Foreigners Driving in The Dominican Republic

[ju10prd]

What are, if any, the new requirements for foreigners to drive in the Dominican Republic using their foreign driving license for a short period of stay following the introduction of Ley 63-17?

Previously it was understood that one could drive on a foreign driving license for a period of no more than 90 days as Ley 241. Is this still valid?

 

[AlterEgo]

I’d like a legal opinion on a second, related question.  My husband is Dominican, but only has an American license, his Dominican one expired 40 years ago (but he still has it!   ).  Is a Dominican with a foreign license subject to rules for foreigners or Dominicans?

 

[cobraboy]

What are, if any, the new requirements for foreigners to drive in the Dominican Republic using their foreign driving license for a short period of stay following the introduction of Ley 63-17?

Previously it was understood that one could drive on a foreign driving license for a period of no more than 90 days as Ley 241. Is this still valid?

I understaad a foreign driver's license expires with the tourist card.

 

[GringoRubio]

 Is a Dominican with a foreign license subject to rules for foreigners or Dominicans?

There are rules? ;-)

 

[ju10prd]

I understaad a foreign driver's license expires with the tourist card.

I think these are increasingly important questions with the introduction of INTRANT and new transportation law last year, and I await the legal opinion.

Post #2 is also very important and applies to many Dominicans residing in the USA and other countries and who return from time to time. I suspect the new law does allow for validation of these licences.

Having spent some time currently working alongside loss adjusters, insurance companies and the under writers (remember a significant amount of insurance is still under written by Lloyds), it is clear to me that many claims get audited at all levels and if there are breaches of the policy conditions and it gets picked up, the policy does not pay. For a serious accident that could be as significant event for someone. All the motor insurance policies I have seen here specifically exclude cover if you don't have a valid driving licence.

 

[KateP]

The new law really doesn't say much:

Artículo 207.- Licencia de conducir extranjera. Los titulares de una licencia de conducir extranjera que residan en el país podrán solicitar la expedición de una acreditación nacional cuando el documento extranjero mantenga su vigencia, y previo cumplimiento de las formalidades que mediante el reglamento correspondiente establezca el INTRANT.

Foreign driver's license. Holders of a foreign driver's license who reside in the country may request the issuance of a national accreditation while the foreign document remains valid, and after compliance with the formalities established by INTRANT through the corresponding regulations.

Based on that, I would say there's more to follow. No reference in the new law to tourists visiting the country, only the above.

 

[KateP]

This is what the old law (241) states. I have no idea if there was another law after that to modify it though:

a) Toda persona que este debidamente autorizada para conducir un vehículo de motor en cualquier país extranjero donde se exijan requisitos similares a los establecidos por esta ley para la concesión de Licencias de Conductor, y que posea y lleve consigo una Licencia y en vigor en dicho país extranjero, estará autorizada para conducir tal tipo de vehículos de motor en la República Dominicana, durante los primeros noventa (90) días desde su arribo.

a) Any person who is duly authorized to drive a motor vehicle in any foreign country where are requirements similar to those established by this law for the concession of Driver Licenses, and that they own and carry a valid License of said foreign country, will be authorized to drive such type of vehicles in the Dominican Republic, during the first ninety (90) days after their arrival.

 

[melphis]

I'm pretty sure that is still the active law. But on day 91 if you are in a traffic accident you will be at fault as you should not have been driving. It does not matter if the other guy was drunk, doing a 100mph in the wrong lane. You will be at fault.
Every time you leave the DR the 90 day clock resets.

 

[cobraboy]

I think these are increasingly important questions with the introduction of INTRANT and new transportation law last year, and I await the legal opinion.

Post #2 is also very important and applies to many Dominicans residing in the USA and other countries and who return from time to time. I suspect the new law does allow for validation of these licences.

