View Full Version : florida Resident and Driving Licence
HAs anyone information on
Florida Residence 'proof'.
US driving License.
As an owner we, with a US Bank Account cheque book with our US address got a resident discount at Disney.
WE were advised to get a Florida Resident card, but they could not expand on it.
At Walmarts, paying with $ cheques (sorry....checks) we had great difficulty producing the UK licence - we were eventually told that the cashier should punch in UK as the state (e.g. FL for Florida ) this was greeted with 'what part of the US is UK a state! When advised that it was in Europe, we were then asked where was that! I gace up and paid cash.
I understand that the US driving test is relatively simple - a written and practical. But know no Brit who has taken it.
Any help? [?]
A friend has taken the driving test and said it was easy
as for wal mart, I used cheques all the time and was never asked for any id, everywhere we
used them we had no problems either
Gillian-B
13-08-2003, 03:41
Silly question, but is a US driving license worthwhile having (or even possible to get) for UK visitors (that don't live there)?
Gillian
To get one I think you need to be a resident, my mates daughter lives there and they use
her address and have bank accounts etc, mind you they go there about 3 times a year for a
month at a time.
florida4sun
13-08-2003, 03:47
Dod you mean travellers checks? It is really unusual to not be asked for id on a personal check. Also walmart have stopped taking checks due to fraud:( I found this out after I have 12 trolleys full of stuff to pay for...
Martin
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
A friend has taken the driving test and said it was easy
as for wal mart, I used cheques all the time and was never asked for any id, everywhere we
used them we had no problems either
Martin
I used travellers cheques, never had a problem
If you have the new UK driving licence that may be ok as has picture on.
If you take the driving test it is only valid for the visa time on your passport, so if you enter on the waiver scheme, only valid for 3 months. Plus you have to wait for Talahassee to send you licence. By then you have returned, plus as mail won't deliver to STR address it is returned anyway. Same applies for applying for Florida Residents card (been there, got the postcard:().
What about a debit card with your account?
I just took my test. You do have to learn the highway code and traffic law as it is not all the same as in the UK. It took a while, a few hours. You also do an eye test. The driving test is around a car park. You do stopping and obeying traffic signs, reversing, three point turn, emergency stop, parking on a hill and sraight in bay parking. I passed so it cant be that hard but the appointments run weeks ahead and if you go on spec to take both tests on one day, expect to spend up to 7 hours in the test centre queuing up. They also mail your license to you which takes 30 days so unless you have someone to receive it for you, you will be gone home before it arrives. It also only lasts the length of your visa. If you are on visa waiver therefore, it expires when they rip your visa waiver out and you have to renew it when you re-enter. Though I was speaking to some Brits on B2 in the test centre and they said that they only had to do the eye test again and pay again ( $20) to renew and did not have to do the actual test. It was only worth doing for them as they were there 6 months so would actually receive the license.
florida4sun
13-08-2003, 05:23
Thats what I thought. The poster is asking about personal checks i.e. bank checks. Travellers checks are treated like cash over here. Personal checks require ID and not every store takes them.
Martin
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
Martin
I used travellers cheques, never had a problem
florida4sun
13-08-2003, 05:25
It may be a bit of a opain getting a license or ID. The license is easy but takes the best part of a day if your lucky. The simple answer is to get a debit card. All banks give them out and you do need credit.
martin
quote:Originally posted by ianwhitley
HAs anyone information on
Florida Residence 'proof'.
US driving License.
As an owner we, with a US Bank Account cheque book with our US address got a resident discount at Disney.
WE were advised to get a Florida Resident card, but they could not expand on it.
At Walmarts, paying with $ cheques (sorry....checks) we had great difficulty producing the UK licence - we were eventually told that the cashier should punch in UK as the state (e.g. FL for Florida ) this was greeted with "what part of the US is UK a state! When advised that it was in Europe, we were then asked where was that! I gace up and paid cash.
I understand that the US driving test is relatively simple - a written and practical. But know no Brit who has taken it.
