Do I need a car before I start working?
Yes, you should most definitely have your own transportation. We are telling all sponsors that you will have your own ride to work. So whether this is a motorcycle, moped, or car, you must have it. The only exception would be if your sponsor is in an urban area with reliable public transportation that matches your work schedule. However, most of our worksites are in suburban areas that are only accessible by personal transportation.
Walking and bicycling are not recommended unless you live extremely close to your worksite. We strongly recommend for you to get a car, and we will not be able to send you in for your orientation at work unless you have reliable transportation.
Our favorite dealer is CarMax because they are trustworthy, and the cars are good quality and well-priced. Plus you can find a CarMax in most cities.
If you have questions about how to buy a car, check out this article.
If you already have a car and would like to ship it to your new location, see this article.
If you are a Consular client (moving from abroad), we recommend you rent a car when arriving at the airport in order to give you freedom of movement until you can buy your own car in the US.
Do I need a US Driver's License to get a car and insurance?
You will need an unrestricted license to buy a car from MOST dealers in the US (unless you pay cash off of Craigslist etc. - from an owner). You CAN get insurance with an international driver’s license but at a very high price. This is not recommended or at least not for long.
See this article for more info on insurance for foreign drivers.
What is the process for getting my US Driver's License?
See this article to learn about the process of obtaining a license.
The DMV is taking forever to schedule an appointment - what should I do?
We would advise you to choose one of these routes: (Don't wait on your DMV.)
1) If you are not at your worksite, move to your worksite first and then make a DMV appointment there.
But you would need to think about how you will get to your new location if you don't have a car yet. If you are able to buy a car on the international driver’s license, you could do that, or you could fly to your new location, get a rental car for a week or so with the international license, get / apply for a local state driver’s license, then buy a car. In the meantime, you will have to use Uber or a rental car to get around.
2) Go to a DMV in a smaller town near you before moving to your worksite. DMVs in smaller towns are less busy than DMVs in big cities. You will still need to transfer your license to your final destination.
3) Or you could try going to a DMV in a neighboring state -- but you would need an address (proof of residency in that state). So you would need to know someone in that state and have a bill sent to their address with your name on it.
We recommend options 1 or 2, if at all possible.
Should I go to a certain DMV because I’m not a US citizen?
Many states have specific DMV locations that serve international customers. The employees there are familiar with EADs and other immigration documents. Many state DMV websites will note which locations serve international customers. (Some states may serve international customers at all locations.) Find out before you go.
Can I drive on my international driver’s license?
Many states have agreements with certain countries to accept driver's licenses from those countries without needing to transfer to a US license. Check the website of your state DMV to see if your country is on the list. If not, you will still be able to drive with your international license for a specific amount of time (usually 3 months, but check for your state), and then you will need to get a state license. Based on your state’s DMV regulations, you will need to either get the international license translated professionally or simply take the driving test. Check the website of your specific location for more info.