Having spent some time currently working alongside loss adjusters, insurance companies and the under writers (remember a significant amount of insurance is still under written by Lloyds), it is clear to me that many claims get audited at all levels and if there are breaches of the policy conditions and it gets picked up, the policy does not pay. For a serious accident that could be as significant event for someone. All the motor insurance policies I have seen here specifically exclude cover if you don't have a valid driving licence.

My DR policy will not pay if I don't have a valid drivers licence.

I doubt any car insurance issued anywhere in the world backed by the secondary markets would include liability of operators without a valid licence.

A non-resident's drivers licence is not valid after the DR tourist card is no longer valid. However, some non-residents say this is not so citing anecdotes.

Seems pretty simple to me, and it's old news.

 

[Mauricio]

There are rules? ;-)

I was caught with an expired Dominican license and tried to get away with showing my valid Dutch license. No señor. I got my fine (and renewed my license shortly after). 

 

[AlterEgo]

Folks, this is Legal Forum, let’s please wait for Sr Guzman to respond to questions 1 and 2

 

[Dr_Taylor]

What are, if any, the new requirements for foreigners to drive in the Dominican Republic using their foreign driving license for a short period of stay following the introduction of Ley 63-17?

Previously it was understood that one could drive on a foreign driving license for a period of no more than 90 days as Ley 241. Is this still valid?

This is not a legal opinion. I got stopped for making an illegal U-Turn, and presented my residency, cedula, and U.S. driver's license. The AMET officer reminded me that the U.S. driver's license is only good for 90 days. Fortunately, I just renewed the residency, and he accepted the argument. I still got the ticket, though. LOL

 

[David61]

Folks, this is Legal Forum, let’s please wait for Sr Guzman to respond to questions 1 and 2

What was the final outcome and or legal feedback about how long a foreign drivers permit is valid in the DR?

 

[windeguy]

I asked this question to the manager of INTRANT in Puerto Plata. He told me a foreign license is valid for 30 days. Period.
I know it is not from a lawyer, just the manager of the office in my Province that licenses vehicle operators in the DR so take that for what it is worth.

The DR legal team seems to have disappeared.

 

[SKY]

A foreigner living in the Dominican Republic needs to understand that customs and every day ways of life here trumps any "law"............"When in Rome", people drive here for 30 years and survive nicely. Just look around at Motos driving on the wrong side of the road on your right, or on sidewalks, or urinating on the side of the road. I can go on and on but I will leave it the "DR1 Law enforcers" to have the last word................It is what it is,like it or leave it.........

 

[David61]

Folks, this is Legal Forum, let’s please wait for Sr Guzman to respond to questions 1 and 2

What was the final and now updated law feedback for 2024

 

[windeguy]

What was the final and now updated law feedback for 2024

Only the shadow knows if the legal team still exists and will ever respond to a question still pending from 2018.
That is why I asked at INTRANT and got an answer.

At least Dr Guzman answered the question that the money you pay for overstaying a 30 tourist card is a legal workaround
that has no basis in DR laws; but that was answered a long time ago.

 

[Fabio J. Guzman]

The new statute (Law 63-17) did not reproduce the provision in the old statute (Law 241-67). I'll look into the six enabling regulations to see if it was placed there.

 

[Fabio J. Guzman]

The only provision regarding foreign driver's licenses in the new statute is the following:

Artículo 207.- Licencia de conducir extranjera. Los titulares de una licencia de conducir extranjera que residan en el país podrán solicitar la expedición de una acreditación nacional cuando el documento extranjero mantenga su vigencia, y previo cumplimiento de las formalidades que mediante el reglamento correspondiente establezca el INTRANT.

Article 207.- Foreign Driver's License. Holders of a foreign driver's license who reside in the country may request the issuance of a national accreditation as long as the foreign document remains valid, and upon fulfillment of the formalities established by the corresponding regulations set by INTRANT

 

[Fabio J. Guzman]

As you will notice from my new signature, Guzmán Ariza has opened a new office in Cap Cana. Another office in Las Galeras will open shortly (our 10th).