hi all, i am arriving in florida in two weeks. i have a full UK drivers licence- (but NOT including a motorcycle endorsement) it says i have categories A, BE, and GH.

i want to arrive in Florida, and pass the motorcycle licence there.

normally, in the USA, u must pass the Car licence (category E) and then you can pass the 'motorcycle endorsement' of the same licence. i do not want to do this, as i would have to rent a car for the test and i am only in the USA to ride across it on a MOTORBIKE.

HOWEVER, i've read it is possible to bypass the car licence and just pass the motorcycle endorsement: please read the short website below:

Florida Rider Training Program

But, as i'm not a US resident, does this rule me out of the 'motorcycle only' option? i have a valid UK passport.

many thanks for your urgent help and advice.
paris

Paris

I put your request on another forum that I frequent hoping a Florida MSF instructor would see it and give us an answer.

All the best

I think you must be resident of the state to get a state licence or endorsement. I know when you move with in the USA your licence is only food for a 30 to 90 days you then must get a new licence for the state you have moved in to.

A resident can get a motorcycle only licence I had one in Arizona Florida said you need a class E but dont think you realy do. Cant see them requiring all residents that have a bike also have a car.

I think this was covered before. And as before your going at it a bit the wrong way round.
You can get a licence or endorsement in the UK and it will be fine in the USA. Its the not being a Florida resident thats going to be the problem not the your from the UK.
There may be one option not really legal but if you have some time and a address in Florida. You mat be able to get a learners permit and hope.

Some links
Florida Rider Training Program
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles
Florida New Resident-DHSMV
Florida Motorcycle License Guide | Free DMV Sample Test

Some responses from elsewhere:

Response #1.

How long is the ride for ? You can use your UK license for 3 month I think,may be 6 or 9.

There's nothing to stop anyone taking their riders test as far as I recall, certainly driving a car wasn't one of the criteria. Passing the test but then, getting a license, may be where bit goes fuzzy. I know I bought my bike in Atlanta on a UK license, insured it on a UK license and then rode it across the States. I only took my car and bike tests when I had finished crossing the country and bought a car here in Seattle some months later.

Get an International driving license from the UK post office before you set off.Confuses the hellout of the plod over here!
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Response #2.

First I'll state the obvious. There is no national driver's license in the United States. Each state sets the criteria for a driver's license.

Generally, a person has a driver's license for operating a car. Then they get a motorcycle endorsement on that driver's license. I guess it is possible to get a driver's license without having driven a car. But, I never heard of it. I some states, passing the MSF course qualifies as passing the riding part of the motorcycle endorsement test. You still have to pass the written test, if any.

Your UK driver's license, with motorcycle endorsement, should suffice for 90 days or so. If you stay longer, it is wise to get a state, in this case Florida, license with motorcycle endorsement. An international driver's is valid but I don't know if that covers a motorcycle endorsement. Since the local and state police rarely if ever see an international license, they will look at it with great interest.

Getting a driver's license and motorcycle endorsement is a extremely easy here in the US.
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Response #3.

In central Florida, try Orlando Harley Davidson. They offer MSF courses. Nice people and they have a permanent dedicated riding range and classrooms. Great instructors are often FHP motor cops. A free days Harley rental is sometimes included with course fees. I presume only if you pass.

Can't say about the endorsement, but maybe they can give their take on it. See if this link works.

http://www.orlanarley.com/miscpage_002.asp

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BTW I have an International Driver's license with a bike endorsement.

All the best

You can not obtain a Driver's License (DL) unless you are a resident of the state. A valid work visa, green card, etc allows alien residents to obtain a DL..

Some info I found on the web about a Canadian with a one year TN visa having trouble renewing his DL past his visa date...

It's because of the Real ID Act, what most States are doing is amending their laws so your DL can only remain valid until the expiry date on your I-94. I think the majority of States now take this position, the few exceptions are New Mexico, Texas and Florida (and a few others that have yet to have their legislatures meet on the issue, although there are bills pending).

Florida specifically took note of Federal law, because you do not necessarily have to get an I-94 when you get a TN-1 entry, so they looked at the situation more intelligently and Canadian citizens can get a Florida DL that is valid for a year from the date of application, rather than until the date the I-94 expires. This gives applicants a bit more flexibility, because it means you don't have to tie your DL renewal religiously to your TN-1 renewal.

New Mexico is I think the only State that has used the "alternative" provision in the Real ID Act, which allows States to issue DLs to undocumented aliens provided the DL is readily distinguishable (via colour) from an ordinary DL.

I'm in correspondence with the Nevada AG at the moment attempting to explain that it is possible for Canadians to enter the US in categories other than B-1/2 without an I-94, so their law that requires aliens in a non-immigrant classification who are resident in Nevada to present an I-94 is unworkable. I picked Nevada because their law is particularly inflexible, in many States the regulations are made by the AG or other agency under a rule-making provision in the law, however in Nevada, the law specifically states that no DL shall be issued to a person who is not a US citizen other than as provided under some very tough regulations.

Nevada also doesn't recognise many other States DLs when you apply for a Nevada licence, such as Texas and New Mexico.

DL biten: i get the logic about doing it the wrong way round, but actually i didn't explain myself completely. i'm in the Carribean, and am in the middle of passing the test, but (i'm on a french island, Guadeloupe) it is a real pain here, its costing much more than it would in the USA, taking so much more time and my instructors just not taking it seriously, half the time he doesn't show up to lessons. i can't change to another instructor cos i've already paid but the amount of time its gonna take to complete the Licence, I'd rather pay just that little bit extra for the USA licence and give it all up here.

statdawg:

(i quote u:

Your UK driver's license, with motorcycle endorsement, should suffice for 90 days or so. If you stay longer, it is wise to get a state, in this case Florida, license with motorcycle endorsement. An international driver's is valid but I don't know if that covers a motorcycle endorsement. Since the local and state police rarely if ever see an international license, they will look at it with great interest.

Getting a driver's license and motorcycle endorsement is a extremely easy here in the US.)

i think i didn't explain properly, I DON'T HAVE A MOTORCYCLE ENDORSEMENT ON MY UK DRIVERS LICENCE. and i wanted to get one IN FLORIDA,
but i see from your 2nd post that this is gonna be really complicated unless i'm a resident. so, thanks for the help anyway.
it looks like i'll just hang on in there on this laid back island and wait for thing's to go my way

paris

It looks best to get your rating and proper documentation. In theory if you had a bike already here with no license, you could just come and jump on it and go. The only problem would be in an event of an accident or traffic incident involving law enforcement. You might be able to dazzle them, but at best one ought to be proper.

The other issue is getting a bike. You will need a motorcycle endorsement to get it licensed in most states and maybe even need it in others to purchase insurance.

Things are not easy as they once were.

For insurance try Fernet.
Overseas Visitors were happy with them.

All the best and I hope you can do your journey.