Irish license to US license

kiddums

Does anyone know if the Irish license transfers to a US one? I'll be heading out there long term so I'll need a US one.

I have bike, car, rigid lorry. Will all of these transfer, or will I need to start them all over again?

If it makes a difference, and I think it might, it'll be Tx I'm heading to.

BuffyBot

kiddums wrote: »

Does anyone know if the Irish license transfers to a US one? I'll be heading out there long term so I'll need a US one.

I have bike, car, rigid lorry. Will all of these transfer, or will I need to start them all over again?

If it makes a difference, and I think it might, it'll be Tx I'm heading to.

There is no licence swap with any state in the US that I'm aware of.

kiddums

I don't even mean a straight transfer.
I though some states would let you go straight to the test with the Irish License? Or am I mistaken?

Just trying to sort out as much as I can before.

iusedtoknow

Each state is different, there is no Us license.

In California I had to do a written test then a fifteen minute practical. There are no license swaps, so you'll be treated as a new applicant. Fortunate there aren't as many restrictions with new drivers. You'll be able to drive on your Irish one while waiting on the written test.

Cushie Butterfield

Applicants who have a driver license from any country other than the U.S., Canada, France, South Korea, Germany or Taiwan must take and pass both the knowledge and driving skills tests.
How to apply for a Texas driver license


http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/movingtotexas.htm

whitey1

Driving tests in US are very easy to pass.....its not like in Ireland. I passed first time in IL without even taking a lesson

Remember, you'll be driving an automatic on wide well marked streets. No pesky hill starts or reversing around a corner!

InTheTrees

If you give up your Irish license you'd have to go through the hassle of getting it back again.

Americans cant drive for sh*t, and they dont care much about driving tests. Ive taken tests in two US states and it takes a few hours and little preperation. If you can maneuver your vehicle around the block without hitting any other vehicles you'll pass the practical, and the written is a basic multiple choice thats more about testing your knowledge of english.

Seriously.

And texas is well know for being lax about most things.

kiddums

Thanks Folks. I was getting confused looking this up myself.

So I can use my Irish License for 90 days, and do the US tests in that time frame and I'm sweet?

Does that apply to the trucks and bikes too?

él statutorio

kiddums wrote: »

Thanks Folks. I was getting confused looking this up myself.

So I can use my Irish License for 90 days, and do the US tests in that time frame and I'm sweet?

Does that apply to the trucks and bikes too?

I've been using my Irish license in CA since last September.

Getting a CA license is on my to-do list but I've been putting it on the long finger as it'll mean a half day sitting in the DMV.

My insurance (Geico) has no issue with my Irish license though.

TeaBagMania

What state are you moving too? Check the state DMV website for what paperwork you’ll need to bring with you, sometimes there is an application you can download and fill out before you get there.

As difficult as it is to obtain an Irish license I certainly wouldn’t surrender it to the State DMV office.

You will have to take a motorcycle rider safety class to obtain your motorcycle license, and the same with a Commercial “Lori” license.

As far as driving a motorcycle with an Irish equivalent license you would probably be OK, but exercising the use of your commercial license could be problematic depending on the cop that pulls you over

InTheTrees

él statutorio wrote: »

My insurance (Geico) has no issue with my Irish license though.

Thats dangerous thinking. Its legal for 90 days i believe?

Its not Geico's responsibility to make sure your license is legal or not. they'll simply deny your claim if it isnt.

If you're in an accident they will tell you that because you're driving on a foreign license beyond the 90 day limit that you're insurance policy isnt valid. You will cry about how you paid the premiums and they'll point at the fine print. They will win the argument, you wont.

Also there will be a police report and you will be in serious trouble for driving without a valid licence and without insurance.

You'll also be liable to be sued by the other party in the crash. Assuming there is one.

So best go take care of it. It only takes a few hours.

lonestargirl

Texas law is 90 days if you are a transferring one US licence to another but they give you a year on a foreign licence. Insurance will probably be cheaper with a US licence. You can just rock up to the DMV and do the multiple choice rules of the road test and a brief eye test and then make an appointment for the road test. You basically drive around the block and parallel park (into a space you could put a bus!).

There is always a huge queue as 'regular' licence holders can renew online so the office has first timers, foreigners, people whose licence has been revoked etc. It's an interesting place! What visa will you have? You will only get a licence with validity until the end of your visa.

