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Driving in the Dominican Republic

Driving in the DR
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Updated byAnne-Lise Mtyon 29 April 2024

What is driving like in the Dominican Republic and how do you obtain a driving license? Find out all about it in this article.

Driving in the Dominican Republic is not like driving anywhere else. The Dominican Republic holds the fourth position among Caribbean and Latin American countries, where a significant number of accidents unfortunately result in numerous fatalities, but that does not mean you should not drive there, as long as you take the necessary precautions.

Dominican driving

The first thing to bear in mind is that Dominicans, on the whole, are not necessarily good drivers. Many do not have a driver's license, and they are almost all self-taught. The key issues are:

  • they usually only drive with one hand on the wheel, the other hand usually busy handling a cell phone or a bottle of beer;
  • although there is a law against drunk driving, it is rarely enforced, and many drive after drinking;
  • they drive fast and often too close to the car in front (tailgating);
  • they take no notice of No Overtaking signs and often overtake on bends;
  • many of the vehicles are old and poorly maintained;
  • there are several motorcycles on the road which weave in and out of the traffic;
  • use of mirrors and indicators is very rare;
  • night driving is dangerous due to animals on the road, and many Dominicans drive with lights on full beam.

Therefore, you need to drive very defensively, use both wing mirrors to check for motorcycles coming up on the inside and the outside, and never assume to know what the car in front will do, so it is important to leave plenty of space between you. It is best to avoid driving at night and avoid driving on holidays when people are more likely to have been drinking, especially during Easter.

Dominican roads

There are different types of roads in the Dominican Republic. There are now many highways that have two lanes and are in excellent condition, and many have tolls on them. There are also single-lane roads that often have potholes, and in some cases, they crumble at the edges, especially after heavy rainfall. Finally, there are dirt tracks, often found in country areas, and some need a 4×4 to drive on them.

Dominican driving license

Your home country driving license is only valid for 30 days after you arrive in the Dominican Republic. This does not matter if it is an international license or one issued by your home country. However, there is a bit of a catch in that you cannot apply for a Dominican license until you have a cedula or identity card, which is only issued when you are a permanent resident or a citizen. Therefore, it is best to carry something to show you are in progress towards getting your residency. In practice, foreigners rarely have problems driving without a Dominican license, even though the law says differently.

Some countries allow you to convert your driver's license, including Canada, but not the United States or the United Kingdom. You need to go to your embassy in the Dominican Republic and obtain a certificate saying your license is legal, and then take the certificate along with copies of your residency card and your license to the local driving license center, where you then have to get a blood test and pass a vision test, and your new Dominican driving license will be issued.

Obtain a local driver's license in the Dominican Republic

To obtain a local driver's license without being able to convert your national one, you need to do the following:

  • go to the local Driving Licence Centre;
  • pass a vision test and take a blood test;
  • listen to a talk on road education;
  • take a written examination (there is a book which you can buy to assist with this);
  • have your biometric data taken;
  • receive your learner's license, which is then exchanged in 45 days for a full license.

Costs associated with a Dominican driver's license

The new prices for driver's licenses are as follows (according to official sources):

  • learning card, from 34.03 USD to 49.35 USD;
  • driver's license, from 32.33 USD to 42.54 USD;
  • duplicate license due to loss, from 20.25 USD to 30.63 USD;
  • renewal of expired license (depending on the year), from 34.03 USD to 187.17 USD.

Traffic police in the Dominican Republic

The traffic police are called AMET (Metropolitan Transport Authority) and wear green uniforms. They are on the lookout for anyone breaking the law, such as running a red light, not wearing a seat belt, or using a cell phone. Most fines are around USD 20. They can also impound your vehicle if your license is out of date or if you do not have vehicle taxation. You can pay fines online.

Important:

You won't be able to obtain a clean Police Report if you have outstanding traffic fines.

Please note that the following are illegal:

  • a driver on a motorcycle not wearing a helmet (passengers do not have to wear helmets);
  • a child under 12 years old being in the front seat of a car (there are no laws regarding child seats).

Vehicle tax in the Dominican Republic

The vehicle tax is known as a marbete and is an annual tax due at the end of each year. It is currently RD 3,000 for vehicles under five years old (USD 51.05) and half that price for those over five years old.

