Motorcycles are everywhere in Guatemala. They are the primary mode of transportation for millions of people, from delivery drivers in Guatemala City to farmers in rural departments. If you ride a motorcycle on Guatemalan roads, you need a Type M license — and no, your Type C car license does not cover you. The Type M is a separate license with its own CECOVE certificate for motorcycles.
The process is similar to getting a Type C license: you take a riding exam at a CECOVE-authorized center, get an eye exam, pay at Banrural, and visit a Maycom center. The Departamento de Transito does not publish a motorcycle-specific syllabus for the CECOVE evaluation; it says the evaluation grades knowledge of transit law and driving skills, costs Q700, takes 1.5 to 2 hours and is passed with 72 points. If you are learning, take a motorcycle course first.
Guatemala has seen increasing enforcement of motorcycle licensing, especially in Guatemala City and major highways. Police checkpoints regularly ask for license and circulation card. Riding with a license that does not match the vehicle carries a Q400 fine (Reglamento de Transito, art. 183). Beyond the legal requirement, having the proper license protects you if you are involved in an accident — insurance companies can deny claims if the rider was unlicensed.
Quick summary: Type M motorcycle license costs approximately Q850-Q1,070 total (Q100-Q320 license + Q700 CECOVE evaluation + ~Q50 eye test). Requires age 18+ (or 16 with the minors’ requirements), a CECOVE certificate, and an eye exam. Process takes 1-2 days at a Maycom center. This is a separate license from the car (Type C) license.
Prices verified 24 September 2026 at transito.gob.gt and maycom.com.gt. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.
Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| License — 1 year | Q100 |
| License — 2 years | Q185 |
| License — 3 years | Q260 |
| License — 4 years | Q320 |
| License — 5 years (renewal only) | Q390 |
| CECOVE evaluation (theory + practical) | Q700 |
| Eye exam | ~Q50 (varies by clinic) |
| Total (approximate) | ~Q850 - Q1,070 |
Documents Required
- DPI — original and copy (front and back)
- CECOVE Digital Certificate — from an authorized motorcycle driving evaluation center
- Eye exam — from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist (active member of the Colegio)
- Banrural payment receipt — for the license fee
- No pending traffic fines — must be solvente
Step-by-Step Process
- Get your eye exam. Visit a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist. The exam checks visual acuity and peripheral vision. Cost: approximately Q50.
- Take the CECOVE evaluation. Go to a center on the Departamento de Transito CECOVE list. It costs Q700; the Departamento says the CECOVE provides a vehicle or you can bring your own.
- Verify traffic fine status. Make sure you have no pending multas from any vehicle type — not just motorcycles.
- Pay at the Banrural agency inside Maycom. Choose your license duration (1 to 4 years on a first license) and pay the corresponding fee.
- Visit a Maycom center with all documents: DPI, CECOVE certificate, eye exam, and Banrural receipt.
- Receive your Type M license — biometric data is captured and the license is issued, usually the same day.
The CECOVE Motorcycle Exam
The Departamento de Transito does not publish the motorcycle evaluation’s syllabus. It says the CECOVE evaluation grades knowledge of transit law and driving skills, costs Q700, takes 1.5 to 2 hours, is passed with 72 points, and gives a free second attempt if you fail. Skills worth practicing:
- Low-speed control — riding slowly in a straight line and through cones
- Turning and maneuvering — tight turns
- Braking — stopping smoothly from moderate speed
- Basic road skills — signaling, lane positioning, awareness
Tip: If you have never ridden a motorcycle before, do not go directly to the CECOVE exam. Take an informal riding course or practice extensively in a safe area first. CECOVE evaluates — they do not teach.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Do not ride to the CECOVE exam without knowing how to ride. CECOVE is an evaluation center, not a driving school. If you show up without basic riding skills, you will likely fail (you get one free second attempt). Practice first.
Bring your own helmet to the CECOVE exam. While some centers provide helmets, it is not guaranteed. Guatemala law requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets — this applies during the exam too.
