Driving License and Vehicle Registration
Getting a Driver’s License
F-1 students and their dependents may be eligible to drive a motor vehicle while residing in the United States. However, those who wish to operate a vehicle must successfully apply for and receive a driver鈥檚 license. Driving a car without a driver鈥檚 license is illegal. To acquire a driver鈥檚 license, you must apply for one at the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Driver鈥檚 License Application Process
In order to acquire a driver’s license, students need to follow these steps:
- Confirm with your DSO that your student record is Active in the SEVIS.
- Wait 14 days after arriving in the United States to apply for a driver’s license so that your ,鈥澛爄nformation can update in all the government systems.
- Study for the Driving Test, both written and practice. The contains all the information about driving rules and regulations in WV. is a sample written test
- Visit the DMV to submit the proper documentation.
Required Documentation
When you apply for a driver’s license at your local DMV,聽make sure to bring original copies of the following documents:
Immigrants
Immigrants who are applying for a learner’s permit, driver’s license, or identification card are required to provide the following documents:
- One of the following:
- An INS Form I-551 Alien Registration Receipt Card
- A valid temporary I-551 stamp in Foreign Passport (with English translation) or on INS Form I-94
- Valid re-entries permit INS Form I-327
- Social Security Card
- 2 Proofs of WV residency (See acceptable documents below)
Non-Immigrants
Non-Immigrants applying for learner’s permit, driver’s license, or identification card are required to provide the following documents:
- Social Security Card
- 2 Proofs of WV residency (See acceptable documents below)
- A valid foreign passport with English translation
- A form I-94
- A visa issued by the United States if the applicant is from a nation whose citizens are required by the United States to obtain a visa
- All original INS documents to verify status and length of authorized stay
- If the applicants status is F-1 or F-2, a form I-20 and a written verification of attendance at the school listed on form I-20 (not more than 20 days old) is required
- If the applicant鈥檚 status is H1-A, H1-B, H-3, or H-4, written verification (not more than 30 days old) from employer is required
- If the applicant鈥檚 status is J-1, or J-2, a form DS2019 and written verification of employment or attendance at the school listed on from DS2019 (not more than 30 days old) is also required
If you are an F-2 or J-2 dependent, go to the DMV with your primary F-1 or J-1 and make sure you both have all your required documents.
WV Proof of Residency
- You will be required to provide TWO proofs of West Virginia residency.
- Documents with a PO Box are not acceptable.
- Any recurring document cannot be more than 60 days old (such as a utility bill or bank statement).
- A termination notice from a utility company cannot be used as a proof of residency document.
- You may not use more than one proof of WV residency document issued by the same company.
- Married applicants may provide residency documents from this list聽in their spouse’s name when accompanied with a Certified Marriage Certificate.
Acceptable Documents
- WV utility bills (not more than 60 days old, cannot be a termination notice, and cannot be two bills issued by the same company)
- Tax records with a WV street address
- WV mortgage documents, WV homeowner insurance documents for a WV residence, or proof of WV home ownership
- WV W-2 form that is not more than 18 months old (you may use the same W-2 as your proof of Social Security number)
- WV weapons permit
- A valid WV vehicle registration card
- WV Voter鈥檚 Registration card
- Driver鈥檚 Eligibility Certificate (required for all applicants who are under the age of 18 that do not present a diploma or other certificate of graduation issued by a secondary high school when applying, can only be used as proof of residency if it has a WV street address)
- WV Homestead Tax exemption
- Proof of WV public assistance
- Residential rental or lease agreement
- WV DMV Affidavit of West Virginia Residency
- College admissions letter that shows the applicant is an in-state resident
- Letter from a WV homeless shelter, hotel, senior citizen’s home, rehabilitation center, nursing home, children鈥檚 home, orphanage, shelter, battered women鈥檚 shelter, or Job Corps, including the facility鈥檚 physical address, that explains that the applicant is a resident at their facility (letterhead is preferred, but not required)
- Pay check stub from any WV employer that shows a current physical address (cannot be hand written)
- Social Security benefits letter
- WV Professional License
- United States Selective Service card
- WV Dealer temporary registration card
- Letter from the applicant鈥檚 employer stating that all utility and house arrangements are provided by the employer
- Letter from the US Post Office that shows a new, physical, WV address assigned by the Post聽Office for the applicant
- WV bank statement
- WV auto insurance card
- WV hunting license
- License plate or Driver鈥檚 License renewal form
- 911 letter
Vehicle Registration
International students will need to follow these steps to register a vehicle in the United States:
- Obtain an auto insurance. Companies that provide auto insurance include but are not limited to: Allstate, StateFarm, Progressive, Geico, HoraceMann, Nationwide, Liberty Mutual, the General, and more. The state of WV requires a minimum of a Liability coverage in auto insurance.
- Register your vehicle with the DMV. For more information, the website lists all the requirements to register your vehicle.