6 months in the US; driving questions

Hi! It's been a while...  We'll be spending a six month sabbatical in Berkeley starting the beginning of July. Husband and I both have UK driving licences but we've stupidly let our US licences expire. We're planning on either renting a car while we're there or buying a car and selling it after our six months. My first question is whether we can get car insurance with a UK licence.

My second, third, fourth, fifth questions will be forthcoming...

Not sure what state your original licenses were from but wouldn't it be easier to just renew/get a new CA license?

My first licence was in California. Then we spent many years in Michigan. We don't get back to Michigan these days so I wasn't able to renew my licence. I just hate to think of taking another driving test, but I may have to do that...

If I recall correctly the CA driving test consists of being able to drive around the block without hitting anyone. 

I think I can do that!

Yea, US driving tests are notoriously easy. Mine (NJ) consisted of driving around a "course" set up in a parking lot. You had to maintain a speed of between 10 and 15 mph the whole time. Shamefully easy, really.

How long has your Michigan license been expired? You might be able to get away with having to take a written test but not a road test (of course, the written is probably harder, in this case).

Ok, I looked it up. You will definitely have to take a written test (you would even if your Michigan license were still valid) but it's unclear if you'll need to take a road test. It says that if you have a license from another state, it may be waived (but not if it has to be current valid or not or which states qualify to be waived). http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#two500

It's a funny story about my Michigan driving licence...

When we lived there you had to renew your licence every four years, but every eight years you had to take the written test just to show you were still conscious. The year after we moved to England I needed to renew but not take the test. I no longer had a Michigan address so I asked a friend if I could use her address and have her mail it to me. She did, and a week later our house was burgled and my bag and everything in it was stolen. I couldn't bear to ask my friend to go through the whole thing again. (And I had a feeling it would involve a lot of questions from the DMV people and my overseas address might cause problems.) I just didn't want to deal with it at the time!

Last year would have been the four year renewal again but I would have had to take the written test. In Michigan.

I suppose I should just do what's needed to get myself a California driver's licence since I go back there every year to visit my family and it would be easy enough to take any periodic written tests, use a relative's address, etc.

I don't remember the California road test being that easy. I flunked the first time, but that was back in the 70s...

Thanks for doing that research, Aimless!


 

It depends on the state and even your local area.

I suppose the only issue is, if you use an address you don't live at and you have an accident and you had insurance based on a license that was inaccurate, could the insurance company refuse to pay? 

I think you can order a letter or driving abstract in lieu of the actual physical license, if you wanted to try to get a CA license. I'm not sure if you'll need to retake the written test periodically for California. I've always had a NJ license and you need to renew it in person every four years but it's a very quick procedure that has taken all of fifteen minutes from walking in the door the last two times I did it. I passed my written test sophomore year of high school in driver's ed class and it was easy because the teacher practically gave us the questions (and answers) during a "review" the day before. I'm not sure how well I retained any of it and how well I'd do if I had to retake it! I'm glad there's no such requirement.

You do have to retake the written test periodically in CA. The last time I renewed I had to take it but it was no harder than usual. A quick study through the book should do you.

Hi Septic

  Just wondering after reading your situation, did you notify the IRS about living & i assume working in the UK?
  I wish i hadn't surrendered my VA drivers license before i arrived here in London July 2011. I've already notified the IRS that i am now living & working here in London. I'm thinking of applying for a VA drivers license on my next trip back to the states. My father resides in Va & want to use his address when i apply for a drivers license. Is that prudent to do that since the IRS knows my new address in London?