Can an American get a driver's license overseas?

By Ty Tagami

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia state Sen. Jack Murphy, who's making a case for a law that requires state exams be administered in English, says he can't get a driver's license  in some other countries.

"I can’t go to France or Germany or Mexico and get a driver’s license," the Republican from Cumming said.

Currently, the state offers the driver's exam in 13 languages, and Murphy does not think that is appropriate.

“It is amazing how many people cannot read English who are driving," he said. "You should have to have a basic understanding of English to be able to drive. And it gives them a great incentive to learn English.”

Critics worry that the legislation is anti-immigrant.

But what about the fundamental claim: can Americans get a license to drive overseas?

An American actually can get a license in some other countries, including at least two of those Murphy cited.

Americans with a U.S. license can take a test in Germany to obtain one there, according to the Web site of the U.S. embassy in Berlin.

The test is given in English, but includes a separate test of German license-related vocabulary.

In France, anyone who is at least 18 and has a residency permit or work visa can sit for the same driver's license test that a citizen of France must take, said Claire Collobert, a press attache for the French consulate in Atlanta. If they pass, they get a license for life. And anyone with a French license can drive anywhere in the European Union, she said.

There is a hitch though: "I don't believe we offer the exam in English," Collobert said, " so you would have to master French."

Language might be a barrier for Georgians in France and Germany, but it wouldn't be a problem for residents in numerous other U.S. states that have reciprocal agreements with those countries. South Carolina residents, for instance, can obtain a license in both countries without taking an exam.

The Mexican consulate could not be reached for comment, so it's unclear what language barriers might exist in that country.

It's also unclear whether Murphy speaks German or French. If he doesn't, there's always the well-run train system in Europe.

"Mostly in France, you can live without a car," Collobert said.