Guatemala Driving License 2026: Cost Q850, Types and Requirements

The driving license in Guatemala is processed at one of the 16 Maycom branches – Maycom is the private concessionaire that has issued every Guatemalan license since the late 1990s under contract with the PNC Transit Department. The first thing almost everyone misreads: there is no online or consular processing. Every renewal, replacement and first license requires you to show up in person at a Maycom branch with your DPI. The second thing: the CECOVE evaluation is a separate transaction with a different provider – Maycom does not run the test, it only verifies that your digital certificate is on file.

Quick summary: Renewal is one visit and roughly Q150 (Q100 for 1-year validity + Q50 eye exam). A first license runs Q850-Q1,070 because it adds the Q700 CECOVE evaluation. Replacement (lost/stolen) is Q100 plus eye exam. The 30-day post-expiration grace period is strict – on day 31 the penalty kicks in, scaling from Q50 (under 1 year) to Q300 (more than 5 years lapsed).

2026 fees verified at maycom.com.gt and transito.gob.gt on 2026-09-24. Check today’s exchange rate for USD/GTQ conversion.

On this page

• License types A/B/C/M/E – comparison table
• 2026 fees – validity, transfer, penalties
• Renewal – one Maycom visit, no CECOVE
• Replacement (lost or stolen) – same day
• First license – CECOVE then eye exam then Maycom
• Foreign license conversion – what works and what does not
• Maycom branches – 16 offices + recommendations
• FAQ – real search queries

License types A/B/C/M/E

Guatemala uses five letters plus a special C-Menor case for ages 16-17. The categories are defined in Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98, Title III, Chapter 1, Art. 23. Most adults get Type C (private vehicles) or Type M (motorcycle). Type B and Type A are restricted commercial-use upgrades.

Detailed comparison: Full guide to license types with decision criteria for each type.

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

2026 fees

Maycom charges the same price per year for first license and renewal, but a first license is sold for 1 to 4 years (up to Q320); 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 only pay for the years you choose. All payments go to the Banrural counter inside the Maycom branch – never pay anyone outside.

Validity scale (the license itself)

Other fees (flat)

Lapse penalties (Acuerdo Gubernativo 59-2012)

These add on top of the validity fee – you pay them when renewing a license that has been expired more than 30 days.

Practical example: 5-year renewal on a license expired 18 months = Q390 validity + Q100 penalty + Q50 eye exam = Q540 total in a single Maycom visit.

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

Renewal

Renewal is one same-day visit at any Maycom branch. CECOVE is not redone for renewal – that requirement applies only to first license and transfers. The one document that cannot be substituted is the DPI: passport will not work. If your DPI is being processed, Maycom accepts the DPI application in copy for renewals too (maycom.com.gt/renovacion, checked 24 September 2026).

What to bring:

• Valid original DPI + copy (or the DPI application in copy)
• Your current license (valid or expired)
• Eye exam from a licensed optometry clinic or active board-certified ophthalmologist + original receipt
• Traffic-fines solvency (verified by the Transit Officer at the branch)
• Banrural payment for the validity you choose (Q100-Q390)
• Lapse penalty if expired more than 30 days

Detailed guide: Step-by-step renewal.

Practical tip: If you are inside the grace period and need to renew fast, the Zona 9 branch generally handles walk-ins in under 90 minutes mid-morning during the week. Bring exact cash for the eye-exam clinic across the street – most do not take cards.

Replacement (lost or stolen)

Replacement is the procedure for licenses that are lost, stolen or damaged/illegible. The key feature: the new card keeps your original expiration date, so a replacement does not extend your license – you still renew on the scheduled date.

What to bring:

• Original DPI + copy (or DPI-in-process receipt copy if your DPI is being processed)
• Eye exam + original receipt
• Fines solvency (verified by Transit Officer at the branch)
• Q100 replacement fee paid at the Banrural counter inside Maycom

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

Detailed guide: Step-by-step replacement.

Practical tip: If your wallet was stolen with DPI and license inside, do not waste a visit – RENAP does not issue a new DPI same-day, and Maycom will not take the case until you at least have the DPI-in-process receipt.

