Guatemala Driver's License 2026: Direct Access MAYCOM + How to Apply

Getting a driver’s license in Guatemala happens at one of 16 Maycom branches — Maycom is the private concessionaire that has emitted every Guatemalan license since the late 1990s under contract with the PNC Departamento de Transito. The first thing most people get wrong: there is no online or consular path. Every renewal, replacement, and first-time license requires you to physically walk into a Maycom branch with your DPI in hand. The second thing: the CECOVE evaluation is a separate transaction with a separate provider — Maycom does not run the test, they only verify your digital certificate.

Quick summary: Renewal is one same-day visit and roughly Q150 (Q100 license + Q50 eye exam). First-time is roughly Q850-Q1,070 because you add the Q700 CECOVE evaluation. Reposicion (lost/stolen) is Q100 plus the eye exam. The 30-day grace period after expiration is strict — once you cross day 31, late fees stack from Q50 (under 1 year) to Q300 (5+ years overdue).

All 2026 fees verified on 2026-09-24 at maycom.com.gt and at the PNC Departamento de Transito, which publish the same table. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ.

On this page

• License types A/B/C/M/E — comparator table
• 2026 fee schedule — vigencia ladder + transferencia + late fees
• Renewal — one Maycom visit, no CECOVE
• Lost or stolen license — same-day reposicion
• First-time license — CECOVE → eye exam → Maycom
• Foreign license / US license — what works, what doesn’t
• Maycom branch picker — 16 offices ranked by traffic
• FAQ — actual questions from search

License types A/B/C/M/E

Guatemala uses five letter codes plus a special C-Menor for 16-17 year-olds. The categories are defined in Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98, Titulo III, Capitulo 1, Art. 23. Most adults walk in for Tipo C (private cars) or Tipo M (motorcycles) on day one. Tipo B and Tipo A are upgrades that gate-keep commercial driving.

Detailed comparison: See our full license types guide for which one you actually need.

Source: Reglamento de Transito (Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98), arts. 23 and 26, and Maycom’s per-type pages, checked 24 September 2026.

2026 fee schedule

Maycom charges the same price per year for first-time licenses and renewals, with one difference: a first license is sold for 1 to 4 years (up to Q320), and the 5-year option (Q390) is for renewals only (maycom.com.gt/mi-primera-licencia and maycom.com.gt/renovacion, checked 24 September 2026). You pay only the years you choose. All payments go to the Banrural counter inside the Maycom branch — never pay anyone outside.

Vigencia ladder (license itself)

Other fees (flat)

Late fees if expired (Acuerdo Gubernativo 59-2012)

These stack on top of the vigencia fee — you pay them when renewing a license that has been expired more than 30 days.

What this means in practice: A 5-year renewal on a license that lapsed 18 months ago = Q390 vigencia + Q100 late fee + Q50 eye exam = Q540 total in one Maycom visit.

Source: the table Maycom published (checked 21 September 2026) under Acuerdo Gubernativo 59-2012.

Calculator

Renewal

A renewal is a single same-day visit to any Maycom branch. You do not redo CECOVE for a renewal — that requirement is only for first licenses and transferencias. The only document you cannot substitute is your DPI: passport will not work. If your DPI is being processed, Maycom accepts the DPI application (solicitud) in copy for renewals too (maycom.com.gt/renovacion, checked 24 September 2026).

What you bring:

• Original DPI + photocopy (or the DPI application in copy)
• Your existing license (current or expired)
• Eye exam from a clinica optica or oftalmologo colegiado activo + the original receipt
• Proof of paid traffic fines (the Maycom Delegado de Transito checks this on-site)
• Banrural payment for the vigencia you choose (Q100-Q390)
• Late-fee payment if expired more than 30 days

Going deeper: Detailed renewal guide (ES).

Real-world tip: If you are within the 30-day grace period and just need to renew on a tight schedule, the Zona 9 branch typically clears walk-ins in under 90 minutes mid-week morning. Bring exact change for the eye-exam clinic across the street — most do not take cards.

Lost or stolen license — reposicion

Reposicion is the procedure for licenses that are lost, stolen, or damaged/illegible. The killer feature: the new card keeps your original expiration date, so a reposicion does not extend your license — you still renew on schedule.

What you bring:

• Original DPI + photocopy (or your DPI-in-process slip if your DPI is being renewed)
• Eye exam + original receipt
• Solvencia de multas (verified by Delegado de Transito at the branch)
• Q100 reposicion fee paid at Banrural inside Maycom

Cost: Q100 + eye exam (~Q50) = ~Q150 total.

