Driving license in the USA: is it so difficult to pass the first time?
Guys, today I want to raise the topic of obtaining a driver’s license in the USA, which will replace your passport here; many Americans use their Driver License as proof of identity. Upon arrival here, our students think about renting or buying a car for mobility, but in fact, you can use a foreign license for the first six months in America, and then you need to think about getting a local one. Now I’ll tell you what the process consists of and how to get a license in the USA without unnecessary stress.
First, you need to register in the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) system and take a coupon to pass the theory and practice. The first is a theoretical test, upon passing which you are automatically allowed to practice. Therefore, I advise you to book time first for theory and then for practice. In order to do this you will need a local SIM card.
Next, you will need to confirm your identity, namely provide the following documents: passport, driver's license (if available), Form I-20, Certificate I-94 (done online in a couple of minutes) and two confirmations of residential address in the United States (rental agreement / bill utilities/bank letters). Afterwards, you can come to the selected DMV office and pay the state fee, the amount of which is set by the state (usually from $20 to $100). In general, the theoretical exam is quite easy, it is taken on a computer, and in some offices you can even choose Russian. I advise you to use the “DMV test” application to prepare for the test; many questions will overlap with questions on the real exam.
Traffic rules in the USA are similar to Russian ones, but they have their own peculiarities, so you should study them in advance. If for some reason you fail to pass the test the first time, you can try 2 more times; you are given three attempts. After successfully passing the theory, you will receive a permit, which will allow you to drive, but only in the presence of a person with a driver's license.
When it comes to practice, you will need to come in your own or a rented car; usually the DMV does not provide a car. I took about 10 minutes, there were simple tasks such as testing knowledge of signs, how a car turns on/off, turn signals, and the like. The funny thing is that, unlike the same exam in Russia, they are not trying to fail you. After successfully passing the practice, you will be asked a few formal questions, fingerprinted, have your eyesight checked and issued a temporary driver's license, and the real one will arrive in a couple of days at the address you indicated earlier.
Author: Anton Nayanzin
