DIRECT ACCESS — FOREIGN VEHICLE IN GUATEMALA
Temporary Circulation Permit — Q10/Day
Before crossing the border, have ready:
  • Current passport + entry stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Original vehicle title (not a copy, not a photo)
  • Current registration from the issuing country
  • Driver license valid (your home country license works during the temporary permit)
  • Local Guatemalan insurance — the foreign one does NOT cover
  • Credit/debit card for the DGME seal (CONFIRM exact amount)
SAT rate: Q10/day (Decreto 70-94) · DGME permit: 30 days renewable · Verified: May 2026

Written by the Guatemala Life team, based in Guatemala City.

If you are thinking about bringing your car to Guatemala — whether as a tourist on a road trip from the US, as a digital nomad with your RV, or as diaspora returning temporarily — the rules are clear but not always well communicated at the border. The cornerstone is Decreto 70-94 (the ISCV Law): any vehicle with foreign plates or foreign origin driving in Guatemala pays Q10 per day for the entire stay. On top of that comes the DGME temporary permit (30 days renewable) that regulates your migratory status and that of the vehicle. If you stay as a resident, the regime changes completely and you must nationalize the vehicle (formally import it with DAI, DUCA, IPRIMA and IVA).

In short: If you bring your vehicle with foreign plates to Guatemala as a tourist, you pay Q10/day (Decreto 70-94) — the DGME permit is for 30 days, renewable. If you stay longer or are a permanent resident, you must nationalize the vehicle (formally import it). Temporary tourist ≠ resident; the rules are different. Insurance: the foreign one does not cover in Guatemala — buy local minimum (RC mandatory).

Procedure verified for the 2026 fiscal period. CONFIRM marks points where the direct official source was not available at the time of publication.


Two Different Scenarios: Tourist vs Resident

Before any procedure, identify which one you are in — the rules are completely different:

ScenarioApplicable regimeWindowSAT sticker
Tourist / Temporary visitorDGME permit 30 days + Q10/day ISCVUp to 60-90 days totalNot required — the DGME permit is the document
Permanent resident / Expat with residencyMandatory nationalization (DAI + DUCA + IPRIMA + IVA)No limit once nationalizedYes — normal annual SAT sticker with Guatemalan plates
Diplomatic / ConsularSpecial regime with exemptionsAccording to international agreementCONFIRM — separate regime with specific exemptions

Important: if you have permanent residency, you cannot drive indefinitely with foreign plates. The practice of “renewing the DGME permit every month” does not apply to residents — it is for tourists. If you are already a resident and your vehicle still has foreign plates, you are in a legal gray zone that can end with customs impoundment.


For Tourists: 30-Day Temporary Permit

On entry to the country

When you cross the land border (Tecún Umán, La Mesilla with Mexico; El Florido, Agua Caliente with Honduras; Melchor de Mencos with Belize) or arrive by port, there are two mandatory stops:

  1. Migration (DGME) — entry stamp on your passport + temporary circulation permit for your vehicle. They ask for: current passport, original vehicle title, registration, driver license.
  2. Customs (SAT) — vehicle registration under the temporary regime. Here they calculate the temporary ISCV at Q10/day and give you the receipt.

CONFIRM: the exact cost of the DGME entry seal is not published in official sources — the source mentions it is paid by credit/debit card, non-refundable, but the amount varies. Verify directly at the border or check igm.gob.gt before traveling.

Required documents

  • Current passport + entry stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Original vehicle title (not a copy, not a photo of the title)
  • Current registration from the issuing country
  • Valid driver license — your home country license is accepted during the temporary permit; ideally with Spanish translation if not in Spanish
  • Compliance with the National Traffic Code — lights, brakes, tires, etc. in working condition
  • Local civil liability insurance (NOT the one from your country)

Duration and renewal

  • Standard duration: 30 days from the date of entry
  • Renewal: “on request of the interested party” at DGME — it is not automatic. CONFIRM: you must show up before expiration at a DGME office with the original documents to extend the period.
  • Common maximum: common practice is 60-90 days total under the temporary regime before the vehicle must exit the country or be nationalized.