Going deeper: Detailed lost-license guide (ES).

Real-world tip: If your wallet was stolen with both DPI and license, do not waste a trip — RENAP will not issue a same-day DPI replacement, and Maycom will not accept your case until you at least have the DPI-in-process slip.

First-time license

First-time licenses follow a strict three-stop sequence: CECOVE evaluation → eye-exam clinic → Maycom branch. None of these can be skipped. Maycom does not run the evaluation — they verify your CECOVE digital certificate has been uploaded to the central system before they issue the license.

Sequence:

1. Go to an authorized CECOVE (Centro de Evaluacion de Conductores de Vehiculos; see the Transito list of CECOVE sites). The theory + practical evaluation costs Q700, takes 1.5-2 hours and is passed with 72 points; if you fail, you get a second attempt without paying again. You can use the CECOVE’s vehicle or your own, automatic or manual (transito.gob.gt, checked 24 September 2026). Driving lessons at an academy, if you need them, are paid separately.
2. Pass the evaluation and confirm your digital certificate is in the system; keep the fiscal invoice for the certificate (Maycom asks for the original and a photocopy).
3. Get an eye exam at any clinica optica or oftalmologo colegiado activo. ~Q50. Keep the original receipt.
4. Walk into any Maycom branch with DPI + CECOVE certificate confirmation + eye exam + receipt + Banrural payment for your chosen vigencia (Q100-Q320; a first license is sold for 1-4 years).
5. Receive your license the same day.

For minors 16-17 (Tipo C or Tipo M, Reglamento de Transito art. 26): Add a RENAP birth certificate (original) (issued within last 6 months), a parental responsibility letter authenticated by a lawyer, and the parent/guardian’s DPI. Vigencia is capped at 1 year (Q100) and renewable in 1-year increments only.

Going deeper: First-time Tipo C step-by-step (ES) | First-time motorcycle Tipo M (ES) | Practical exam tips (ES).

Real-world tip: Some driving academies bundle the eye-exam clinic visit into their package — confirm before paying separately.

Foreign license / US license conversion

Two paths depending on your status in Guatemala:

Tourists and visitors: Your home-country license is legal for the vehicles it covers for as long as your immigration authorization is current (Reglamento de Transito, art. 24). An International Driving Permit (IDP) from AAA (US) or CAA (Canada) is recommended — Transito officers occasionally ask for one — but not strictly required by law.

Residents: With residency, the Reglamento de Transito (art. 24) requires you to transfer your foreign license to a Guatemalan one of the same or a lower type; the Departamento de Transito decides whether any theory or practical test is needed. Transito publishes two procedures for this (requirements, checked 24 September 2026):

• Homologacion (license recognition) for a domiciled foreigner with a DPI: a certification of your license from the authority that issued it, apostilled (or legalized through consular channels if your country is not in the Hague Convention), a sworn translation if it is not in Spanish, and photocopies of the valid license and of your foreign-resident DPI.
• Driving permit for foreigners while your temporary residency is in process: requested at the Departamento de Transito, it costs Q50 per month (Acuerdo Gubernativo 166-2018) and requires, among other things, a Guatemalan-born guarantor whose bank statements show a minimum Q5,000 balance. A CECOVE exam is required only if you have no foreign license or it has expired (details).

South Korea also has a mutual license-recognition agreement with Guatemala.

Foreign nationals start at the PNC Departamento de Transito (3a avenida 6-44, zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, tel. 2315-2600), which reviews the file before referring you to a Maycom branch for issuance. Maycom does not process foreign-resident first licenses directly.

Real-world tip: If you are converting from a US license, the CECOVE theory exam is in Spanish only. Some schools provide English study materials but the official exam is Spanish — budget extra study time if your road-rules vocabulary is rusty.

Maycom branch picker — 16 offices

Maycom lists 16 branches nationwide. All process the same four services (Primera licencia, Renovacion, Reposicion, Transferencia). Metro-area branches close at 18:00 (except Reformadores, 17:00), departmental branches at 17:00. All are closed Sunday.

