Getting a Dominican Driver's License

Hi: Presently I am going through this process. I assume it is the same for Canadians as Americans. The first thing you need to do is get your US drivers license validated at the US Consulate. How long is your work visa good for. I will send you a PM of the person who is helping me. She has been very helpful and I highly recommend her.
Regards
Stan

The Intrant website gives you all the information you need to obtain a Dominican driving license:

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/servic … e-conducir

Citizens of the USA and UK need to go through the whole process of temporary license after tests and cannot get their foreign license certified like some other countries such as Canada. It is an easy process and cheap.

But you do need a cedula, not least for the initial police check. Do you get one with your work permit? You will get one with your temporary residence. Your driving license number will be the same as your cedula and residency cards.

You need your cedula first!

planner , I came across this resolution from INTRANT which does indicate that a holder of a work permit or student visa can obtain a Dominican driving license:

https://www.intrant.gob.do/transparenci … NJEROS.pdf

So LZoe should follow this up whilst waiting fro their residency.

Good stuff!  This was done by decree in  July 2017 so its recent! 

You will need the  following:

1. Be 18 or older.
2. License from the country of origin in force
3. Certification apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirming the
authenticity and validity of the foreign license.
4. Valid visa passport as established in the case (take copies together to the original)
5. Work certification
6. Copy of the current employment contract or the university, as established in the case.
7. Student permission for the cases that apply.

Of course there are fees..... and a process to follow.

If in Santo Domingo, the place to go with all your documents as above would be INTRANT on Av. Tiridentes opposite Quisqueya Stadium. This incidentally is where you apply for a DR drivers license too and take the various tests. There is a BanReserva alongside to pay fees.

Thank you Planner, StanR and lennoxnev! This is a big help. Any idea what they mean by work certification? I have my work contract.

Thank you all for such helpful responses!

Your work contract should lead to a work visa. That is what they need.

planner wrote:

Your work contract should lead to a work visa. That is what they need.

Thank you Planner! I do have a work visa. And I have applied for residency. It's just that they used the words "work certification" and I'm not sure what that means. Is it some sort of letter from my employer?

It should mean the approval and subsequent visa honey.

Is there an English version of this document?

Easiest/fastest way is to use a driving school...
No need to 'school'... but they will walk you thru the process for a fee

Willie (or anyone knowledgeable):

Can you recommend a particular driving school?   And are any of them offered in English, or just all-Espanol?

Jim
ExpatRusher

They are readily available at/near the testing location.....

This is the simulator for the written exam. It is in Spanish, but if you go through this enough times, you can see every question in the bank and memorize the correct answer!

I'm interested

@ddmcghee Thank you! I plan on getting the license once I get the residency and cedula.

@Profe Agayu I recently got my DL here. You don't need to wait for the residency or cédula. They accept the visa to obtain the DL. I am also currently waiting to receive my residency card. Did all the process already but went to INTRANT with my visa and they accepted it to get the DL. 

Not sure about this , but my my good friend who is a cab driver said to me if I wanted a drivers lic I could go over to one of the driving schools here that he knew and they would get me a license for around $200 USD…they’ll do everything for me because I already have a license from the states…. I told him that I get an international license for free from AAA in the states and it lasts for a year , plus your drivers license from the states is recognized here as legal anyway so I don’t see any real benefit for” me “to get one  but I think a little research $$ might not be as hard as you think 

Your US or international license is only valid if your status here is valid.  Overstay a tourist visa and those licenses are not valid.  If you are on a residency visa then it appears your status is legal. 

@Profe Agayu I recently got my DL here. You don't need to wait for the residency or cédula. They accept the visa to obtain the DL. I am also currently waiting to receive my residency card. Did all the process already but went ... - @farahshaniceali

According to DIGISETT, you can only get your Dominican driving license with 'Residencia dominicana vigente o con Visa de Negocio, Permiso de trabajo o Visa de Estudiante, original más una copia.'

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/servic … dominicana

So the question is, did you apply with a visa other than the Residency Visa which clearly can happen as the link above?

Ones driving license will have the same number as your cedula and residency card so it makes sense they wait until you have residency confirmed.

@lennoxnev oh you are right. I do have the business visa for temporary residency that renews yearly. I suppose that's why I got the DL with my visa. Didn't realise it would be different for other visa types. Just assumed once you have a visa to gain residency that they'd accept it to get the DL. 

Residency visa is a pathway to residency. Mystery resolved. Thank you for responding. 

Your US or international license is only valid if your status here is valid.  Overstay a tourist visa and those licenses are not valid.  If you are on a residency visa then it appears your status is legal.

- @planner

Can anyone provide details on getting a Dominican driving license in the Cabarete area?  Example, first steps, what forms (if any) to download and from where, what office to visit, how much it costs, etc.  I saw information somewhere for the Las Terrenas area, but I'm Cabarete, so the locations will be different.

Also, my Spanish is NOT very good although I am trying to improve.  If the test is on a computer, is there an option to translate to English? 

@SandyS_retired  You need to have Residency and a Cedula to get a license in the DR.  Intrant in Puerto Plata is where to go to take the test and renew.  It's on Google Maps, and easy to find.  There is an online practice test for the questions, which will be in Spanish, and the road test is super-simple.  This is the Intrant website, and should answer any questions you have.

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/servic … n-practico

When I got mine, I had to pre-pay at BanReservas and bring the receipt to Intrant, if I remember correctly it was less than $1,000 RD. 

I took the route, when it was available, to "convert" my Ontario license to a Dominican one.  It involved the Canadian Consulate "verifying" my license, going to Santo Domingo to the Dominican State Department for them to "verify the verification" and then to Intrant in Santo Domingo for hearing, vision and blood test.  Then I left with a full DR license, no learner's permit or returning to upgrade.  I'm not sure this process is available any more, and if it is, documents need to be Apostilled, so it makes it much more difficult and expensive.

The conversion option has never existed for US Drivers Licenses. We recently went through the process. If I had known how easy it is, I wouldn't have put it off as long as I did!

Regardless of how long you've been driving, unless you are from a country that allows conversion, you have to start with a learner's permit.

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/servicios/emision-de-licencias-permisos-y-certificaciones/item/317-permiso-o-carnet-de-aprendizaje-mayores-de-18-anos

Clear instructions are there, but here's a quick summary.

1) Download and study the manual/take online practice tests - although the written test can be taken in English, you will have to translate the study manuals and practice tests

2) Make an appointment at your local INTRANT office for a learner's permit

3) Pay for and order your Good Conduct report online (600 DOP) and print a copy

4) Pay your fees for the learner's permit (2900 DOP), or you can pay there with cash or a card

5) Show up for your appointment with documents (cedula, Good Conduct report, receipt for fees), go through vision, hearing, and agility screenings (not sure exactly what that tests - you use joysticks to move through a maze on a computer screen), take the written test and walk out with your learner's permit.

Wait at least 15 days and return for your actual license! (See link from Uncle Buck)

1) Make an appointment at your local INTRANT office for First Drivers License Issuance

2) Pay your fees for the license (2500 DOP), or you can pay there with cash or a card

3) Show up for your appointment with documents (cedula, learner's permit, receipt for fees), and take the practical exam on a simulator. Start the car, drive down the road, make a few turns, stop at lights and stop signs, yield to other traffic, and stop the car. Tip - the second you take your foot off the gas pedal, the car will stop almost immediately! There is no coasting to a stop sign! That was the biggest difference I found with the simulator.

@ddmcghee  Excellent info!  Thank you!

And yes, @UncleBuck, I have my residency and cedula.