Jun 23
How To Get A Panamanian Driver’s License
After hearing that a few people were having problems obtaining a Panamanian Driver’s license, I went to the office in David, in the Chiriquí Mall, to learn what the process is. There are basically two options to get your license.
The first option is for people that have a valid driver’s licenses from another country. This is the one that should have the fewest hurdles. It will require that you plan on going to Panama City. The documents that are required can only be obtained in Panama City. If you are not willing to go to Panama City, then, you will have to go with option two.
Option 1 – For people with a valid driver’s license from another country.
You must have the following:
- Cedula or valid migration card
- Valid passport
- Blood type must be documented by the foreign drivers license or getting your blood typed by an authorized laboratory.
Have your license validated by your country consulate.
Obtain the Seal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
When you have the document that was validated by your consulate and having the Ministry seal on it, take it to the traffic office in David and Pay $40.00.
Here is the response you will get from the US Embassy, if you write for assistance.
We understand that the Panamanian Transportation Office requires a “validation” of your driver’s license in order to issue the new Panamanian license. Even though our offices do not provide the required validation, the Panamanian Transportation Office is accepting your affidavit, notarized before a U.S. Embassy Notary, with a copy of your driver’s license to start the process of your Panamanian driver’s license (an affidavit form, ready to fill out, is available in our offices). For your convenience, we are attaching information regarding our notary services which describes fees for certified copies as well as service hours. The Consular Section only has offices located in Panama City.
In general, the service you are requesting takes approximately one hour after you present your documents at the Notary window (Cashier’s window).
Here is the Spanish document they give you for option 1.
Option 2 – For people without a driver’s license from another country.
You must have the following:
- Cedula or valid migration card
- Get a driving certification from an authorized driving school. The classes will be in Spanish and testing will be in Spanish.
- Get your blood typed at an authorized laboratory.
Having these items you go to the traffic office in the Chiriquí Mall where you will have to take a vision and auditory test. Then you will have to pass a written exam that is in Spanish. The test is computer timed and scored. From what I was told the test is poorly worded. While you can use an interpreter, it will slow down answering the questions.
Bring your car. This is to take the physical driving test at the traffic office in David.
Here is a photo of the cones set up in the parking lot for part of the driving test.
Pay $40.00.
Here is the Spanish document they give you for option 2.
Here are the authorized laboratories to have your blood typed.
Here are the authorized Driving schools.
32 responses so far Panama Journal
Why is Panama so concerned about blood type when you’re getting a drivers license? Are they checking for AIDS. If they are checking for Aids I think it is a good thing. Walt
Hi Walt. The blood test is to provide the blood type.
Don, I did the first route, went to Panama City. It’s worth mentioning that it takes two days.
I went to the Embassy, and the verification was very quick They did it within fifteen minutes. I then had to go the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which by the way is in Edison Plaza. There I had to leave the paperwork until the next day. So, if someone’s planning to go this route, allow for the second day.
Getting the license was easy after that. Eye test, hearing test, forty bucks and you’re done.
Hi Mary. Thanks for adding your information.
Don, do you have any words of wisdom about RENEWING a Panamanian driver’s license? Ours comes up for renewal in early 2010, and much has changed, I understand, since we first got our license. Will we need to get our blood type again? Will we need to take any tests? Will we need to go to Panama City? We are thinking and planning ahead. Thanks for your input!
All I know is what I did a year ago in the same facility in David they have now. I just had to take the hearing and visual computer test. The office took my photo for the new digital form of the driver’s license cards and paid the $40. I believe that is still the case. I do remember that instructions for renewal are posted on the wall at the office.
I am sorry, I didn’t specifically ask that question when I was there. I will try to go back and if there are different requirements, I will update this post.
Neither my Texas driver’s license or passport has the blood type on it. Can one get the blood typing done by the same Panamanian doc who gives you the “good health” certificate for immigration purposes?
Hi Michael. In the post are a list of the authorized laboratories that can give the blood test.
