Guatemala Driver's License 2026: Q700 CECOVE + Maycom Fee, Step by Step

Getting a Guatemalan driver’s license costs the Q700 CECOVE evaluation plus Maycom’s fee of Q100-Q320 on a first licence, plus an eye exam. You pass the CECOVE evaluation (1.5-2 hours), get an eye exam, and visit a Maycom center. Your foreign license is valid while your immigration status is; if you become a resident, Reglamento de Tránsito art. 24 requires you to transfer it to a Guatemalan one.

Correction (24 September 2026): the CECOVE is a Q700 evaluation of 1.5 to 2 hours (72 points to pass, free second attempt), not a 2-3 week course, and there is a route for foreign residents: the art. 24 transfer (homologación). This guide previously gave a ~Q850 total, a 2-3 week timeline, a 90-day rule for foreign licences, said there was no conversion process, and listed a Maycom “main” office in Mixco that Maycom does not list. See our corrections policy.

Here is the honest truth though: many expats in Guatemala never get a license. Between Uber, taxis, and the general chaos of Guatemalan traffic, a lot of people decide driving here is not worth the stress. But if you want the freedom of your own car — especially outside Guatemala City — here is how to do it.

TL;DR: A first Guatemalan driver’s license costs Q800 to Q1,020 plus an eye exam (Q700 CECOVE evaluation + Q100-Q320 at Maycom). You need the CECOVE evaluation, an eye exam and a Maycom center visit. Foreign licenses work while your immigration status is in force; residents must transfer theirs (Reglamento art. 24).

Quick Summary

License Types

Most expats need Type C (standard cars and SUVs).

Costs Breakdown

Licence fees are Maycom’s published vigencia ladder (maycom.com.gt/mi-primera-licencia), re-verified 24 September 2026; the CECOVE price is the Departamento de Tránsito’s. See our exchange rates page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

Tip: Get the 4-year option (Q320) for your first license. It costs only Q220 more than the 1-year but saves you three renewal trips.

Using Your Foreign License

If you are visiting Guatemala as a tourist (see your visa-free stay):

• Your home country driver’s license is valid for the vehicles it covers for as long as your immigration authorisation is in force (Reglamento de Tránsito art. 24)
• An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended but not strictly required
• Rental car companies accept foreign licenses (US, Canadian, EU)
• Police generally accept foreign licenses during traffic stops, though having an IDP reduces confusion

American drivers should read the article text rather than the summary above: the validity rule sits in Article 24 of the Reglamento de Tránsito and is tied to your migratory authorisation rather than to any fixed number of days, and the international permit that Guatemala’s treaty position actually contemplates is the 1949 Geneva one issued by AAA. Both are quoted in full on our US driver’s license in Guatemala page, along with the Q100–Q390 fee table the Departamento de Tránsito publishes.

If you become a resident, art. 24 makes it obligatory to transfer your foreign licence to a Guatemalan one of the same or a lower type; the Departamento de Tránsito decides whether you sit a theory or practical test. Tránsito processes this as homologación — see foreign license conversion.

Step-by-Step: Getting Your First License

Step 1: Take the CECOVE Evaluation

You take the evaluation at a CECOVE (Centro de Evaluación de Conductores de Vehículos) authorised by the Departamento de Tránsito (list of centres).

The evaluation:

• Covers: your knowledge of traffic law and your skills on streets and roads
• Duration: 1:30 to 2:00 hours
• Cost: Q700
• Pass mark: 72 points; if you fail, you get a second attempt without paying again

Bring your original, valid DPI. The CECOVE provides a car, or you can bring your own (automatic or manual). Driving lessons, if you want them, are separate and priced by each school.

Step 2: Get Your Digital Certificate

When you pass, the CECOVE issues the digital driving certificate Maycom asks for. Keep the CECOVE’s original invoice — Maycom asks for it too.

Step 3: Get a Vision Exam

Visit an optician or ophthalmologist whose exam meets the Departamento de Tránsito’s requirements.

• Cost: set by the provider (not published)

You will receive a receipt and results that you bring to Maycom.

Step 4: Pay at Banrural

Pay the license fee at any Banrural bank branch. Some Maycom centers have a Banrural window inside. Keep the payment receipt — you need the original.

Step 5: Visit a Maycom Center

Bring everything to a Maycom center:

• DPI (original and copy; a copy of your DPI application is accepted)
• CECOVE digital driving certificate and its original invoice
• Vision exam
• Banrural payment receipt
• No pending traffic fines (the Tránsito delegate at Maycom checks)

Maycom no longer gives appointments; people are served in order of arrival.

Step 6: Receive Your License

Maycom issues the card. It does not publish a processing time.

Maycom Center Locations

Maycom lists 16 offices (checked 24 September 2026); none is in Mixco or Antigua.

Full list: maycom.com.gt/ubicaciones.

Renewal Process

Renewing is simpler than the first time:

1. Updated vision exam
2. DPI (original and copy)
3. Your original license (even if expired)
4. Confirmation of paid traffic fines
5. Bank payment receipt

Grace period: You have 30 days after expiration to renew without a fine.

Fines for Expired License

Should You Drive in Guatemala? An Honest Assessment

Here is what driving in Guatemala is actually like:

The good:

• Freedom to explore outside cities (Lake Atitlan back roads, Peten, Pacific coast)
• No road tolls on most highways
• Cars are cheaper to buy than in the US (especially used)

The challenging:

• Guatemala City traffic is intense — hour-long commutes for 10km are normal
• Motorcycles weave through traffic with no regard for lanes
• Road signage is inconsistent outside major highways
• Speed bumps (“tumulos”) appear without warning, especially on rural roads
• Police checkpoints are common, especially at night and on holidays
• Night driving on rural roads is risky (no lighting, pedestrians in dark clothing, animals)

The alternative: Uber works extremely well in Guatemala City, Antigua, and Quetzaltenango. A typical ride across Guatemala City costs Q25–60 ($3–8). Many expats live car-free and use Uber + occasional rental cars for road trips.

Tips From a Local

1. If you only live in Guatemala City or Antigua, you probably do not need a car. Uber is cheap, reliable, and eliminates parking headaches.

2. If you live at Lake Atitlan or rural areas, a car changes your quality of life dramatically. The freedom to drive to the nearest big-box store or hospital is worth it.

3. Buy used, not new. A reliable used Toyota Corolla or RAV4 costs Q40,000–80,000 ($5,200–$10,400). Toyotas are the most common cars in Guatemala, so parts are cheap and every mechanic knows them.

4. Dashcams are smart. If you get in an accident, video evidence simplifies the insurance claim process enormously. Traffic disputes in Guatemala can get complicated fast.

5. The “alto” sign is a suggestion to many drivers. Drive defensively. Assume everyone will run red lights and stop signs, especially motorcycles.

Official Links

• Maycom — Mi primera licencia
• Maycom — Ubicaciones
• Departamento de Tránsito — CECOVE evaluation
• Departamento de Transito

Getting around without a car? See our complete transport guide for buses, Uber, and shuttles, or explore neighborhoods on the interactive map to find walkable areas. For road conditions and rental tips, read driving in Guatemala. Planning a move? Check the cost of living guide.