In Guatemala, the standard minimum age for a driver’s license is 18, but the law allows minors aged 16 and 17 to obtain a Type C license (and also Type M, under art. 26 of the Reglamento de Transito) with additional requirements. The key difference from the adult process is parental involvement: a parent or legal guardian must provide a responsibility letter authenticated by a lawyer plus their DPI, and the minor presents a recent RENAP birth certificate.

This option exists because many Guatemalan families, especially in rural areas, rely on teenage drivers for agricultural work, family errands, and transportation when parents are working. In urban areas, teens approaching driving age want independence, and the legal pathway ensures they are properly trained and evaluated rather than driving without a license. The CECOVE evaluation is the same as for adults — there is no reduced requirement for minors: it costs Q700 and takes 1.5 to 2 hours, according to the Departamento de Transito.

The process requires more paperwork and coordination than the standard adult license, but it is entirely doable. If the minor needs driving lessons before the evaluation, add that time; the Maycom visit takes a day. The most time-consuming part is usually getting the carta de responsabilidad prepared by an attorney, so start that early.

Quick summary: Minors 16-17 can get a Type C or Type M license for Q100 (1 year) plus the Q700 CECOVE evaluation, the eye exam (~Q50), the RENAP birth certificate (Q15) and the letter authentication. Requires a CECOVE evaluation, a birth certificate from RENAP (less than 6 months old), a responsibility letter from a parent/guardian authenticated by a lawyer (Maycom publishes a template), and the parent/guardian’s DPI.

Prices verified 24 September 2026 (Departamento de Transito, Maycom and the RENAP fee schedule). Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

Additional Requirements (Beyond Adult Process)

RequirementDetails
Birth certificateOriginal from RENAP, issued within last 6 months
Carta de responsabilidadAuthenticated by a lawyer (Maycom publishes a template)
Parent/guardian DPIOriginal and copy
Parent presenceMust accompany minor to Maycom

Costs

ItemCost
CECOVE evaluation (theory + practical)Q700
Eye exam~Q50 (varies by clinic)
License — 1 yearQ100
Birth certificate (RENAP)Q15
Letter authentication (lawyer-notary)Freely agreed fee; the Codigo de Notariado’s fallback tariff sets authentications at Q50 to Q200
Total (approximate)~Q865 + lawyer’s fee

The lawyer’s fee is agreed freely (Codigo de Notariado, art. 106). Ask for quotes from more than one lawyer.

Documents Required

For the Minor

  • Certificado de Nacimiento (birth certificate) — original, issued by RENAP within the last 6 months
  • CECOVE Digital Certificate — from the authorised CECOVE, with its invoice
  • Eye exam certificate — from licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist
  • Banrural payment receipt — for the license fee

For the Parent/Guardian

  • DPI of the parent, mother, or legal guardian — original and copy
  • Carta de Responsabilidad — authenticated by a lawyer (Maycom publishes the template)

The minor’s own DPI is not on the published minors’ lists of Maycom or the Departamento de Transito (checked 24 September 2026): the minor is identified with the birth certificate.

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Obtain a recent birth certificate from RENAP (Q15). It must be less than 6 months old.
  2. Have a lawyer authenticate the carta de responsabilidad. Maycom publishes a template; the parent/guardian accepts responsibility for the minor’s driving and the lawyer authenticates the signature.
  3. Take the minor to the CECOVE evaluation. It is the same as for adults (Q700).
  4. Minor passes the CECOVE evaluation (72 points; a second attempt is free) and receives the digital certificate.
  5. Get the eye exam from a licensed professional.
  6. Pay the license fee at the Banrural agency inside Maycom — Q100 for 1 year.
  7. Go to Maycom with all documents listed above, including the parent/guardian’s original DPI.
  8. Maycom processes the license — biometric capture and license issuance, usually same day.

Tips & Common Mistakes

  1. The birth certificate must be recent. RENAP certificates older than 6 months are rejected. If you got a birth certificate a year ago for another purpose, you need a new one. Budget a few days for RENAP processing.

  2. The carta de responsabilidad must be from a real attorney. This is not something you can write at home and get notarized. It must be prepared by a licensed abogado (attorney at law), not just a notario. The document follows a specific legal format.

  3. The parent must physically go to Maycom. You cannot send the minor alone with the documents, even if you provide a signed letter. Maycom requires the parent or guardian to be present in person for verification.

  4. Start the process well before the minor needs to drive. Between getting the birth certificate, finding a lawyer, the CECOVE evaluation, and visiting Maycom, do not leave it to the last minute.

  5. If the parent is abroad, a legal guardian can substitute. If the parent is in the US or elsewhere, a legal guardian (tutor legal) with proper documentation can accompany the minor. This requires additional legal documentation establishing guardianship.

Details

The carta de responsabilidad is the most unique requirement for minors and often the most confusing part of the process:

  • It must be prepared by a licensed abogado y notario — not just any notary. In Guatemala, the roles of attorney and notary are combined in the same professional, but the document requires legal drafting, not just notarization.
  • Cost varies: the fee is agreed freely (Codigo de Notariado, art. 106); without an agreement, the fallback tariff sets authentications at Q50 to Q200 depending on importance (art. 109).
  • The document follows a format (Maycom publishes one to download): under the Transit Law (art. 14), whoever holds parental authority declares under oath that they take on any civil liability that may arise.
  • Both parents do not need to sign — one parent or the legal guardian is sufficient.
  • Get this done first. The carta takes the most coordination and is the document most likely to cause delays. Start here before paying for the CECOVE evaluation.
Details

The eye exam for minors is identical to the adult exam:

  • Visual acuity, color vision, and peripheral vision are all tested.
  • The examiner must be an active colegiado of the Colegio de Medicos y Cirujanos.
  • Cost: Approximately Q50 at opticas near Maycom centers.
  • If the minor wears glasses: Bring them to the exam. The license will note a corrective lens restriction.
  • No additional medical requirements beyond the standard eye exam — there is no separate physical or psychological evaluation for minors.
Details
  • Parent living in the US or abroad: If both parents are abroad, a legal guardian (tutor legal) with court documentation can substitute. The guardianship must be formally established through a Guatemalan court — an informal arrangement or power of attorney is not sufficient for this purpose.
  • Divorced parents: Either parent can sign the carta de responsabilidad and accompany the minor. Custody arrangements do not affect which parent can authorize the license, unless a court order specifically restricts one parent’s authority.
  • Orphaned minors: A court-appointed tutor legal handles all parental responsibilities including the carta de responsabilidad.
  • Minor’s ID: the published minors’ lists of Maycom and the Departamento de Transito ask for the RENAP birth certificate (no more than 6 months old) and the parent or guardian’s DPI, not a DPI of the minor.
  • Renewal after turning 18: When the 1-year license expires and the driver is now 18, they can renew as a standard adult without the additional minor documentation. No need to redo the CECOVE exam.