drivers license in DR

For starters, "International Driving Licenses" are not really legal. CAA provides them in Canada, and has no legality anywhere. In the DR, your foreign license is valid for the length of your tourist card (30 days) to a maximum of 90 days if you go for an extension. The only way to obtain a Dominican license is through residency as you need a cedula to get a license. Be advised though, that if you are renting a car here from a "friend", you may not be insured as they are not covered for renting their car. Best to pay a bit more, and go with an actual rental company. Saving a couple of bucks up front may cost you dearly should something happen.

@UncleBuck thank you for your advice, would you know how I /where to get the extension you mention as we plane to be in the DR for at least 90 days, possibly longer, thanks again

Here is the link to Migracion's website, and it should be very straightforward.  The fee is equal to the overstay fine, I believe, but this keeps you legal while you are in the country.  https://migracion.gob.do/en/servicio/stay-extension/

There is an ongoing dispute over this.  You are legal for  30 days. After that the extension is an administrative workaround for those who stay longer. 

The discussion is where the extension is an actual legal extension or not!   Some say yes, some say no.  ITs the exact same amount of money as if you overstay and pay the fee when you leave the country if its under  120 days. 

There is NO discussion that if you stay over 121 days your license is invalid!  Whatever license NOT issued here is illegal. 

The key  - your license is good IF you are here legally!  A tourist visa means you are here legally. An extension may or may not be.

If you entered with a residency visa does the same 30 days apply or are you legal to drive with your foreign license while legally going through the residency process?

@Alfonso Ayala  As with most things here, "It Depends".  One day, one official will tell you one thing, another day, a police officer will tell you something different.  I believe if you have applied for Temporary Residency and have the stamp in your passport, you are legal, but your foreign license is still only valid for 90 days.  You need to have a Dominican license to drive legally. 

What does it mean if pulled over after 90 days - additonal ticket? Also, how about car accident.

@DRVisitor Again, it all depends. Laws are not applied uniformly here. With insurance, it also depends. By law, you would have no coverage because you are driving illegally. For the Police, a bit of "lunch money" will likely be enough, but for insurance, it really depends on the situation whether you are covered or not. Skirting the laws in a foreign country is a risky practice, so be very aware what the consequences are. Jail in the Dominican is not something you want to be up close and personal with.  Even if you are 100% not at fault, you are going to pay something, because you have more money than the "victim".

@terrywilson3010

You can ONLY obtain a Dominican Driving License if you are legal resident (which is to say you a resident's cedula card).

Technically you are permitted to drive as a tourist on your Canadian License for 30 days but if you have your tourist card extended by foreign relations (if staying up to 90 days) it's not going to be an issue.  It will be an issue if you are in the country illegally of course and get stopped.

Regards,

John

If I am past my 30 days, (or 90 days in the case of a  extension), but rent a properly insured vehicle, am I then still at 'risk' regardless?  Does the insurance cover the vehicle regardless of driver's status?

No of your status is illegal you are driving illegal!

Hello,

Please let me know where I go to obtain a Dominican Driver’s license.

I am now living in Punta Cana.

Thank you kindly 😊

BTW, I have a cedula.

Welcome to the forums!  Please. Go to the new members thread and introduce yourself. 

Hopefully someone in that are knows where you go for your license

@Carmelita2.0

If you click on the Appointment link on this page, it will show you all the offices. I don't see one that says Punta Cana, but you might recognize a location - many are at malls.

https://intrant.gob.do/index.php/servicios/emision-de-licencias-permisos-y-certificaciones

@ddmcghee

Thank you so much!! 😊

@planner

I continue to ask about this matter, and was told the vehicle is what is insured - not the driver. So, not certain (still), if being here past 30 days matters....?

It won't matter - if the driver is drunk and causes an accident insurance will not pay.  So if the driver is illegal the insurance can refuse to pay. I have seen it happen. 

Bottom line - I am not a lawyer but I can say clearly after 30 days you take your chances.

Wild wild ... south.

@UncleBuck, as a formally licensed insurance professional, I know you are playing with fire..... when you rent from a friend..... I am not a fan of "the insurance company  screwed me, I believe you need to know the the rules and work within that frame work, so thank you for the good advice.

B

If you have become a legal resident here, does your  home country (USA)  license remain valid here?

That is a question that has not been asked.

I don't know the answer!

Not 100% sure, I do have many Dominican American friends who have never had a Dominican drivers license and have seen them being pulled over on road several times and just give cédula and USA drivers license and have never had issues . From  what they have told me is if they have a non expired cédula and a non expired drivers license they are good .

I think the correct answer here is "It depends"... lol  My perception is that your American driver's license is valid for 30 days, irrelevant of you being a DR resident or not.  The issue about being a resident is that it enables you to get a DR driver's license.  I have many experiences being pulled over with a DR license and without other documentation (passport)  and they have let me go.  Only my experience and not recent so...It Depends...

If you don't want the risk, do what is correct and get your DR driver's license.  You can get that in several places now besides Santo Domingo.  Higüey for example...

Thank you to all you have provide input to the drivers license question. With that said the waters are a little  muddy when it comes to an individual who is seeing residency and driving.

Here is what I am gathering, please correct me if I am wrong.

Tourist only: 30 days legal driving. If you get an extension, driving situation is iffy form a legal perspective.

On a visa (say pensionado); 30 days of legal driving, after the 30 days, you'll need to get a license when you get your cedula.

Thank you and have a great day.