First license

A first license follows a strict three-stop sequence: CECOVE evaluation -> eye clinic -> Maycom branch. None can be skipped. Maycom does not run the evaluation – it verifies that your CECOVE digital certificate is loaded in the central system before issuing 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 was registered in the system; keep the certificate’s fiscal invoice (Maycom asks for the original and a photocopy).
3. Eye exam at any optometry clinic or board-certified ophthalmologist. ~Q50. Keep the original receipt.
4. Visit any Maycom branch with DPI + CECOVE certificate confirmation + eye exam + receipt + Banrural payment for the validity (Q100-Q320; a first license is sold for 1-4 years).
5. Receive your license the same day.

For minors 16-17 (Type C or Type M, Reglamento de Transito art. 26): Add original RENAP birth certificate (max 6 months old), a parental/guardian letter of responsibility authenticated by a lawyer, and the parent/guardian DPI. Validity is capped at 1 year (Q100) and can only be renewed in 1-year increments.

Detailed guides by type: Type C first license | Type M motorcycle | Practical exam | Learner permit.

Practical tip: Some driving academies include the eye-clinic appointment in their package – confirm before paying for the exam separately.

Foreign license conversion

Two routes depending on your status:

Tourists and visitors: Your home-country license is legal for the vehicles it covers while your immigration authorization is current (Reglamento de Transito, art. 24). An International Driving Permit (IDP) from AAA (USA) or equivalent is recommended – Transit officers may ask for it – but it is not strictly required.

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.

Foreigners start at the PNC Transit Department (3a avenida 6-44, zona 1, Guatemala City, tel. 2315-2600), which reviews the case before referring you to a Maycom branch for issuance. Maycom does not process first-time foreigner licenses directly.

Practical tip: If you are converting from a US license, the CECOVE theory exam is in Spanish only. Some schools offer study material in English but the official exam is in Spanish – factor in extra study time if your technical vocabulary is rusty.

Maycom branches – 16 offices

Maycom lists 16 nationwide branches. All process the four services (First license, Renewal, Replacement, Transfer). Metro-area branches close at 18:00 (except Reformadores, 17:00), departmental ones at 17:00. All closed Sundays.

Recommendations from user reports:

• Need it done today in the capital area: Zona 9 or Carretera a El Salvador, arrive before 9:00 AM Tue-Thu.
• You live north of the capital: Metronorte handles parking better than Zona 9.
• You live in Mixco / Calzada Roosevelt corridor: Roosevelt branch is faster than crossing to zona 9.
• You live in Antigua: Carretera El Salvador (faster) or Escuintla (less crowded).
• Need a Saturday service: All open 08:00-13:00 – arrive at 8:00 sharp, the line forms fast.
• Avoid: Any branch the day before a long weekend (Holy Week, December 24, December 31).

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

Need an appointment? 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 and warnings

• Passport does not work – only DPI is valid for any license procedure, even for Guatemalans with dual citizenship arriving from abroad.
• The 30-day grace period is strict. On day 31 the Q50 penalty starts and only goes up. Set a calendar alarm.
• CECOVE only for first license and transfers. Renewal never needs it.
• Replacement preserves the expiration date. It is not a renewal – you still renew on the scheduled date.
• Power of attorney is not accepted. Each procedure requires the holder to be there in person.
• Eye-exam receipt must be original – copies have been rejected.
• Pay fines first. The Transit Officer reviews your fines status before Maycom touches your file. Resolve any outstanding fines at a Transit precinct before going.
• Once you have your license, read our guides on driving in Guatemala and how to register a vehicle.

Related Trámites

• DPI (Personal ID Document) – required before any license procedure
• Vehicle registration – register your car after getting your license
• Import vehicle from USA – common for diaspora
• License types in detail – A, B, C, M, E comparison
• NIT (tax ID) – required for vehicle taxes
• Judicial Branch vehicle inspection – annual requirement

Official Links

• Maycom – First license
• Maycom – Renewal
• Maycom – Branches
• Maycom – FAQ
• Transit – Where to take the CECOVE evaluation (Q700)
• Transit Department (PNC)
• Transit – First license
• Transit – Renewal