Driving in the United States
If you plan to be in the United States for more than a short period
of time, you may find it helpful to obtain a U.S. driver's license
and/or purchase a car. The following information is intended to
assist you in making decisions about these issues.
International Driver's License
If you will be in the U.S. only a short time and you have a driver's
license issued by your home country, you are able to drive legally
in Virginia. Your driver's license should be accompanied by an international
driver's license which provides a translation of your license. In
order to be acceptable for use in Virginia, your license must be
issued by your home government and not by a private agent. You may
find it difficult to rent a car or purchase automobile insurance
with only an international license.
Obtaining a Virginia Driver's License
In Virginia a person is issued a learner's permit prior to the
issuance of a driver's license. A learner's permit allows you to
drive a car accompanied by a certified Virginia driver over the
age of 18. You will have to pass a written test prior to obtaining
your learner's permit. In addition, you will need to show two proofs
of identify, one proof of legal presence in the United States, one
proof of Virginia residency, and your social security card if you
have been issued one. The following documents will satisfy these
requirements as of June 2006:
- Your unexpired passport with a visa and valid I-94;
- Certified copy of your JMU transcript, verifying your current enrollment in classes and preferably with your
Harrisonburg address noted on the transcript;
- Your original I-20 or DS-2019;
- Your social security card if you have been issued one.
However, these requirements may change; you are encouraged to review
the most recent information at the government web site prior to
applying for your license. For a complete list of acceptable documents,
see: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/dmv141.pdf
In order to obtain your driver's license, if you are age
19 or older, you must provide proof of successful completion
of a state-approved driver education program, or you must have held
a learner's permit at least 30 days before taking a road skills
test. If you are under age 19, you must provide
proof of successful completion of a state-approved driver education
program, and you must hold a learner's permit at least nine months
before taking the road skills test and applying for a license. You
may take the road skills test no more than three times in any three-month
period.
The Harrisonburg office of the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
is located at 3281 Peoples Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22801. For directions
and hours of operation see: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/exec/csc/csc.asp?id=40
Purchasing a Car
You may find it necessary to purchase a car while you are in Harrisonburg.
While we cannot provide all the information necessary to assist
you in that process, we offer the following suggestions:
- In the United States, purchasing a car is one area in which
it is acceptable (even expected) that the price will be negotiated,
and prices can vary greatly from seller to seller, so it is highly
recommended that you shop around before making a purchase;
- Your car must be registered with both the State of Virginia
and with the City of Harrisonburg - failure to register your vehicle
properly will likely result in a ticket and a fine;
- Your car must be registered with JMU's parking services or you
will be subject to a $100 fine every time you park on campus;
- You will be required to have your vehicle inspected each year
or you will be subject to a fine by the State of Virginia;
- You will be required to pay a personal property tax on your
vehicle each year to the State of Virginia;
- You will be required to purchase automobile insurance, valid
continually while you own your vehicle. Failure to keep insurance
valid may result in the loss of your driver's license and/or a
fine. For additional information about purchasing insurance, see:
http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/resources/insurance.asp
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