Alright, let’s talk about gettin’ yourself a driver’s license in American Samoa. You wanna drive around, you gotta have that little card, ain’t that right? Now, I ain’t no expert, but I’ve heard things, seen things, and I’m gonna tell you what I know.
First off, they got two main types of licenses over there. One’s for the beginners, the provisional license, and the other’s for when you’re a regular driver, the private driver’s license. Makes sense, right? Gotta start somewhere before you go zoomin’ around like you own the place.
And before you even get to them licenses, you gotta have a learner’s permit. Now, most folks gotta wait till they’re 18 to get that permit, but if you’re in some kinda drivin’ school, you might get lucky and snag it at 16. Kids these days, always in a hurry!

- Learner’s Permit: Gotta be 18, unless you’re in a special driving program, then you can get it at 16.
- Provisional License: This is like your practice license, gotta have it before you get the real deal.
- Private Driver’s License: This is the one you want, lets you drive all by yourself, no grown-up needed.
Now, getting this license ain’t just walkin’ in and sayin’ “gimme.” You gotta fill out papers, that application form thing. And don’t think you can just scribble anything down, they want it done right. Then comes the tests. Yeah, they gonna test you, make sure you know what you’re doin’ behind the wheel. And of course, you gotta pay. Nothin’ in this world is free, they gonna get their renewal fee, that’s for sure.
I heard tell it can take a while to get everything sorted. Lots of hoops to jump through, papers to sign, and waitin’ around. But hey, if you wanna drive legal, that’s what you gotta do. They gotta make sure you ain’t gonna go crashin’ into everything.
Now, if you’re just visitin’ American Samoa from somewhere else, and you already got a license from your home country, you might be able to get a temporary driver’s license. That way you can drive around while you’re there without going through the whole rigmarole of gettin’ a whole new license.
From what I gather, they take this drivin’ thing pretty serious over there. They even got different classes of licenses dependin’ on what you’re drivin’. You got your regular cars, your motorcycles, your big ol’ buses, and trucks. Each one needs a different kind of license. Makes sense, I guess, drivin’ a little car ain’t the same as wranglin’ a big ol’ bus.
So, if you want a driver’s license in American Samoa, you gotta be prepared to do some work. Fill out them papers, pass them tests, pay them fees, and maybe even go through some drivin’ lessons if you’re young or new to it all. But once you got that license in your hand, you’re good to go. Just remember to drive safe, obey the rules, and don’t go causin’ no trouble. Nobody wants a reckless driver on the road, that’s for sure.
And for those international visitors, remember you gotta have your full license from your home country and then get that temporary one. Don’t go thinkin’ you can just hop in a car and start drivin’ around. They ain’t gonna let you get away with that. You probably need to go see the Samoa Tourism Information Center, the Samoa Post, or the Samoa Land Transport Authority in Apia to get all fixed up.
American Samoa Driver’s license requirements are there for a reason, to keep everyone safe. So, follow the rules, get your license, and enjoy the freedom of the open road, but do it responsibly, ya hear?
Now, this is just what I’ve picked up here and there. If you want the real official stuff, you gotta go talk to the folks who handle these things. Don’t just take my word for it. But at least this gives you a little idea of what you’re up against. Good luck gettin’ that license, and happy drivin’!
And remember, they got different licenses for different things. A motorcycle ain’t the same as a big ol’ truck, you know. They got Commercial Class A for motorcycles, Class B for light private vehicles that are less than 3 tons, Class C for light public service vehicles also less than 3 tons. Then you got your heavier stuff, Class D for heavy public service vehicles like buses, from 1 to 8 tons, and Class E for light goods vehicles like a 4WD pickup. So, make sure you’re gettin’ the right license for what you’re plannin’ on drivin’. You don’t wanna get caught with the wrong one, that’s for sure.