Ok, I'm already there, so I guess I'm going crazier!
I finally got down to a driving school to get ALL the CORRECT info for Courtney to FINALLY get her drivers license. OH MY GOSH! You won't believe it!
This is how it goes for ANY first time driver on Guam.
1. Take driving course. This can be with ANY of the more than 25 DMV approved places on island. Cost runs between $120 and $300 just for the classroom instruction.
2. Take permit test. This test is $25.
3. Permit is then used for 6 months...no less. Permit holder at this time (6 month duration) learns how to drive.
4. Make appointment AFTER the 4 month mark for driving test. Appointment is made at 4 month mark because it takes at least 3 months to get an appointment for road test.
5. Before road test by DMV is done, permit holder goes BACK to driving school, pays $60 for a "pre-road test" to make sure they are going to pass test by DMV.
6. Once appointment date comes, then permit holder goes to assigned location, usually Univ of Guam for road test. Cost $15.
7. Once test is passed, license is given, BUT new license holder STILL cannot drive ALONE for another 30 days when they go BACK to DMV to take a follow up test. Cost $15. Once complete, another license is given and they are allowed to drive alone, BUT, if under age 18, cannot drive between 10pm and 6am. (doesn't matter if they have a job at night or not). If over 18, they cannot drive between the hours of midnight and 6am. (doesn't matter if they have a job or not).
8. After 1 year of holding the license, they can THEN go and get a PERMANENT license with NO restrictions on it.

So, if we were to start now, Courtney would still be in the process of getting her license when we were leaving here. Oh yea....it doesn't transfer to any other state either. She'd have to go thru whatever process the state we move to has for obtaining a license. ARGH!

Our only alternative is to buy a moped. So, we went and looked at them. Found a really nice one. On sale for $1199. With helmet, lock and rack, $1300 total. Not bad. Actually cheaper than the moped I bought in Hawaii. And no...she doesn't need a license to ride/drive it. The moped HAS to be registered by a licensed GUAM driver. That would be me. I have a Guam Drivers License. Oh, yea, have to show proof of insurance too...not a problem.
The drawback? Hmm...let's see. Courtney doesn't know how to ride a moped. She doesn't know how to ride a bike either. DON'T ASK! Long story.....
So, IF we buy a moped, I'm going to be spending A LOT of time teaching her how to ride it.

I'm telling ya...if it's not one stupid law here, it's another!!!

:lol: :lol: :lol: What kinda pebble are you living on???? Why wouldn't it transfer to the mainland US? And it sounds like they need to spend some of that $$$$ on the library air conditioner!!

If it worked that way around here...well, lets just say there would be LOTS of unlicensed drivers on the road. I'm thinking that whole thing is just a bunch of B**L...:roll:

Boy - that is crazy. Not only the time spent running around taking this test and that test - but how much is all that going to cost? I didn't think to add up all the test costs - did you :?: Get the moped!!! Riding a bike requires balance AND peddeling. At least with the moped all she will have to learn is the balance. Let her go round and round in the yard!!

PQ

Good Lord..... That's terrible :(

I forgot to add....once she goes for the PERMANENT license, that costs $25. Total in all is about $400 at the driving school I talked to. They were the CHEAPEST on island.

It doesn't transfer because they say it's not a "REAL" license and Guam is a territory, NOT a state. Yes, Guam runs under Federal Law, but doesn't have to adhere to ALL Federal Laws. Guam residents CANNOT vote in ANY elections having to do with the President/Vice President, but they do have Senators and Congressmen that they vote for.
It's really crazy living here. One reason why I don't work here. If I did, they would pretty much take ALL our money for taxes.
Have I mentioned how much I want to leave????

