How to Get a Driver's License in Cancun, Mexico - Auto in Mexico

It is very easy to get a driver's license in Cancun, Mexico, and in just an hour. If you have a foreign international driver's license, that will be sufficient; you do not need to take the exam. Mexico issues international licenses, which are recognized by many countries around the world. You can also use your license as identification and receive local discounts.

Rights can be acquired with a validity period of 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years. If your resident card is valid for 1 year, then you will be issued a license for 1 year.

Unfortunately, those who are in Mexico as a tourist cannot obtain permanent licenses in Cancun. But you have the opportunity to drive on your foreign license without restrictions or prepare a temporary driving license with a validity period of 30 to 180 days. We will talk about this below.

Papers and processes

When visiting the traffic police you should have the following documents:

• Completed application. The form can be taken and filled out on the spot or downloadedHereand fill it out in advance. Do not indicate under any circumstances that you are getting your license for the first time (primera vez), otherwise you will have to take exams in driving theory and practice.
• Mexico Resident Card, original and copy, OR
• Photo ID, original and copy if you are a Mexican citizen, OR
• International passport, original and a copy of the page with a photo, if you are a non-resident and receive a guest license.
• Driver's license (if any), including foreign and/or expired. If you lose your Mexican driver's license, you must provide the driver's license number.
• If there was never any rights — documents confirming passing the theoretical and practical driving test.
• Proof of residence (utility bill no older than 3 months: electricity from SFE, telephone from TELMEX, etc. or rental agreement).
• CURP ID number, copy — It is not always required, but it is on the list of required documents.

You cannot obtain a driver's license before your 16th birthday. If you are 16-17 years old, you should additionally provide a letter — consent from one of the parents. If you are 18 years of age or older, you do not need to provide a letter.

At the Cancun Traffic Directorate office you need:

• submit papers
• do a rapid blood test to determine the group,
• undergo an eye test or bring a certificate from a medical institution, in particular from the Red Cross,
• pay the fee for issuing a driver's license,
• take a photo and submit your fingerprints. This is done on site, accompanied by digital photography and touchpads for fingerprinting,
• wait in the lobby until your license is ready.

You can pay here in cash or by credit card.

The procedure takes no more than an hour. Knowledge of Spanish is only minimal.

Rate

The price for issuing a driver's license for the first time in Cancun (and in the state of Quintana Roo) in 2024 is MXN:

We have included a 10% Community Development Tax (IADS) in the tariff. This tax will definitely be added to you, even if the price without this tax is indicated at the stand.

For persons over 60 years of age there is a 50% discount. Moreover, approximately once a year the municipality holds a month when driving licenses with a 50% discount are able to prepare everything.

In some municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo, for example, in Tulum, it is possible to purchase a driver's license only for the duration of your residence, if your residence is temporary. That is, the validity period on the license will be the same as the validity period of the Residente Temporal card that you will be asked to give. In Cancun, no one asks about a Mexican resident card, and a driver’s license is issued with the validity period that you request.

Driving license for tourists — foreigners

Honestly, we don’t know why a foreign tourist who comes to Mexico on vacation needs a temporary driver’s license, which has a number of restrictions, but is more expensive than a regular one. But if you forgot your license at home, and you can’t go a day without a car, we will tell you about the procedure for obtaining a temporary license too.

The actual procedure is almost the same as that described above. There will be some changes in the documents:

• instead of CURP — paper immigration form FMM or downloaded electronic FMMD, original and copy;
• instead of an existing driver's license — papers on passing the theoretical and practical driving test in Mexico.

The cost of a temporary driver's license depends on its validity period:

• 30 days — 300 MXM,
• 60 days — 601 MXN,
• 90 days — 902 MXN,
• 120 days — 1203 MXN.

The maximum validity period for which a temporary driver's license can be issued in Cancun is — 330 days.

Driving with a temporary driver's license is only permitted within the municipality of Benito Juarez (Cancun).

Where to buy a driver's license in Cancun

A Quintana Roo driver's license in Cancun can be purchased at the Municipal Traffic Police Directorate (Secretaria Municipal De Seguridad Publica Y Transito) at .

Opening hours: Monday — Friday 08:00 — 16:00, Saturday 08:00 — 13:00. , internal 1020. No queues!

A través de la Dirección de@TransitoBJinformamos que a partir del 2 de enero del 2024 ya puedes realizar el trámite de licencias de conducir, realizado por el Instituto de Movilidad del Estado de Quintana Roo. 📄🚘🚗 1/2pic.twitter.com/Seew37bYjx

— Ayto Benito Juárez (@AytoCancun)December 29, 2023

There are 3 more offices in Cancun where it is possible to purchase rights, and usually it is even easier and faster to obtain rights there.

Dirección de Tránsito Municipal, Cancún

Opening hours: Monday — Friday 08:00 — 16:00

Inside the Mi Plaza Héroes shopping center, Cancún

Opening hours: Monday — Friday 08:00 — 16:00, Saturday 08:00 — 13:00.

Sindicato de Taxistas, Cancún

Opening hours: Monday — Friday 08:00 — 16:00, Saturday 08:00 — 13:00.

Sometimes the traffic police organize express driver's license events, which take place on the esplanade of the municipality of Benito Juarez on Avenida Tulum (opposite the 28th market).

We are ready to help you purchase a Mexican permanent driver's license.

From the following publications you will learn how to independently purchase a driver's license in other cities in Mexico: inMexico CityAndPlaya del Carmen.