Any help? [?]
chrizzy100
13-08-2003, 06:42
quote:Originally posted by esprit
I just took my test. You do have to learn the highway code and traffic law as it is not all the same as in the UK. It took a while, a few hours. You also do an eye test. The driving test is around a car park. You do stopping and obeying traffic signs, reversing, three point turn, emergency stop, parking on a hill and sraight in bay parking. I passed so it cant be that hard but the appointments run weeks ahead and if you go on spec to take both tests on one day, expect to spend up to 7 hours in the test centre queuing up. They also mail your license to you which takes 30 days so unless you have someone to receive it for you, you will be gone home before it arrives. It also only lasts the length of your visa. If you are on visa waiver therefore, it expires when they rip your visa waiver out and you have to renew it when you re-enter. Though I was speaking to some Brits on B2 in the test centre and they said that they only had to do the eye test again and pay again ( $20) to renew and did not have to do the actual test. It was only worth doing for them as they were there 6 months so would actually receive the license.
When I took my test here in Mass...I drove around the block with this huge cop in my real small saturn coupe.....I'd been driving for a year on my Brit licence...so he was more than happy.....he spent most of the 5 mins we were out talking about his trip to England.....
Chrizzy
does make you question the test doesnt it, anyway is the offer of a barbie still on
for next summer as we are about to book our villa and flights
chris
chrizzy100
14-08-2003, 04:02
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
Chrizzy
does make you question the test doesnt it, anyway is the offer of a barbie still on
for next summer as we are about to book our villa and flights
chris
If I'm there you are more than welcome.....we're not posh...no pool or anything....I'm doing the back garden when we move down for good...just tell me the dates you'll be in Orlando...I have an American friend and his family living nearby we could have a get togther..:D
Chrizzy
Dont worry were not posh either, just a family that goes with the flow, provisional dates
are end of July
Chris
chrizzy100
14-08-2003, 20:43
quote:Originally posted by chrisj
Chrizzy
Dont worry were not posh either, just a family that goes with the flow, provisional dates
are end of July
Chris
I'm still hoping to be there till Aug.........
I talked to my friend whos a builder in Orlando last night......so if you end up looking around for a place to buy there....he can give you lots of info on what building companies not to go with..he's work for a lot of them..what places may get flooded in storms.....the waters been low for years..and it seems many new homes are being built below the normal waterline.......it was interesting getting an inside view.....I tried to get hold of him before I went down to buy....but no luck.....but it seems we made all the right moves.....right price...right place...right builder.....that was more luck then judgement......lol....or just a good realter maybe.....:D
Thats brilliant, thanks.
I know around here they have been building houses on what were flood plains, so if we
have a very wet winter the houses will be under water.
About 8 miles away a new estate (100 houses) was 4 feet under water last winter. So now
they cant get insurance and no one can sell their houses as no one will buy.
Chris
Thanks all for the replies.
to sum up
a) not worth taking out a US driving licence for UK owner if under normal visa waiver.
b)It seems that Walmart may have stopped taking private checks since we were there in March 03
c) Florida Residents card not worth it as per a)
d) Disney will accept US Bank check book as evidence of US residency for resident discounts. Worth having Disney PAssport for the Disney buffs like us, especially the free car aprking.
Anyone know if Universal etc do the same? [?]
florida4sun
17-08-2003, 02:30
All corect except Dsney do not accept a check book as proof of resident.
You need a utility bill for a florida residence in your name and a photo ID (uk passport is fine).
Universal do anual passes I just bougt a 2 park annual pass for $180 for 2 years which includes free parking a good discounts of food and merchandise. You dont need to proove residency for these.
quote:Originally posted by ianwhitley
Thanks all for the replies.
to sum up
a) not worth taking out a US driving licence for UK owner if under normal visa waiver.
b)It seems that Walmart may have stopped taking private checks since we were there in March 03
c) Florida Residents card not worth it as per a)
d) Disney will accept US Bank check book as evidence of US residency for resident discounts. Worth having Disney PAssport for the Disney buffs like us, especially the free car aprking.
Anyone know if Universal etc do the same? [?]
wow..a bit scary to buy a property over there if we don't know for sure about it. I hate water in my living room..and can't sell the house as no one buy it...what a terrible...
So if we want to buy property where we can get a honest answer about the property ?