I have my US (state) driver’s license & my IDP, neither which specify manual/automatic, so there’s nothing stopping me from driving a manual legally. In Romania, from what my bf told me, if you pass your test on an automatic you can de jure only drive automatic as you have a marker on your license, but de facto you can drive whatever as there are no actual legal penalties mentioned in the law for driving a manual with a marked license.
Comment on Driving a manual: is it difficult?
schnurrito@discuss.tchncs.de 1 day ago
Are you sure you will be allowed to drive a manual car in Romania with your American license if you didn’t take the test with a manual car? I live in a different European country and here if you take the test with an automatic car, you are only allowed to drive automatic cars. You should research this.
It’s definitely different from an automatic car and requires more concentration. Once you get used to it, it’s not difficult. I was older than you are now when I learned to drive at all (which I did on a manual car) and managed it anyway.
distance@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
Another_username@lemmy.world 1 day ago
When I was in Romania last year the rental company (enterprise) wouldn’t accept my US driver license…not sure if it is Romanian law or company policy though.
distance@sh.itjust.works 1 day ago
You also need an IDP: “U.S. citizens who wish to drive in Romania must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) in addition to the valid U.S. state drivers’ license (DL).” ro.usembassy.gov/…/driving-in-romania/
Another_username@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Ah missed you said you have your international drivers permit. You’re good then, and there’s a lot of country road in Romania to lean on…I say give learning manual a shot :)
thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 1 day ago
You might want to check the details here: I know that in some European countries, you’ll have trouble renting a car at all with an American license unless you pass a driving test in a European country first to get certified. In fact, in several countries I don’t think an American license is valid at all until you pass a test. It’s probably worth checking out the details for Romania.
OhmsLawn@lemmy.world 1 day ago
US licenses don’t differentiate. There’s no way to tell by the license which transmission you used on the test. Shouldn’t be a problem.
thebestaquaman@lemmy.world 1 day ago
For that exact reason some countries (my country included) don’t accept an American license unless you do a test here first.
Though IIRC, that applies for both manuals and automatics, because American drivers education isn’t really trusted here.
0ops@lemm.ee 6 hours ago
That is totally fair because I literally, and I mean literally, drove around the block for my American driver’s test. My entire test:
This was in a residential area too, so I never went above 25mph/40kph
bdonvr@thelemmy.club 22 hours ago
With the Geneva convention on Road Traffic they must recognize it, at least for visitors. However you are probably right if OP tried to move there and get a local license, they’d need to retest.