" Hi Folks, The easiest way to circumvent the greedy driving schools in Germany is to prepare yourself before coming here. Simply go to one of the 20 states with reciprocal agreements and get a license there because all US states exchange drivers licenses amongst themselves. You can save yourself anywhere from 500-2500 DEM from these greedy over-50 xenophobic driver school owners. If I figure out a way to avoid the greedy over-50 xenophobic real estate agents (Maklers) then I will be sure to post it here. Note that these guys can take up to 3 months rent for about 2 days work. Rhody "

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" Rhody, Thanks for the tip! I''m going to look into this before moving over next fall! Sarah "

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" In order to get a driver''s license from another state you must revoke your current license, right? Would you happen to know the tax implications of doing such a thing? For example, let''s say you live in a state where they do not have state income tax and you obtain a driver''s license from a state that has state income tax. Would you be responsible for paying state income tax in the state where you have a driver''s license? I really want to know the implications of getting a driver''s license from another state. Thanks! "

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Rhody is right. Go to the US Embassy''s main webpage and click on the information for Germany...there is a list of all states with reciprocal agreements. I did just like Rhody said two years ago and exchanged for a German license without problems. Cathie

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" Hi Jack, The US is like 50 countries. The rules always depend on which states you are talking about. My advice is to seek out a qualifed tax accountant if you are looking to save tax by moving to another state. Cheers, Rhody "

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" I have just one question with getting a DL from another state, isn''t that a bit unlawful to do if you are not living in that state? I live in Texas and when I move to Germany next year I am going to have to go threw the whole driving school horror. New Mexico (which is only 20 minutes away) does not have that problem. I also would like to know if there would be any problem as to me getting a New Mexico DL and having all of my paperwork saying that I live in Texas. I have to file for residency in Germany and if there is no problem with this then that is fine. COuld someone please let me know? Vicki "

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" Hi Zmaus and John, et al, Good question on the, well, legality of the issue. If one drove down to the bottom of it, it very well could be. However, as for the practicality of it, it DOES work. A friend of mine got his license in AZ where we did our grad school--he''s not from AZ--and the officials in Munich accepted it just fine last year. I am from MN and got my license in AZ as well, in preparation for my move to Berlin. I also thought about the inconsistency of the paperwork (passport, job offer, ""official"" home state are all MN). But the Germans don''t know that, and at least I in my case will say that I didn''t have time to get all the paperwork changed or that it didn''t merit going through the change for cost reasons, leaving grad school, etc. I don''t expect a problem. And if there is a problem, then I out the $25 and would probably pay for the German school. But that''s a long shot. I understand it''s a pretty straightforward procedure (by German standards) if you have an accepted license. About the tax implications, another good question. Depending on how long you will be in Germany, you can declare long-term indefinite residency or only short term (such as on your voting ballot). If you essentially become a German resident--i.e. your main residency is there--then effectively you should have no more US State to call your residency and pay taxes to. If you DON''T take on Germany long-term residency and plan to maintain a US residency and pay those State taxes, I wonder if the US states even know you have another license in another state unless you tell them or you are a nationally-sought criminal. Unless it''s illegal to possess a license from a state other than your primary residency, I wouldn''t worry about it. If someone knows that it is indeed illegal, let us know. "

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" More news on taxes and drivers licenses. Many states now don''t accept the fact that you have a drivers licence from another state as proof you are resident of that state. Obviously people try the easiest way possible to say they don''t live in a particular state but in another to avoid taxes and it doesn''t work. So, it is most likely true that you won''t get any tax liability for having a drivers license if you can prove you live somewhere else and have ties to that place/state/country and pay taxes there. Rhody "

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