This info is for cars only - I'm not sure about the lorry situation.

InTheTrees

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

http://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/movingtotexas.htm

lonestargirl wrote: »

Texas law is 90 days if you are a transferring one US licence to another but they give you a year on a foreign licence.

I may have missed it but i didnt see anything about allowing it for a year on the webpage.

crapmanjoe

InTheTrees wrote: »

Thats dangerous thinking. Its legal for 90 days i believe?

Its not Geico's responsibility to make sure your license is legal or not. they'll simply deny your claim if it isnt.

If you're in an accident they will tell you that because you're driving on a foreign license beyond the 90 day limit that you're insurance policy isnt valid. You will cry about how you paid the premiums and they'll point at the fine print. They will win the argument, you wont.

Also there will be a police report and you will be in serious trouble for driving without a valid licence and without insurance.

You'll also be liable to be sued by the other party in the crash. Assuming there is one.

So best go take care of it. It only takes a few hours.

I was just about to post this - what you are doing is crazy.

Geico will take ur premium but will deny any claim and a cop in a bad move could impound your car. When I got insured with geico (I had a ca permit at that point) - they game me a full license insurance rate because I had a international license but said it was upto me to comply with local ca requirements for licensing.

I believe in CA you are supposed to act within 10 days - so at the very least I'd apply for an appointment. I think you will be Fine if you show the intent) You are going to have to do the written test - which with an appointment all in takes about 45 mins.

FatherTed

OP you still haven't answered what state you are going to. Every state has different driving laws.

InTheTrees

FatherTed wrote: »

OP you still haven't answered what state you are going to. Every state has different driving laws.

Tx

Mars Bar

The OP said in the first post that he is going to be in Texas

FatherTed

Mars Bar wrote: »

The OP said in the first post that he is going to be in Texas

Got it. Can't read.

Wompa1

InTheTrees wrote: »

Thats dangerous thinking. Its legal for 90 days i believe?

Its not Geico's responsibility to make sure your license is legal or not. they'll simply deny your claim if it isnt.

If you're in an accident they will tell you that because you're driving on a foreign license beyond the 90 day limit that you're insurance policy isnt valid. You will cry about how you paid the premiums and they'll point at the fine print. They will win the argument, you wont.

Also there will be a police report and you will be in serious trouble for driving without a valid licence and without insurance.

You'll also be liable to be sued by the other party in the crash. Assuming there is one.

So best go take care of it. It only takes a few hours.

Geico actually instructed me as I was getting my insurance that I would need to get an Arizona license within 90 days or else I would be under-insured with them. They may be willing to take your money and give you insurance but there's no way you're fully covered. Get your license ASAP.

biddywiddy

Wompa1 wrote: »

Geico actually instructed me as I was getting my insurance that I would need to get an Arizona license within 90 days or else I would be under-insured with them. They may be willing to take your money and give you insurance but there's no way you're fully covered. Get your license ASAP.

Same happened to us in Michigan, though I think we only had 30 days from the start of our policy. Geico also called us a couple of times in that period to check if we had our state licenses.

Wompa1

biddywiddy wrote: »

Same happened to us in Michigan, though I think we only had 30 days from the start of our policy. Geico also called us a couple of times in that period to check if we had our state licenses.

They followed up with me too and kept asking about when I would get my license. I was in a tricky situation. I attempted to do my driving test in a rental car but was told I couldn't use a rental. It was a clusterf*ck

iusedtoknow

Wompa1 wrote: »

They followed up with me too and kept asking about when I would get my license. I was in a tricky situation. I attempted to do my driving test in a rental car but was told I couldn't use a rental. It was a clusterf*ck

In CA you can't do it in a rental either - I used my driving instructors car.

Wompa1

iusedtoknow wrote: »

In CA you can't do it in a rental either - I used my driving instructors car.

I started work 2 days after I arrived. I didn't leave myself much wiggle room. It then turned out that only 1 testing center was open on a Saturday. It was a major stress.

I didn't take any lessons. I used some free online sample tests...that would let you answer 10 questions and then ask you to pay for the rest. When I look back at that...the fact I moved over here, not knowing another soul, got a whole new life setup within a few weeks with all kinds of obstacles e.g. the problems getting my license, BOI locking my credit card every couple of days, getting leveled due to no credit history...I'm surprised I lasted. At one point due to the unexpected added expense of keeping my rental much longer than expected...paying much more for setup and moving...I spent months in an apartment with a no lights.

