Driving in Oregon Interna'onal Student Orienta'on University of Oregon Fall 2014 h"ps://facebook.com/uoisss h"ps://twi"er.com/uoisss
Workshop Objec;ves Workshop Purpose Alterna;ve Transporta;on GeDng an Oregon Driver s License Buying and Owning a Car Parking and Gasoline What If I Need Help?
Purpose of Workshop Essen;al to know the basic rules for safe driving and car ownership while in Oregon. Driving can be both necessary (to get to school, do your shopping) and a great way to have fun and enjoy Oregon! A li"le knowledge and prepara;on can help to make your ;me as a driver safe. Protect yourself! While accidents or car- related problems don t happen to everyone they could happen to anyone!
Alterna;ve Transporta;on Alterna;ves to driving: Lane Transit District bus - free if you carry and show your UO ID, h"p://www.ltd.org Bike - Plenty of bike lockers and bike stands around campus. Go to h"ps://parking.uoregon.edu/content/ bicycling for more informa;on Walk - Great exercise!
GETTING A DRIVER S LICENSE
Driving in the U.S. In the United States, driving and drivers licenses are controlled by each state Each state has its own licensing system, traffic rules and regula;ons Some;mes these are different even at the city level
Oregon State Driver and Motor Vehicles (DMV) Division Responsible for Oregon state driver s licenses Oregon state ID cards Motor vehicle ;tles and registra;on License plates Informa;on about insurance, safety, buying / selling cars in Oregon, etc. h"p://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv
Local DMV Offices Eugene Office DMV 2870 W 10th Pl, Eugene, OR (541) 686-7855 8am 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am 5pm, Wednesday Springfield Office DMV 204 N 30th St, Springfield, OR (541) 686-7855 8am 5pm, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am 5pm, Wednesday
Do I need a driver s license? Q. I have a driver s license from my home country. I don t need a driver s license, right? Not all interna;onal licenses are recognized by Oregon police or authori;es. For this reason we recommend that you get an Oregon state driver s license if you plan to drive while living in Oregon. A valid Oregon license will always be accepted as proof of your eligibility to drive in the state of Oregon.
Do I need a driver s license Q. I have a driver s license from another U.S. state. Do I need to get an Oregon license? In general, yes. You should have arrange to change your driver s license to an Oregon license within 30 days of moving to the state, if you plan to con;nue driving. In many cases you will not need to take a driving test if you have a valid license from another state, but you will need to take the knowledge test.
Do I need a driver s license? Q. I don t have a driver s license at all, but my friend gave me his car to borrow for the weekend. I want to know if I can drive it. Is it OK? A. Absolutely not! You must have a driver s license (or a learner s permit accompanied by a licensed driver) to drive while in the state of Oregon. Driving without a valid license can expose you to serious harm and liability.
Applying for a License 1. Review the DMV web site at h"p://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/ driverid/index.aspx 2. Study for and pass the Class C Knowledge Test 3. Apply for a Learner s Permit so you can prac;ce your driving 4. Schedule an appointment for a driving test (if necessary) 5. Take and pass the driving test 6. Get your license!
Study the Oregon Driver Manual download a free copy from DMV web site Take the prac;ce tests also available on the DMV web site at h"p://www.oregon.gov/ ODOT/DMV/pages/ driverid/testknow.aspx You must pass 28 / 35 ques;ons on the Knowledge Test. Knowledge Test
Driving Test Prac;ce before you take a driver s test Go to a Driver s Ed school (search on- line or ask friends / classmates for recommenda;ons) to get familiar with the driver s test Know how to read road and traffic signs and other rules of the road Drive slowly and carefully and obey all instruc;ons during the test!
Documents to take to DMV Passport I- 20 or DS- 2019 I- 94 arrival/departure informa'on (print out from h"ps://i94.cbp.dhs.gov) Social Security card (if you have one) Most F- 1 and J- 1 students are not eligible for Social Security numbers unless they have on- campus jobs Proof of Oregon residen'al address E.g., tui;on or u;lity bill, bank statement, or other document with your name and Oregon address Read the DMV instruc;ons for other iden;ty documents needed for applica;on
Interna;onal Students and Problems at the DMV Q. I applied for a driver s license. However, the DMV said they could not process the applica'on because of a problem with my I- 20 or problem with my SEVIS record. They told me to talk to my school about this. What s the issue? Is there a problem with my visa? A. It s usually a problem of applying too early. Your immigra;on / SEVIS records have to show up in the DMV database, but this takes ;me.
Tips 1. Wait at least ten days aqer arriving in the United States before even star;ng the DMV applica;on process. 2. Check in with OIA to no;fy us or your arrival h"ps://interna;onal.uoregon.edu/isss/students/ immigra;oncheckin 3. OIA will ac;vate your SEVIS record once we confirm your arrival informa;on and your registra;on as a full- ;me student and/or GTF. 4. Wait at least 2-3 days aqer your SEVIS record is ac;vated to apply for a driver s license.
Tips If you try to apply for a license and DMV tells you they cannot verify your informa;on in SAVE, they should provide you with a receipt and case number. Bring receipt to ISSS so we can assist you further.
