Last Step For My New Driver’s License
Sep 25th, 2007 by Don Ray
Today was the day that I had been told to return to the Chiriquí Mall and pick up my driver’s license. When I went to where I had dropped off the paperwork, the lady said my license had expired and I needed to go to another office, outside and around the corner.
I knew my license expired in October, but I thought I would have to come back in October and go through some more paperwork. As I walked to the office, I was prepared for the worst. It seems like I can never get things done all that efficiently, so I am having to learn patience.
I went in the office that is in the photo below. The front of this office faces the theaters.
The lady had all my previous paperwork. She sent me to the teller window to pay my $40. Then I had to wait to get my photo taken. The lady at that station had me use a special testing device and read a line to check my vision. Then she changed to set of traffic signs and I had to identify a specific sign.
Passing the eye exam, I was told to wait again. Soon another lady came and escorted me into another area where I had my hearing tested. A computer displayed two images on the monitor and when the sound from the headphones I was wearing was sounding on the left, I had to click on the left image. When the sound was on the right headphone speaker, I had to click the right image.
There were multiple sounds, some loud and some soft, and they were random between the right and left side. After passing that set of tests, I had to wait for about 5 more minutes until I had my shiny new drivers license. Can you believe it. I got it all done in less than 30 minutes. I was impressed and extremely happy that I didn’t have to return next month to do it again.
Don Ray,
Please do us all a favor and tell us when your license expires. The last time I went to ATTT website there was a notice there that foreigner licenses would be good for only one year.
Henry
Hi Henry. It renewed for four years, which was the same term as my original. It expires in 2011.
Thanks, I’m glad they backed down on that riciculous policy.
Henry
Getting a Panama driver’s license in David
We got our driver’s licenses in David yesterday 12 June 2008). There are now two options for a first-time license for extranjeros: (1) get a document validating your US license from the US consulate in Panama City, or (2) get a diploma from one of several schools in David offering a driving course. We were fortunate to stumble upon a third option, which is to use the assistance of a nice young woman who guided us through the entire process in less than an hour. Her reasonable fee was well-earned.
You need the following:
- Results of a blood test showing type and glucose, from Clinica David, located a block from the Hotel Puerta del Sol (on the same side of the street, away from the park), cost $7.
- Copy of your cedula and current driver’s license (on the same page).
Call Sophia, cel phone 6677-0975, email yanis@vallasactivas.com. She will need your name, passport number, and two days to prepare your diploma ($25 which goes to the school). She will arrange to meet you at the license office across from the cine in Chiriqui Mall, where she will help you through the process. You take a vision test, a hearing test, a question-and-answer test, and a driving test, get your picture taken, give them $40 (20 for the license, 10 each for the vision and hearing tests), and are issued a digital license good for four years. Altogether a very pleasant and efficient bureaucratic experience!
Hi Suze. Thanks for taking the time to leave your comment and information.