I discovered when I moved over that most apartments also don't have fixed light fittings in living areas.

él statutorio

Wompa1 wrote: »

Geico actually instructed me as I was getting my insurance that I would need to get an Arizona license within 90 days or else I would be under-insured with them. They may be willing to take your money and give you insurance but there's no way you're fully covered. Get your license ASAP.

Got confirmation on this.

I am covered. The cars are both in my wifes name. She's a CA license holder. The policy covers me (and anyone else) with a license (Irish included) to drive the cars. There's no time limit on it.

They did however offer to discount the policy if I had a CA license also. So I'm getting a license on Friday.

Wompa1

él statutorio wrote: »

Got confirmation on this.

I am covered. The cars are both in my wifes name. She's a CA license holder. The policy covers me (and anyone else) with a license (Irish included) to drive the cars. There's no time limit on it.

They did however offer to discount the policy if I had a CA license also. So I'm getting a license on Friday.

Ahhhhh ok. That makes sense. My sister moved over last year and got insured on my policy with her Irish license. That makes things a lot easier. You're still better to get your state license for sure. Less hassle when you get pulled over

él statutorio

Wompa1 wrote: »

Ahhhhh ok. That makes sense. My sister moved over last year and got insured on my policy with her Irish license. That makes things a lot easier. You're still better to get your state license for sure. Less hassle when you get pulled over

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have omitted that bit of info at the start. :P

I have been pulled over once here and I played up the 'top of the mornings' and 'to be sure to be sures' and managed to talk my way out of a ticket.

I had already booked the test before I got clarification though so it was the motivation I needed!

él statutorio

él statutorio wrote: »

Yeah, I probably shouldn't have omitted that bit of info at the start. :P

I have been pulled over once here and I played up the 'top of the mornings' and 'to be sure to be sures' and managed to talk my way out of a ticket.

I had already booked the test before I got clarification though so it was the motivation I needed!

So I did the test last Friday, got the eyes done, answered the questions etc. I have to wait a month (backlog) to do the actual driving part.

The guy in the DMV said they'll just have me drive round the block as there's a lot of construction going on down there and they want to keep it simple.

Wompa1

él statutorio wrote: »

So I did the test last Friday, got the eyes done, answered the questions etc. I have to wait a month (backlog) to do the actual driving part.

The guy in the DMV said they'll just have me drive round the block as there's a lot of construction going on down there and they want to keep it simple.

HaHa!! You lucked out. My US driving test was pretty easy. I did a quick drive on a freeway. Drove around some surface streets and then back to the driving center to do some parallel parking. In fairness, in California the test should probably be to see how you handle road rage while stuck in traffic.

It was incredible for me though...I did the written test, eye test and driving test one the same day and even went and picked up my license on the same day

biddywiddy

You are lucky!

In Michigan, I had to reverse into a parking space (marked with small cones), parallel park (also into a cone space) and drive and stop at a line (of cones). Then a drive around the neighborhood (lots of sneaky 25 mph residential zones and no-turn-on-red junctions) and then onto and off the freeway. The whole thing took about 45 minutes.

Even though I'd had a full Irish licence for 12 years, I was so nervous. And I knocked over a fair few cones - not enough to warrant a fail though

Bayberry

biddywiddy wrote: »

You are lucky!

In Michigan, I had to reverse into a parking space (marked with small cones), parallel park (also into a cone space) and drive and stop at a line (of cones). Then a drive around the neighborhood (lots of sneaky 25 mph residential zones and no-turn-on-red junctions) and then onto and off the freeway. The whole thing took about 45 minutes.

Even though I'd had a full Irish licence for 12 years, I was so nervous. And I knocked over a fair few cones - not enough to warrant a fail though

I actually failed at my first attempt in PA!

The course was laid out in a lot behind the testing center. At one point I was asked to turn right into a square that was marked off. As an experienced driver, I used the room available to me to take this turn a bit wide in case there was anything behind this imaginary wall that I was supposed to be turning around. "But if there was a car coming the other way you would have hit it" I was told, and "If there was a car coming the other way I would have seen it and not turned as wide" wasn't accepted as a response.

It only meant that had to wait a week and re-do the test the following weekend. Maybe I was a really bad driver by that testers standards, but failing me didn't do anything to keep me off the streets

él statutorio

I still do have the driving bit to do yet (scheduled for the 25th).

