International moving guide
Driving in a Foreign Country and getting your license
If you drive in your current country of residence, most likely you are planning on driving in the country of destination you are relocating to. Being this the case, you should add to your “to do” list yet another hour or two on the Internet to research about the specific governmental requirements for driving licenses in the new country.
As a general fact, most countries around the globe will grant US driving license holders a grace period within which no other document would be necessary in order to drive in any city of that country. Nonetheless, the grace period may vary from country to country and it is completely advisable you check this matter before
relocating or as soon as possible upon arrival.
Another popular choice is to do all the preparations necessary to obtain an international driving permit either in your home country or in the new one. If you wish to take care of this procedure at home, consult your local DMV for more details about dates, fees and locations. You could also wait and have it done in your country of destination. That way you may have a better understanding of the conditions and requirements for local driving permits and for international driving license documentation. Whichever you decide to do then, the driving license tests are pretty much the same as in the US consisting of a written test (normally in a language you are proficient in), a basic optometric test, and a practical driving test.
Another approach you may want to try is to get in touch with the pertinent Embassy or Consulate and consult with them regarding what sort of documentation is valid for driving. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by discovering that your US driving license is valid in that country for as long as you will stay, if not, you may always inquire about the necessary steps in order to issue a valid driving permit in that particular country.
Once you have finished with the legal documentation inquiries related to driving, expect to have a habituation period under the new driving conditions the new country will pose for you. Be patient and do not get discourage, irritated, or frightened with the driving style of the locals, chances are you will be driving just like them in just a few days.
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