Get the Type M even if you already have Type C. Many car drivers assume their license covers motorcycles. It does not: art. 22 of the Reglamento requires a license whose type corresponds to or includes the vehicle, and driving with a license that does not match is fined Q400 (art. 183).
Consider the multi-year license. At Q320 for 4 years vs Q100 for 1 year, the longer duration is better value and saves you from repeating the Maycom visit annually.
Keep your license on you while riding. Not carrying your license is fined Q200 (Reglamento art. 181). The Reglamento (art. 19) accepts the tarjeta de circulacion or an authenticated photocopy; SAT issues electronic cards you download from Agencia Virtual.
Motorcycle Safety in Guatemala
While this page covers the licensing process, a few important safety notes for riding in Guatemala:
- Helmets are mandatory for rider and passenger. Fines apply for not wearing one.
- Night riding is particularly dangerous on rural highways due to unlit vehicles and road conditions.
On the helmet point specifically, the obligation and the penalty are both written down and worth reading before your first ride: Reglamento de Tránsito Art. 94 covers the rider or the passenger on any public road, Art. 48 TER requires your plate number adhered to the helmet, and Art. 184 numeral 10 sets a Q500 fine that treats helmet and reflective vest as one obligation — the article text, the discount clock and the Departamento de Tránsito’s “Casco por Multa” swap programme are all in Guatemala’s motorcycle helmet law.
For more on driving and road conditions, see our driving in Guatemala guide.
Details
The motorcycle CECOVE exam is practical — you ride, the evaluator watches. Here is how to prepare:
- Bring your own helmet. While some centers provide helmets, it is not guaranteed. Showing up with your own gear demonstrates preparedness.
- Wear proper footwear. Closed-toe shoes or boots. Sandals or flip-flops will get you turned away at most centers.
- Practice low-speed control. The figure-eight and cone weaving exercises are where most failures happen. Practice riding slowly in a parking lot until you can do these without putting your feet down.
- Braking: Practice using both front and rear brakes smoothly.
- Some centers let you bring your own motorcycle. Others provide one. Call ahead to confirm. If using your own, ensure it has valid registration (tarjeta de circulacion) and is in good working condition.
- If you fail: the Departamento de Transito says you get a second chance without paying again.
Details
The eye exam for motorcycle riders is the same standard visual evaluation:
- Visual acuity, color vision, and peripheral vision are tested.
- Peripheral vision is especially important for motorcycle riders due to the exposed riding position and the need to monitor traffic from all directions.
- If you wear glasses under your helmet visor, bring them to the exam. Your license will note the corrective lens restriction.
- Cost: Approximately Q50 at opticas near Maycom centers.
- No hearing test is currently required, though motorcycle riders should be aware of the importance of hearing traffic.
Details
- Electric motorcycles and scooters: The Reglamento de Tránsito does publish a figure for the electric side: Art. 7 numeral 66 caps a “motobicicleta” at an electric motor of no more than 1,000 vatios, and Art. 23 puts motobicicletas inside Type M — the full breakdown, plus the separate rule for standing scooters, is in our guide to electric bikes and scooters in Guatemala.
- Delivery drivers (Uber Eats, Hugo, PedidosYa): You legally need a Type M license to deliver by motorcycle. Platforms may not check, but if you are in an accident during a delivery without the proper license, you have no insurance coverage and significant personal liability.
- Motorcycle registration: Your motorcycle must be registered separately from your license. See our vehicle registration guide for details.
- Foreign motorcycle license: Under art. 24 of the Reglamento de Transito, a foreign license is valid for the vehicles it covers while your immigration authorization is current; residents must transfer it to a Guatemalan license of the same or lower type, and the Departamento de Transito decides whether a theory or practical test is needed.
Related Maycom Tramites
- Type C License (First Time) — car license
- Type B License — for paid passenger transport
- Type A License (Professional) — for heavy vehicles
- Minor’s License (16-17) — for applicants under 18
- License Renewal — when your Type M expires
- License Replacement — if lost or stolen
- Vehicle Registration — register your motorcycle
- Driver’s License Overview — all license types compared