Given that there may be parallel parking involved I'm going to take the wife's car (Toyota highlander)as opposed to my car (lifted GMC Sierra pickup).

I can actually parallel park the pick up but it's tricky at the best of times, would rather not deal with the stress of that.

biddywiddy

My husband had taken the test just before me and, with all my nervous flustering, I did a terrible job at readjusting the mirrors. Plus, we have a Jeep, which is higher up than I was used to. In the end, I was lucky I didn't plough through every single cone.

(I swear I do know how to drive!).

Good luck el statutorio!

Novella

I did my driving test in CA and it was ridiculously easy. I drove around a residential area (which was across the street pretty much from the DMV) for about fifteen minutes. The examiner talked to me the entire way through the test - what brought me to the US, how did I meet my husband, was I pregnant with our first baby or did we have more, is Ireland really green etc.

Drove back to the DMV and she said, "You passed, perfect job!" and that was it.

spideog7

My tester here in PA was a dick. Test involved driving some ruralish roads and I failed twice! The first time I was doing 40 in a 35 that was fair enough I wasn't familiar with the area and i missed the sign, the second time he reckoned I didn't stop at any stop sign. I was told afterwards that unless you jerk the car to a stop they'll say you didn't stop, when I was first learning at home the instructor taught me never to jerk the car to a stop, always release the brake before the car actually stops (ever since he taught me the correct way to do it I could stop the car with a full pint of Guinness on the dash and wouldn't spill a drop!). Anyway third time round we had about 2 inches of snow, the tester asked if I wanted someone else since he had failed me twice, I said no it's grand. Almost failed again because I took my wife's mother's car instead because it had 4WD but the high beams were reversed (pull instead of push) took me 3 attempts before I copped to it but your man let me off. Did the whole thing at about 15 miles per hour since the roads weren't ploughed! Passed! Oddly enough the only thing I was nervous about was the parallel parking but I got that perfect 3 times!

iusedtoknow

Passed in San Francisco...it was a laughable test

1. Reverse in a straight line in the DMV parking lot
2. Controlled right and left turn
3. Uncontrolled right and left turn
4. 4 ways stops
5. Lane changes incl. bike changes

that was it. over in 15 minutes and the tester was a bit of a stoner, nice guy and was easy going

DM addict

The test in WA was pretty easy. Had to reverse around a corner, parallel park, and some general driving with lane changes etc. Over in about 20mins.

silja

Passed in Arkansas- it may have something to do with the teenage driver before me taking out a mailbox with the state trooper in the car with him! Trooper had to drive the car back to the testing center where mummy was waiting.... So when the trooper and I went out to my car, he said: "Tell you what, you don't kill us, I'll pass you." He also talked to me about Ireland, and asked me safety questions about the car seats (we had three in the back at the time for 2 year old twins and a baby, all still rear facing, which he liked).
15 minutes around residential roads and crossing a highway and I passed.

Ruu

Novella wrote: »

I did my driving test in CA and it was ridiculously easy. I drove around a residential area (which was across the street pretty much from the DMV) for about fifteen minutes. The examiner talked to me the entire way through the test - what brought me to the US, how did I meet my husband, was I pregnant with our first baby or did we have more, is Ireland really green etc.

Drove back to the DMV and she said, "You passed, perfect job!" and that was it.

Carbon copy of mine in Illinois, same chit-chat about Ireland then done and dusted.

iusedtoknow

silja wrote: »

crossing a highway and I passed.

My test was supposed to go onto the highway, but the tester said, and I quote "F*** that, it's 9:30, I'll be seeing how well you deal with sitting in traffic on an onramp more than anything, let's just go back to the DMV"

lil_lisa

I'm pretty sure just pulling up in a manual to the test gave me an automatic pass (excuse the pun :P).

My brother came over last summer and he wanted to get his license. I told him to spend the day before watching the testers and instructors pull out of the DMV and follow them to get an idea of the test. The first one turned right on a red light into oncoming traffic. I don't know if he was more excited about witnessing a crash (no injuries) or the fact that he realised the hardest part about the test was to NOT CRASH. Ha ha.

él statutorio

Did the test on Monday, passed, yay!

It was a bit of a joke tbh, did a few laps around the block, made a few turns. Reversed in a straight line. Job done.

No freeway (test center is right beside it) no bike lanes nothing.

Very very easy.