Get to know more about International Driver’s License in New York

Posted by Ainsley Aiken on September 18th, 2019

Many people from other countries come to New York to work, live, study and go on vacation. It is common for such individuals to drive in the state with a foreign driver’s license. New York State has several rules regarding the use of foreign driver’s licenses. This page will explain when it is legal to drive with a foreign license and when one is required to have an International Driving Permit (IDP) or NYS driver’s license.

When is a Foreign Driver’s License Acceptable?

A driver’s license from another state or another country can be used by visitors to legally drive in New York State. While many states require foreign visitors to apply for International Driver’s License in New York does not, but it is recommended for those whose foreign license is not in English.

How a New York Traffic Ticket Does influences a Foreign Driver’s License?

This depends highly on the country and the driver. For example, all Canadian provinces have reciprocity with New York State, so a NY traffic ticket will appear on their license and result in demerit points and auto insurance increases.

For other countries, it varies. In most cases, particularly if the driver has an IDP or English-language foreign license, the DMV will make a record of the driver and the violation. If the foreign driver fails to answer the ticket, that will be noted on the record. Should that driver come back to the U.S. at a later date and be pulled over again, the unpaid ticket could be discovered, which could lead to higher penalties and more serious trouble.  So it is imperative that the ticket is handled by the defendant or better yet by an attorney who can fight it without the defendant having to appear in court (in most cases).

Do You Need to Be a U.S. Citizen to Get a New York State Driver’s License?

No. Temporary visitors from other countries or those who have not yet obtained citizenship can still apply for a International Driver’s License in New York. This is true regardless of whether the individual plans to obtain a legal resident status or return to their home country following the expiration of their visa. A license issued to a temporary foreign visitor will expire on the same day as the visa. Those who are granted a visa extension or who receive legal resident status can receive new licenses by bringing the updated paperwork from the Department of Homeland Security to the NYS DMV.