Decision aid based on user reports:

• Need it done today, capital area: Zona 9 or Carretera a El Salvador, arrive before 9:00 AM Tue-Thu.
• Live north of capital: Metronorte handles parking better than Zona 9.
• Live in Mixco / Calzada Roosevelt corridor: Roosevelt branch is faster than crossing into Zona 9.
• Live in Antigua: Either Carretera El Salvador (faster) or Escuintla (less crowded).
• Need it on a Saturday: All branches open 08:00-13:00 Saturday — go at 8:00 sharp because the line forms quickly.
• Avoid: Any branch on the day before a long weekend (Semana Santa, December 24, December 31).

Source: maycom.com.gt/ubicaciones checked 24 September 2026.

Need to schedule a slot? No. Maycom no longer issues appointments; branches serve people in order of arrival (Maycom FAQ, checked 24 September 2026). To confirm before travelling, call 2421-0800 or message WhatsApp +502 2421-0800; the branch list is at maycom.com.gt/ubicaciones.

Tips & gotchas

• Passport does not work — only the DPI is accepted for any license tramite, even if you are a Guatemalan dual-national arriving from abroad.
• 30-day grace period is strict. Day 31 the late fee starts at Q50 and only goes up. Set a calendar alert.
• CECOVE only for first license and transferencias. Renewals never need it.
• Reposicion preserves your expiration date. It is not a renewal — you still renew on schedule.
• No power of attorney. Every tramite requires you in person.
• Eye exam receipt must be original — photocopies of the receipt have been rejected.
• Pay fines first. The Delegado de Transito checks your fine status before Maycom touches your file. Resolve any pending traffic fines at any Delegado de Transito desk in advance.
• Once licensed, read our driving in Guatemala guide and how to register a vehicle.

Common Questions

How much does a driver’s license cost in Guatemala 2026?

The license fee itself ranges from Q100 (1-year) to Q390 (5-year) at any Maycom branch. For a first-time license you also pay the CECOVE theory-and-practical evaluation (Q700, the fee published by the Departamento de Transito) and an eye exam (~Q50), bringing first-license total to roughly Q850-Q1,070. Renewals are just the vigencia fee + ~Q50 eye exam (no CECOVE). Source: transito.gob.gt and maycom.com.gt.

How do I renew an expired Guatemala driver’s license?

Bring your original DPI, your old license, a valid eye exam (~Q50) with the original receipt, and pay the vigencia fee at the Banrural counter inside Maycom (Q100/185/260/320/390 for 1-5 years). Renewal does NOT require the CECOVE evaluation. If your license has been expired more than 30 days, you also pay the late-fee surcharge (Q50-Q300). The full renewal usually takes one Maycom visit.

What if my Guatemala driver’s license is lost or stolen?

You file a reposicion. Bring your DPI (or DPI-in-process slip), an eye exam with the receipt, proof of paid fines, and Q100 paid at Banrural inside Maycom. The replacement keeps the same expiration date as your original license, so you don’t lose vigencia. Walk-in same day at any Maycom branch — no online or consular option.

Can I get a Guatemala driver’s license from the US?

No. There is no consular service and no online option for any license tramite. You must be physically present in Guatemala at a Maycom branch with your original DPI. Foreign nationals start at the PNC Departamento de Transito (3a avenida 6-44, zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, tel. 2315-2600), which handles foreign-license homologation and the temporary driving permit for foreigners.

What are the requirements for a Tipo A driver’s license in Guatemala?

You must be 25 or older, have held a prior license for at least 3 years, complete a CECOVE digital certification specific to Tipo A vehicles, present a notarized 6th-grade primaria diploma (Decreto 15-2014), pass an eye exam, be solvente of fines, and pay Q100 transferencia. Tipo A authorizes freight vehicles over 3.5 metric tons, school buses, and public transport (urban and extra-urban).

What are the requirements for a Tipo B driver’s license?

You must be 23 or older, hold a prior license for 2+ years, present a 6th-grade primaria diploma notarized, complete CECOVE for Tipo B, eye exam, and Q100 transferencia. Tipo B authorizes paid driving of vehicles up to 3.5 metric tons (rideshare, light commercial).

What can I drive with a Tipo C license in Guatemala?

Tipo C is the standard private license: cars, SUVs, panel vans, minibuses, and pick-ups (with or without trailer) up to 3.5 metric tons gross weight, with no compensation for driving. It is the default first license at age 18.

How do I get a Tipo M motorcycle license in Guatemala?

