Comments | expats: Stupid DMV...

miastarrx in expats

Stupid DMV...

Apr 20, 2004 17:10

OK, here is my extrapolated little circumstance - I am trying to get a California driver's license and the DMV here are really stupid. That's the short version. I'm hoping that perhaps a foreign national who got their California license can tell me what the procedure was, because the DMV can't seem to get their story straight ( Read more... )

driving

Comments 30

califia April 21 2004, 06:34:48 UTC

I am trying to get a California driver's license and the DMV here are really stupid

you have no idea. your experience is just the tip of the iceberg. I've been told that they do not have phones so no one can make any calls [except I've actually called them -- amazing since they have no phones!] and a friend had been told that 'I'm sorry, the person you need to speak to doesn't have a telephone. Can I take your number and have them call you back?' to which she replied, 'how can you expect them to call me back if they don't have a telephone?'

the california dmv are probably more incompetent than the UK IND and that's saying a whole hell of a lot.

major_beefcake April 21 2004, 06:55:01 UTC

Only advantage of getting a US license that I am aware of:
When you get your insurance your rate should drop when you have a US license and on renewal they will ask when you first obtained your US license.

Also you can only officially drive on your non-US license for one year.

An intangible advantage is that you will avoid the look that people give (like you are a green skinned alien) when you hand them *any* other form of ID when attempting to purchase alcohol or get into anywhere with an age restriction. Funny I had one person demand to see my drivers license when I tried to cash a travellers cheque...so I gave them my UK one which has no picture (it's a piece of paper) and the look on their face. They made some smart arsed reply about what was that "It's my drivers license what you asked for. Do you think I'd be cashing a travellers cheque if I was American?"

britgeekgrrl April 21 2004, 08:52:39 UTC

An intangible advantage is that you will avoid the look that people give (like you are a green skinned alien) when you hand them *any* other form of ID when attempting to purchase alcohol or get into anywhere with an age restriction.Ooooh! That drove me up a wall ( ... )

major_beefcake April 21 2004, 10:30:22 UTC

>I have a green card. It's a federally issued government ID, with my picture and DOB on it.

Same here and Busch Gardens decided they couldn't accept my drivers license because it had a slight delamination on it (the fact that I was 32 at the time didn't cross their minds). Then they had to discuss whether they could accept my Green Card!

On the Federally issues subject...I previously worked for the US Navy, but my ID badge from that job wasn't sufficient to prove who I was for the purposes of green card finger printing! It had my photo on it and "Department of Navy/DoD" on it! Now my drivers license, that was OK!

>What really got my goat was that I was *assured* (ha!) by the INS that the green card is the equivalent of a military ID or passport for ID

Yeah right! Only if the person has seen one before! I had a roomate who was from Ireland (EIRE) and didn't drive - he got harassed by the cops because they couldn't believe he didn't have any ID on him.

Oh yeah and on your person 24h/day. In my wallet!

britgeekgrrl April 21 2004, 10:32:50 UTC

Oh yeah and on your person 24h/day. In my wallet!

Me too, which makes the possibility of losing my wallet even more horrific. I lost it once and the process of just trying to get the forms for a new green card was bad enough! Fortunately, the wallet was returned intact, so I didn't have to go through the actual replacement process. *shudder*

Thread 13

nellwyn April 21 2004, 13:32:29 UTC

Nothing useful here except something I find amusing after moving to the UK from the US. I could drive for a year on my US license in the UK before being required to have a UK license (written and driven test required). I just find it amusing... I'm an okay driver for a year on the UK roads, but afterwards I'm unsafe somehow and need a UK license?! Strange legislation..

miastarrx April 21 2004, 18:31:06 UTC

My point exactly, but in reverse! I'm OK to drive with my Australian license as a non-resident of California, but as soon as I become a resident, I need a drive test? Kinda dumb to me.

Just jumping in... never1eighty April 26 2004, 16:52:14 UTC

UGH. This so bugs me. I have moved from California to the UK and I was all fine and legal to drive on the wrong side of the bloody car on the wrong side of the bloody road for a year with no problems and you'd think if I could manage that for a whole year without getting into any scraps (not to mention shifting with my left hand), I could do so after that year without a test. Stupid ppl.

Oh, btw, the DMV is just as stupid. You basically just have to go, stand in line for a year and let them tell you you need stg different at every window you get to.