CT Driving Info
Cultural Care Au Pair recognizes that driving is an important part of many au pairs’ responsibilities and, as such, we wanted to take this opportunity to make you aware of the requirements for foreigners obtaining a drivers license in the State of Connecticut. We hope that this information will be helpful in clarifying what we can understand are some confusing rules regarding driving in the State of Connecticut. Per your Host Family Agreement, if you intend for your au pair to drive, you are required to take the necessary steps to provide automobile insurance that lists the au pair as a current driver on your policy. We strongly recommend consulting with your insurance company regarding their licensing requirements to be an insured driver, and the CT Department of Motor Vehicles for the latest information. As always, host families and au pairs are responsible for ensuring compliance with all federal, state and local laws.
OVERVIEW
According to Connecticut law, visitors from certain countries may legally drive in Connecticut with their country license for up to one year with an International Driving Permit (IDP) obtained from their home country. The IDP is an official translation of a foreign driver’s license that is typically valid for one year and must always be presented in conjunction with his or her home country license. If the license and IDP expires during their au pair year, then they are not permitted to drive legally after this date. It is important to note that an IDP confers no driving privileges whatsoever and is not a substitute for a person’s valid driver’s license. Also important to note is that the IDP cannot be renewed in the US and if the au pair intends to participate in the Extension Program she will be required to obtain a state license.
LICENSING
Au Pairs may be required to obtain a Connecticut Driver’s License and should immediately begin the process of obtaining a CT license in order to legally drive in the state and are not granted a grace period. Please contact me or CT DMV to learn more.
We also strongly recommend that au pairs who can legally drive with an International Driving Permit, consider applying for a CT license within their first 6 months in CT in order to legally drive during their extension year, and to also ensure with 100% certainty that an au pair will not be subject to scrutiny of their driving status. We also suggest printing a copy of the licensing regulations and keeping it in the glove compartment of your car. A valid license from Germany or France can be transferred to Connecticut using the same procedures for an out of state license.
THE PROCESS
Obtaining the Connecticut state drivers license involves two important steps:
1) Establishing Residency
In establishing residency, your au pair will be required to file for a non-working social security number (ITIN) after she has been in the USA for two weeks. To obtain this number, you will need to bring two letters provided by Cultural Care Au Pair through your online account (under the “My Au Pair” tab) to the local Social Security Administration office: Social Security Letter and Letter of Program Participation. Once she receives her ITIN number she will then be ready to take the next steps to obtaining the local state license.
2) Obtaining the Connecticut Drivers License
Once an au pair has obtained the ITIN number, he/she can obtain the Connecticut state license. All foreign drivers (other than German or French citizens) are required to take an 8-hour course on safe driving practices and present a CS-1 certificate as proof of their attendance before applying for a license. The course is offered at Connecticut Commercial or Secondary Driving Schools for $125 and requires advance registration. We suggest that the cost of this course be the responsibility of the host family if you require a driver as part of her duties, and as a host to the au pair in the State of CT. Host families are encouraged to enroll the au pair in the class prior to their arrival in order to secure a course date at the start of their program year. Upon completion they would then be required to follow additional steps needed to obtain the license including but not limited to providing the correct documentation and scheduling an appointment for the exam.
It is important to remember to check the DMV Web site as State regulations can (and often do) change at any time. Below are some helpful links to the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles:
CT DMV Website
License Requirements for New Residents
We recommend that host families and au pairs take these steps as soon as possible. There have been some reports that after 6 months, au pairs have been unable to obtain a Connecticut drivers license. This is particularly important if the au pair will be required to drive during his/her extension year.
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