International getting AL drivers licence (insurance, transfer, DMV)

[andyjk]

I am an Australian citizen with a valid Aus drivers licence and an International drivers licence. I don't need an AL drivers licence to drive here however I would like to get one so I don't have to carry my international documents all the time and apply for state insurance. I live in Jefferson county. There is a real grey area on this process, and I have experienced first hand a confusion amongst the DMVs.

From reading online it appears all I would need is my passport, I-94, social security card and W-2 form or the like to establish residence. If anybody can correct this I would appreciate that

Also does the Courthouse do new state licenses?

Cheers

[Tourian]

This site lists the requirements:
State of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

What do you mean by "state" license? You can get an existing drivers license renewed at any dmv office anywhere but you have to go to the tag office in Jefferson co to renew or get a vehicle tag and registration.

[andyjk]

Okay thanks for clearing that up. I went to the DMV today at 908 Bankhead (Public Safety) and the place was just jam packed at around 11am. The first point of contact gave me all this other advice, to which I rebutted and she said I needed other forms (not listed on that site) as well as doing testing. I was shocked. Do I need to print out their requirements from the website and bring it along with me perhaps??

[Tourian]

You are pretty mucj at their mercy and showing them a piece of paper may or may not help. Maybe it is simple as going back and getting another clerk.

[wetdawg]

after my wife changed her name she went through a mess to get her tag renewed. The info needed changed everytime she went finally figured out what to do

[bosshawk]

If you are not a US citizen, you must go to the office you went to. You can't go to a county courthouse in Alabama and get a driver license unless you are a US citizen.

As far as testing, I am under the impression that you are required to take the test unless Alabama has some sort of reciprocal agreement with other countries which I have never heard of. When my immigrant wife was obtaining an AL driver license, there was never a thought to NOT have to take the test, and no mention of not being required to take the test was ever made.

However, in the section on the DPS website mentioned, there is this under the Non-US citizen section - "$5 test or transfer fee plus cost of license (no checks)". The issue is what the word "transfer" means in this case. Does it mean transfer from a foreign country or transfer from another state i.e. You are a non-US citizen with a Florida license and you transfer the Florida license to AL. I am pretty sure it is referring to transfers from other states.

Based on everything I have seen/read and with first and second-hand knowledge of foreign nationals obtaining driver licenses, I am almost certain you have to take the written test and possibly the driving test.

[Dirt Grinder]

When you speak to the clerk be sure to say "You do know you folks drive on the wrong side of the road here, right?" That'll speed-up the process remarkably.