Renewing your driver’s license in Guatemala is significantly simpler than getting one for the first time. You do not need to retake the driving exam — just get an updated eye exam, pay at Banrural, and visit a Maycom center. The entire process takes about 30 minutes to an hour. The catch is that if your license has been expired for more than 30 days, you will owe a late fine on top of the renewal fee.

Many people in Guatemala drive with expired licenses because they forget, cannot make the time, or do not think it matters. But driving with an expired license puts you at risk: if you are stopped at a checkpoint, you face fines and potential vehicle impoundment. More critically, if you are involved in an accident with an expired license, insurance companies can use that as grounds to deny your claim. The renewal process is quick and inexpensive — there is no good reason to let your license lapse.

The good news for renewals is that you can choose a 5-year validity period, which is not available for first-time licenses. At Q390 for five years, it is the most cost-effective option and means you will not have to think about renewal for a long time.

Quick summary: License renewal takes 30 minutes at a Maycom center. Cost: Q100-Q390 depending on duration (5-year option available for renewals). No driving exam needed — just an updated eye exam. Late fines: Q50-Q300 depending on how long the license has been expired.

Prices verified March 2026. Check our exchange rate page for today’s USD/GTQ rate.

Renewal Costs

DurationCost
1 yearQ100
2 yearsQ185
3 yearsQ260
4 yearsQ320
5 years (renewal only)Q390

Late Renewal Fines

Expired DurationFine
Within 30 daysNo fine
31 days to 1 yearQ50
1 to 2 yearsQ100
2 to 3 yearsQ200
3 to 5+ yearsQ300

The fine is added to the renewal cost. So if your license has been expired for 18 months and you want a 5-year renewal: Q390 + Q100 fine = Q490 total.

Documents Required

  • DPI — original and copy (your DPI must be current — an expired DPI cannot be used)
  • Current or expired driver’s license — bring the original. If lost, see our license replacement guide
  • Eye exam — updated, from a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist
  • Banrural payment receipt — for the renewal fee plus any applicable late fine
  • No pending traffic fines — you must be solvente

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Check for pending traffic fines. Clear any outstanding multas before going to Maycom. Unpaid fines will block the renewal.
  2. Get an updated eye exam. Visit a licensed ophthalmologist or optometrist. Cost: approximately Q50.
  3. Calculate your total payment. Renewal fee (based on years chosen) plus any late fine if applicable.
  4. Pay at Banrural. Go to any Banrural branch and pay the total amount.
  5. Visit a Maycom center. Bring DPI, old license, eye exam, and Banrural receipt.
  6. Biometric update. Maycom takes a new photo and fingerprints.
  7. Receive your renewed license. Usually issued the same day.

Tips & Common Mistakes

  1. Renew before it expires. You can renew a license before the expiration date. Set a reminder for 30 days before expiry to avoid late fines entirely.

  2. Choose the 5-year option. At Q390, it costs less per year than any shorter period. It is only available for renewals (not first-time licenses), so take advantage of it. You will save yourself from repeating this process for five full years.

  3. Your DPI must also be current. If your DPI is expired, Maycom cannot process the renewal. Check your DPI expiration date and renew it at RENAP first if needed.

  4. If your license is lost, do not try to renew. Lost licenses require a separate replacement (reposicion) process. If you try to renew a license you cannot present, Maycom will redirect you.

  5. A suspended or canceled license cannot be renewed. If your license was suspended for a traffic violation or canceled by a court order, you must resolve the suspension first. Renewal is only for valid licenses that have expired naturally.

Details

Even licenses expired for many years can be renewed without retaking the driving exam:

  • The maximum late fine is Q300 regardless of how many years the license has been expired. There is no escalation beyond this amount.
  • You do not need to retake the CECOVE exam. The renewal process is the same whether your license expired last month or a decade ago.
  • Your license type is preserved. If you had a Type B and it expired 7 years ago, you can renew it as a Type B.
  • However, verify your Maycom records. Very old records may need manual lookup, which could add processing time. Bring any documents you have from the original license.
  • If you also lost the expired license, you need a replacement (reposicion) instead. The replacement fee is Q100 on top of the late fine.
Details

Unpaid traffic fines (multas) block license renewal at Maycom. Here is how to handle this:

  • Check your fine status first at the Juzgado de Transito or any Maycom center. They can look up fines by DPI number.
  • Fines can be paid at Banrural — you will receive a solvencia (clearance) once all fines are settled.
  • Old fines do not disappear. Some people assume fines expire after a few years. They do not — they accumulate and must be paid.
  • If you believe a fine is incorrect, you can dispute it at the Juzgado de Transito before paying. However, this takes time and delays your renewal.
  • Photo-radar fines (multas por fotoradar) are linked to the vehicle, not the driver. However, if the vehicle is registered in your name, you must resolve these fines before renewing your license.
Details
  • Suspended or canceled licenses: Cannot be renewed through the normal process. Suspensions from DUI, reckless driving, or court orders must be resolved with the Juzgado de Transito first. Bring the resolution document to Maycom.
  • Upgrading during renewal: You cannot change your license type (e.g., Type C to Type B) during a renewal. Type changes require a separate transfer process with a new CECOVE exam. However, you can combine visits — renew your Type C and start the Type B transfer on the same trip.
  • Guatemalans living in the US: Renewal requires physical presence at a Maycom center in Guatemala. There is no consulate-based renewal option. Plan to renew during your next visit home. Many diaspora members choose the 5-year option to minimize trips.
  • Expired DPI: If your DPI is also expired, you must renew the DPI at RENAP before Maycom will process the license renewal.