Getting Your Driver’s License

Getting your driver’s license is a rite of passage for every American, and more so for immigrants, as you show your ability to assimilate in to the American lifestyle. But doing so can sometimes be challenging for individuals without a social security number. Currently, only 13 states allow individuals to obtain a license without a social and those include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. The following information pertains to how you can obtain your U.S. driver’s license in Maryland:

Already Have a Foreign Driver’s Licence

If you already have a foreign driver’s license, you will have to complete a 3-hour Drug and Alcohol Class before you go to the MVA and trade license in.

Individuals who hold an out-of-Country license are required to successfully complete a vision screening, knowledge test, driving skills test, and an MVA approved three-hour alcohol and drug education program in order to convert their license to a Maryland license. If the out-of-country license is not in English, it must be accompanied by an International License, or a translation into English by an MVA approved translator.

Never Had a License

If this is you first time getting a driver’s license, the process will be slightly more involved. You will have to take a driver’s education courses with an MVA approved instructor.

A new driver must take 36 hours of Driver’s Education Program and pass accompanying tests to be eligible to apply for Provision Licenses in Maryland. 30 of the 36 hours are delivered in a class setting. The remaining 6 hours are for in-car evaluation of driving skills Behind The Wheel (BTW).

Once you complete the Driver’s Education program, you will be issued a certificate of completion which you need in order to obtain your driver’s licence. You will need to schedule a road test using the MVA online portal.

In addition to passing the Driver Education Program, a new driver under 25 will have to practice additional 60 hours documented in Skill log book to be eligible to test for the Provisional License. 10 of the 60 hours bust driven at night.

A new driver 25 or more are required to log 14 hours in the Skill Log Book to be eligible for Provisional License. 3 of the 14 hours must driving at night.

Getting Your License with a Social Security Number

The state of Maryland and the MVA require you at least attempt to register for your social security number. You need to go to the social security office and apply for your social. If you are not in status or you are not eligible for a social security number then the Social Security Administration will send you a letter that explicitly states you’re ineligible for an SSN and the reason for why. Take that letter with you to the MVA when you go for your appointment. With it, the MVA will be able to issue you your driver’s license or Maryland State Identification Card.