Drivers License

Bill: Do a search here, set to "all dates". I believe Onika's excellent instructions are there.

Hello Bill,

Its a frequent question so we got the info typed up to add to the site... its not there yet but here is the info.

Drivers licenses from the mainland are good for 90 days. If your license is from elsewhere you have to get a temporary license.

I have a valid US license: If you have a valid US license you will have to take the written test only to get a U.S.V.I license.

I do not have a license: If you do not have a license you will have to take both the written and the road test.

Application Form: You have to pick up an application for a drivers permit/drivers license from the Department of Motor Vehicle. The form is a double sided sheet or two one sided sheets. The sheet is a photocopy, however you must pick it up from them and pay a small fee for the form, as they will stamp the form so that they know you got it from them.

The first page includes general information about you; your name, address, social security number, birth date, employer, prior driving violations or driver's license issues (having it revoked). The second page is a medical form that must be completed by a physician.

The medical form includes questions in a yes/no form. Questions include; do you have hearing problems, have you any mental conditions or been confined to an institution, do you have diabetes, have you ever had a stroke, do you have high blood pressure among others of similar nature. Your blood type is asked for - if you do not know your blood type you will have to take a simple blood test to determine what it is.

The second half of the medical form is a visual exam. It requires a visual acuity test without glasses and then with glasses if you should wear them. A simple peripheral vision test is also done. If you do not wear glasses but can not pass the visual acuity exam the doctor will indicate that it is necessary for you to get glasses and then retake the exam.

The physician must sign and stamp the form. The medical form can be completed at a walk in clinic or at an eye doctors/optometrist office. The fee is generally $20-60 for the brief exam depending on where you go to fill it out.

Written Test: Return to the DMV with the completed form. Find out when they are administering the written test and make an appointment. They will give you a book to study the local laws for the written test. Questions include speed limits in town and out of town, what do do if someone wants to pass you, when to turn on/off your headlights, where main roads are. For those that have a license, upon passing the written exam you turn in your "old" license, they will punch a hole in it and take your photo and issue a VI license. If you do not have a license you must then schedule a road test.

Road Test: The road test begins with your ability to reverse into a parking spot without hitting or coming too close to cones. If you fail this part the road test is over. If you do this part well its on to the road. Where the tester observes your use of mirrors, hand signals and lights, speed limits, school zone rules, stop lights, one way signs ect. You will be asked to reverse in the road - this is to see if you know what side to reverse on. Tips: When starting out be sure to adjust your mirrors, seat, seatbelt ect, as you are not the regular driver so these things are not adjusted for you and you will get points taken off for not adjusting them. A licensed driver must bring you to the test in their car which you use to the take the test and then wait for you at the DMV while you take the road test.

Good Luck!

Also take East Enders suggest Onika gave a first hand account of what she did and experienced.

--Islander

I don't know about on the other islands, but the camera is broken again on St Croix. I actually was able to successfully accomplish everything to get the license with only one attempt at each. (You may applaud now). I have all the paperwork together and am just waiting for the camera to get fixed to get my VI license. I just hope I live long enough.