Hand a German driver's license to a Texas DPS examiner, agree to surrender it, and you skip both the knowledge test and the road test. Hand the same license to the California DMV and you take both, and you need someone to drive you to the drive test and home again.
California lawmakers have tried to change that at least five times since 2018. Every bill died.
There is no national rule: each state decides how long visitors may drive, how fast new residents must switch and which foreign licenses earn a test waiver. Below: five large states compared, the International Driving Permit explained, and what a DMV-ready translation must show.
Can I drive in the US with a foreign driver's license?
Yes, as a visitor, in the states covered here, as long as the license is valid and you carry it. The details differ:
- California: a nonresident over 18 with a valid license from the foreign jurisdiction where they live may drive without a California license (Vehicle Code 12502). California does not require visitors to have an International Driving Permit.
- New York: the DMV says plainly that you "can drive in New York State with a valid driver license from another country."
- Texas: DPS requires a valid license or international permit "translated into English." Visitors from countries covered by the international agreements DPS applies may drive for up to one year from entry or until they become Texas residents, and DPS limits those privileges to drivers aged 18 to 75.
- Florida: a nonresident aged 16 or older with a valid license from their home state or country may drive ordinary passenger cars (Florida Statutes 322.04).
- Virginia: state law lets driving privileges be extended to nonresidents from foreign countries who hold a valid home license (Code of Virginia 46.2-307).
Rental companies and insurers set their own document rules, so a translation or IDP can be useful even where the state does not demand one.
How long can I drive on a foreign license after moving to the US?
Only until you become a resident, plus a short grace period that varies widely:
| State | Deadline for new residents |
|---|---|
| California | 10 days after establishing residence (Vehicle Code 12505) |
| Florida | 30 days after starting work or enrolling children in a public school; the spouse and dependent children too (Florida Statutes 322.031) |
| Virginia | 60 days of residency (Code of Virginia 46.2-308) |
| Texas | 90 days after moving, with a license from a "qualifying country" (DPS) |
| Illinois | First 90 days of residence (625 ILCS 5/6-102) |
| New York | A New York license is needed once you become a resident (DMV) |
The common trap is the H-1B worker or new green card holder who keeps driving on a home license for months. Once you have moved, assume you are a resident.
Foreign license rules in five states
| State | Test waivers for foreign licenses | Translation rules |
|---|---|---|
| California | None: knowledge and drive tests for every foreign license | None stated by the DMV; visitors need no IDP |
| New York | None: written test, five-hour pre-licensing course and road test | Non-English license: bring an IDP or a translation certified by a consulate, the State Department or another government agency to the road test |
| Texas | France, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan: both exams waived if you surrender the license (passenger vehicles, 18 and over) | License not in English or Spanish: translated by a translation service or consulate before your visit |
| Florida | Canada (with surrender), France, South Korea, Taiwan: both exams waived; Germany: skills exam only | Not addressed in the statute; ask the county tax collector |
| Virginia | France, Germany, Japan, South Korea: knowledge and road tests may be waived; Taiwan: road test only | Not addressed on the DMV's exchange page |
California: everyone tests
Every applicant with a foreign license takes the knowledge test and the drive test. A 2023 Assembly Transportation Committee analysis put it bluntly: foreign nationals take both "regardless of their country of origin." It also notes that Vehicle Code 12511 requires surrendering the foreign license before a California one is issued.
Reciprocity bills keep dying: SB 1360 (2018), AB 269 (2019), AB 723 (2021), AB 639 (2023) and AB 2196, which would have let the DMV waive the drive test for licenses from Japan, Taiwan and South Korea but stalled in committee in May 2026.
New York: a government-certified translation
New York requires a written test, a five-hour pre-licensing course and a road test, and you hand your foreign license to the examiner when you pass.
For a non-English license, you "must bring an International Driving Permit or a certified translation of your driver license to the road test." The translation "must be certified by a consulate, the US Department of State, or another official government agency" and must show your name, date of birth, the license's expiration date and the types of vehicles it covers.
Texas: four countries, one condition
Texas waives the knowledge and skills exams for license holders from France, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan, but only for passenger vehicles, only for applicants 18 and over, and only if you surrender the foreign license. Keep it, and you take every exam. Canada is grouped with the US rather than with foreign countries.
Florida: tax collectors and a German exception
In many Florida counties, driver licenses are issued by the county tax collector. The Palm Beach County Tax Collector waives the Class E knowledge and skills exams for licenses from Canada (with surrender), France, Taiwan and South Korea. Germany is the exception: Florida reciprocates "the skill exam only," so German drivers still take the knowledge test.
