1. So you think you might want to drive?
• International students are allowed to drive in the U.S. with:
– a foreign driver’s license
– as well as an official International Driving Permit (IDP) obtained in your
home country.
• If you think you will want or need to drive in the U.S., we strongly
recommend obtaining both of these before your arrival. The United
States does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors, so you will need to
obtain this document in your home country before you travel to the
United States.
• If you do not have the IDP, you will be required to go through the
regular process described below in order to legally drive in
Connecticut and the U.S. It can be a lengthy and difficult process, so
we always recommend acquiring and IDP first if possible.

2. How to acquire a Connecticut State
License?
• The process to obtain a Connecticut State driver’s license is long
and requires students to first apply for a learner’s permit for 90
days, during which time you can only drive with an experienced,
licensed Connecticut driver. In addition, the Connecticut
Department of Motor Vehicles requires you to have a Social
Security Number (SSN) or obtain a denial letter from Social Security
Administration before you may apply for a driver’s license.
• In addition, international students must have a CT driver’s license or
CT State ID in order to register a car you have purchased. In the U.S.
you are required to register a car in order to drive it. Therefore, if
you are planning to purchase a car, you should not do this until you
have obtained your CT driver’s license, or CT State ID.
For further information please see:
http://global.uconn.edu/about/isss/drivers-license/