Driving in Massachusetts
Getting accurate information about driver licensing regulations in the U.S. can be difficult; lots of confusion exists surrounding this subject and individuals often get conflicting information from the Registry of Motor Vehicles and police in different towns. In addition, regulations do occasionally change. The most accurate information that we have been able to gather is included here. Regardless of what information is currently being given out, ISSS recommends that you get a Massachusetts driver's license as soon as possible to avoid trouble. All too frequently we hear of an international student who has been arrested for driving with a foreign license.
International driving agreements exist with certain countries around the world. These agreements allow citizens of those countries to drive in the United States for up to one year with a home-country driver's license, provided it is readable in English. Individuals from countries that do not have agreements with the U.S., those who have been here more than a year, or those who have only an international driver's license or no license at all, will need to get a Massachusetts driver's license.
Obtaining Your Driver's License
Massachusetts State Identification Card
Driving Regulations in the United States
Obtaining Your Driver's License
You will need three forms of identification to get a driver's license. Bring your passport and all visa documents (including your Form I-20, IAP-66 or I-797), your Bentley student ID, as well as your Social Security card, if you have one. The Registry of Motor Vehicles is currently very reluctant to issue a driver's license to anyone who does not have a Social Security Number. If you cannot get a Social Security number, you may still need to go to the Social Security Administration to get a "denial letter" from them. Other complicating factors may also exist; check with the International Center for updated information.
The nearest Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is in Watertown. The address and telephone numbers are listed below.
Watertown RMV
Watertown Mall
Arsenal Mall
Watertown, MA
Telephone: 617/926-5000
General Information: 617.351.4500
Hours: 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Wednesday and Friday; extended hours on Thursdays from 8:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Also, you can also go to the Boston RMV office at 1135 Tremont Street in the Roxbury section of Boston (temporarily located at 100 Nashua Street in downtown Boston); the telephone is 617.351.4500.
If you do have an international driver's license or a valid driver's license from a country that has an agreement with the United States, or a license from another U.S. state, you can contact the Registry of Motor Vehicles to make an appointment. You will receive a booklet and must study the Massachusetts road laws. Then be prepared to take an eye test and a written test; no road test will be necessary. If you pass, you will pay a fee and receive your new Massachusetts driver's license.
Please note: If you get your Massachusetts driver's license in this manner, the Registry may take away, invalidate, or destroy your home-country or international driver's license. If you want to make sure that this does not occur, please follow the procedures below for individuals with no valid driver's license.
If you do not have a valid license of any kind, or come from a country that does not have an agreement with the United States, call the Registry of Motor Vehicles to make an appointment. You will receive a booklet and must study the Massachusetts road laws. You must then pay part of the fee to take the written test and the eye test. If you pass, you will be given a Learner's Permit and later will have to take a road test. If you pass all three tests, you will pay the remainder of the fee and receive your new Massachusetts driver's license.
You are not allowed to use a Learner's Permit in a rented car or to take the road test in a rented car. You will need to take a friend who has a valid license and owns a car with you while learning to drive, and for your test.
Massachusetts State Identification Card
If you are not planning to obtain a driver's license, you may want to consider getting a Massachusetts State Identification Card; it is wise to have some form of official identification so you will not have to carry your passport with you on a regular basis. You can obtain a state ID from the Registry of Motor Vehicles. As with the driver's license, you will need three forms of identification. Bring your passport and all visa documents, your Bentley student ID, and your Social Security card, if you have one.
Driving Regulations in the United States
Each of the 50 states has its own traffic rules. You can obtain a list from the Registry of Motor Vehicles in the state. Below are some general driving rules that apply everywhere in the U.S.
- Drive on the right-hand side of the road.
- Keep in the right-hand lane at all times when driving on two-lane roads, unless you are passing another car in a passing zone.
- Always signal left or right when you turn or change lanes.
- Obey speed limits. In most areas, speed limits are strictly enforced and offenders must pay fines. Getting tickets or "points" on your license will also result in an increase in the cost of your car insurance, and may eventually result in the loss of your driving license. Radar detectors are illegal in some states.
- Although a red traffic light always means stop, some states, but not all, permit a right turn to be made at a red light after you have come to a full stop and checked if the way is clear, provided there is no sign prohibiting the turn. In this situation, you must yield to oncoming traffic. This "right on red" law is in effect in Massachusetts.
- Passing on a curve, at an intersection, and near the top of a hill is prohibited.
- Passing a school bus that is loading or unloading children is prohibited. whether you are behind the bus on the same side of the road, or facing the bus on the opposite side of the road.
- Reduced speed limits are in effect in all school zones.
- Parking on the highway is prohibited. Pull completely off the road if you must stop.
Purchasing an Automobile
Buying and maintaining a car can be an expensive proposition in Massachusetts. Cars can be purchased new or used. Used cars are either sold through dealers or privately. Privately sold used cars are advertised in the classified section of the newspaper. Freshman residents are not allowed to have cars on the Bentley campus; off-campus parking is limited.
It is acceptable to bargain over the price of the car. If you buy a used car, have it examined by a reputable mechanic before you close the deal. You should receive a title or a certificate of ownership, and a bill of sale.
All cars registered in Massachusetts must be adequately insured. The owner of the car is financially responsible for any accidents or damages connected with the car, regardless of who drives it. Auto insurance is regulated by the state of Massachusetts, and therefore the prices are fairly uniform but expensive. Take your bill of sale and the title to an insurance agent to buy a policy. You are required by law to purchase liability coverage that covers the people in the car. If your car is worth more than the amount of the deductible, it is recommended that you also purchase collision coverage, which covers the automobile itself.
The agent will fill out a form for you. Then, all three documents (the bill of sale, the title and the insurance form) must be taken to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in Watertown or Boston. In addition to paying for your registration, you will also have to pay a state sales tax (5 percent of the value of the car) when you register the car. Later on, the town where you live will bill you for the excise tax on an annual basis, for each year that you own the car.