Virginia: the widest list
Virginia has agreements with France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Holders of the first four may skip the knowledge and road skills tests but must pass a vision screening. Taiwanese license holders take the vision screening and the two-part knowledge exam but may skip the road test. DMV verifies the license with the issuing country first, and applicants under 18 cannot exchange a foreign license.
Illinois: visitors may drive on a valid home-country license while in the state, and new residents for their first 90 days (625 ILCS 5/6-102). Ask the Secretary of State's office about testing.
Which states let you exchange a foreign license without a test?
Of the states covered here, Texas, Florida and Virginia, each for a short list of countries. Texas and Florida (for Canada) tie the waiver to surrendering your license, Florida waives only the skills exam for Germany, and Virginia still requires a vision screening. California and New York test everyone.
A German license therefore skips both tests in Texas and Virginia (plus a vision screening in Virginia), only the skills test in Florida, and nothing in California or New York. A Japanese license earns a waiver only in Virginia.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in the US?
Sometimes, and it must come from home. An IDP is not a license: it is a standardized booklet that translates your license details and is valid only alongside the license itself.
For Americans going abroad, the State Department points to AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance. AAA issues IDPs only to holders of a valid US license and says one to accompany a US license can only be issued in the USA. The same logic runs the other way: a visitor's IDP comes from the country that issued their license, so get it before you travel.
Where a state accepts either, a certified translation does the same job, and it is the only option if you left home without an IDP. Neither lets a resident skip getting a state license.
Does the DMV accept a certified translation of a foreign license?
Texas does, from a translation service or consulate. New York wants an IDP or a translation certified by a consulate or government agency. California tests everyone regardless. Whoever reads it, a DMV-ready translation should show:
- Full name, spelled as in the passport (see our passport and ID translation guide)
- Date and place of birth and the license number
- Issue and expiration dates, in an unambiguous date format
- The issuing authority, for example a German Fahrerlaubnisbehörde (licensing office)
- Every vehicle category with its own dates, such as AM, A2, B, BE or C1 under the EU system
- Restriction codes, such as EU code 01 (sight correction) or 78 (automatic transmission only)
- Everything on the back of the card
- A signed certification of accuracy and the translator's competence
The back is where most translations fail. On EU-format licenses, the reverse holds the category table, the validity dates and the restriction codes. Our driver's license translation guide shows country-specific layouts.
Common mistakes that cost a second DMV visit
- Assuming reciprocity is national. A test waiver in Texas means nothing in California.
- Keeping the foreign license. In Texas, keeping it means taking every exam.
- Bringing the wrong kind of translation. New York wants an IDP or a government-certified translation.
- Translating only the front of the card. The categories and codes are usually on the back.
- Driving as a visitor after becoming a resident. Florida's 30-day rule for new workers is a common surprise.
Checklist before your DMV appointment
Questions people ask
Can I drive in the US with a foreign driver's license?
Yes, as a visitor in the states covered here, as long as your license is valid and you carry it. Some states, rental companies and insurers also expect an International Driving Permit or an English translation if the license is not in English. Once you become a resident, you need a license from your state.
How long can I drive on a foreign license after moving to the US?
It depends on the state: 10 days after establishing residence in California, 30 days after starting work or enrolling children in school in Florida, 60 days in Virginia, and 90 days in Texas and Illinois. New York requires a state license once you become a resident.
Which states let me exchange a foreign license without a test?
Texas waives both exams for France, Germany, South Korea and Taiwan if you surrender the license. Florida waives both for Canada, France, South Korea and Taiwan and the skills exam only for Germany. Virginia lists France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, while California and New York test everyone.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in the US?
It depends on the state and on who is asking. California does not require one for visitors, while New York accepts an IDP as one way to show what a non-English license says at the road test. An IDP must be obtained in the country that issued your license, before you travel.
Does the DMV accept a certified translation of my foreign license?
Some do. Texas DPS accepts a translation by a translation service or consulate for licenses not in English or Spanish. New York is stricter and wants an IDP or a translation certified by a consulate, the US Department of State or another government agency.
Do I have to give up my foreign license?
Often, yes. California requires surrender before issuing a California license, New York takes it at the road test, and Texas requires it for the reciprocity waiver. In Texas, keeping the foreign license means taking all the exams.
Do I need to translate both sides of my driver's license?
Yes. On EU-format and many other licenses, the back carries the vehicle categories, their validity dates and the restriction codes, which are exactly what a DMV, insurer or police officer needs. A front-only translation is incomplete.
How much does a driver's license translation cost and how long does it take?
A certified translation costs $29.95 per page, and a driver's license is typically delivered within 24 hours as a signed PDF. Check first whether your state wants a consular or government-certified translation instead, as New York does for the road test.