DIRECT ACCESS — VEHICLE CANCELLATION
SAT Vehicle Inactivation
Have ready according to your case:
  • Always: valid DPI (passport for foreigners) + Virtual Agency and digital RTU up to date + form SAT-452 signed
  • ISCV solvency on all vehicles registered to you
  • If theft in Guatemala: photocopy of the PNC or Public Ministry theft report
  • If theft abroad: INTERPOL certification of the theft
  • If definitive withdrawal: original circulation card + original ownership certificate + plates
  • If export: add the DUCA
Cost: no fee listed · Q30 optional certification · Where: SAT office or agency · SAT 1550 · Verified: November 2026

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

Vehicle cancellation in Guatemala is done at the SAT (Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria), which calls it inactivación de vehículos (vehicle inactivation) in its vehicle tax registry. SAT lists two reasons on its agency-procedure pages: Retiro Definitivo (definitive withdrawal) and Robo o Hurto (theft). Both use the same form, SAT-452, the sworn statement for inactivation and/or activation of land vehicles, and both are presented in person at a SAT office or agency.

Quick takeaway: Fill in form SAT-452, be up to date on ISCV for every vehicle registered to you, and take your DPI plus the documents for your case to a SAT office or agency. For theft you need a copy of the PNC or Public Ministry report; for definitive withdrawal you hand in the circulation card, ownership certificate and plates. SAT lists no fee; the optional certificación de alza costs Q30.

As of 7 November 2026, based on SAT’s requirement pages for vehicle inactivation and SAT’s vehicle FAQ.

Which Inactivation Applies

SituationSAT procedureKey extra document
Vehicle stolen in GuatemalaInactivación por Robo o HurtoPhotocopy of the theft report filed with the PNC or the Public Ministry
Vehicle stolen abroadInactivación por Robo o HurtoINTERPOL certification of the theft
Vehicle leaving circulation for goodInactivación por Retiro DefinitivoCirculation card, ownership certificate and plates
Vehicle being exportedInactivación por Retiro DefinitivoAdd the Declaración Única Centroamericana (DUCA)
Vehicle sold to another person in GuatemalaNot an inactivation — a transfer—

SAT also has a Retiro Definitivo version for insurance companies (legal entities), with the same form SAT-452 and the circulation card, ownership certificate and plates.

Requirements: Inactivation for Theft (Robo o Hurto)

For individuals and legal entities:

  1. Valid ID: DPI, or passport if you are a foreigner (owner, mandatario or legal representative).
  2. SAT Virtual Agency access and up-to-date data in the digital RTU (owner, mandatario, or legal entity and its legal representative).
  3. ISCV solvency — up to date on the vehicle circulation tax for all vehicles registered to you.
  4. Theft report: if the vehicle was stolen in Guatemala, a photocopy of the theft report filed with the National Civil Police (PNC) or the Public Ministry (how to file a criminal complaint). If it was stolen abroad, a certification issued by INTERPOL describing the theft.
  5. Form SAT-452, signed by the owner, legal representative or mandatario.
  6. If an authorized third party files it before the Vehicle Tax Registry, SAT’s requirements for third parties.

Requirements: Inactivation for Definitive Withdrawal (Retiro Definitivo)

For individuals, legal entities and State entities:

  1. Valid ID: DPI, or passport if you are a foreigner.
  2. SAT Virtual Agency access and up-to-date data in the digital RTU.
  3. ISCV solvency on all vehicles registered to you.
  4. Form SAT-452, signed by the owner, legal representative or mandatario.
  5. Original circulation card (if you do not have it, see special cases below).
  6. Original ownership certificate — if you do not have it, say so on form SAT-452.
  7. License plates — if you do not have them, say so on form SAT-452.
  8. If an authorized third party files it, SAT’s requirements for third parties.

Export: if the vehicle will be exported, you also present the Declaración Única Centroamericana (DUCA).

Step by Step (SAT)

  1. Fill in form SAT-452 with the reason (Retiro Definitivo or Robo o Hurto), by hand or electronically, legibly and without alterations.
  2. Go to a SAT office or agency (Oficina o Agencia Tributaria) with the requirements.
  3. You receive a vehicle printout (desplegado de vehículos) at no cost, or a certificación de alza for Q30.

Special Cases

  • No circulation card (Retiro Definitivo): if it was stolen, attach the report filed with the Public Ministry; if it was lost, attach the notice filed with the PNC or a record issued by the Public Ministry.
  • Owner who cannot read and write, or cannot sign or give a fingerprint because of a physical disability: the owner comes with a witness, who presents a DPI.
  • Mandatario: present the public deed (testimonio de escritura pública) of a valid mandate, registered in the Archivo General de Protocolos, plus a photocopy.

Where to File

SAT lists offices and agencies in every region. In the Central Region these include Galerías Prima, Plaza San Rafael, Pacific Villa Hermosa, Montserrat, Chimaltenango, El Progreso and Sacatepéquez; procedures by authorized third parties go to the Plaza San Rafael annex. Regional agencies include Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, San Marcos, Sololá, Zacapa, Alta Verapaz, Petén, Izabal, Chiquimula and Escuintla. The full list is on each SAT requirement page.