Hi! For those who don't know about me, I moved to the US several months ago from Italy as my husband is stationed here in Virginia. I have my italian driving license but I was told that, to be able to drive here, I need to start all over again and go to driving school. I've met several students from Europe that drive with what is called "international driving license" . Could somebody explain me what is that and how can I get one?

Thanks!

There is no real international drivers license, there is a card you buy from companties that meet the UN requirement, all a "International Licesne" does is show the info from your Italian license, you have to present your Italian licesne with the International Licesne for it to be valid.

The issue is that you are not a Student I will assume, and you are not working for the Italian government, but you are here on a Visa with a spouse that is a US citizen. You have 30 days after you move to the US and a specific state to get a new license, I see no requirement for you to take a driving school ( although they do help) but you study and take the written test, and then you take the driving test.

Each state is different. It depends on the laws in the state you are attempting to get your drivers license from. I would assume that you need to start from scratch because the European driving rules are very much different then ours. I have driven in the US, England, Germany, Panama, Guam, and Surinam. I was military so I was exempt under our Status of Forces Agreements with those respective countries. My wife on the other hand had to apply for and test for a drivers license in both England and Panama.

The only Federal Laws apply to persons here on a diplomatic visa. As far as I know, International Driver's Licenses are only valid for persons from Canada and Mexico and are used by truck drivers that have international routes.

Thanks for the info, I already got the manual and will be taking the test next week...