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How to Get Your Driver’s License in America: The Ultimate Guide

Getting a driver’s license in America

In the United States, the state authorities, namely the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), are responsible for issuing and renewing driver’s licenses. Therefore, the format of rights, requirements and procedures may differ depending on the region.

People who have visited the United States at least once know that here without a car is like without hands. Perhaps, you can easily do without it only in New York, but if you live in a smaller town, sooner or later the question of driving a car will become an edge.  

If you are a tourist, which means you are temporarily in the country, then you can drive according to your national rights. In some states, as well as when renting a car, you may also be asked for international rights. It is impossible to get an international license in the USA, so it is better to take care of it in advance. If you arrived in the US for a long time (more than 1 year on a work, student or other non-immigrant visa), then you need to get a driver’s license from the state where you live.

Step-by-step instruction

Step 1. Learn your state’s traffic rules

The book with the rules (Driver`s Manual) can be downloaded on the Internet or taken free of charge at the DMV office. Please make sure that your book is with the rules of the state where you will be obtaining a license, as there are some differences between states.

If you are getting your license for the first time, in some states you are required by law to take a training course.

After passing it, you will be sent a certificate, which you need to take with you to the DMV office to take the computer test.

The application is absolutely free. You just need to download the version for your state and start preparing. The questions in the tests are taken from the official test centers in each state, the application developers constantly monitor their relevance.

Step 2. Prepare the necessary documents

The list of documents may vary slightly in different states, but mainly consists of the following items:

1. Identity card (this can be a residence permit – a green card, a certificate of naturalization, and if you are in the states on a visa – your national passport). 2. Social Security Number (SSN). If you do not have it, then you need to have a paper with you stating that you are not entitled to this number. It can be easily obtained at any social insurance office, having a passport with a visa and a document confirming the address of residence.
2. Two documents confirming the address of your residence (this can be a rental agreement, a utility or mobile phone bill, a bank statement, etc.). If there is nothing in your name, some states (such as Florida and California) will accept a “guarantee” from someone in the family that you live with them (maybe called a certification of address).
3. Form I-94, which shows the date you crossed the US border. This form can be downloaded from the website of the Customs and Border Protection Department. At the time of submission of documents, it should not be older than 2 months.
4. Proof of your legal stay in the country.
5. Certificate of course completion (if required in your state).

These documents must be accompanied by a completed form for obtaining a driver’s license. The name of the form varies from state to state, but the essence is always simple: you need to provide your personal data, height and weight, hair and eye color, and indicate whether you agree to be a donor.

Step 3. Pass a computer test

The test consists of 15-40 questions depending on the state, 80% of which must be answered correctly in order to pass the test. The test includes questions on knowledge of laws, principles of safe driving and road signs. You can prepare with a book that you can download from your state’s DMV website.

Step 4. Learn to drive

A temporary ‘Learner’s permit’ allows you to drive a vehicle with another driver. It is issued for a fixed period, usually 6 months. The requirements for an accompanying driver are simple: they must have a valid US driver’s license and at least three years of driving experience. Usually, if you study at a driving school, then the payment for these services includes accompaniment to the exam at the DMV. The school also provides the car you learned to drive in for the exam. This is very convenient, because you do not need to adapt to the technique you are unfamiliar with. However, even if you decide to study without a professional instructor, you can still order only the exam escort service. You will be given a car for delivery, taken to the place and told the route and the main points that you should pay attention to during the exam. If you have chosen to study with friends and relatives (or already know how to drive a car), you can take the exam in their car, you need to take the insurance for the car and the registration number with you.

Step 5. Pass the driving test to the instructor

Immediately after passing the theoretical part on the computer, you can already set a date for the practical exam.

Also think about what car you will be taking the exam on. As we wrote above, you can take driving schools by car. The second option is your family car or the car of friends/relatives. In this case, make sure that the person who accompanies you has not forgotten his driver’s license and car insurance. Each individual DMV has certain requirements for the car to be returned – for example, you cannot use a rear-view camera (it can be sealed or disabled in the settings), the handbrake must be in the middle so that the instructor has access to it, and others. Check with a specific DMV office for details.

Step 6. Get your hands on the long-awaited driver’s license

Congratulations! You have passed the practical exam, and now it’s up to you to get your driver’s license. The instructor will give you a paper with his signature stating that you have passed the exam. It, along with your other documents, must be taken to the DMV, a photo taken for rights. In some states, a plastic card is given immediately, in others it is sent by mail (and while you are waiting, you can drive a car on paper, which will be given to you on the spot).

We hope this article will help you get a driver’s license quickly and easily!