I've just been denied a drivers license in Switzerland because my US driver's license was recently renewed (in the US). Since the US license doesn't state that it is a renewal, just an issue date, Switzerland thinks I got my first driver's license this year. They don't acknowledge that I've been a licensed driver since 1990. I now have to get a special document from the US to get this all taken care of. Has anyone else ever dealt with a situation like this?

Do you have any previous licenses with you? You could probably present one of those with your current US drivers license.

I know of someone who had this problem. What resolved this was a letter from the Department of licensing in that particular state.

I was lucky as I had a friend move to Australia and this happened to her. So before I left the states I got a 7 year driving record from my DMV. There was no problem when I went to get my license(also with a 2006 issue date) I just showed them the paper and it was all clear. Good luck!! This is something no one tells you and this is very important to know this when moving here. Company's should have this on there "things you need to know before moving here" list

I was issued a Swiss license but it was for a new driver since I had renewed my Ohio license two years before even though I have been driving for twenty years. In order to not be considered a new driver I had to order a drivers application from as far back as possible which showed that I applied for and was issued a drivers license. It was five bucks. The application was online. I printed it off and mailed into the Ohio Bureau of motor vehicles.

I would call to see how your state does it because each state is different. You should be able to find the phone numbers and some info online.

The first person I talked to at the Ohio BMV told me to order my drivers history. However, when I got it it only listed traffic violations and did not list when I first received a license. I called again and then was told I needed to order my drivers application for as far back as possible which is typically six years. I got that in the mail and took it in to exchange my temp Swiss license for a permanent Swiss license that was not for a new driver. They took that license from me and two weeks later I received a drivers license with no expiration.

I was lucky and the Swiss did not require me to translate the certified copies that I gave them since it was all in English. At first they said I would have to but ended up taking the papers along with the temp Swiss license and told me that they would let me know. Thankfully, I got a permanent license in the mail and did a big happy dance!

You need to be clear with your States bureau of motor vehicles that you need something that states a date that you were issued a license before three years ago to prove you are not a new driver. It must certified.

Exact same thing happened to me and I panicked thinking I was going to have to do a driving test here in Switzerland. However all that sweat for nothing since I just sent them my expired Ontario license and all was good. They just wanted to know that I wasn't a brand new driver. However, this was 16 years ago so maybe the rules have changed .

I just handed in my Canadian license and got a Swiss license no questions asked. My Canadian license had been valid for 5 years at the time. Now I just have a CH permit.

Perhaps a tip if people need it:
Some Australian licenses (perhaps all) have the same problem if you let them expire. The new one then says valid from whenever you renewed it. This caused a problem until we realized the original issue date is listed in fine print on the back. Once I pointed out that date and explained, they exchanged it for a Swiss one.

Thanks for all the helpful info! I have contacted the DMV in NY, and it looks like all will be taken care of shortly.

Some states actually post license information on their website. I was in the exact situation you were in a few months ago. I looked on the Minnesota DMV website, entered my license number into the database and it pulled up my driving record since 1982.

Unfortunately for my wife, California and Texas DMV sites were not so willing to play nicely.

Wow, I had not thought of this... I just renewed my license last week and I move in September. Headache narrowly averted.