The government bank, Banreservas continues to overcharge seniors for driver license renewals, despite an official order to the contrary. Banreservas continues charging more than double the authorized fee — a discrepancy that has sparked public complaints and confusion, Listin Diario reports.
The National Institute of Traffic and Land Transportation (Intrant) confirmed to Listín Diario that as of November 2024, the renewal fee for driving licenses in categories 2, 3, 4, and 5 for individuals over 65 years old is RD$950. The decision reflects the shorter two-year validity period for seniors’ licenses, compared to four years for those aged 18 to 64.
However, Banreservas, the state-owned bank responsible for processing the payments, still charges RD$1,900 for these renewals — the full price for a four-year license.
A physician, Dr. Hernández, told Listín Diario he was charged RD$1,950 at a Banreservas branch. Upon arriving at Intrant for his vision check and to complete the process, he was informed that he had paid twice the required amount. When he returned to the bank, staff claimed they had not received any formal communication from Intrant regarding the new fee — despite the regulation being in effect for over seven months. “I had no choice but to accept the loss. But I want this situation to be known because I’ll face the same issue again in two years,” said Dr. Hernández, expressing his frustration.
A similar experience was reported by a private company driver, who renewed his category 3 license — typically used for heavy vehicles — and was also charged RD$1,900. At 72, his renewal period was limited to just one year.
Even President Luis Abinader publicly supported the reduction in license validity and cost for older adults. Yet, Intrant has not made the regulation official and Banreservas has not adjusted its pricing.
Adding to the confusion, Intrant’s website still lists RD$1,900 as the renewal cost for category 2 licenses, with a four-year validity. While it notes that licenses for seniors are valid for only two years, it does not mention the reduced fee for that age group.
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Listin Diario
26 June 2025