Written by the Guatemala Life team, based in Guatemala City.

Correction (24 September 2026): the learner permit is valid for up to six months and can be granted at most three times in a row (Reglamento de Tránsito, Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98, arts. 31-38); the companion must be over 25; learner cars have a manual gearbox and a 80 km/h cap. We found no published fee. This page previously said the permit costs about Q100, is valid for one year, is issued the same day at Maycom, and cited art. 14 of Acuerdo Gubernativo 259-2002 and a CECOVE “course”; it also listed Maycom branches and addresses (zona 1, Mixco, Antigua, Xela) that Maycom does not list, a notarial-deed wording and fine amounts we could not source. AG 259-2002 is a reform of the Reglamento, not the Reglamento itself. See our corrections policy.

The learner driving permit — permiso temporal de aprendizaje in the Reglamento de Tránsito — lets someone who is learning to drive practise on public roads before getting a licence, always with a driving-school instructor or an authorised companion.

Quick summary: Valid up to 6 months, granted at most 3 times in a row (art. 32). You learn at an authorised driving school or with an authorised companion who is over 25 and holds a licence of the type you are learning (arts. 31, 35). Learner cars have a manual gearbox (art. 36) and may not exceed 80 km/h (art. 37). The permit does not replace the licence: that still needs the CECOVE evaluation (Q700). No fee is published.

Rules from the Reglamento de Tránsito as compiled by the Departamento de Tránsito; checked 24 September 2026.

What It Allows and What It Does Not

What You Can Do

  • Drive on public roads while learning, accompanied by the school’s instructor or your authorised companion (art. 32)
  • Practise in the vehicle type your companion’s licence covers (art. 35)

What You Cannot Do

  • Drive alone — the instructor or companion must be with you whenever you drive the learner vehicle (art. 32)
  • Exceed 80 km/h, even where the posted limit is higher (art. 37)
  • Practise on extra-urban roads on public holidays or the day before them (art. 37)
  • Use an automatic or semi-automatic car, unless you have a disability that prevents you from using a clutch or gear lever (art. 36)

Requirements

Art. 33 of the Reglamento de Tránsito:

  • Meet the requirements for a first licence, except the practical exam — for a first licence the Reglamento asks for the application, adulthood (or 16+ for Types C and M with written parental or guardian authorisation, art. 26), an eye-exam certificate, literacy in Spanish, payment and photos (art. 25)
  • Name the driving school or companion in charge of your learning

The companion (art. 35)

  • Accompanies one learner only
  • Holds a valid licence of the type being learned
  • Is over 25
  • Has had no licence suspension in the last five years

The vehicle (art. 36)

  • An ordinary vehicle of the type for the licence being learned, without modifications
  • Clutch and non-automatic gearbox (except for people with a disability who cannot operate them)
  • In good working order, with all its documents; when driven with a school instructor, it must be marked as a learner vehicle

Step-by-Step Process

  1. Decide how you will learn — at a driving school registered with the Departamento de Tránsito, or with a companion who meets art. 35.
  2. Gather the first-licence documents — DPI (or, for a minor, the documents Maycom asks of minors: a RENAP birth certificate from the last six months and a responsibility letter), plus an eye-exam certificate.
  3. Ask the Departamento de Tránsito where to apply — neither Tránsito’s requirements page nor Maycom’s site lists the learner permit (checked 24 September 2026). Departamento de Tránsito: 3a avenida 6-44, zona 1, Guatemala City; tel. 2315-2600.
  4. Practise within the limits — always accompanied, up to 80 km/h, no extra-urban roads on holidays or their eves.
  5. Take the CECOVE evaluation when you are ready — Q700, 1.5 to 2 hours, 72 points to pass, free second attempt — and then apply for the licence at Maycom.

Costs

ItemCostSource
Learner permitNot publishedChecked 24 Sep 2026
CECOVE evaluation (for the licence itself)Q700Departamento de Tránsito
First licence at MaycomQ100 (1 year) to Q390 (5 years)Maycom fee table

Differences vs Regular License

FeatureLearner PermitRegular License
Minimum ageSame as the licence being learned (16 for C and M with authorisation)18; 16 for C and M with authorisation (art. 26)
CECOVE evaluationNot for the permitRequired
Driving aloneNoYes
ValidityUp to 6 months, at most 3 times in a row1 to 5 years, holder’s choice
SpeedMax 80 km/hPosted limits

Restrictions and Obligations

Always When Driving

  • Carry the permit (art. 32 requires it to be carried)
  • Be accompanied by the instructor or your companion
  • Vehicle with current circulation card, plates and sticker (SAT sticker)
  • Obey all traffic rules and the 80 km/h cap

Liability and Penalties

  • Joint liability (art. 34): the driving school, its instructor, the companion and the learner are jointly liable for damage caused while driving the learner vehicle.
  • Penalties (art. 38): breaking the learner rules is subject to charges set by government agreement and paid to the Departamento de Tránsito. The Reglamento does not state the amounts, and we did not find them published.

Tips

  1. Practise in safe areas first. Car parks, low-traffic zones, daytime.
  2. Pick a companion who qualifies — over 25, a licence of the right type, no suspension in five years — not just anyone with a licence.
  3. Mind the gearbox rule. A learner car must be manual unless you have a disability that prevents it.
  4. Use the six months. You can only chain the permit three times.
  5. Vary conditions. Practise at night, in rain, on different road types — within the 80 km/h cap.
  6. For minors: the adult who authorises carries responsibility (art. 26 authorisation; art. 34 joint liability for damage).
Details

The Reglamento makes the driving school, its instructor, the companion and the learner jointly liable for damage caused while driving the learner vehicle (art. 34), and a minor’s licence requires written authorisation from whoever holds parental authority or guardianship (art. 26). Insure the vehicle and make sure your child never drives without the instructor or companion.

Details

The learner rules do not exclude foreigners, but we found no published procedure for foreign residents’ learner permits. If you already hold a licence from your own country, the relevant route is the transfer (homologación) under art. 24 of the Reglamento — see foreign license conversion. While your residency is in process, Tránsito also issues a driving permit for foreigners (Q50 per month).

Details

The CECOVE evaluation includes a free second attempt (Departamento de Tránsito). Between attempts, a learner permit lets you practise on the road with an instructor or authorised companion, within the six-month validity and the three-times limit.

How We Verify This Information

Last verified: 24 September 2026. The rules come from the Reglamento de Tránsito (Acuerdo Gubernativo 273-98, arts. 25-26 and 31-38) in the compilation published by the Departamento de Tránsito, and the CECOVE price from the Departamento de Tránsito’s own page. Where no source publishes a figure (the permit fee, the office that issues it, the penalty amounts), we say so rather than estimate.

Corrections and Updates

Did you get a learner permit recently? If you know which office issued it and what it cost, write to us — we will check it against an official source and update this page.