8/5/0
So, you have arrived in the USA, rented or bought a car, and are planning to take a long trip across the States or just "go shopping" at the nearest supermarket.
As they explained to me at the police station, our domestic driver's licenses will suffice for a while if you have a translation into English made by any American translation agency. You can also have a translation done at home and notarized by the Ministry of Justice, but such translations are not accepted in every American state. I had problems with document translation and had to redo everything on the spot.
Here it is twice as expensive, but more reliable. Our compatriots have long expanded this business across America, so ordering translation agency services will not be a problem. You can find their ads in the local Russian newspaper, a Russian store, or any other place somehow connected with Russia, Ukraine, or other CIS countries. So if you are here as a tourist, guest, or passing through, attach a translation to your domestic driver's license – and drive all over America. But if you have come here for a long time, it is better to simply get an American driver's license, which will be useful not only for driving but also as an identification document – the so-called 'ID'. In America, a passport is practically unnecessary if you have a driver's license. You can open a bank account, become a club member, sign up for a library, and, of course, drive a car.
What do you need to do to get an American driver's license? Each state has its own laws, but in principle, there is not much difference. You will need a minimum of three documents: they can be a passport, a birth certificate (with translation), a driver's license (with translation). Instead of a birth certificate, you can use a student ID or a diploma from any American educational institution, a marriage or divorce certificate, as well as your American visa, which is considered a separate document. You will collect this package, go to the appropriate office, the location of which you can easily find out at any police station, fill out a simple questionnaire in English, and receive tickets for taking the theoretical exam.
To prepare, it is best to purchase a brochure in advance that explains driving rules and road signs. I have not come across such brochures in Russian, but the test tickets should be offered to you in Russian. Therefore, if you do not speak English, but you somehow manage to translate the rules written in the brochure, you will pass the exam.
Typically, the test has about 40-50 multiple-choice questions, like in our country, on the topic of driving and signs. Essentially, it all comes down to being extremely attentive and careful on the road. So it is better to choose the answer that seems closest to that rule, even if it sounds a bit absurd. You also need to remember some numbers: speed limits on different roads, distances, parking permissions or prohibitions, and so on. In addition to the brochure, I used the website www.driverstest.net, which works on the principle of an online test. The questions on rules there differ slightly from the tickets given on the exam, but on road signs they match perfectly.
After passing the theoretical exam, you will have to show how well you can drive. The driving test is administered by an independent instructor – a person licensed for this type of activity. You will be given a list of instructors after passing the theory, and you will also receive a brochure describing the requirements for the practical exam. The exam costs about 40 dollars. Passing depends on the points you score. The exam is long, up to 45 minutes. The maneuvers on the practice area are the same as in our country, but the actual driving is quite a serious event. And after passing this exam, you really feel that you are familiar with the rules and specifics of driving a car in America.
Read the continuation of the article:
Hey, driver, don't be shy, hit the highway – 2