Moving to USA - Who's done it, what advice?

OllyM · 23 Apr 2016 at 02:44

Ah yeah, I've heard that CA makes you retake the theory test actually.

I didn't need to do a road test in NJ, they waived it because of my UK license - I think it's the only state that does this though. I did have to do the theory test which was fairly easy.

sammo62 · 23 Apr 2016 at 02:47

As an aside I've got to say that driving an automatic is so much more straightforward I'm not sure how they haven't caught on more in the UK. I wonder if it's a pride issue.

Amp34 · 23 Apr 2016 at 02:56

sammo62 said:
It's not that surprising given the laws are different. I've had to pass my US test 3 times as it's required every time you move state (Illinois, Indiana, California). I've had to pay each time but it's not outrageous (under $50).

I went to a local service centre, handed over my drivers licence and given a brand new Alberta one. No tests and I think it cost something like $30 dollars in fees. Driving in the US and Canada aren't that different which is why I was semi surprised you had to do a test in the US. That said a theory test would be helpful, still don't know what some signs mean...

At least it's cheap though, and doesn't sound taxing.

And yep, automatics are great, ideal for the such lazy driving! Put foot on accelerator, get to 110km/h, switch on cruise control and sit for 2 hours with one hand on the wheel...

Aldav · 23 Apr 2016 at 03:04

sammo62 said:
As an aside I've got to say that driving an automatic is so much more straightforward I'm not sure how they haven't caught on more in the UK. I wonder if it's a pride issue.

More to do with historically smaller cars, with much engines, in large part due to fuel prices. Small engines can be a bit gutless at the best of times and auto boxes don't fit well with that.

Another factor is probably road types. Most UK roads are narrower, less straight and in many places, outside of big cities at least, traffic congestion is higher.

sammo62 · 23 Apr 2016 at 03:06

But aren't automatics better for high traffic congestion? Less farting around with the clutch.

Aldav · 23 Apr 2016 at 03:15

Less faff, but it also hits fuel consumption. It's a historical thing, I think. The average engine size in the UK is probably still much what it was 40 or 50 years ago, but the US was far slower to discover small cars and small engines.

timmeh · 23 Apr 2016 at 03:49

I don't think I'll own a manual car. Automatic is so much easier and with CVT gearboxes,l they're much nicer to drive

mistersprinkles · 23 Apr 2016 at 04:58

You're not going to like the USA. Americans don't say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" when you thank them. They say "uh huh". They are rude, have no culture, and think their importance in the world is directly related to their salary. They would rather buy a new truck than buy healthcare in case they need surgery or they have a heart attack, but most of them think that will never happen. American beer is crap, the police will shoot you for looking at them funny, especially if you're black. Punishments for crimes, even white collar crimes, are harsh. If you think chavs are bad in the UK you are in for a rude awakening when you meet the real thing in the USA. Think chavs with assault rifles. Make sure you really want to do this.

Anchundan · 23 Apr 2016 at 06:04

I've only had brief projects in USA, so can't comment. But I have heard the annual leave is MUCH shorter than average UK annual leave.

Off-topic - When I got my driving licence in China, I didn't even need to get in a car, just take the theory, which was in Chinese. Which in turn meant I could bring in an interpreter. My interpreter had taken his theory test two weeks previously and had got 98%, so it all worked out quite well!

R-evans · 23 Apr 2016 at 09:03

mistersprinkles said:
You're not going to like the USA. Americans don't say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" when you thank them. They say "uh huh". They are rude, have no culture, and think their importance in the world is directly related to their salary. They would rather buy a new truck than buy healthcare in case they need surgery or they have a heart attack, but most of them think that will never happen. American beer is crap, the police will shoot you for looking at them funny, especially if you're black. Punishments for crimes, even white collar crimes, are harsh. If you think chavs are bad in the UK you are in for a rude awakening when you meet the real thing in the USA. Think chavs with assault rifles. Make sure you really want to do this.

I've heard this a lot about rude Americans. I have spent months in the US before (travelling, holidaying) and I completely disagree. Some are a little blunt but overall I have always been made to feel welcome and they have been nothing but friendly. Ann Arbor, the town her job is in, especially was a lovely friendly environment when I spent a week there last October. I have had much better encounters in the months spent in the US than I have had in Yorkshire in 28 years.

As an avid craft beer drinker, I can assure you that American beer is not crap

maybe you are referring to lager (which is all crap) but the best rated beer in the world is brewed by US microbreweries.

squerble · 24 Apr 2016 at 17:50

Anchundan said:
I've only had brief projects in USA, so can't comment. But I have heard the annual leave is MUCH shorter than average UK annual leave.