Hubby is worried about her riding the roads here. The roads are VERY bad, bumpy and full of potholes. They are slick when it rains. They aren't tar, they are actually cement, tar and crushed coral on the roads. When the roads are wet, they are very slick. I've even slid around corners at times just rounding a corner going REALLY slow when the roads have been wet.
I'm sure she will be careful once she gets the hang of riding it. I'm looking at the money aspect of it. The moped will pay for itself in about 6 months. It costs me about $60 to tank my van each week to drive her back and forth to work. Not to mention that 3 days of the week, I stay in town because she only works 3 hours and it's not worth me making the 30 min drive back home, only to turn around 2 hours later and drive back to get her.
It just all depends on what hubby says. Unless he lets me get the BIG scooter that is there. OMG! It's pretty, but they want $4000 for it! But, I don't need it...it's a want, not a need. The moped for Courtney is a need.
I've learned to distinguish between wants and needs and realizing when the WANTS stay at the store, money gets put in the savings. :) :)

Well it isn't really out of line with the driving requirements here in Pa. There are a few extra steps but it sounds pretty typical. Getting a drivers license is a long drawn out process. It makes the licencend drivers better but like SANDPAT said there are a lot of unlicensed drivers out there.

Good luck with this.

I don't mind the fact that she has to attend driving school.
I just don't think that they have to take ALL that time for them to drive.
My oldest got her license in CT. She took her permit test, then had to wait 90 days to take the permanent test. There were no restrictions put on her license except the underage thing.

What kills me is....the permit is only valid for 6 months. If they call for an appointment for driving test and they are told it's 3 months away, they have to go back to DMV and RETAKE permit test again. Pay for the permit test, because they cannot take the driving test with an expired permit. So...there's more money added to it. I just don't understand WHY it takes a minimum of 3 months to get an appointment for the driving test. Oh yea...forgot to mention....you CANNOT call for an appt EARLIER than the 4 month mark on your permit. If you do, they won't schedule you....so, either way, you are screwed (pardon my french) and have to pay and retake permit test again. Which, you have to make an appointment for.

It just makes NO sense!!!

Goodness, what a pain! And to think, when I got my California drivers license, all I had to do was the theory test (passed it without having to read the book) and drove round the block a few times.

Wow Terri, I'd say that the DMV must need job security to have all those user fees for a DL. Our behind the wheel is offered only through the college so we pay like tuition. $375. We only pay $25 for the permit though and $25 for the license. Hope the Moped works out for now. Is Courtney still looking into the Coast Guard?

When I went to high school in Calif.driving instruction was given automatically by the school,usually one of the coaches was the instructor,we had like 4 students in the car and we took turns driving.When my son started to learn to rive here in Arizona,none of the schools here in Tucson offer drivers Ed,You have to teach them yourselves or hire a company at the cost of a couple hundred dollars to train your student,or they can wait till they are 18 and just apply for their license.Of course if they have had the training ,they can get a discount on insurance with good grades included also

Now we know how they raise some of "their " money.LOL That's an insane method for sure!!

Oh my that is a lot of money, but I have to wonder are the kids better drivers than here in the states?

Terri, almost sounds like a taxi would be cheaper!! Of course she has Mom the taxi!!

There are a few fender benders here, like everywhere. Most of the accidents involve either a tourist hitting a local person or someone new to the island, ie military. You don't see/hear of any firey crashes, if that's what you mean. The max speed on the roads here is 45 and that's only on one stretch of road for about 3 miles. The rest of the speed limit is 35 or below. The roads here are HORRIBLE! Full of holes, potholes, bumps, lumps, you name it. But, that doesn't mean that people don't speed where they can.
Many of the roads here do not have sidewalks. Sidewalks are on the roads in the main part of the island...touristy area. There's always someone running/jogging along the roads, so you have to slow down to go around them if there's no where for them to run. Can't run on the grass, you don't know what is there, could be a dead animal, which there are lots of. Drove by a giant monitor lizard that someone ran over today. Horrible!

Ellie....the government here is just so corrupt, it's horrid!

My grand son is in high school and takes the course at 15 ( Free) Gets to take the driving part also, so has road experience then. At 16 he can get his license . but will have some restrictions.