Tipo M is independent of Tipo C — you can apply at 18, or from 16 with the minors’ requirements (Reglamento de Transito, art. 26), with a CECOVE motorcycle certification, eye exam, DPI, and the vigencia fee (Q100-Q320 for a first license; the 5-year Q390 option is for renewals). It authorizes all motorbikes and motorcycles regardless of displacement. Helmet is mandatory by law when riding.

How long does it take to get a first-time Guatemala driver’s license?

The CECOVE evaluation itself takes 1.5-2 hours (Q700; one free retake if you fail) — any driving lessons you need beforehand are separate — then a same-day visit to any of Maycom’s 16 branches. The Maycom step itself usually takes 1-2 hours if you arrive early with all paperwork ready.

Which Maycom branch is fastest for renewals?

Based on user reports, the Zona 9 branch (6a avenida 1-60) and Carretera a El Salvador (Km 13 Metroplaza) move fastest Tuesday-Thursday between 8:00-11:00 AM. Avoid Friday afternoons and the day before any holiday. Departmental branches like Coban, Quetzaltenango, and Puerto Barrios close at 17:00 (one hour earlier than capital branches).

Common Errors and Solutions

These are the most frequently reported problems when dealing with Maycom branches:

• Looking for an online appointment and not finding one — Maycom no longer issues appointments; branches serve walk-ins in order of arrival (Maycom FAQ, checked 24 September 2026). Solution: you do not need one. Walk in at 8:00 AM Tuesday-Thursday at a secondary branch (Villa Nueva, Carretera a El Salvador) or any departmental branch. The Zona 9 walk-in queue typically clears in under 90 minutes mid-week mornings.
• Foreign card payment rejected — Maycom’s payment gateway only processes cards issued by Guatemalan banks. US, Canadian, European and Mexican cards fail without a clear error. Solution: pay in cash or with a Guatemalan-issued card at the Banrural counter inside the Maycom branch on the day of your visit.
• Police background check (antecedentes penales): Maycom does not ask for one — its published requirement lists for first licenses, renewals, replacements and transferencias (checked 21 September 2026) include no criminal or police record. Do not spend a trip getting one for your license. Foreigners start at the PNC Transit Department, which reviews each case.
• Photo brought from home rejected — Maycom uses an on-site biometric photo capture only; printed photos, digital files, and previously-used photos are all rejected. Solution: do not bring a photo. Show up at the branch and the photo is taken as part of the issuance step. This is the #1 cause of wasted trips reported on expat forums.
• Theory exam failed at CECOVE — the Departamento de Transito says a failed evaluation gets a second attempt without paying again (transito.gob.gt, checked 24 September 2026). Solution: study the official PNC Transito manual before sitting the exam — frequent topics include warning signs, minimum following distances, blood-alcohol limits, and right-of-way at intersections. Spanish-only exam, no English version is offered.
• Practical driving exam failed — the CECOVE examiner does not negotiate, and the most common failure is skipping formal protocol (adjusting mirrors, fastening seatbelt, looking both directions before starting, signaling before every turn) rather than poor driving. Solution: practice the pre-drive protocol as a routine — examiners grade the sequence, not just the driving itself.
• Eye-exam receipt photocopy rejected — Maycom requires the ORIGINAL receipt from the eye exam, issued by a clinica with a colegiado activo ophthalmologist or optometrist. Photocopies are refused at the verification window. Solution: keep the original receipt; if lost, request a reprint from the same clinic before going back to Maycom.
• Outstanding traffic fines block the file — the Maycom Delegado de Transito checks your fine status before Maycom can touch your file. Any unpaid fine (parking, traffic citation, PMT comparendo) stops the tramite. Solution: pay outstanding fines at any Transito delegacion or authorized bank portal BEFORE arriving at Maycom — the Maycom branch cashier does not collect fines.

If you fail an exam or are missing a document, you do not lose the vigencia fee you paid — you return with the missing item (a small administrative fee may apply at some branches).

Related Tramites

• DPI (National ID) — required before any license tramite
• Vehicle Registration — register your car after getting licensed
• Import a Vehicle from the US — common for diaspora
• License Types Detailed Guide — full A, B, C, M, E comparison
• NIT Tax ID — needed for vehicle taxes
• Vehicle Inspection — annual requirement

Official Sources

• Maycom — First license
• Maycom — Renewal
• Maycom — Branches
• Maycom — FAQ
• Transito — Where to take the CECOVE evaluation (Q700)
• Departamento de Transito (PNC)
• Transito — First License
• Transito — Renewal