International driver's license alongside my Florida license

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that even with an IDP (basically not more than a translation of your original driver's licence) you can only drive on a foreign licence for a year after getting you Bulgarian residency.

Hopefully someone who has been through the process will be able to answer!

Doesn't sound a legit way to do it.

Obviously the bad advice, that you shouldn't do, would be to declare it lost in the U.S and get a replacement and then surrender the "lost one".

@PepitoFiesta

It kinda matters not what you "want" to do (or not do). if you're now a Bulgarian Resident, then the clock is ticking on your permitted usage (12 months) of your foreign driving license. As it's American, you can't even simply exchange it, there will be some work/study/bureaucratic overhead for you to deal with (sorry).

If you haven't been stopped yet, from my experience the police rarely ask for the driving license... their concern is your ownership of the vehicle and its legality (inspection, vignette, insurance). If you have all that in order, you might get away with your foreign license for far longer than officially permissible. But it might get unpleasant if they do ask, so it's probably best to get your BG one sorted.

If you go back and forth frequently, then I understand the concern. My guess is that you'd probably have to do something  sneaky  along the lines of Zooldrool's "lost" suggestion, or doing the Bulgarian test as a learner (more work/aggravation as you're not swapping and surrendering your old US license).

First of all, there's no such thing as an "international driving licence"; you're talking about the "IDP" (International Driving Permit") - and even that "the" doesn't tell the whole story as there are  three IDPs, because there are three international conventions that govern where each is valid.  None of these is a "driving licence", despite the common erroneous use of that term. It merely certifies that you have a valid driving licence in your home country and is invalid unless presented with said licence, valid at the time of presentation, in a country which also recognises that particular IDP (they aren't universally accepted/interchangeable).

As a Bulgarian resident you're required to either have your US driving licence notarised or hold an IDP from the US. After one year, you're required to exchange your US licence - it's purely an exchange, ie no test etc required, as the US is a signatory of the relevant Vienna Convention (unless King Donnie decides otherwise, of course). You can exchange your licence once you've been legally resident in Bulgaria for six months; you have to surrender your US licence to KAT as part of the process - it's returned to the US.

After that, you have a BG licence and are subject to the same traffic laws etc as the rest of us (eg, you lose "points" on your licence for infringements until you run out of them, at which point your licence is suspended).  It's worth noting that any infringements aren't necessarily notified to you (eg those caught by traffic/red light cameras):  you can find out about any you may have clocked up online or "the hard way", ie when your vehicle fails the GTP (annual inspection)/your insurance renewal is rejected/the traffic cop gives you the good news after stopping you miles from anywhere in the middle of the night...

It's not worth trying any of the "unofficial work-arounds" unless you're feeling very rich and enjoy handing out "presents" to traffic cops..

As a resident in Bulgaria, you can use your Florida license paired with an International Driving Permit (IDP) for one year from your date of residency. After one year, you are required to exchange your Florida license for a Bulgarian one. You do not need to surrender your Florida license to get an IDP, unless you officially convert to a Bulgarian license.

The problem seems to be that the original poster thinks an International Driving Permit is a type of driver's licence. It's not, it's an "official" fancied-up translation of your original driver's licence. It can't be used as a driver's licence on its own.

@gwynj

Thank you for the detailed response. This is my main issue with this process. I do travel back and forth as I still live in the US as well. So if I have to exchange my US license to get a Bulgarian one it leaves me without a license when I'm in the US.

Thank you all for your replies. I appreciate the clarification. It sounds like there is a lot of misinformation on Google about what the "international license" is. As I mentioned above in one of my replies, my main issue with exchanging my US license for a Bulgarian one is that I still also live in the US. So this process would leave me without a license in the US. And the cops there don't accept "gifts" as easily. At least not ones most of us can afford. I'm surprised my situation isn't more common. I will continue to search for a way of keeping my US license and getting one here in Bulgaria properly. I will update this post if I find something.

