Still trying to get an answer from the german *

[FloydV]

I've sent all of my wife's and my current driver license info, and I keep getting the stone wall from these people. Who do I need to contact to get something verifyable?

The info is going to:

Hermann.Kirchner@hmwvl.hessen.de

which shoud be to the person in charge of such matters for the German state of Hesse. He said in one email that he was on vacation for three weeks and would get back to me. This is worse than the treatment we get in the U. S.

Any suggestions?

[Got-Busa?]

Don't even worry about it. It's part of your inprocessing when you guys get on the military installation. Just come with a International Drivers license and that should get you buy until you are on base to complete the rest....

Otherwise, your wife should have a point of contact through her office that can handle all of that stuff for you. If you do it through the civilian side, you are going to pay 10-times what it should cost you and be a lot more work....

[FloydV]

We are not going to be on a military installation. My wife is a DOD civilian and we will be living in the city.

I have a year to find out. I'll keep pestering them. Everything hinges on her getting an assignment there. She has been a GS 12 for about a year, so I think her chances are good.

[Got-Busa?]

It doesn't have anything to do with being ON the installation. You (your wife) is going there to work as a DOD employee which puts you under the US contract for employes in there country. They have a checklist and step-by-step process specifically for you so you don't have to do all of the BS that the average joe that decides to move to Europe does.

Have your wife contact her supervisor over there and they should send her an information packet with everything you need to do. Trust me if you go the civilian route, you are looking at several thousand dollars for each of you to get your car/bike license in Germany not including all the other taxes, fees, etc....

Her job has to have some kind of point of contact for her coming over. She doesn't just show up for work when she gets there like in the states....

[FloydV]

Got-Busa, you are correct. I got a response from the German DL people in Hesse. My wife gets to slide. I on the other hand have to go the test route.

[Got-Busa?]

You should be able to do the same thing as your wife. You should fall under her as a dependent and be exempt. There is no reason why you shouldn't....? My parents are over there and have done the exact same thing.

[soon2be]

At one time, you had to take the road sign (100 questions) test to get a USAREUR license. The last time that I went, all you had to show was a valid stateside license and you were issued a USAREUR license.  Don't even have to know the road signs.  It was really very painless and you can get it done while you're waiting for your car to be delivered.  It's all handled through the Provost Marshall and it is part of the overall inprocessing.  This license is not valid stateside.  Most state licenses do not expire if you are on active duty, but for civilians there is no such policy.  So I recommend that you try to renew your stateside license just before you leave.  My license expired while I was there, but by being stationed in Frankfurt, I was able to go downtown and get an International License for a minimal fee (I don't remember the exact cost).  In case you're thinking this, an international license issued in the U.S. is not valid in the U.S.  One issued outside of the U.S. is valid in the U.S.  Also, an international license will not erase the requirement to get a USAREUR license.  It will be required to register your vehicles.  

I have to mention that this is only my experience with vehicles of the four-wheeled variety.  I didn't have a motorcycle while I was there.  Registration and licensing may be slightly different for bikes.



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