How to Pay the Q10/Day — Operational Process

CONFIRM: the exact temporary ISCV collection procedure varies by entry/exit point:

ModalityWhere it is paidWhen
Payment at the border on exitSAT Customs of the exit border crossingWhen closing the temporary regime — they calculate total days × Q10
Periodic payment during staySAT office (CONFIRM: applicability and procedure)Monthly or per period as applicable
Advance paymentCustoms at entryYou pay in advance the estimated period (refundable if you exit earlier — CONFIRM)

In practice: most tourists pay the temporary ISCV at exit from the country — customs calculates total days of stay and charges the corresponding amount (days × Q10). Keep the receipt.


If You Stay More Than 60 Days — Mandatory Nationalization

If you pass the maximum temporary circulation window or decide to stay permanently, you must nationalize the vehicle. This is a formal customs process with multiple payments:

General steps

  1. SAT vehicle appraisal based on the current taxable value table — determines the fiscal value on which taxes are calculated
  2. Payment of DAI (Import Tariff Rights) — variable percentage by tariff code and origin
  3. Payment of IPRIMA (Specific Tax on First Registration) when applicable
  4. Payment of IVA on CIF value + DAI + IPRIMA
  5. Filing of DUCA / DAI (Central American Single Declaration / Customs Declaration) with a customs broker
  6. Registration in the Vehicle Fiscal Registry via form SAT-8620
  7. Guatemalan plate assignment
  8. Payment of the first SAT sticker (ISCV prorated for the rest of the year)

CONFIRM typical nationalization costs: total costs vary enormously by vehicle value, year, origin and tariff classification. For used mid-range US vehicles, total costs are usually between 30-60% of the vehicle’s fiscal value. Consult a customs broker before deciding whether to nationalize or sell abroad and buy a Guatemalan one.

For the full import process detail, see our specialized guides:


For Permanent Residents with Foreign Vehicle

If you already obtained permanent residency and still have a vehicle with foreign plates driving in Guatemala, you are in a situation that must be regularized:

  • You cannot drive indefinitely with foreign plates — the DGME temporary regime is for tourists, not for residents
  • Window to nationalize: CONFIRM — there is no clearly published deadline in official sources. Recommended practice is to start the nationalization process as soon as you obtain residency, before the vehicle’s last DGME permit expires.
  • Fine for driving with foreign plates without a current permit: CONFIRM — the vehicle can be impounded by Customs and you face administrative fines plus possible seizure for misuse of the temporary regime. Exact amounts are not published — consult with a customs broker.
  • Common alternative: many new residents opt to sell the foreign vehicle in their home country before moving and buy a Guatemalan vehicle on arrival — it usually works out cheaper than nationalizing a used vehicle.

Vehicle Insurance for Foreign Plates

Your home country insurance does NOT usually cover accidents in Guatemala — this is the single most important point in the whole guide.

What each option covers

Insurance typeValidity in GuatemalaApproximate cost
Standard US insuranceDoes NOT cover (typical geographic exclusion)N/A — verify with your insurer
International / regional endorsementSome insurers (Allianz, Mapfre, AIG) offer Central American extensionVariable — ask your broker
Local Guatemalan insurance (minimum RC)Mandatory to drive legallyCONFIRM: Q200-Q500 per month for minimum coverage
Local insurance with broad coverageCovers theft, material damage, medical expensesQ500-Q1,500 per month depending on vehicle

Where to buy it

  • At the entry border: there are local insurance agents (Aseguradora General, El Roble, G&T) that offer temporary coverage at the crossing itself — handy if you arrive without anything arranged
  • Online or by phone with Guatemalan insurers — you can contract before the trip and have the policy waiting
  • International brokers (Allianz Global, AIG, Mapfre) — if your policy allows regional extension, it is usually the most complete option for digital nomads and road trippers