@PepitoFiesta

What makes you say that? As a US citizen who is a resident of Bulgaria, your Bulgarian driving licence, plus IDP, permits you to drive in the US for up to a year per visit. Your citizenship is immaterial to the validity of your Bulgarian driving licence, ie you're treated like any foreign resident visiting the US.

@JimJ

I guess they are talking about "grey areas" where technically you might be treated as resident in both countries.

I have two permanent residence visas and now live in a third country. It's a bit of a mind field in the grey zone.

@JimJ

I'm a Latino man who lives in the US. Getting pulled over by the police without a US driver's license isn't ideal. On top of that I'm seeking a remote job based in the US. Most US jobs ask for a US driver's license as primary identification. I understand this is the way it is. I'm just hoping to find a way around this. When I'm in the US I drive all of the time, when I'm in Bulgaria I drive maybe twice every two to three months. Like I said before if I find a way around this I will post it here in case anyone else is in a similar situation.

@PepitoFiesta

Well, you won't get to live here without a US passport, so you can show that to ICE in lieu of a driver's licence for identification. I'd say that's better proof that you're a US citizen than a DL any day...  😎

Strictly speaking, you're required to carry your passport with you at all times as a non-EU citizen resident in Bulgaria. The cops etc will usually accept your Residence Permit as ID (but not on entering/leaving the country) but it isn't legally valid for such a purpose as it only proves that you reside here. If they decide to go by the book you'd better have your passport in your pocket as well..

Bulgarian driving licences (with IDP) are 100% accepted in every US state, unless you have re-established residency in the US. However  there is a "Gotcha": when you have a BG Residence Card the clock starts ticking on that one-year limit to exchange your driving licence. If you go to the US for 6 months, that BG clock doesn't stop ticking: when you return to BG six months later that one-year grace period to exchange your US licence will have expired, 12 months to the day after the date of issue of your Residence Permit. The clock doesn't reset just because you were out of the country...

It gets even better: if you use the "old expat hack" (known in legal circles more concisely as "fraud") by falsely claiming to have "lost" your US driving licence and thereby obtaining a "spare" to exchange for a Bulgarian one, this is classed as "material misrepresentation" by insurance companies and automatically invalidates your insurance. Nothing will actually happen until you have an accident, the insurance company does its normal investigation and discovers that you've handed them a Get Out Of Jail Free card. If You're really unlucky you'll be involved in an accident with some "businessman/mutra/no-neck" who won't care if you have insurance problems - those guys know exactly how to make people pay what they think they're owed. 😎

Think your next course of action through very carefully: mistakes can be very costly and in all sorts of unanticipated ways!

Wow, we are going around in circles there is no way around it. Please just accept what you've been told.

The only way is to take a driving test in Bulgaria if you wish to drive in Bulgaria if you want to keep your American licence.

It's a complicated situation. I can understand why a Latino man would want to be extra cautious when in the US. Holding a US passport doesn't seem to stop ICE too much if they want to meet their quota.

But yes, it does sound like taking the Bg driving test in order to keep both licences is the safest and wisest solution. Not necessarily the easiest, but that's often the way it is.

Bear in mind that taking the test in Bulgaria isn't entirely straightforward.  For a US citizen you'll be required to produce your US High School or University diploma, apostilled in the US; it'll then need to be translated and legalised in Bulgaria, and submitted to the local RUO office, which will then issue a Certificate of Recognition for you to submit to KAT. If you exchange your US licence you skip all that stuff...

@JimJ

Can you direct me to a link that confirms your statement about the trade of license from Valid US drivers license to BG one? Sounds to good to be true 😅

@JimJ
Can you direct me to a link that confirms your statement about the trade of license from Valid US drivers license to BG one? Sounds to good to be true 😅 - @Chris G-F

https://mvr.bg/opp/en/administrative-se … garian-one

@JimJ
Can you direct me to a link that confirms your statement about the trade of license from Valid US drivers license to BG one? Sounds to good to be true 😅 - @Chris G-F
https://mvr.bg/opp/en/administrative-se … garian-one - @SimCityAT

Just confirm: the US is a signatory to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and falls under the legislation outlined in the link.

