Driver's License

[susango]

How many of you renew your DL in the US vs. getting a DL in MX? Have you ever applied for an International DL in MX or US? Have you ever had problems renting a car in the US or other places when coming back to visit if you have a MX DL? I think a few of you are going to get or already have the South Dakota PO Box and get your license there. I think PlayadelSoul got a DL in Mexico. I currently have residence in TX and there is not state tax so I'm considering Earth Class Mail and using a TX PO Box. I think TX requires an address for DL rather than PO Box. I'd consider the SD address if it were a little closer to get my DL before we leave and they scanned the mail. There may be others who scan in SD and I still need to research the options more. I really don't think I'll have a lot of mail if I can get rid of the junk mail. I think the PO Box will help with that. I recently shipped a key to PDC and it was over $40 so I definitely want to keep mail forwarding to a minimum. Thanks!

[Libby]

I keep renewing my U.S. driver's license. I think it just makes things easier when I'm in the U.S. ... renting a car, getting into bars, etc.

I keep saying I'm going to get my Mexican driver's license but haven't yet. I don't think my Spanish is good enough. I hear the answers on the written test are all free-form. As far as I know, there is no actual driving test. There should be!

The lovely Claudiadeplaya has helped expats get their MX driver's license in the past. Apparently, they allow her to act as your translator. You are also supposed to take day long driving lecture class. But she's been able to get people out of that. I suppose if she tells them that you don't speak or understand Spanish, they'll see that there's not much point.

[Solomon]

I got a Mexican drivers license fairly easily, all I needed was my FM3 and a CURP*. The "Platica Informativa" was only two hours and they gave me a chance to ask questions, actually the police officer that gave the class had a thing about picking on me to answer questions. It wasn't fun, but it definately was not a bad experience(much better than hacienda). I took the written exam, which was mostly questions about laws and traffic signs. I took a short driving exam, just a quick trip around the block with a police officer.

I am glad to have my Playa Del Carmen drivers license, it has gotten me out of police hassles a couple of times. I get pulled over for driving-while-gringo and when they see my license they do a cursory check of the car and then let me go.

*CURP is an identification number that the Mexican govt gives to everyone who lives in Mexico to track you, it can be obtained in the govt office above Domino's pizza on Juarez. Just bring a copy of your FM3. Other government agencies ask for CURP as well.

[rodman]

Keep some duplicate Drivers licenses. Go to your DMV, with your passport, and pay for a duplicate license. Say that yours was stolen.....pay what they ask....
Leave your most current license either at home, or in the car at the airport that you depart from. That is the current legal license.....
If you get stopped in Mex, and they ask for your license...give them the oldest one that you have that has not expired.......ok? You should still have at least another one on you to keep for id, ok? Each new duplicate kills the previous one in your home states data base, no telling what they can see on the computer/dashboard/brain freeze in Mexico.....
Good luck, and have a great trip!

[susango]

Thanks for the info Solomon and the advice Rodman. Solomon, do you speak Spanish really well? Wow, a driving test! I didn't think they gave those in MX either.

[PlayadelSoul]

Originally Posted by susango

Thanks for the info Solomon and the advice Rodman. Solomon, do you speak Spanish really well? Wow, a driving test! I didn't think they gave those in MX either.

I have my Q. Roo driver's license, as well. They will offer you the chance to take an exam without the 2-hour course. It has about 100 more questions than the one that you take after the course. Taking the course is a drag, but worth it in terms of how willing they will be to help you with any questions.

When I didn't completely understand a question, I would ask for clarification, and the official would pretty much steer me to the answer.