Job Discussion Forums

[Endie]

Morning all,

Had a quick question. I�m on the verge of getting my car (Mexican bought). The insurance and tenencia are all covered by the car company. However, I do not actually possess (I never applied for) a Mexican driving license.

Do any of you know if it�s absolutely necessary to possess one? I�ve asked some other international teachers and they said they�ve managed without one and just with their respective American and Canadian licenses and that they�ve never had any problems. But that just probably means that they have never been caught.

Any of you know for certain certain?

[MELEE]

You can drive on your US license, but seeing as you're buying a Mexican car, seems like you plan on sticking around. So its probably worth it to get a Mexican one. Like in the US, this is a state function, so N.L. may have different requirements. My experience is in Oaxaca, and my husband got his in Michoacan.

Here's what happened when I went to get mine. I walk into the transit office, 5 transit employees are sitting around twiddling their thumbs. I ask a women about licences, she points me to another guy, the only one not in uniform. I tell him I want to get my licence, he gives me a sheet of paper with the requirements and he asks me if I have a US one. I say yes, and pull out my US licence (six years expired!). He takes it and says, so you don't have to take the test. The captian has stopped twiddling his thumbs and taken an interest, he takes my licence and is studying it. He speaks up, "But this is expired." The plain clothes guy says, "but she obviously knows how to drive." (because I'm a gringa?) I pipe up that I did do a 4 week summer course before first getting my license. They decide that I should take the test (they ONLY HAVE WRITTEN TESTS; no road test). So I say, well, I imagine that some of the laws are different, so do you have the reglamiento so I can study?. The plain clothes guy says to the captian, "You have the regulamiento." He says back, "No, you do." "I don't have it." "Well neither do I." Then at the same time the both look at me and say "You don't have to take the test." So I went off to get all the other things, my blood type (they wouldn't take my word for it), a letter from a doctor saying I was fit to drive, copy of my FM3 and passport. Came back with all that and the money, and walked out with my license!

In Michoacan, my husband was given an oral test, yes, an oral test, the transit officer asked him questions, not off any paper or anything, just ramdom questions as they occured to him!!!!

[Samantha]

Where I live, you need a Mexican DL to register your car. And to get a Mexican DL you need an FM3. The test was written (I chose the English version since it was multiple choice and not open-ended questions like the Spanish one my friend took). We had pictures, eye-tests, thumb prints, blood test, but talked our way out of the driving test (by flashing our foreign DL's)with the Transito directly. The road test is supposedly required.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

I've purchased two different vehicles in Mexico, both registered in my name, and also Mexican auto insurance on both of them . . . while using a valid U.S. drivers license. I simply find that having a U.S. drivers license is so much easier and less expensive. In my home state (U.S.) I can renew my drivers license every 6 years, and it usually takes no more than 10 minutes to do so. In Yucatan both a written and driving test are supposedly required along with about a week of running around trying to get all the required paperwork together. After that, it has to be renewed every 2 years, and each renewal costs more than a 6-year license in my home state in the U.S.

I've watched people do the driving test. One would probably have to run over at least 4 people, causing permanent bodily injury or death to at least 2 of them in order to fail the test. One part of the test is to parallel park in a spot marked with 4 strategically placed red cones. They are arranged in such a manner that the only way a car could be parked inside them without knocking over at least one cone would be with the assistance of a crane. Since most people I've observed parallel parking here use the bumper method -- when your bumper hits the bumper of the car in front or behind, then it's time to change directions -- I suppose leaving 3 out of 4 cones standing is quite acceptable.

[Endie]

Haha, funny story, Melee.

Thanks for the input, guys. I guess I�ll get around to it. What I�m wary about is the testing part. I don�t feel like wasting my time and getting bungled in their admin.

Won�t stop me from driving, though.

[delacosta]

Funny stories.
After getting my wallet pickpocketed in the DF subway I had to go and get a Mex�can license.
I wasn't given a driver's test, just paid the 200 pesos for 3 years. I was told that's the most foreigners could get. Then I was told to go get the medical form filled in with a specific doctor who had the correct stamp-how Mexican officialdom love to see stamps on documents!
Went down the street to the docs who them asked me what blood type I was, if I had currently or had ever had a bunch of illnesses on his list and gave me the stamp, after which I handed over 50 pesos.
A trick to remember when Mexican cops ask to see your license: don't actaully hand it to them, hold it up to them so they can read it. It's a common ploy prior to seeking a bribe to ask for one's license and then to put it in their pocket and walk away. I fell for it, once.

[ls650]

I've been using my foreign-based licence for two years, as have the other teachers here who own vehicles. No one here has ever had any problems with the police about this, either here in Oaxaca or when visiting other states. That's not to say other areas are different, though...

When I registered my motorcycle, I didn't need to show any licence at all, only my FM3, the factura, and a proof of residence (electric or phone bill was sufficient).

[vanisle]

I'm glad people are discussing this because I just looked at my license and realized that mine will expire exactly half way through the year we plan on being in Mexico...how do you renew it from another country? Or would I just renew it early before I go?

Thanks for any advice!

[ls650]

[Sgt Killjoy]

For Americans out there, Arizona offers a "lifetime" driver's license for $25, well it was $25 when I got it, it might be higher now. Basically the license expires on your 60th birthday. You technically have to be a resident of Arizona, but the licenses are issued on the spot. Basically, you can be a resident for a day.

[Prof.Gringo]

I got a Mexico State driver's license with no problem. I went to an integrated services center run by a city govt. I only took my FM-3, and with that I got my CURP (Clave Unica de Registro de Poblacion) which is like a US social security number. That only took a few minutes and was free. Next I went to the license counter located in the same building. I showed them my FM-3, new CURP and they gave me another form to pay the fee (271.00 pesos for 1 year). I took that to another window paid the fee and went back to the license area. They took my picture and gave me my driver's license right there. No written test, vision test, blood test or anything else. Very quick, easy, and the staff was friendly. So, the next time you wonder about driver education and why people drive like they do here-you have the answer! See you on Periferico!!!

P.S. In DF they have a "permanent" license, which is good for life, I think. The same deal as above, just a little more expensive.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[gordogringo]

Interesting posts.I have been told by the Tijuana police (yes I know,about as useful as asking a 4 year old) that licenses in Baja are issued only to Mexican citizens.Not available at all to foreign nationals. So I just keep my Nevada license. I thought the post about making up questions as they went along was hilarious. I can imagine this testing scene at the Tijuana drivers license office:

Drivers license person: Jew wunt license?
Customer: Yes please
drivers license person: Jew huv 20 dollars for me
Customer: Yes,here it is
drivers license person: Cungratalashuns, jew passe! Driv carfully!

A little phonetic spelling fun.And judging by the scary drivers here,probably very accurate.

[ls650]

[danielita]

I recently got my drivers license here too. It was really easy. I just provided copies of my foreign license, FM3, a copy of my phone bill for proof of address, paid my fees to have the form filled out, snap of a photo and I was handed my license! If only it were that easy back home!