@PepitoFiesta

I get that. However, if you're mostly in Bulgaria, then your Bulgarian license should be accepted in USA for your short visits.

If you really want to hang on to a foreign license, then it should be possible to simply apply for a brand new license in Bulgaria (i.e. not an exchange). But this involves all the standard tests for a Bulgarian learner driver. Or, perhaps, do the exchange, and then apply for a brand new US license in a different state.

As per my previous post, I still doubt that a straight exchange FL->BG is possible. I think you'll need some paperwork and some tests (but not all, as per completely new application).

Here's my supporting info courtesy of Dr. Google (who might be wrong, of course, but he sounds pretty convincing here)...

does florida have reciprocal driving license exchange with EU countries?

Florida does NOT have a blanket reciprocal driving license exchange agreement with all EU countries. However, Florida does have specific reciprocity agreements with France and Germany.

what about the other way? i.e. florida license for EU license

Because driver's license reciprocity is negotiated state-by-state, there is no single rule for exchanging a Florida license for an "EU license". Each EU country manages its own local conversions.

Countries with Reciprocity:

If you move to France, you can directly exchange your Florida Class E license for a French Class B license without taking any tests.

Countries with Zero Reciprocity:

If you move to Germany or most other EU nations (such as Spain, Italy, or Ireland), your Florida license cannot be exchanged directly.

General Tips for Exchanging a US License in the EU:

Get an Abstract: Almost every EU country will require a certified copy of your Florida Driving Record (Abstract) to prove your driving privileges are current and valid.

Surrendering Your License: If an EU country does grant you an exchange, they are legally required to confiscate and return your physical Florida license to the FLHSMV.

what about Bulgaria?

You cannot directly exchange a Florida driver's license for a Bulgarian driver's license. Because the United States is not a signatory member of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, Bulgaria’s Traffic Police (KAT) will not recognize a Florida license for a direct, test-free swap.

The 1-Year Rule for Expats

If you move to Bulgaria and obtain a residency permit, you can legally drive on your Florida license combined with an AAA International Driving Permit (IDP) for up to 1 year from the date your residence permit is issued. Once that year is up, your Florida license is no longer valid for driving within Bulgaria.

How to Get a Bulgarian License as a Florida License Holder

To keep driving after your first year, you must obtain a Bulgarian license. While you do not need to sit through the entire 40+ hours of mandatory driving school lectures required for complete beginners, you must pass the official exams.The process with the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior (MVR) requires you to:

* Establish Physical Residence: You must physically reside in Bulgaria for at least 6 months (185 days) before applying.Submit

* Medical Certificates: Pass a physical exam with a Bulgarian general practitioner to receive a physical fitness assessment card.

* Take a First Aid Course: Complete a brief, mandatory road safety and first aid training lecture through the Bulgarian Red Cross to get certified.

* Pass the Exams: Register with a local driving school to sit for the official, computerized written theory exam (available in English) and pass the practical behind-the-wheel road test.

* Apply at KAT: Bring your test results, residency card, medical certificate, and a legal translation of your Florida license to your local KAT Traffic Police Office to process the new card.

@JimJ

US driver's licenses (DL) comply with the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. Traveling abroad, you can use your US driver's license alongside an International Driving Permit (IDP) in countries that are party to this treaty.

I do not believe the Bulgarian authorities have the right to take away your US license since US does not comply with the Vienna convention.This rule is only for EU countries/or any others that are part of the Vienna Convention.

I have heard Americans keep both US and BG license when they apply the fast and direct way.

Yeah, my bad - I was mixing up the '49 Geneva and the '68 Vienna Conventions... 😳

I must have left my brains in the freezer, along with my glasses!

@TonyFF

Hello! You're breathing new hope to this situation. Can you clarify on what you mean by applying the fast and direct way?