The driving license in Guatemala is processed at one of the 15 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 course is a separate transaction with a different provider – Maycom does not teach the course, 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-Q1,140 because it adds the ~Q700 CECOVE course. 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 from maycom.com.gt/requisitos on 2026-04-29. 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 – 15 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.
| Type | Vehicles you can drive | Min age | Weight | Commercial use | Transfer requirement | 5-year fee 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type A | Cargo over 3.5 tons, school transport, collective transport (urban and intercity) | 25 | >3.5 tons | Yes (paid driving allowed) | 3+ years prior license, 6th grade, CECOVE Type A | Q390 |
| Type B | Vehicles up to 3.5 tons with paid driving (Uber, light commercial) | 23 | up to 3.5 tons | Yes | 2+ years prior license, 6th grade, CECOVE Type B | Q390 |
| Type C | Cars, vans, microbuses, pickups with or without trailer up to 3.5 tons (no paid driving) | 18 | up to 3.5 tons | No | None – first license | Q390 |
| Type M | All mopeds and motorcycles (any engine size) | 18 | n/a (motorcycle) | No | None – first license, CECOVE motorcycle | Q390 |
| Type E | Agricultural and industrial machinery (does not authorize other vehicle types) | 18 | machinery | No | None – independent track | Q390 |
| Type C-Menor | Same as Type C, only 1 year, requires notarized parental letter of responsibility | 16 | up to 3.5 tons | No | Notarized letter of responsibility from parent/guardian | Q100 (1-year max) |
Detailed comparison: Full guide to license types with decision criteria for each type.
Source: maycom.com.gt/tipos-de-licencias verified 2026-04-29.
2026 fees
Maycom uses a single validity scale that applies identically to first license and renewal. 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)
| Years of validity | 2026 fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | Q100 | Mandatory cap for minors (16-17) |
| 2 years | Q185 | |
| 3 years | Q260 | |
| 4 years | Q320 | |
| 5 years | Q390 | Best value per year: Q78/year |
Other fees (flat)
| Service | 2026 fee |
|---|---|
| Replacement (lost / stolen / damaged) | Q100 |
| Transfer / type change (e.g., C -> B) | Q100 |
| Eye exam (third-party, varies by clinic) | ~Q50 |
| First-license CECOVE (third-party school, varies) | ~Q700 |
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.
| Time expired | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 30 days to 1 year | Q50 |
| 1 to 2 years | Q100 |
| 2 to 3 years | Q150 |
| 3 to 4 years | Q200 |
| 4 to 5 years | Q250 |
| Over 5 years | Q300 |
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: maycom.com.gt/preguntas – penalties FAQ.
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, and a DPI-in-process receipt does not work for renewal (only for replacement).
What to bring:
- Valid original DPI + 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 school -> eye clinic -> Maycom branch. None can be skipped. Maycom does not teach the course – it verifies that your CECOVE digital certificate is loaded in the central system before issuing the license.
Sequence:
- Enroll in a CECOVE-authorized driving school (Centro de Evaluacion y Competencia Vehicular). The course is ~2-3 weeks of theory + practice. Cost ~Q700.
- Pass the internal exam and confirm your digital certificate was registered in the system.
- Eye exam at any optometry clinic or board-certified ophthalmologist. ~Q50. Keep the original receipt.
- Visit any Maycom branch with DPI + CECOVE certificate confirmation + eye exam + receipt + Banrural payment for the validity (Q100-Q390).
- Receive your license the same day.
For minors 16-17: Add original RENAP birth certificate (max 6 months old), notarized parental/guardian letter of responsibility, 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 CECOVE schools include the eye-clinic appointment in the course package – confirm with your school before paying for the exam separately.
Foreign license conversion
Two routes depending on your status:
Tourists (less than 90 days): Your home-country license is legal to drive during your stay. 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: Once you hold Guatemalan residency you must obtain a Guatemalan license to drive legally. There is no reciprocity agreement with the USA, Canada, EU or Mexico – you cannot swap your foreign license for a Guatemalan one. You must complete the full first-license process: CECOVE course (no exam-only option), eye exam and Maycom issuance. Many CECOVE schools offer an accelerated track for experienced foreign drivers (still 2-3 weeks but lighter on the basics).
Foreigners applying for their first Guatemalan license 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 – 15 offices
Maycom operates 15 nationwide branches. All process the four services (First license, Renewal, Replacement, Transfer). Capital branches close at 18:00, departmental ones at 17:00. All closed Sundays.
| Branch | Address | Mon-Fri | Sat | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zona 9 (HQ) | 6a avenida 1-60 zona 9, Guatemala | 08:00-18:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Fast renewals Tue-Thu AM. Avoid Fri PM. |
| Metronorte | CC Metronorte, Km 5 Carretera al Atlantico, 2nd floor local 402 | 08:00-18:00 | 08:00-13:00 | North side, parking inside the mall |
| Roosevelt | CC Rus Mall, Calzada Roosevelt 12-76, zona 7 | 08:00-18:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Capital west, Mixco/Roosevelt corridor |
| Villa Nueva | Comercial Galerias Catalina, 5a avenida 8-45, zona 6 | 08:00-18:00 | 08:00-13:00 | South of the capital, less traffic |
| Carretera a El Salvador | Km 13 CC Metroplaza, 2nd floor local 222 | 08:00-18:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Capital east, fast Tue-Thu AM |
| Quetzaltenango | CC Interplaza Xela, Km 205 Carretera a San Marcos, La Esperanza | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Western highlands hub |
| Coban (Alta Verapaz) | 10a avenida 1-11 zona 2, Plaza San Martin, local 9 | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Northern highlands |
| Mazatenango | Km 158 ruta CA-2, CC Plaza Las Americas, 2nd floor local 208 | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Southwestern coast |
| Coatepeque | Plaza La Trinidad local 68-A, 6a calle 12-124 zona 1, Quetzaltenango | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Border region, Quetzaltenango department |
| Huehuetenango | 1a calle 4-81 zona 8, Zentro Corporativo Leon, locales 207-208 | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Northwestern highlands |
| Santa Elena, Peten | CC MUNDO MAYA local 5, Santa Elena | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Peten / Tikal region |
| Puerto Barrios (Izabal) | Red Plaza local 18 colonia Virginia, Km 293 Ruta CA-9 | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Caribbean coast |
| Rio Hondo (Zacapa) | Km 136.2 Ruta al Atlantico, Plaza Kalajari locales 12-13 | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Eastern corridor, Zacapa/Chiquimula |
| Escuintla | CC Interplaza Escuintla, 2nd floor local 222, Km 60 autopista Escuintla-Palin | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | Pacific corridor, sugar region |
| Jutiapa | CC Metroplaza local 53C, Km 116 Carretera Interamericana | 08:00-17:00 | 08:00-13:00 | South-eastern corridor |
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/agencias verified 2026-04-29.
Need an appointment? There is no working online booking right now. Maycom’s site still shows “Programa tu cita” buttons pointing at citas.maycom.com.gt, but that subdomain no longer resolves (checked August 5, 2026). Appointments were never mandatory – you walk in. To confirm before travelling, call 2421-0800 or message WhatsApp +502 2421-0800; the branch list is at maycom.com.gt/agencias.
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