Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Oh, how embarassing!

I have to re-do both the written and road tests for a car and for a motorcycle to get our licences here in Texas... Aparently, we couldn't convince them we held Canadian drivers licences (which you can just swap for a Texas licence), as we had to trade them in for a UK licence (which we held for 2 years).

Good news #1 is: We both passed our written car test (only a 4 hour wait at the DMV!)

Friday morning is our drivers test, wish us luck.

Then we have to book a MSF course (yes, no escaping that by Texas law now), to take a 3 day course on how to ride a motorcycle! It will be interesting as I (of course) already know how (thanks) and my last MSF course was in 1992 I took!

LOL.

Yes, how embarassing

Welcome to Texas "We will find a way to depart you of your funds"

Mike

Welcome back to North America.

Because the euro tests and such are just soooo much easier than the US tests...

US DMV needs to get over itself!

...and I thought Maryland and Pennsylvania were bad...

Thanks guys...

Here is an update as well... seems it's a little "backwards" in the USA vs Canada or the UK in terms of process you take to get a motorcycle licence.

In the USA, you take your practicle motorcycle riders course before the written test! After you pass the MSF course, you then go wait 3+ hours at the DMV with your certificate that you passed and know how to ride, then you write your motorcycle knowledge test! REALLY?! Who came up with that idea?!

Also, you would think that having international driving experience and driving currently on my UK licence here in the USA that "I must know the basics of driving"... but no. haha.

At least Texas has big roads (something that can't be said for the UK. although I would say driving in the UK takes a lot more skills than anywhere in Canada or the USA I've been).

Mike

To be fair, that's not all states... in CA you can take the written test before the MSF course and ride on a learner's permit (for up to a year) if you want. Then you just take your MSF certificate to the DMV to get a new license. Make an appointment, and you'll be in and out pretty quick if you choose the right office.

It's really *too* easy...

Hmm... Interesting about California then! Too bad we didn't move there, but hey, the skiing is great in houston!

Mike

Getting any sort of driving license in North America is far too easy, including scoring your Class One with air.......I personally advocate both a graduated licensing system along heavy restrictions for newbie drivers/riders in terms of horsepower/torque allowed, hours of operation, and even road restrictions....then again, I firmly believe a good 99.99% of the drivers here should not only not be allowed on the road, they should in fact not be allow out in public without a responsible adult escorting them.

I agree with you there ceemes, I would be in favour of a graduated riding system for cc and/or hp restrictions. I am not 100% sold on day/time, type of road or stuff like that as one could find the gov't stepping in a little too much. In the UK, they had a 33hp restriction, but not a bike model restriction (thus you could get a 33hp restricted GSX-R1000).

Well, I'll let you know how much car test goes tomorrow, I'm sure after many years of driving I've picked up some bad habits, LOL. Hopefully I do well on that dang parallel parking test and I'm not back in line with the 16 year olds doing a re-test!

Mike

Update: We just got back from our morning drivers road test and happy to report we both passed.

Next up, motorcycle tests (to be scheduled) and motorcycle written; but as right now, we will have a Texas car licence in the next 3-5 weeks in the mail. At least we can still ride on our UK licence for a brief time till our MSF courses start.

Mike