrying people under the age of 18 in the back of a pickup truck (gee, sorry, must have missed that one in the book) and a couple other obscure questions that I never would have studied for.

Then on to the practical test, which was a joke. Drive between some pylons, then do it in reverse. Then drive around a residential neighborhood for about 5 minutes. That was it. By 10:45 I walked out with a new Ohio license in my hand.

The clueless women behind the counter at the license issuing bureau had no idea how to deal with me. They told me I had to keep my Ontario license (untrue, it's unlawful to carry more than once license in Ohio) - which I did, seeing as they insisted. They also gave me my Ohio license with an expiry date of 2010, despite the fact that my green card expires in 2008 - and despite the fact that a large sign on the wall behind the desk stated that when issuing licenses to non-citizens, the license would have an expiry date the same as the DHS paperwork.

So overall it was quick and easy. I went to the Parma BMV, just outside of Cleveland, in case anyone wants to use them. No lineups, no hassles.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Did they give you an transferable license?

[happyimmigrant 0]

Did they give you an transferable license?

Transferable how?

[raymaga 25]

Congrats on getting the license.

[Dr_LHA 3]

Did they give you an transferable license?

Transferable how?

Well if it doesn't say "non-transferable" on it, then you did!

Ohio gives certain aliens a non-transferable license. What this means is that if you move to another state, you have to take your driving test all over again to get that state's license. Really annoying. I'm guessing this only applies to non-resident aliens.

Edited December 6, 2006 by dr_lha

[Keigwyn 1]

Congratulations! Yes I shall be doing the written test next week in Michigan...cant seem to keep my eyes open for long reading the book! Ill look out for the pickup truck section

Then, if I pass, they give me a temp driving licence for 30 days where I am supposed to drive with a qualified driver. ( I still have my uk licence though) After the 30 days is up I can apply for the test!

However, if I was Canadian or German (Canadian I can understand!), I would be issued a DL after passing the written part (providing I held a valid DL)

[happyimmigrant 0]

Did they give you an transferable license?

Transferable how?

Well if it doesn't say "non-transferable" on it, then you did!

Ohio gives certain aliens a non-transferable license. What this means is that if you move to another state, you have to take your driving test all over again to get that state's license. Really annoying. I'm guessing this only applies to non-resident aliens.

That's why I was surprised that I had to take the written AND the practical. Years ago when I moved to Georgia from Ontario, I didn't even have to take a written, they just looked at my Ontario one, checked my eyes, and handed me a Georgia one. When I moved to Maryland, they just took my Georgia license and gave me a Maryland instead. No test, nothing.

I didn't have an appointment for this today - I just walked in, did the vision and written test, lined up for the practical, and I walked out with the license. Total cost was $23.

And there's no mention of it not being transferable, I had a look:

[mrk 0]

Just to add my DMV/BMV experience in Indiana:

I still had a Wisconsin license from when I was an exchange student there years ago. I also had a SSN from back then (card stating not valid for employment - at that time you could get one to get a license as a non-resident). This was very helpful since with just my German license I would have needed to take the written and the practical test. With the WI license I just had to pass the written test (pretty easy - 100%) as well as the vision screening. I don't know how this would have worked without a SSN though. I went to the BMV before I got my green card (since my wife had to go there anyways to change her name) and didn't have any problems (since I had a SSN). I also had to present proof of residency in Indiana which I did by showing a statement from my bank account showing my name (as well as my wife's) and Indiana address (actually this was just a printout of my online statement).

I did have to surrender my WI license when they handed me the Indiana one but since my German license was not involved I didn't worry about whether I have to give it up or not (interestingly I got my German license based on the Wisconsin license after passing both written and driving test in Germany - they fortunately didn't keep the Wisconsin license).

[mrk 0]

Just to add my DMV/BMV experience in Indiana:

I still had a Wisconsin license from when I was an exchange student there years ago. I also had a SSN from back then (card stating not valid for employment - at that time you could get one to get a license as a non-resident). This was very helpful since with just my German license I would have needed to take the written and the practical test. With the WI license I just had to pass the written test (pretty easy - 100%) as well as the vision screening. I don't know how this would have worked without a SSN though. I went to the BMV before I got my green card (since my wife had to go there anyways to change her name) and didn't have any problems (since I had a SSN). I also had to present proof of residency in Indiana which I did by showing a statement from my bank account showing my name (as well as my wife's) and Indiana address (actually this was just a printout of my online statement).

I did have to surrender my WI license when they handed me the Indiana one but since my German license was not involved I didn't worry about whether I have to give it up or not (interestingly I got my German license based on the Wisconsin license after passing both written and driving test in Germany - they fortunately didn't keep the Wisconsin license).

hm, edit function didn't work (said I'm not allowed to...)

Anyways, I forgot to say that my license doesn't have a shorter expiration date. But of course things related to DMVs are different in every state.