Hurry up and come home where you belong! As for the moped, I want one, but you are right a want not a need! Get her the moped and then drive her if you think the roads are not safe. Sorry you are having such a hard time.

Ahh , life with a teenager! :D

Taxis here are VERY expensive! To go from the Kmart to a hotel in Tumon (tourist area) is $30. The drive is about 3 miles. INSANE!!!!

Regulations aren't too much different than Ohio, except in Ohio a legal guardian has to clock 50 hours of drive time with the kids besides the 8 hrs with an instuctor and the driving school and the temp permit. but then they can drive alone to their hearts content!! What we do for our kids!!!

Oh My Terri what a pain in butt ! I am surprised you already have your drivers license with all the hoops you have to jump thru :? I understand being careful , but that is crazy :evil:
Sharon

That's crazy. Someone is making lots of money here and as usual it isn't us.

I can understand all the junk a minor has to go thru, but Courtney is 18 already. Just the way it is here....nothing, and I mean nothing makes sense!

Well, I am glad to find I am not the only one who never learned to ride a bike. It does sound like a reasonable alternative. Can you get training wheels for mopeds? It would seem like learning to drive a car would be easier if you already know the gas/brake/steering stuff from other means of transport.

Just curious - can she get a Military drivers license as a dependent?

Terri, Can Courtney get longer hours??? That way it won't be quite so bad...
I wouldn't bother with the license...Wouldn't give the crooks a penny extra. She can get her license when you get to your next base.

By the way, squishy is in the mail!!!

Side car...haul more fabric... ;)

Be glad you don't live in Germany. It's way more expensive and more regimented there. My niece is getting ready to take hers in June and she has to shell out $1000 Euros or even more.

Could you let Courtney drive your moped so you wouldn't have to buy her one? Or do you use yours for most of your driving.

Sounds like Washington state laws for driving! Thankfully the laws changed after I got my license, which I got 10 years ago at the age of 16, so the drive class which was required was only $200 (offered after school at the high school) and then I could go get my license and drive all i wanted. Now...you have to take a class to get your license if you are under the age of 18. The class cost averages about $600, not offered at most schools. You have to clock in something like 50-80 hours of driving time with your parents. Then you can go take the written (which you pay for), then you can take the drive test (which you pay for) if you pass the written test. Then if you pass both test you can get your license (which you pay for). Then the driver is on a special license for six months. During this time they can not drive with anyone else in the car with them unless it is a parent, or a sibling. No friends allowed. After the six month period then they are allowed to drive freely.

I would have been a sitting duck if I had to pay $600 for a drive class!! Heck that is almost as much as I paid for my first car.

No, Mopeds don't come with training wheels. Already asked. lol

Military Drivers licenses are actually just a piece of paper that says you can drive a military vehicle. They don't really issue them anymore. Plus, they are ONLY for Active Duty Military. And...you need a civilian license to go with it.

No, she can't change her hours. It's the way the store is operated. It is run by the Seventh Day Adventists and runs by their "church calendar". Courtney works the short hours on T-W-TH because one of the ladies has to go somewhere, do something. <shrug>
SQUISHY? WOOHOO!

Leona, that's pretty much the way the laws are in Hawaii. I don't mind them doing that, but to make them drive for almost a year WITH someone? REDICULOUS!!!!

I don't have MY moped anymore. I sold it when we got here. :(

It's not really the money aspect that P's me off. It's the TIME that it takes from start to finish. I can understand for maybe 30 days that they cannot drive alone after "first" license, but come on....A first time driver at the age of 30 has to go thru the SAME thing? It just DOES NOT make sense!
If we were in Japan, she could have her license in 30 days and it would be an International License and could swap it to a stateside one when returning. UGH!!

They do seem to have a different set of rules there.

Yep, and once they rules go into effect, then they turn around and make new ones.