Driving from the US or Mexico by Road

The most common route for diaspora and tourists is Texas → Mexico → Guatemalan border. Practical details:

Main border crossings with Mexico

BorderGT DepartmentTrafficNotes
Tecún UmánSan Marcos / SuchitepéquezHighMain commercial crossing; expect 2-4 hour waits in peak season
La MesillaHuehuetenangoMediumFaster for private vehicles; CA-1 highway directly to the highlands
El CarmenSan MarcosLowLess common; mostly local use

At the border, you must pass through:

  1. Mexican migration on exit — exit stamp from the Mexican side
  2. Guatemalan migration (DGME) on entry — entry stamp + temporary permit for the vehicle
  3. Guatemalan customs (SAT) — register the vehicle under the temporary regime, pay/declare the Q10/day
  4. Insurance agent (optional but recommended) — local RC policy

Total border time

  • Low traffic (weekday, no holiday): 1-2 hours
  • High traffic (weekend, Holy Week, Christmas, New Year): 3-6 hours
  • Tip: arrive early in the morning (before 9 AM) — lines get very long by midday

Do Foreign Plates Need a Physical SAT Sticker?

No. The physical SAT sticker (the one that goes on the windshield) is for vehicles registered in the Vehicle Fiscal Registry with Guatemalan plates. For vehicles with foreign plates under the temporary regime:

  • No physical SAT sticker is issued
  • The valid documents are:
    1. The stamped DGME permit
    2. The temporary ISCV receipt (Q10/day) issued by SAT/Customs
    3. The original registration from the issuing country
    4. The current local insurance
    5. The passport with current migratory stamp

If PMT or PNC stops you: show the complete document package. Verification is visual and by radio; they do not expect to see a SAT sticker on the windshield for foreign plates.


Common Mistakes (Don’t Make These)

MistakeRealityConsequence
“My US insurance covers Guatemala”It does NOT cover. Almost all have geographic exclusion outside the issuing country.If there is an accident, you pay everything out of pocket (can be ruinous).
“I don’t renew the DGME permit, they won’t ask anyway”DGME and SAT cross-reference data at the exit border — large accumulated fines when trying to leave.Country exit blocked until regularized; possible impoundment.
“I’ll just sell my foreign car to a Guatemalan”Illegal without nationalizing first. The buyer will not be able to register it.Customs seizure of the vehicle + fines for both seller and buyer.
“I’ll renew the permit every month forever”The temporary regime is not for permanent residents — DGME can deny repeated renewals.Loss of temporary regime + obligation to exit or nationalize.
“I take my car to Mexico and re-enter — restart the clock”Works once or twice, but migration tracks patterns — they may deny re-entry.Denial of vehicle entry at the next border crossing.
“As a tourist I don’t need a translated driver license”Your country’s license is accepted, but ideally with Spanish translation.Possible problem at a checkpoint if the officer does not recognize the foreign format.


How We Verified This Information

Last verification: May 2026. The data is based on Decreto 70-94 (ISCV Law, confirmed Q10/day rate), the DGME temporary regime (confirmed 30 days renewable), and the current Vehicle Import Regulation. CONFIRM marks points where the direct official source was not available at the time of publication — specifically: the exact amount of the DGME entry seal, the exact temporary permit renewal procedure, the exact window a newly-obtained resident has to nationalize their vehicle, the specific fine amounts for driving with foreign plates without a current permit, and the specific diplomatic/consular regime. We update this page when this data is published officially or when readers report their recent border experiences.


Corrections and Updates

Did you cross the border recently with your foreign vehicle? Did you renew the DGME permit or nationalize your US car? Write to us with the exact costs you paid and the times of the procedure — this guide lives on real-time reports from diaspora and road trippers.