Do Au Pairs Really Need a State Driver's License??
Hi there - anyone can tell me, does your au pair have to get your state license if she already arrived with an international license? My German au pair drives really well, has an International License, but was stopped and ticketed by our local police for not having a state license (her grace period of 6 months had lapsed).
Now, she has to study for this license, which she really doesn't want to or really need. What is the deal here? My counselor never mentioned this to us and now she says "get it."
What are other host parents doing? What is the law?
Driving and au pairs
Yes, you should follow the driving laws in your state. If you state requires all new residents to obtain the state license, then the au pair falls under this law and they should do this. yes, many times the lccs and counselors say "don't bother, they have their international license" but I am so annoyed when they say this. Do they not understand the laws of their own state?
Au pairs are not exempt from any state law! If there is a law on the books that stipulate that you must carry a SS card, then you do it, even if you are not a US citizen. The au pairs (usually the first thing they do once they arrive) sign up for a card. They use this card to establish a bank account (which requires all people to have this in order to open any kind of bank account). it is a way of registering and monitoring who is doing what. same thing with the driving license, except it goes one further - all states want and require all new residents to learn all the new state driving laws.
For example, in PA, you can turn right on red, but in same states you cannot unless there is a sign that says you can. How does an au pair know this? Isn't this an important law to know? Of course! They know this by studying and taking and passing the state's driving test, which requires the written test (in most states the au pair does not have to take the actual driving test, if they have the International license) So, what the state requires is not that they au pair can drive a car, but does she know all the state laws around driving?? Simple!
What I don't understand is why there is so much confusion at each au pair agency - some will say "don't bother" others will say to the parents, "its up to you" or they don't give their counselors an affirmative answer one way or another. This is so irresponsible of the agencies!
I know when I was with au pair in America, my counselor called her manager in Stamford CT and the manager told her to "research" it. What? My counselor went to the DMV and asked all the right questions and each time they told her "what difference does it make if your au pair has an international license? She is new to the state and has to take the state driving test!!" When my counselor told her manager in Stamford, the manager said "well do whatever you want, we don't know what your state requires!"
I think every manager should know what each state requires and make it known to these people: the family, the au pair and their counselor. Period
Au pair agencies need more direct supervision with the US. dept of State that governs them. There is little consistency between agencies and even internally for each agency! My counselor and I should have found the answer to this question in a host parent or counselor handbook and not from the local DMV!!
Re: au pairs needing state driver's licenses
I don't know about other states, but in California they are required to get a California Driver's License. Anyone who moves to the state is required to get one within 10 days of moving here. We have always had the test scheduled for our au pair before she arrives, since you can do that online. Our Cultural Care LCC has always gone over the driving rules in California because they are very strict about driving here, and the ticket is expensive. Our insurance company will cover an au pair driving on an international driver's license, but the state law is totally separate from the insurance.
The International License Should Suffice
No, you can go to court and show the judge her international drivers license and it helps if your counselor or LCC goes to court with the au pair to help explain the cultural program. It is different than just moving into the state as a "new resident." She is on a J1visa which allows her to use the international license for the time she is in the United States.
You Should Follow State Driving Laws
Hi - you should be following your state's driving laws - if they require new residents to obtain the state license, then the au pair needs to do this. It is the law, and your au pair may continue to receive tickets (which are costly).
Yes, I know there are some au pair agencies that tell the host family not to bother, because the au pair has the International License, but if your au pair is going to stay here for a year (or longer) she needs to study for and obtain your state's license. This practice also ensures that your au pair will be a much safer driver, since she will be familiar with state driving laws.
For example, most au pairs have not been told (in their country and when they obtain the International Driving License) to stop before a school bus that is letting out students and flashing its red lights. Tragically, in CT., an au pair, who did not know this, kept driving and hit a student who was crossing the road as the bus flashed its red "stop" lights.
It may be inconvenient for you and the au pair, but it is worth every minute and penny you spend on helping your new au pair obtain her license from the state you live in!
Good luck,
Edina
Follow The State Law
Yes, follow the state law. Most host families who are new are not told this! And their first au pair gets a ticket and everyone gets upset, I know the drill believe me, been there!
You must follow the state law, so, everyone (including your au pair) who moves into the state must pass and receive that license (I think they give you 3-6 months). I think it is a good idea, since your au pair will have to learn all the state laws, which she will not know if she only has the International License. So, it is a good thing.
Do it.