The USA can be safely called the most motorized country in the world. State governments have created all the conditions for their citizens to have more than one car in the family. In America, the public transport network is not very developed, because here people mostly drive their cars, regardless of the distance.
You don’t need to be a US citizen or green card holder to get American rights. Any foreigner who comes to the United States can easily obtain American rights from any state and freely travel around the country, explore its beauty or go on business trips.
where to go to get a US driver’s license?
Tour operators do not provide service rights to the United States, so foreigners must independently apply to local state authorities. You should not worry and think that this process is complicated. In the US, anyone can freely obtain a driver’s license with minimal paperwork.
In the US, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is responsible for issuing licenses. It is important to remember that road (traffic) rules, exam requirements and fines vary slightly from country to country. The cost of requesting a test varies from state to state, so check directly with your state’s DMV for state-specific costs. For example, below is a link from the New York City Department of Motor Vehicles:
New York Department of Motor Vehicles
Oral exam for a US driver’s license
When you arrive at the DMV, the first thing you need to do is check in. It is important to have:
- personal identification document (passport, other document confirming your identity);
- foreigners must be provided with a social security number.
if you do not have a Social Security Number (SSN), then you must receive a letter from the Social Security Administration that you do not have an SSN. For example, if you are a student at an American university, you may receive a letter from the university confirming that you are a foreign student. With this letter, you must contact the Social Security Administration, which in turn will issue you the necessary certificate.
At the department building, the applicant will be placed in a queue, the exam date will be set and the driver’s manual will be issued free of charge. You must appear for the exam on the specified date. It usually goes by pretty quickly, and the rules themselves are simple. They were created to simplify the life of drivers and pedestrians. The exam consists of 20 multiple-choice test questions. It is enough to answer 14 questions to get a driver’s license. The examiner checks the test immediately, so after a few minutes it will be clear whether a person has received a driver’s license or not.
If the test is passed, the applicant is sent to a specialist to check their vision. In some states, prospective drivers are given a lecture on drugs, alcohol and road safety. Then within a week, the Learner’s Rights to Drive Vehicles is mailed. Such a certificate is issued so that a person can learn to drive, and it is not necessary to attend a driving school. The term of validity of such rights is up to 6 months, everything depends on the laws of the state. Such a document has certain restrictions, for example, it may be prohibited to carry passengers, drive at night or even drive without the accompaniment of a person with full rights. All these nuances are provided for in the laws of each state and will definitely be reported.
In some states, when learning to drive, it is important not to forget to take a short theory course (5-hour pre-licensing course) at a driving school. After listening to all the lectures, the organization issues the MV-278 certificate to the person, it is valid for one year. When a person feels ready to pass the driving test, they can register for the test. A certificate must be presented at the time of registration.
After passing the US driver’s license test
You can register for the driving test by phone or online. You must review the proposed dates and times and select the appropriate one. Most of the time, it is possible to find the nearest free places only after a month, and sometimes even later. It’s a good idea to get some exercise while you wait. On the appointed day, the applicant meets with the instructor, who shows him the route and the maneuvers that must be performed. Throughout the exam, the instructor marks your mistakes. The driving test takes place in a private car. There is no special place for the exam, everything takes place in the driveway of the city streets. Narrow lanes with lots of houses and cars are usually chosen.
Two main maneuvers must be included in the examination program:
- A turn in a narrow carriageway;
- parallel build, you have to do it right, once and in just 3 minutes. The car must stop close to the curb but not touch it. It is forbidden to look in the mirrors while passing, you can look ahead or only back.
The inspector notes all mistakes and issues a ticket with penalty points at the end of the exam. If the number of mistakes exceeds 25, then the exam has not been passed, you need to book a new date and try again. If driving has been successfully passed, after 1-2 weeks the person will receive a driver’s license, allowing to drive without restrictions.
A driver’s license will be valid for the duration of your status in the US, which is until your visa or green card expires.
Americans are friendly to foreigners, so don’t be afraid to take the US driver’s license test. A car trip across America will provide unforgettable memories and emotions!