Vehicle inspection in the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is introducing an annual vehicle inspection this year to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy. At the time of the inspection, the vehicle must also contain a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and an emergency triangle.

Car insurance in the Dominican Republic

Third-party car insurance is compulsory and costs around USD 75 a year. There are many insurance companies. However, if you require fully comprehensive insurance, it is considerably more expensive, around USD 1,000 a year, and is only available for vehicles less than 3 years old. You will be given an insurance card, which should be kept in your person or in the glove compartment, as AMET will wish to see it if they stop you.

If you are in an accident in the Dominican Republic

If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a road accident, you must file a report with the authorities and contact the police. Many parts of the country now have the 911 emergency system for contact. However, if it is a small bump, then it is usually easier just to come to a swift agreement with the other party and arrange the necessary compensation without involving the police.

If you're involved in an accident that causes serious injury or death, Dominican law requires that the driver is taken into police custody until the circumstances of the accident have been investigated, even if the driver does not appear to be at fault. Therefore, you should call the police and wait for them to arrive at the scene of the accident. If you're detained as a result of a road accident, ask the police to contact your embassy for assistance.

Good to know:

If you witness an accident, however hard it may seem, the best advice is to keep driving. If it is an accident involving Dominicans, and a foreigner stops to watch, they may see it as an opportunity to have someone else foot the bill.

The Dominican Republic is well aware of its reputation for poor driving, hence it is trying to introduce a variety of measures to try and improve safety. They may take a while to take effect, but at least now, the infrastructure is being improved.

Useful links:

National Terrestrial Transit Institute (INTRANT)
Traffic police
Car insurance

We do our best to provide accurate and up to date information. However, if you have noticed any inaccuracies in this article, please let us know in the comments section below.

About

Anne-Lise studied Psychology for 4 years in the UK before finding her way back to Mauritius and being a journalist for 3 years and heading Expat.com's editorial department for 5. She loves politics, books, tea, running, swimming, hiking...

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Comments

  • om2252001
    om22520017 months ago

    Got my DR license 3 years ago, blood test not a requirement

  • ciscobenedict
    ciscobenedict4 years ago(Modified)
    This is a good piece to to keep in mind. The section about being "in an accident" really resonated with me. I was in DR last year in Santo Domingo and witnessed the aftermath of an accident. I was driving coming along from the opposite direction when I saw a stopped vehicle with one of the front wheels unusually angled. There was actually no collision with no other vehicle. The driver was a slightly older gentleman, it was night time and he has careered into the central reservation which subsequently damaged the front wheel of his car. It must have been quite a hard hit because the airbag was deployed which I imagine hit the driver in the face quite hard as he was disoriented. I stopped my vehicle on the side and approached to help him out of the car, sit him down on the side, calm hm down and flagged down a police trooper car passing by. When I asked him how this had happened and if anyone was responsible, he told me that no one else was involved (because I suggested perhaps it was a 'hit and run') but rather, the beam lights of an oncoming vehicle was so bright, it had momentarily blinded him. I never did understand why people drive with their brightest beams on. This is in Santo Domingo in the Distrito Nacional zona not far from Quisqueya. I mention the area because if anyone knows where I'm talking about, they would understand that the main road has enough street lighting so driving with full beams on is unnecessary. I was perturbed because behind this man that hit the central reservation, a long queue had built up prior to my arrival. None of the drivers behind him (before I came along) had bothered to help him. Many honked their cars impatiently not knowing what the hold up was (random hold ups are common) while others drove past by mounting the curb, looking at the damaged vehicle and still showing annoyance. I believed my reaction to his situation was normal but after reading this post, especially the part about "If you witness an accident, however hard it may seem, the best advice is to keep driving", makes me realise I was quite lucky because anything could have happened. I think in the future, I would probably still help someone in need. Thanks for all the useful information provided here, especially about obtaining a driving licence and the insurance.
  • Free Jimmy
    Free Jimmy6 years ago(Modified)
    This is a really well written and helpful article. Thanks!

See also

All of the Dominican Republic's guide articles