Guide to Obtaining a Driver's License
In most cases, Foreign Service teens living overseas are unable to get a driver’s license until they return to the
Requirements
- Traffic laws and driver requirements differ by state so check with the local DMV.
- Web addresses for the DMV offices in the Metropolitan D.C. area are listed below. For all others check here.
- Many require parental permission, a Social Security card and an original copy/certified birth certificate. Other necessary documentation varies greatly. Check your DMV website to find out what the requirements and necessary documents to make certain that you have everything in order, especially if coming from overseas and applying on summer leave.
Driver’s Education
- Driver’s education, both class room instruction and behind-the-wheel, vary in availability. Free classroom instruction is often offered through public high schools.
- Since driver’s education is not uniformly offered or required in all
- Getting hands-on driving practice difficult overseas, but it is possible to prepare for the driver’s license written exam. Before returning to the
The Handbook
- The Driver’s Manual or Driver’s Handbook publications are available from the Department of Transportation, the Motor Vehicle Administration or the Department of Motor Vehicles and provide a basic text for learning a state’s driving laws.
- Many states publish their manuals online. For a complete listing of DMV manuals click here.
- American Automobile Association (AAA), a company which provides insurance and other services for drivers, offers publications to members that may be useful to obtain while still overseas, including a combination video and manual, Teaching Your Teen to Drive.
- If you are an AAA or a USAA member, check with them to see if they have any other materials directs towards new and teen drivers and driver safety. Other insurance companies may have materials as well, so check with your provider.
- In addition, driver's education classroom instruction is available through correspondence courses in which students analyze real driving situations before they drive.
NOTE: Students who want to use this course to meet insurance discount or state education requirements must first check with their state's Department of Motor Vehicles to verify if this course will meet that state's requirements.
Behind-the-Wheel
- Students will also need 15 hours behind-the-wheel instruction through an approved driver's education program as well as certification that they have had 40 hours of driving time with a qualified adult diver supervisor.
- Some states, such as
- Foreign Service parents who send their children to summer camp in the
- Consult a guide such as Peterson's Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers or contact an advisory service such as the National Camp Association in
IN THE WASHINGTON AREA
In addition to a basic driving course, consider a defensive driving course that could provide a wake-up call for overconfident yet inexperienced teens.
Idea: Sign your teen up for a 1-day accident-avoidance course. This helps teens with a learner's permit, or college students on home leave, to learn and improve some basic driving skills.
For youth with special needs, it is recommended to contact a local school for children with learning disabilities and ask for their recommendation for a behind-the-wheel instructor skilled in working with children who learn differently.
GETTING THE DRIVER'S LICENSE
In
While there are differences in details, generally to get a learner's permit applicants must meet the local eligibility requirements by bringing the following documentation to the local DMV:
- Proof of age, identity, and residency;
- For those under 18, proof of their parents' permission to apply for a permit; and
- Social Security card for DC and Virginia residents.
At the Department of Motor Vehicles, applicants must:
- Fill out an application form;
- Pass a written test on traffic laws and safety rules;
- Pass an eye examination; and
- Pay fees.
To get the driver’s license, passing a road test is required for first-time applicants, of any age, who have never had a license. Those under 18 often take it at the end of their behind-the-wheel course.
Applicants intending to apply for a permit or license in one of the
For Driver's Licenses - http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/drivers/index.asp
Maryland - DMV: http://mva.state.md.us/
For Driver's Licenses - http://www.marylandmva.com/DriverServ/Apply/apply.htm
District of Columbia - DMV: http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/main.shtm
For Driver's Licenses - http://dmv.washingtondc.gov/serv/dlicense.shtm
INSURANCE
Make sure to register your teen driver to your insurance and check with your provider to see if there are any special offers or programs for new and young drivers.
Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office
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