I took the road test (NJ) for the second time today and failed. You can wait up to two weeks to retake it, but today was my last chance to clear this hurdle before move-in day on the 15th of August. Has anyone here gone to college OOS without a drivers license? How do I proceed from here?
I’m a rising junior and I just got my permit in May and license about a week ago. I went through my first two years of college without any official ID on my person (birthday wasn’t on any of my school IDs, health insurance, etc). I had my passport I didn’t carry it around. It never really gave me a problem, but if you don’t have at least your passport it could make it difficult to apply to things that need ID. But since you took your road test that means you have your permit, which is enough.
Apply for a New Jersey state ID and keep it in your wallet. Even if you’re not driving, it’s very useful to have one.
If you’re worried about having an ID, you can just get a state ID like whenhen said. I got one before I was old enough to have a license because I was traveling and my parents wanted me to have an ID.
If you’re worried about not being able to drive, I’m assuming you won’t even have a car to drive so it’s less of an issue. Look up ways to get around with public transportation. If you’re living on campus, you might not even need to use it that much, but it’s always good to know what’s available. Your school may offer free or reduced cost bus/public transit passes. When I was in college, most students didn’t bring cars to campus at all because it was so expensive to park. Most used some form of public transportation. I didn’t have a car all through undergrad (and lived in an area with some but not great public transportation), and I managed just fine.
If you would like to get a license while you are in college, you will need to look up the policies for the state you are in. It is doable if you make a friend who has a car that they are willing to let you practice with and borrow to take the test, but really, there probably won’t be that much of a rush. It’s not a big deal to not have a license, and you can always get your license when if you go home for the summer or some other time.
@whenhen @baktrax my permit ID card counts as my NJ state ID. I am dorming, and I indeed wouldn’t bring a car anyways.
If you aren’t bringing a car anyway, then it sounds like it isn’t really an issue. Your permit likely has a close expiration date, but you can get a regular state ID card. There’s usually a $15-$20 fee in my experience to get one, but it’s not really too difficult.
My permit expires in December @comfortablycurt
You can also get a passport ID card (that’s what my kids have), though that will take a bit longer to arrive. The NJ state ID card is considered a non-driver ID. I recall some sort of rule that you aren’t supposed to have that and the permit at the same time. They may give you difficulty about getting it while you still hold a permit. Not sure. We’re going to get one of those next week, too, for the kid who has chosen not to drive.
@NJCornellMom I have a passport. I was born and raised here in the United States.
Most freshman can’t have cars on campus anyway.
What I would tell you to do is to take some behind the wheel classes while at school if possible.
Then either at Christmas do some more practice, do a local 6 hour driving class and then take the test.
The driving schools know which specific skills they look for at your testing location.
The passport ID card is easier to carry than a passport. It’s small, like a state ID. I think it’s $40 if you already have a valid passport.
All these IDs issued by government are mostly useful only at the airport, when you need to pass the TSA security check-point.
Honestly, if your school provides you with an ID card with a photo attached to it, you don’t necessarily need an additional form of identification.
Since you have a US passport you should generally use it as your primary form of identification, but if you, by chance, happen to forget it/lose it, a school ID can get you through the TSA (stories even exist of Costco/Sam’s Club cards getting people onto flights).
As a person who also doesn’t have a license yet, your best bet is some sort of official identification. Student IDs are useful but may times people will want to see something more official especially with important information such as date of birth, ect. I’d go with the recommended state id route.
Passport cards are described at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/information/card.html .