Greetings,
As a family of bike commuters, we initially thought we would be able to manage living in Stuttgart without a car. Many people's stories and comments about Stuttgart's phenomenal public transportation impressed us, and since we had not owned a car in Saudi Arabia (and had never wished we had), we thought we might continue that trend.
Reality set in as the weather changed from summer's sunny, warm, long days to autumn's wet, cold, and dark ones. The public transportation here in Stuttgart is, in fact, frequent, reliable, safe, and convenient. However, with the boys' various sports games in a variety of locations and with the desire on our part to explore the Black Forest and the Schwabian Alps, we eventually decided that access to a car would be important. David and I visited the car share program, Stadtmobil, located downtown to inquire about joining that program. Alas, we needed German driver's licenses ...
Our relocation assistant, Veerle, explained the process, and we embarked upon it slowly. First, I had to return downtown to an office similar to AAA to request official translations of our Washington State driver's licenses. I paid 50 euros and was told that the translations would be mailed to our home in about a week. We waited and they arrived in a few days. Then we had to arrange to go to the driver's license office, which has afternoon hours only one day per week, on an afternoon when David and I could both get away a bit early. After finally finding one Thursday when we could leave early together, we took the train to the German version of the DMV and applied for our licenses. We had to supply another 50 euros, copies of our passports, passport photos, an application, the translation, and copies of our driver's licenses. We were told that we would receive a letter in 3-4 four weeks inviting us to return to pick up our driver's licenses.
We are incredibly lucky to have had Washington State licenses because we did not have to take a written test, a class, a driving test, or even an eye exam. The reciprocity between Germany and Washington is among the best of the US states. Colleagues with licenses from some other states must go through a variety of hoops - from eye tests and written tests to driving tests - before they can actually apply for their licenses. Indiana is one of the most difficult. Drivers from that state basically must start over with a driving class.
As predicted, we got our letter after about three weeks and went to pick up our driver's licenses. In order to actually collect our new German license, we had to forfeit our Washington State licenses, which felt a bit awkward. I handed them over, signed for the new ones, and received our German licenses ... a long but ultimately successful process that we had to do within the first six months of arriving or we would have lost the reciprocity benefit.
Next we made an appointment to return to Stadtmobil. We signed on for a trial six-week period with the carshare program. Though it was reliable and helpful, we ultimately decided we needed our own car. So ... we embarked on the long process of looking for and buying a car. It's a story in and of itself, I suppose, but suffice it to say that it is not like the US where you can essentially visit car dealers, test drive several cars, and drive away with a car that day. We had to make an appointment to test drive a particular car at several different places; once we decided upon one, it was another two weeks before registration and paperwork was complete for us to actually collect our car. Twice I took the train to the dealer - who was scrupulous and helpful at all times - to submit documents and sign papers. All of these steps, though needed, are even more time-consuming without a car - which was part of the issue!
All turned out well. We now own a 2012 Volkswagon Golf wagon, our first car since 2009. It's a used car with only about 36,000 kilometers, so we are pleased. After all was complete, I received a letter in the mail indicating that we had received a speeding ticket for one of the days we were driving the Stadtmobil. We were, according to their cameras, going 58 in a 50 km/hour zone. Sigh. We were extremely lucky that the fine was just 15 euros. Another friend told me that she received a 100 euro fine for going through a red light on her bike! I gave David that warning.
The last cool thing I will mention here is that our apartment comes with its own garage space - with its own garage elevator. Our space is on the bottom left, so we sometimes have to move the elevator up to access our space. Amazing!
Thanks for reading!
Jennifer
As a family of bike commuters, we initially thought we would be able to manage living in Stuttgart without a car. Many people's stories and comments about Stuttgart's phenomenal public transportation impressed us, and since we had not owned a car in Saudi Arabia (and had never wished we had), we thought we might continue that trend.
Reality set in as the weather changed from summer's sunny, warm, long days to autumn's wet, cold, and dark ones. The public transportation here in Stuttgart is, in fact, frequent, reliable, safe, and convenient. However, with the boys' various sports games in a variety of locations and with the desire on our part to explore the Black Forest and the Schwabian Alps, we eventually decided that access to a car would be important. David and I visited the car share program, Stadtmobil, located downtown to inquire about joining that program. Alas, we needed German driver's licenses ...
 |
| A foggy cold morning in our neighborhood, Plieningen |
Our relocation assistant, Veerle, explained the process, and we embarked upon it slowly. First, I had to return downtown to an office similar to AAA to request official translations of our Washington State driver's licenses. I paid 50 euros and was told that the translations would be mailed to our home in about a week. We waited and they arrived in a few days. Then we had to arrange to go to the driver's license office, which has afternoon hours only one day per week, on an afternoon when David and I could both get away a bit early. After finally finding one Thursday when we could leave early together, we took the train to the German version of the DMV and applied for our licenses. We had to supply another 50 euros, copies of our passports, passport photos, an application, the translation, and copies of our driver's licenses. We were told that we would receive a letter in 3-4 four weeks inviting us to return to pick up our driver's licenses.
We are incredibly lucky to have had Washington State licenses because we did not have to take a written test, a class, a driving test, or even an eye exam. The reciprocity between Germany and Washington is among the best of the US states. Colleagues with licenses from some other states must go through a variety of hoops - from eye tests and written tests to driving tests - before they can actually apply for their licenses. Indiana is one of the most difficult. Drivers from that state basically must start over with a driving class.
As predicted, we got our letter after about three weeks and went to pick up our driver's licenses. In order to actually collect our new German license, we had to forfeit our Washington State licenses, which felt a bit awkward. I handed them over, signed for the new ones, and received our German licenses ... a long but ultimately successful process that we had to do within the first six months of arriving or we would have lost the reciprocity benefit.
Next we made an appointment to return to Stadtmobil. We signed on for a trial six-week period with the carshare program. Though it was reliable and helpful, we ultimately decided we needed our own car. So ... we embarked on the long process of looking for and buying a car. It's a story in and of itself, I suppose, but suffice it to say that it is not like the US where you can essentially visit car dealers, test drive several cars, and drive away with a car that day. We had to make an appointment to test drive a particular car at several different places; once we decided upon one, it was another two weeks before registration and paperwork was complete for us to actually collect our car. Twice I took the train to the dealer - who was scrupulous and helpful at all times - to submit documents and sign papers. All of these steps, though needed, are even more time-consuming without a car - which was part of the issue!
 |
| Our new car with built-in navigation we have named Bessy |
All turned out well. We now own a 2012 Volkswagon Golf wagon, our first car since 2009. It's a used car with only about 36,000 kilometers, so we are pleased. After all was complete, I received a letter in the mail indicating that we had received a speeding ticket for one of the days we were driving the Stadtmobil. We were, according to their cameras, going 58 in a 50 km/hour zone. Sigh. We were extremely lucky that the fine was just 15 euros. Another friend told me that she received a 100 euro fine for going through a red light on her bike! I gave David that warning.
 |
| Our garage elevator |
The last cool thing I will mention here is that our apartment comes with its own garage space - with its own garage elevator. Our space is on the bottom left, so we sometimes have to move the elevator up to access our space. Amazing!
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| Logan running the elevator to access our car |
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| Nearly ready ... |
Thanks for reading!
Jennifer
How fun to read your adventures of obtaining a car, though I am sure there were many moments (waiting/paperwork/more wating) that were not fun. I hope you enjoy your "V-Dub" and all the places it will take you. :-)
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