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Q: Driving license for tourists ( Answered 4 out of 5 stars,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Driving license for tourists
Category: Miscellaneous
Asked by: alejandro-ga
List Price: $2.00
Posted: 14 Aug 2002 01:24 PDT
Expires: 13 Sep 2002 01:24 PDT
Question ID: 54413
Can I get a driving license in Florida if I'm a Spanish (Spain)
citizen and I only have a tourist visa (to visit the country for
holidays)? I don´t have any driving license.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Driving license for tourists
Answered By: joseleon-ga on 14 Aug 2002 04:17 PDT
Rated:4 out of 5 stars
 
Hello:

  I'm also spanish from Spain (from Alicante) and I answer you this
question in english to allow others read it, I hope you understand.

As a result of my research I think you cannot do what you want, you
could only drive a vehicle in California if you already have a driver
license from other country or you get a job or become resident. Take a
look at the following information.

"If you are a visitor in California over 18 and have a valid driver
license from your home state or country, you may drive in this state
without getting a California driver license as long as your home state
license remains valid.

If you take a job here or become a resident, you must get a California
driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a
California election, paying resident tuition, filing for home owner's
property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not
ordinarily extended to nonresidents."

Driver License and Identification (ID) Card Information
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#2500

The following link contain information for British people, but it can
be useful to you:

Visiting the United States: Driving
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/rctour.html#autos

Information about California Driving License
http://www.gomilpitas.com/DriversEd.htm

I have answer this question from the point of view you want to get a
full driver license and then, come back to Spain to validate it. If
you want more information about get a temporary driver license,
please, request for a clarification.

Regards.

Request for Answer Clarification by alejandro-ga on 14 Aug 2002 07:23 PDT
Thank you very much for your answer, it's kinda strange to write in
English if we are Spanish, but these are the rules :P

I need a clarification. Acconding to this, if I don't have a Spanish
driving license or any other... Can I apply for a driving license in
Florida, can´t I? That's the point I don't get. Can I get a temporary
driver license or whatever?

I don't want to convalidate it, sounds good, but my main target is to
drive a car in Florida if I don't have a driving license. The tests
there are very easy and cheap.

Please, answer ASAP.

Regards.

Clarification of Answer by joseleon-ga on 14 Aug 2002 10:04 PDT
Hello:
  I'm really sorry, I read California instead of Florida, I have done
again the research and here are the results:


Obtaining FL DL or Id Card
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/geninfo.html

What do I need to bring to obtain a Florida Driver License or
Identification Card?

Under Age 18

    * United States Citizen proof of identity.
    * Non-United States Citizen proof of identity.
    * Social Security number, if issued.
    * Proof of completion of a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education
Course or license from another jurisdiction.
* Parental Consent Form - must be notarized or signed in the presence
of a driver license examiner.

Age 18 or Older

    * United States Citizen proof of identity.
    * Non-United States Citizen proof of identity.
    * Social Security number, if issued.
* Proof of completion of a Traffic Law & Substance Abuse Education
Course or license from another jurisdiction.

New Resident

    * United States Citizen requirements.
    * Non-United States Citizen requirements.
* Other pertinent information regarding vehicle registration, tags,
and titles.

Part-time Resident

    * Part-time residents may elect to retain their valid out-of-state
license and receive a Florida license which states "Valid in Florida
Only."

Non-United States Citizens
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/ddl/faqkeys.html#NUSC

Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires
identification, proof of date of birth and social security number (if
issued) from all customers before a driver license or identification
card can be issued.

Immigrants
Each immigrant who applies for an original driver license or
identification card must submit:

    # Alien Registration receipt card, (Green card, Form I-151 or
I-551); or
    # I-551 stamp in passport or on I-94; or 

Non-Immigrants

Each non-immigrant who applies for an original driver license or
identification card must submit:

    # Employment authorization card issued by the United States
Department of Justice (Form I688B or I-766); or
    # Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by United States
Department of Justice (Form I-94, not expired, with required
supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents,
please bring all of your INS documentation with you.). I-94s must be
accompanied by a Passport. Certain classifications require additional
documentation. Some examples are:
          * F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an
I-20.
          * I J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by an IAP-66.
          * Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be
accompanied by additional documentation.

The following documents will only be accepted with a supporting
document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver
License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state,
Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification
from home country, Identification from school or college, Social
Security Card or other INS document.

