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As in other countries, in the United States there is not a single type of driver’s license due to a simple reason: there are different types of vehicles and each of those vehicles requires certain skills from the driver . In that sense, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of each state grants these credentials once the applicant demonstrates such skills on the vehicle they are going to drive. Some licenses are so special that they also require additional endorsements and endorsements to authorize the driver to perform very specific activities with very specific vehicles. According to Cars in the USA , the types of licenses that exist in the country are the following :
1. Unrestricted licenses: aimed at those people who do not have any type of limitation to drive, therefore, are the most common and are usually also considered as standard licenses . They are considered as the counterpart of licenses with restrictions, which are aimed at minor drivers (with some conditions such as driving accompanied by an adult with a valid license) , but also to drivers who have broken the law in some way, limiting their privileges for their safety and that of others.
2. Provisional licenses: these types of credentials are also common in cases of minors. In most states, teen drivers must obtain one and keep it for a period of time until they reach the legal age to obtain a license free of restrictions. They can also be considered as restrictive licenses because they grant privileges controlled by some conditions.
3. Commercial Licenses: Commercial Licenses (CDL) are required to drive very specific vehicles on the roads of the United States. They are related to the loading and transport of materials, passengers or dangerous substances, they also certify the driver to operate large or difficult vehicles. According to the characteristics of the vehicle and the type of activity carried out with it, the laws will also require additional endorsements or guarantees for these types of licenses. In the United States, business licenses are governed by the federal government.
4. Motorcycle License: This type of license is required to operate two-wheelers such as bicycles, motorcycles, and mopeds. Unlike unrestricted licenses, this type of document varies greatly according to the laws of each state and its name may be different in each case. Some places also require certain endorsements.
5. Enhanced licenses: compatible with some security certifications such as Real ID. They can be used as a form of identification, but are currently issued in a few states: California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Washington, and Vermont.
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