Terri...I have a great idea.....put Courtney in one of those large flat rate boxes and send her here to me in TN. They issue a license here for almost nothing (I think)... There is a very short time that they have to log with a licensed driver (but around our po-dunk town, no one does that)..then she would be good to go. They offer "hardship" licenses in our county for 14 yr. olds. I saw a kid on the road today...I swear..he was 8. :roll:

I'll send her back when we have her all legal. :lol:

Ok, I'll pack her up, but you have to KEEP her! lol

We even told her that we would send her back to KS to get her license. Granddad would help her and maybe even buy her a car! lol

But, that still wouldn't work, she'd have to quit her job. :(

At my school, they offer Driver's Ed. Our Technology teacher take 2 or 3 more students because it is a 5 Passenger car. They drive to a town about 10 miles away. Go to Dunkin Donuts sometimes. They get their Permit. Wait 6 MONTHS. Go to the DMV Take the test get your license. (I think thats the order........)Lol. When my Dad took his her got his Permit. Took the Test, signed up for the real test took it about a week later and got his license. Simple as pie in the old days right?

Now my friends are saying that here in New York, they are going to extend the time of getting your license to 21 instead of after getting your permit and waiting the 6 months, and then taking the test. It's crazy!! Lol. :)

When I went for my license, we had Drivers Ed at school. Every Wed night for 6 weeks. Class was 2 or 3 hours.
Then we went and got our permit. After 30 days, we could then go and get our license. Easy peasy! But, that was back in the olden days

What madness!!

Teach her to ride a bike -- NOW -- it would be cheaper and easier than the moped. And think of the tan she could get, the exercise, no gas expense, etc. :roll: :roll:

We just went thru the same exact thing with Kyle when we moved to Ohio. I was shocked that here there is no drivers ed at school!! Driving school was 350.-- and then all those other fees just like you posted. It about drove me nuts. I thought he would never get done. Here they also have to pass a manuverability test that is really hard!

When we lived in Illinois they just took drivers ed during school and if they passed the final test with the teacher they didnt have to take the test at the state drivers license place. They just went and got their license!

I was so glad Kenny got his in Illinois right before we moved. All he had to do was take the written ohio test and got an ohio license

We have a graduated licensing system here. They pay 40.00 to write the test to get their permit in order for them to learn to drive. They have to have a G licensed driver with them, and they can't drive after dusk. Unless you have a daughter like mine who I took to write her test and there was an ex boyfriend writing his test as well, in an attempt to show off she rushed through the test and FAILED!!! But she could re-write the next morning for a fee of 10.00. Of course Mum coughed up the money after listening to her wailing about how she was too stupid to have a license. (I held back giving her a smack!)

Then it cost Mum 685.00 for drivers education and another 65.00 for the road test to get their G2 license, which they can drive alone, but cannot drive on major highways, and cannot have more passengers then there are seat belts for and any hint of alcohol is automatic suspension of their driving privileges.

The G2 license is only good for 4 years, at some point they must drive out of town to take the test to graduate to a full G license. (but they aren't allowed to drive on major highways!) And of course there is a fee for this test as well. By the time it was all done I was broke!!!

It used to be quite easy to get your license here, but now our rules are similar to yours Terri, only even worse. After they actually get their drivers license, they can't drive alone for two years i think...have to have another licensed driver with them, and i think theres curfews too, and cant have friends in the car. I think someone is raking in the money on all this for sure. Sounds like she really needs to wait til you get back to the US, that'll be in just a few months isnt it? Sure hope so, i bet you're getting anxious

That wouldn't be bad if it weren't 15 miles to her work. She could do it, but there are 3 really, REALLY big hills she has to go up. I wouldn't even bike them!

Barb, I wish it were that close, but we've got another year. ARGH!!!

Kay, I wish it were that easy!
I don't mind paying for the driving school, but to have to wait for so long AFTER getting the permit AND the "first" license to drive alone, to me is rediculous!! The lady at the driving school said that it doesn't matter how old the first time driver is...they ALL have to adhere to what DMV rules.

Terri, I think you need to get back to the US immediately!!!