    # I-571 Travel Document/Refugee Travel Permit
    # I-512 Parole Letter Accepted
    # IJO- Asylum or Cancellation of Removal - Immigration Judges
Order granting Asylum or Cancellation of Removal.
          * All required and supporting documents MUST be original or
certified.
          * Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from the
date of issuance.
          * Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original driver license
will be issued a 30-day, no photo, paper temporary permit and a
receipt. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an identification card will be
issued a receipt.
          * All records are transmitted to our database in
Tallahassee, where the information will be examined and run against
FDLE, FBI and INS databases.
          * Upon identity and legal status verification, a driver
license or identification card will be issued within 30 days from
Tallahassee, mailed to the address on the driver record. The license
or identification card will be issued for the period of time specified
on the INS document.
    * If a problem is detected, a denial of issuance letter will be
mailed to the customer.

For what I have read, it seems you can do it with no problem, and
applying logic, if you pass the exams, why not?. The problem could be
the documents you need, I don't know what kind of documents you have,
but if you are simple tourist you can have problems with that. Check
all the information I submitted and tell me if you apply or not.

International driver's license is not required

Also check this page:

Car rental tips
http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/carrental.html

"An international driver's license is not required in the US. You can
usually rent a car and drive with a valid driver's license from your
home country. An international license may be helpful in convincing
the car rental agent that you really have a valid license when they
cannot recognize or understand your license. Some rental agencies will
not rent cars to anyone less than 25 years old. Other agencies will
rent to young people but will charge a higher fee. Some agencies will
not rent to anyone over 71 years old. Be sure to check on these
restrictions if you are in these age categories."

Regards.

Request for Answer Clarification by alejandro-ga on 14 Aug 2002 12:16 PDT
Sorry, but the answer is not clear yet. I don´t know if I can get the
driving license or I can´t. I have only the Visa for 3 months that
everybody gets in a flight when you travel from the EU. If you can't
find the right solution, please let me know to ask for a refound.
Anyway, that you very much for your try.

Regards.

Clarification of Answer by joseleon-ga on 15 Aug 2002 07:13 PDT
Hello:

In my last clarification I told you:

"The problem could be the documents you need, I don't know what kind
of documents you have, but if you are simple tourist you can have
problems with that."

Now you are telling me you only have a 3 months Visa so you don't meet
the requeriments to get a driver license there, if you read all the
information I posted:

"Original Driver License or Identification Card Florida law requires
identification, proof of date of birth and social security number (if
issued) from all customers before a driver license or identification
card can be issued."

Non-Immigrants 
 
Each non-immigrant who applies for an original driver license or
identification card must submit:
 
    # Employment authorization card issued by the United States
Department of Justice (Form I688B or I-766); or
    # Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by United States
Department of Justice (Form I-94, not expired, with required
supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents,
please bring all of your INS documentation with you.). I-94s must be
accompanied by a Passport. Certain classifications require additional
documentation. Some examples are:
          * F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an
I-20.
          * I J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by an IAP-66.
          * Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be
accompanied by additional documentation.
 
The following documents will only be accepted with a supporting
document, including but not limited to a Passport, Florida Driver
License or Identification Card, Driver License from any other state,
Employment Authorization Card, Employer Identification, Identification
from home country, Identification from school or college, Social
Security Card or other INS document.
 
    # I-571 Travel Document/Refugee Travel Permit 
    # I-512 Parole Letter Accepted 
    # IJO- Asylum or Cancellation of Removal - Immigration Judges
Order granting Asylum or Cancellation of Removal.
          * All required and supporting documents MUST be original or
certified.
          * Documents must be valid for more than 30 days from the
date of issuance.
          * Non-U.S. citizens applying for an original driver license
will be issued a 30-day, no photo, paper temporary permit and a
receipt. Non-U.S. citizens applying for an identification card will be
issued a receipt.

All that means that if you are only a tourist you CAN'T get a driver
license if you don't have it already from another state/country.
But because I wasn't sure of your documents I didn't give you a final
answer. In California you can get a temporary SSN which will be
useful to get a driver license, but I couldn't find any information of
this in Florida.

If you met these requeriments:

    # Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by United States
Department of Justice (Form I-94, not expired, with required
supporting attachment(s). If in doubt regarding required documents,
please bring all of your INS documentation with you.). I-94s must be
accompanied by a Passport. Certain classifications require additional
documentation. Some examples are:
          * F-1 and M-1 classification must also be accompanied by an
I-20.
          * I J-1 or J-2 designation must be accompanied by an IAP-66.
          * Refugee, asylee and parolee classifications must be
accompanied by additional documentation.

You could apply for one, but for what you are telling me this is not
the case.
I'm sorry if you think this doesn't answer your question and you are
in your right to ask for a refund, in any case,
thanks for using this service and sorry for any inconvenience I caused
you.


Regards.
alejandro-ga rated this answer:4 out of 5 stars

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