BUYING A CAR
Buyer Beware! You can buy a new and/or used car from A car dealership; all new cars are sold through car dealers, but car dealers oqen buy and sell used cars as well Private seller or individual Trade- off Car dealers are usually more expensive, but their cars are more reliable; they will do much of the legal paperwork for you Private sellers may offer be"er bargains, but they may be selling a lemon (a car that doesn t work very well and needs lots of repair)
Buyer Beware! In the U.S., it s buyer beware! Buyer is responsible for knowing what he or she is buying Do your research! Used cars may have hidden problems (e.g., water damage, engine, prior accident history) Pre- Cer;fied cars are used cars that have been inspected by car company to make sure they meet quality standards There are many web resources that can help you research your buying op;ons and even informa;on about a specific used car (e.g., Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, Carfax) Plan how long you will keep your car. What will you do when you no longer need it?
Title and Registra;on Car ;tle Cer;ficate that establishes you as the legal owner of the car If you buy a car from a private seller, make sure that you get the ;tle from the car owner when you pay for it (1 for 1 exchange) Car registra;on Owner must register the car with the Oregon DMV so that Oregon has informa;on about the car Keep your ;tle in a safe place (do not keep it in the car) Keep your registra;on in your car
Title and Registra;on Title and registra;on are typically handled at the same ;me If you purchase a car from a car dealer, the dealer should assist you with ;tling and registering your car, including gedng license plates (if necessary) If you purchase a (used) car from a private individual, you must arrange to get the ;tle from the previous owner and register the car with the Oregon DMV
Titling and Registra;on Titling and registra;on in Oregon are handled by the Department of Motor Vehicles Go to h"p://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/ vehicle/;tlereg.aspx for more informa;on
Auto Insurance GeDng auto insurance is extremely important It s the law! ALSO, it will protect you in case of accident or damage to you, your car, and/or other people and their property Shop around for deals Some big- name insurance companies: State Farm, Farmer s, GEICO, Progressive, many others Consult resources such as AAA Oregon h"p://www.oregon.aaa.com/insurance/default.aspx
How Auto Insurance Works 1. Shop for an auto insurance policy from an insurance company. 2. Know what at the policy covers (what kinds of accident or damage it will pay for, and for how much) 3. If you have an accident, contact your insurance company to file a claim on your policy. The insurance company will help you with filing a claim. 4. Pay the deduc;ble, if any (for many policies, about $500), plus expenses not covered by the policy The deduc;ble is the amount you have to pay before the insurance company pays anything 5. The insurance company will pay for other expenses (e.g., medical, car repair) covered by the insurance policy.
What Kind of Insurance to Get? There are different kinds of auto insurance; some provide limited coverage while others protect you for a wide range of situa;ons Oregon state law requires car owners to have basic liability insurance, which covers bodily injury and property damage Think about gedng full or comprehensive coverage, which provides much greater levels of protec;ons (oqen for only a minimal addi;onal fee). Oregon s minimum insurance requirements are here: h"p://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/driverid/ insurance.aspx Keep your insurance card in your car if you are in an accident you may be asked to show it.
Safe Driving BE SAFE! Don t Drive when sleepy or ;red Drive if you have had any alcohol to drink (even a li"le alcohol can affect your speed and judgment) Use or cellphone to talk or text (Oregon is a hands- free state, which means you can only use a phone with a Bluetooth connec;on) Speed, especially in school or hospital zones Driving viola;ons may lead to your license being suspended (taken away temporarily) or revoked (permanently)!
PARKING AND GASOLINE
UO Parking Parking around UO is very expensive! Most of the parking spaces around the University of Oregon require a UO parking pass Go to: h"ps://parking.uoregon.edu/
Buying Gas In the U.S., gasoline is sold at Gas sta;ons, e.g., Chevron, Shell, 76, Arco Some supermarkets (e.g., Fred Meyer, Costco); usually requires membership card Oregon is one of the few states where you cannot put gas yourself into your car A gas sta;on a"endant will come to your car and put gas in your car In most other states, gas is self- serve
WHAT IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?
Roadside Assistance Make sure that you have a plan in case of accidents or if your car breaks down Put emergency phone numbers in your cellphone Have your insurance card in your car Have the number of a roadside assistance service, oqen available through: Your car company / dealer Your insurance company, depending on your insurance policy coverage A car clubs or organiza;ons like AAA (American Automobile Associa;on)
ASUO Legal Services If you have a problem that involves the police, your insurance company, accidents / collisions, etc., speak with a lawyer or legal professional at the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) Legal Services ASUO Legal Services provides legal consulta;on services to UO students, for free (service is included as a part of the UO student incidental fee) NOTE: ASUO Legal Services assists on any legal ma"er of concern to UO students, not just automobile- related! You will be able to get a professional consulta;on with a legal specialist about your case
ASUO Legal Services (cont d) Contact EMU Room 334 Call (541) 346-4273 to make an appointment Web site h"p://blogs.uoregon.edu/legalservices/ Tips for interna;onal students h"p://blogs.uoregon.edu/legalservices/especially- for- interna;onal- students/
THANK YOU and DRIVE SAFELY! International Student and Scholar Services Office of International Affairs Third Floor, Oregon Hall (541) 346-3206 intl@uoregon.edu h"ps://facebook.com/uoisss h"ps://twi"er.com/uoisss