There's no legal requirement in the USA to give paid leave, but most people seem to get around 2 weeks. Any time you take off sick tends to come out of this allowance too.

V F · 24 Apr 2016 at 18:35

mistersprinkles said:
You're not going to like the USA. Americans don't say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" when you thank them. They say "uh huh". They are rude, have no culture, and think their importance in the world is directly related to their salary. They would rather buy a new truck than buy healthcare in case they need surgery or they have a heart attack, but most of them think that will never happen. American beer is crap, the police will shoot you for looking at them funny, especially if you're black. Punishments for crimes, even white collar crimes, are harsh. If you think chavs are bad in the UK you are in for a rude awakening when you meet the real thing in the USA. Think chavs with assault rifles. Make sure you really want to do this.

How is Britain any different? If anything I've heard Britain is the worst.

Pawnless Endgame · 24 Apr 2016 at 20:09

Dance music as we've always known it (house, trance, techno etc)... you have to call it EDM (electronic dance music) in the US for some reason!

V F · 24 Apr 2016 at 20:41

A lot of terms make sense in America.

SPG · 24 Apr 2016 at 22:15

Healhcare, don't learn to drive get a push bike will help to keep the weight off. winters suck so maybe learn to drive.

In the summer it's great. Learn to play golf, buy a cabin up north, learn to water ski, get to know people who have a cabin/boat.

timmeh · 24 Apr 2016 at 23:30

mistersprinkles said:
You're not going to like the USA. Americans don't say "you're welcome" or "my pleasure" when you thank them. They say "uh huh". They are rude, have no culture, and think their importance in the world is directly related to their salary. They would rather buy a new truck than buy healthcare in case they need surgery or they have a heart attack, but most of them think that will never happen. American beer is crap, the police will shoot you for looking at them funny, especially if you're black. Punishments for crimes, even white collar crimes, are harsh. If you think chavs are bad in the UK you are in for a rude awakening when you meet the real thing in the USA. Think chavs with assault rifles. Make sure you really want to do this.

Sounds like you haven't been to America...

American beer is a lot better than a lot of the stuff in Europe (I'm not talking about Bud or Coors).

They are a lot more polite than 99% of the UK. Also, the chavs with assault rifle things? I haven't seen that either and I live in a town where the shops give you free things for carrying guns...

Threepwood · 24 Apr 2016 at 23:35

Jono said:
You'll probably need to get a driving licence. They're dead easy to pass the test. Driving over there is quite a bit different, at least the STOP signs. You have to stop

You have to stop at least once in this country at a stop sign.

Are you getting give way and stop signs confused?

Rroff · 25 Apr 2016 at 00:15

R-evans said:
I've heard this a lot about rude Americans. I have spent months in the US before (travelling, holidaying) and I completely disagree. Some are a little blunt but overall I have always been made to feel welcome and they have been nothing but friendly. Ann Arbor, the town her job is in, especially was a lovely friendly environment when I spent a week there last October. I have had much better encounters in the months spent in the US than I have had in Yorkshire in 28 years.

As an avid craft beer drinker, I can assure you that American beer is not crap maybe you are referring to lager (which is all crap) but the best rated beer in the world is brewed by US microbreweries.

Rude Americans are properly rude - but the larger number of Americans I had anything to do with were very welcoming - when it comes to people I've found it much more of extremes than here.

I found Ann Arbor a fairly pleasant experience - definitely somewhere I'd go again - those college towns seem to have a bit higher standards than average.

Threepwood said:
You have to stop at least once in this country at a stop sign.

Are you getting give way and stop signs confused?

Coming to a complete stop is a bit of a bigger deal in the US, there is also the right on red thing (though I believe that has changed in the last 2 years) and 1-2 states have further rules on red lights (though again think they've been normalised with the rest of the US since I was there).

Amp34 · 25 Apr 2016 at 00:31

Threepwood said:
You have to stop at least once in this country at a stop sign.

Are you getting give way and stop signs confused?

When's the last time you saw a stop sign in the UK? They are about as rare as hens teeth! They are everywhere in the US. Somewhere that would make more sense having a mini roundabout? Stop sign. Somewhere that would make sense having a give way/yield sign? Stop sign. Somewhere where no sign is actually needed? Stop sign...

Right on red - physically stop before turning. I read something recently that certain cities are getting really hot on those now, including having right turn cameras to fine people that don't - good for all involved, except the person that thought they shouldn't have to stop.

Threepwood · 25 Apr 2016 at 01:02

When's the last time you saw a stop sign in the UK?

I see more being held by workforce than static ones. Think there is one on the A711 now, can't remember.

Anyway, guys, stop means stop. No brain surgury required.