I have a Nigerian license. I've had it for about a year till i finally
settled down in NJ. Here's my qestion.. I'm 17yrs old. I'll be 18 in
september.. If i already have a foreign license(nigerian) license
which is still valid, do i still have to go thru the GDL thing? Get a
permit? Wait 6 months before i can take a road test? I mean i have a
year driving experience in Nigeria so i dont think i should go through
all this. What confuses me is that I am a citizen of the united states
so i have an american passport. So how would this work? Since im a
citizen and resident of NJ, do i walk in with my international license
which is in english, and take the written test and get a license
immediately? I think one of my friends did this before. Anyway help?

Hello.

If you wish to obtain a New Jersey license before September, you will
have to go through the GDL process.  The GDL FAQ on the New Jersey MVS
website at http://www.state.nj.us/mvs/gdl/faqs.html includes
"individuals under the age of 18 transferring from out of state or
country with a valid license from that state or country" in its list
of who is required to obtain a GDL permit.  If you need to get your
license now, MVS will require you to go through the GDL program,
regardless of your US citizenship and NJ residency.

However, once you turn 18 in September, you will be able to obtain an
unrestricted license without going through the "provisional license"
step that all those without current valid driver's licenses must. 
Your valid Nigerian driver's license at that time will make the
process of obtaining a New Jersey Basic License much easier. 
According to the same FAQ, "individuals 18 years or older transferring
from out of state or foreign country with a valid license from that
state or country" are "not required to obtain a GDL permit," while new
drivers are required to go through the process (though the wait for
the road test is shorter for those drivers 21 and older and there are
few restrictions).

I hope this helps.  If you need further information I will be glad to
clarify my answer to help you obtain it.  Thank you for using Google
Answers.

surajambar-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by dodoboy86-ga on 15 Mar 2003 06:14 PST

So what you are saying is that I have to wait till im 18 till i can get the license?

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Clarification of Answer by surajambar-ga on 15 Mar 2003 21:41 PST

You can get an examination permit right now, but you would have to go
through the same process as if you had never driven before.  The
things you need for that step are found here:
http://www.state.nj.us/mvs/gdl/17_and_step1.html

When you are 18, however, you can get an unrestricted driver's license
immediately.

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Clarification of Answer by surajambar-ga on 15 Mar 2003 21:44 PST

You can get an examination permit right now at your local DMV, but you
would have to go through the same process as if you had never driven
before.  The things you need for that step are found at
http://www.state.nj.us/mvs/gdl/17_and_step1.html

When you are 18, however, you can get an unrestricted driver's license
immediately.  Then they will take your driving experience and current
driver's license into consideration.