“Yes, you can drive in the United States with a foreign driver’s license,” Stilt answers when asked by migrants in that country.
They warn that there are restrictions and that you must meet various requirements to use your driver’s license.
First we will basic driving requirements in general terms:
According to usa.gov, the requirements to drive in the United States depend on each state.
In some cases, you will need an International Driving Permit (IDP), as well as your country’s driver’s license.
Here are the requirements and process to apply for a driver’s license in New Jersey if so
Requirements to drive in the United States with a foreign driver’s license
The driving license must be issued in English
They emphasize on that site that the name, numbers and symbols must be in English and must be legible.
If not, “you must have an international driver’s license (IDP) issued by your country of origin,” says Stilt.
Some officials “recommend an IDP over the driver’s license issued by your state. But as long as the driver’s license is valid, in English and you won’t be driving for more than 3 months, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
They suggest using translation services to translate the driver’s license into English.
The outlet points out that some states, such as Texas, accept permits in Spanish, but it’s not recommended. You can contact the United States Consulate in your country to have the license translated for you, he reiterates on his Stilt website.
You must not have any obvious medical conditions that prevent you from driving
When applying for a driver’s license in the United States, you must undergo a medical examination. They will want to test your visual acuity and find out whether or not you have a seizure disorder.
These are the requirements you must meet in order to travel in the United States with your own or rented car
Time to drive with a foreign driver’s license
This is important to know: The United States, the aforementioned site says, “allows all visitors to drive up to 3 months with a foreign driver’s license. This is from the date of entry into the country, according to official data.
After this, your foreign driving license will no longer work. To continue driving, you must apply for an IDP.
You should be aware that the United States does not issue IDPs to short term visitors. It can only be obtained in your country of origin.
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However, they warn that getting the IDP is different short-term visitors and the residents. Therefore, you must follow the correct procedure according to the category you belong to.
Who are short-term visitors? They are people who enter the United States and stay for 6 months or less.
the IDP
An IDP – explains usa.gov – is a form of identification recognized by many countries around the world that allows you to legally drive in a country other than your own.
Obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP).
• In the United States, not all states require an International Driving Permit or International Driving Permit.
To find out, you’ll need to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles in each state you’ll be driving to see if you need an IDP.
• The international driver’s license must be obtained before your trip in the country that issued your driver’s license. IDPs are not issued to foreign visitors in the United States.
• Check the rules and requirements of US car rental companies in advance. Some require a driver’s license and IDP.
If you are a tourist and plan to drive 🚘 in the United States, check the identification requirements of the state in which you will be driving. Some states require an international driver’s license (IDP) and a valid driver’s license from your country. Learn more. 👉 https://t.co/hNTUZobhYr pic.twitter.com/HHkDMFLxw4
— USAGov in Spanish (@USAGovEspanol) July 5, 2023
What you should know
In most US states, they require the following documents to process the driver’s license, reports La Red Hispana:
With information from Stilt, usa.gov and La Red Hispana
Source: Eluniverso

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