driving problems

pogo mudder

I'm British with a full drivers license, I'm going to America on a working VISA (if that makes any difference) next year, and I'll need a car to get around. Anyone know what procedure i have to go through to be able to drive in the USA, if any?

MKR

Find a DMV (department of motor vehicles) building, and take a test. Say which state you're going to and I'm sure someone will be able to reccomend a DMV there.

Edit: I don't know about a car, though.

KMFurDM

It depends on how long you are staying, which state, and whether you are buying a car.

Deathwing

Start here.

It looks like the first thing you need to do is talk to the appropriate British authorities and ask about getting an international driving permit.

Szechuanosaurus

As far as I can figure, a full, valid UK drivers license already is an international drivers license. As such, you can hire a car in the US so long as you hold a full license. You should contact the DVLA to confirm, but from what I can tell, the only thing you'd normally need for driving abroad is an IDP which as that link explains is basically a translation of your drivers license into several languages, explaining what you're qualified to drive. It might be worth getting one of these anyway, as it may also help clarify any points of contention with your license and how it relates to laws in the US. Get in touch with one of the motoring organisations listed (AA, RAC etc.) to see whether you need to get one for driving in the states. They only cost five quid.

As you're presumably going to be resident for a while and therefore buying, I'm not sure if, from the looks of Deathwing's link, you'd need to ultimately apply for a US drivers license in the state where you will be resident. You aren't becoming a permanent resident so this might not be necessary, but you might want to get in touch with the local motor vehicle department to clarify. You'd certainly need a US home address to register the car to etc. and I'd imagine that would also entail having a valid US drivers permit registered at the same address, as is the case here in the UK. But then again, Top Gear did that show where they bought second hand cars instead of renting in the states a few months ago. Although I'm not sure the dealers they bought them from really cared for official documentation anyway.

pogo mudder

thanks for your help szech, basically answered all i needed to know, and im only going to be travelling round america with my flat mate using up the rest of our working VISA's after we're done working at one of those summer camp things, so the whole registering wont be a problem.

thanks again