Autofrei Leben

Our big project these days is getting our German driver's licenses. It's more involved than you might expect, especially in comparison to getting a DL in America. Today I went to the Führerscheinstelle (what Alicia refers to as the DeutscheMV) and took the following (only for my driver's license -- Marty has to do all the same things):

• My US driver's license and the previous one that expired in January


• An official translation of my US driver's license (cost: $36)


• My passport


• Official papers from the city that show I live here (cost: $5)


• Certificate from the first aid class I had to take on Sunday (5 hours, cost: $21)


• Certificate from the eye test I had to go and take this morning (cost: $6)


• Passport photos (cost: $5)


• Contract from the driving school through which I will take the test (cost: $100 plus $112 for book to study for test)


• Fees for DMV (cost: $38)

So anyway, I took all of that stuff to the DMV and submitted an application. In six weeks they will write me a letter saying I can go and take the test. Then I will be able to get a German driver's license.

Luckily, we only have to take the written test, not a driving test. If we had to do the driving test, we'd also be required to take a couple of driving lessons.

Marty is doing the same process, so it's a good bet that neither of us will be driving again until late May or early June.

It makes me think I'll never complain about the Connecticut DMV again...