Hi Don. I took the test today and found it pretty impossible. The translator we took it with us was not real familiar with the tests. You have 10 multiple choice questions. You have 60 seconds per question to have it translated, the multiple choice answers translated and make your decision. The translator was having a difficult time with the translation even though his English was excellent. I ended up guessing on most of the questions. I met a Panamanian from Boquete that was helping a gringo that had failed his test the first time. He had received a list of questions and answers (in Spanish) from the driving school he attended and they had practiced about four hours before passing the second time. I believe you have to have 7 questions correct. My husband had thought he had 8 correct but he had only 2 correct. I only had 4 correct. We plan on studying and going back on Monday. If you are interested in a good translator and coach get a hold of Miguel Bernard at greentransformers@gmail.com. He was able to help the other gringo.
Susan
PS The blood test is just to determine blood type. You can have it done at the Chiriqui Mall in the Lab facing the highway. It costs $4 and the results are ready in about 40 minutes.
Susan. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.
Just goes to show how different people have such different experiences. When we got our licenses 2 1/2 years ago, it was a simple and painless experience. All done at the mall and in a few days. Some friends have had to wait weeks, if not months, for theirs. It must simply be a matter of “luck of the draw” in anything and everything we do.
Yes Mike. It has changed.
Don, I went the second route last August. I had a friend go with me and I bought the school certificate. Later they stopped that. What’s the status on just buying it? My friend failed the written test the first time, but passed it the second. The driving test consists of 3 types of parking, which was a cinch if you didn’t run over the little cones, which you couldn’t see because they were below the view of the mirror. I have to say, it was quite an experience. Bonnie
Hi Bonnie. I know nothing about buying the certificate. The difficult part is passing the exam, which can’t be bought.
Don< We got our license approx 4 1/2 years ago and it was a painless process. I do understand things have changed, but we went in to re-new our licenses and it was again easily done at the Chiriqui mall. So I guess previously having one and getting it renewed is a lot easier than having to go through all the new processes now! Boy how lucky we are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Carolyn. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
Hi all – I just went through the renewal process last month and all was just as Don Ray described. The blood type is already on file and they will ask you to confirm the contact info that is now printed on each license. They recently did add a new requirement: IF you have had to renew the passport that you used when getting your residency & initial license, you will need to bring the old passport (with copy) along with your new passport & residency card (with copies).
Hi DSD. Thanks for the update.
If you change passports its a pain to get the renewal! Took me 2 weeks!
Russ – sorry to report that my renewal – with new passport – took just under an hour; about the usual. Of course, that didn’t include the time spent to go home & get my old passport.
For english people is so easy too?
now i understand a part of accidents in Panama roads
David
How so?
hi don,
my friend dan and i did it there in chiriqui a few years ago, having a friend there helps with sharing the pain. we did not attend a driving school but went to one and ask to buy their certificate which they sold to us for $35 each.
when it came to taking the multiple choice written test we both asked if there was some one there who could help us. there was a young man there who’s english was worst than our spainish, we learned real quick that if we said to him “i think its number 2″ and he said no he would give us as many chances until we got it right.
all in all it was an experience that took something like 4 hours and cost something like $83.00 total, no bribes just blood test, driving school cert, and fees at a.t.t.t.
Hi Bob. Thanks for dropping by and sharing your experience. How are things in PC?
still trying to get settled in but its coming together, moving never gets easier…does it!
You are right. Moving is never easy.
FYI…my husband and I just did driver’s license…it now takes 48 hours to get paperwork back from Ministry Foreign Relations at Edison Plaza.
Changed from 24 to 48 after new government. Getting the actual license at the license bureau was a pleasant experience. We did it
in Las Tablas and took only 10 minutes. The time and money is with US Embassy and Ministry Foreign Relations….makes it so you need to stay 3 nights in Panama city.
Hi Susan. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Congratulations on having your license.
Hi
If you are over the age of 70 when you apply for the first time you also have to visit a geriatric doctor and be certified as fit to drive.
A general doctor will not work.
Ron
Hi Ron. Thanks for adding the comment. I didn’t know that.
My Panama D.L. expires May 10 however i will be out of the country at that time .Does any body know how much ahead of the expiration date
can i get it renewed.
Gary
Does anyone know where in Panama City do you go for your license. I heard it was at the mall in Albrook but where?