HappyHoosier Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I'm just culturally curious.... In the US, Bureaus of Motor Vehicles (BMVs) are run by the state governments (as opposed to federal and city governments). The BMV fees/taxes raise large amounts of money for the government. The BMV management (or mismanagement) is often an election issue. The bureaus are notoriously inefficient and slow. In fact, visiting one to renew a license or register a car is typically a hellish experience. Often, the computer systems malfunction. There are crowds of people, crying children, uncomfortable chairs, unpleasant employees, etc. An American driver's license is a laminated card about the size of a business card. It is usually accepted as the ultimate form of photo ID... for voting, check cashing, getting into a bar, buying cigarettes, proving you're not a terrorist, etc. You get a learner's permit at about age 15, which allows you to drive with a parent or guardian in the car. Upon passing a driving skills test and a written test, you can get a real license when you get old enough, usually 16. So, what can you tell me about England's system? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeP Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 Licenses are issued by an organisation called DVLA - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority - and as far as car driving is concerned (never had a bike licence so don't know how that works!!) there are two licences - a Provisional License which is what you have to allow you to learn to drive, and a 'Full' licence after you've passed your test. The new format licence is in two parts - a credit card sized photocard with your details on and basic information about you and the types of vehicle you can drive, and a separate piece of paper that details your 'endorsements' - i.e. points put on your licence for driving offenses. We have a thing here about ID cards of any type (we don't like them, though our Government is determined to give them to us) and Licences aren't really use for ID - there are a range of cards available to folks who look young that will act as ID, or they can get a Provisional to help you there. The Provisional licence doesn't provide as much ID as a Full one, and a Full one is accepted as ID to help get a passport, open bank accounts, etc. Our licences are also valid in EU countries. For a car owner, there are three bits of documentation you need to legally drive. The Licence, Insurance and a Tax Disc - the latter applies to teh vehicle and is a disc of paper that you stick in the car window to indicate you've paid a tax on the car. It's renewable evry year, and the cost varies depending upon the vehicle. If the car is over 3 years old you also have to have something called an MOT certifcate - this is basically a document that states that your vehicle has met certain mechanical and emission standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhibod Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 you need one to drive a car!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoeshine Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 In England, all Vehicle Taxation and Driver Licensing affairs are handled by a national Government Department, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority. You can find all the information you seek Here A learner driver has to be 17 before he/she can apply for a "Provisional" Driving Licence. He/she has to be accompanied at all times by someone sat in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. The full driving licence can only be obtained by passing an official test which incorporates firstly, a written "Theory" Examination of our Highway Code, with an addition of a "Response Assessment" Test which measures the reaction times of the examinee to a real time video of potential road and roadside/pedestrian behaviour, and of course a second part requiring the candidate to drive with an accompanying "Government Authorised DVLA Test Person" in the front passenger seat on the real roads in a normal driving driving environment. Having achieved a satisfactory "Pass" Level though all these procedures, the newly qualified Driver can apply for a Driving Licence which gives the authority for him/her to drive certain types of "specified" vehicles, including a motor car. The Licence will not cover the person for driving a motorcycle. A seperate test procedure is required for other types of vehicles, such as Heavy Goods Vehicles, Motorcycles and so on. A Provisional (Learner)Licence for a Motorcycle can be obtained at the age of 16, and only someone with a full Motorcycle Licence can accompany the rider on the rear seat. The motorcycle engine size must not exceed 50cc. Helmets must be worn at all times. I hope the site above is of some help to you. This is only a precis of the way things are handled in the UK. I think it would be fair to say that as far as officialdom here is concerned, it would reflect some of the experiences you have outlined in your initial post, but much of the individual vehicle licencing can be done over the internet once a new vehicle has been registered at a DVLA Local Centre, and it's the same with Driver Licencing. Our Driving Licences consist of a two part system. Firstly a plastic "Credit Card" sized entity with a photograph and details of the Licencee on it (usefull if one needs ID) and a paper sheet containing all the details. If required for Police purposes, both the plastic card and the "Paper" Section will be needed to be shown at a Police Station within a reasonable amount of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bridger Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 a second part requiring the candidate to drive with an accompanying "Government Authorised DVLA Test Person" in the front passenger seat on the real roads in a normal driving driving environment. Just a minor point, the person conducting the assessment of the candidates driving skills is employed by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), not the DVLA. The DSA is responsible for the setting of standards for drivers, instructors & riders. Link to it's website is here http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgksheff Posted October 13, 2006 Share Posted October 13, 2006 I'm just culturally curious.... So, .......... So how often do you have to renew a drivers license? .... and a vehicle registration? ... and how much do they cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jfish1936 Posted October 14, 2006 Share Posted October 14, 2006 In Australia (Queensland) we get a plastic card (size of credit card) with photo. It is valid 5 years, and is renewable on your birthday. It's common to be asked for it as an ID ocument; when we book flights on the net, we need to show it at check in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trickle Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 you need one to drive a car!!!!!! No you dont. If you did we wouldnt have the row of police vehicles and tripods up on City road every so often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox20thc Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 Personally, I think that our licenses should be renewable and only following the passing of a standards test. Far too many people flew through a driving test ages ago and are rubbish drivers. Anyone over the age of 70 also has to reapply for their license every three years but this doesn't consist of a competency test, just health check and eye test. :loopy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pudding face Posted October 15, 2006 Share Posted October 15, 2006 I am going to the usa next year,i will be driving there for the first time.Will my expertise on grand theft auto be of any assistance to me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.