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Getting my driving license in Mexico surprisingly has been the easiest process out of all

Mexican Driving License

Getting a driving license in Mexico can be an easy process if you have the right documents beforehand. It is time consuming but it is nothing out of the ordinary. Getting your driving license in Mexico includes 2 main steps as many other countries, a theoretical exam and a practical exam. Here is how you can get your driving license in one day:

Theoretical Exam

The theoretical exam is usually done at Derecho Municipal/ Depto. de Licencias of the state or city which is basically a police academy. You need to se up an appointment for the exam ahead of time by calling the Derecho Municipal/Depto. de Licencias of the state or city. Once you make the appointment, arrange the following documents before the appointment date

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You will need to take the original and 3 copies of each of the following document

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  • Temporary resident card

  • Passport

  • CURP

  • Proof of address

    • Utility billing within 3 months (gas, electric, water, landline telephone) in your name

    • Apartment/ house lease/rental agreement

    • if none of these documents are in your name, take the apartment lease/rent agreement along with a utility bill with the following

    • copy landlord's ID and a letter from the landlord addressed to Secreteria De seguridad Publica Municipal authorizing you to use the house/apartment address in order to get your driving license and that you are living in the mentioned house/apartment address

    • sample template of the letter:

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  • Medical certificate​

    • This medical certificate can be taken from any local pharmacy. Mention to the pharmacist you need a medical exam done for your driving license and they should be aware of the procedure​

    • This medical certificate if only valid for 5 days. So only get this certificate at most 5 days before your exam appointment date.

  • 2 passport size photographs​

  • A letter from your company with the company letter head mentioning that you work in Mexico. If you are student, a letter from the university with the university letter head 

  • Valid Driving license from another country

 

Tips for the Theoretical exam

The Department of License has a theory exam book to review before the exam with driving rules and regulations in Mexico. You can access this manual in the pdf below

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The theoretical exam is 40 multiple choice questions done on a computer. The questions on the exam most consist of the following topics

  • Accidents, type of accidents, how to prevent accidents

  • Alcohol limits and rules

  • Road marking

  • Speed limits

  • Police officer hand signals

  • Conductor hand signals

  • 10 questions on Senoles

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All these questions can be answered with the material in the manual. And you will need at least 80% to pass. 

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Other helpful tips that can be useful are

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  • If you don't speak Spanish, you can go this appointment with a translator and can request to have a translator during the exam

  • If you have doubts about any exam questions, you can ask the officers present. Most of them are friendly

Practical Exam

As of 2023, after the Covid pandemic, in most states the practical exam is a computer simulation. But you won't have to do this practical exam if you already have a valid driving license from another country.

What to do after the exam

If you did not pass the theoretical or practical exam, you will need to make another appointment to retake them. If you passed the exam you will need to make a payment of MX $2597.94 pesos to Derecho Municipal. Once this payment is completed, you will receive document certifying you have presented all the valid documents mentioned above, have the medical certificate and passed the exams. You will take this document to the Instituto de Control vehicular office to get your driving license card. In this office they will take a photograph and charge MX $770 pesos for your driving license card. Make sure you take all the originals of the documents listed above to the Instituto de Control vehicular as well. 

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