getting insurance on an american licence

mickeypat

is there any insurance company out there that will insure me on an american licence i called quinn they said they dont,thx

Horse1920

Hi Mickey, I got cover on a MA licence (at provisional rates:eek:) here, only when I produced a letter from a broker over there that said I had a clean licence for 5 years. I went to a broker, gave them copies of it and let them handle it.I also had no luck ringing around - they don't want to know if its anyway out of the ordinary-- The brokers will work it for you --- Almost positive it was a company called Zurich in the end.

opti76

http://dublin.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/other-citizen-services/driving.html


Driving in Ireland

American citizens are permitted to drive with a U.S. driver's license for the duration of a visit to Ireland; i.e., as long as their status is that of tourist and not resident. Once you decide to become resident in Ireland, regardless of how long you have been in the country, you must apply for an Irish driver's license. To apply for an Irish driver's license, contact the Motor Taxation Office, Block B, Blackhall Walk, Queen Street, Dublin 7, telephone (01) 222-2222, or the Motor Taxation Office, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Nutgrove, Dublin 14, tel. (01) 222-8000. Follow this link for a list of Motor Taxation offices in Ireland. To be eligible for a full license, you must first obtain a provisional license (learner's permit) and take the Irish driving test.

Mozoltov!

opti76 wrote: »

http://dublin.usembassy.gov/service/other-citizen-services/other-citizen-services/driving.html


Driving in Ireland

American citizens are permitted to drive with a U.S. driver's license for the duration of a visit to Ireland; i.e., as long as their status is that of tourist and not resident. Once you decide to become resident in Ireland, regardless of how long you have been in the country, you must apply for an Irish driver's license. To apply for an Irish driver's license, contact the Motor Taxation Office, Block B, Blackhall Walk, Queen Street, Dublin 7, telephone (01) 222-2222, or the Motor Taxation Office, Nutgrove Shopping Centre, Nutgrove, Dublin 14, tel. (01) 222-8000. Follow this link for a list of Motor Taxation offices in Ireland. To be eligible for a full license, you must first obtain a provisional license (learner's permit) and take the Irish driving test.

Summary: Here in Ireland, we like being backwards so if you decide to live here, we wont accept your countrys full license.

However, we will allow you to get a provisional license and take our driving test. Unfortunately you must hold your license for 6 months minimum before taking the test for a full license.

L1011

Mozoltov! wrote: »

Summary: Here in Ireland, we like being backwards so if you decide to live here, we wont accept your countrys full license.

We don't accept it as the US test doesn't come close to the still very poor standards of our test. We don't take licences from ANYWHERE with poor testing regimes (that the EU doesn't make us)

sellerbarry

Any everybody knows the USA licence is only for bumper cars;)

mickeypat

i have an international one aswell if that makes any difference

galwaytt

mickeypat wrote: »

i have an international one aswell if that makes any difference

...nope, afraid not. Not worth the paper it's written on.........

...now, some US states will give a US licence on exchange for an international one.......met a guy, who knew a guy....;)

Horse1920

International one isn't really worth a curse, but if your really not keen on taking the test, there is full and partial license reciprocity between some US states and Germany - if you do a little digging in a toytown forum , there is quite a long thread on it.You can finagle an Irish one from that but it will have an endorsement to say that you swapped it for a German one. But to be honest , I considered it, but in the end just ended up doing the test here

pow wow

Mozoltov! wrote: »

Summary: Here in Ireland, we like being backwards so if you decide to live here, we wont accept your countrys full license.

It's not just Ireland, I had to take a practical test to get a US licence in the state I moved to as my full Irish licence wasn't sufficient for them either :rolleyes:

Best bet is a decent broker (I've had a few say they can't get quotes on my UK licence....I can only imagine how small their panel of insurers is).

djimi

Mozoltov! wrote: »

Summary: Here in Ireland, we like being backwards so if you decide to live here, we wont accept your countrys full license.

However, we will allow you to get a provisional license and take our driving test. Unfortunately you must hold your license for 6 months minimum before taking the test for a full license.

How is it backwards? Driving in Ireland is very different to driving in the US; apart from the fact that the majority of drivers in the US drive automatic and they are all used to driving on what we consider to be the wrong side of the road, driving laws are quite different in the US from my experience. For example, you can turn right at a red light at an intersection provided it is clear to do so.

I really dont see the problem with having to take the test again to ensure that you are up to speed with Irish driving laws. If I went to the US I would fully expect to have to take their driving test.

keithclancy

djimi wrote: »

How is it backwards? Driving in Ireland is very different to driving in the US; apart from the fact that the majority of drivers in the US drive automatic and they are all used to driving on what we consider to be the wrong side of the road, driving laws are quite different in the US from my experience. For example, you can turn right at a red light at an intersection provided it is clear to do so.

I really dont see the problem with having to take the test again to ensure that you are up to speed with Irish driving laws. If I went to the US I would fully expect to have to take their driving test.

However you can go to Germany where they drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, when turning right on green you have to give way to pedestrians crossing the road and have unrestricted motorway where you can belt down the road doing 250km/h if you like.

You dont even need to exchange your license ... its valid for as long as its valid

The Netherlands has a weird rule whereby if you qualify for the 30% Tax Ruling you can get a Dutch license and keep your existing American one.

Germany has exchange programs with other countries, however if you move to another EU Country that does not recognise that original exchange then the license becomes invalid when you go to swap it for a local one.

e.g. Paddy goes to the US, gets a US License, then moves to Germany, swaps for a German License, Then moves to the Netherlands, where they don't swap for a US one. Paddys German license is valid for 10 years (maximum validity of a license in the Netherlands) but he can never exchange it for a Dutch one but can drive for up to 10 years on his swapped German License without issue.