Legal driving and insurance.

[NotLurking]

Originally Posted by La Mariposa

If a person is here on a tourist visa/card the 90 days granted by Art. 30(a) to operate a motor vehicle with a foreign license is more than enough. If more than 90 days is required Law #241 Art. 30(b) may be used to exchange the foreign driver's license but the person must first adjust their migratory status (apply for residency)

Or ask for a prorroga

Well, a prorroga is good to extend the amount of time a tourist may legally stay in the DR but it does not extend the 90 days driving privilege granted holders of a foreign driver's license by Law #241 Art.30(a). I think law #241 Art. 30(b) was drafted and included in the law to handle the need to drive beyond the 90 days granted by Law #241 Art.30(a) by foreign driver's license holders. Once 90 days after arrival has been reached no amount of prorroga will re-authorize or legally allow a foreign driver's license holder to legally drive in DR. If anyone wishes to legally drive in DR after 90 days of arrival using their foreign issued driver's license they'll have to leave the DR and reenter. Driving with a foreign issued driver's license in DR past 90 days of arrival is illegal.

BTW here is a repost of Law #241 Art. 30(b) and a link to the source of Law #241, it was trash by the spell checker in my previous post.

LEY 241 DE TRÁNSITO DE VEHÍCULOS
Art. 30.- Personas exentas del requisito de licencia.

b. Toda persona que poseyere una licencia de conductor de las señaladas en el inciso anterior, podrá solicitar y obtener una licencia de conducir, sin cumplir otro requisito que el pago de los derechos correspondientes, presentando una certificación del representante diplomático o consular del país de donde procede dicha licencia, acreditado en la República Dominicana, certificando que la referida licencia es válida, y un certificado
médico expedido según se dispone en el inciso a) del artículo 32.

Source: http://www.ottt.gob.do/LinkClick.asp...bid=64&mid=406

NotLurking

[J D Sauser]

I agree with the reading.

Mr. Guzman? Would you?

... J-D.

[bigbird]

I have read the entire thread once and will read it again in case I missed the answer to my question.

I have had my temporary cedula and provisional resident cards for two months. My main question, is there a written test to be taken? Quite naturally if so I would surely know it would be in Spanish. If there is a written test is there somewhere to get a manual to study for the exam.

[bigbird]

I think I have found the answer about a written test here.

Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service - Support (DR1)

Where can I get my hands on the manual?

[J D Sauser]

Originally Posted by bigbird

I think I have found the answer about a written test here.

Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service - Support (DR1)

Where can I get my hands on the manual?

Diving schools, mostly around large base ball stadiums sell copies.
They also have copies of the test sheet so you can practice the right answers .

... J-D.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by J D Sauser

Diving schools, mostly around large base ball stadiums sell copies.
They also have copies of the test sheet so you can practice the right answers .

... J-D.

Thanks J D, I will see if I can track one down the next time I am in Santo Domingo...........copies of the test sheet? Nothing like the DR, I Luv it....

[La Mariposa]

Originally Posted by NotLurking

Well, a prorroga is good to extend the amount of time a tourist may legally stay in the DR but it does not extend the 90 days driving privilege granted holders of a foreign driver's license by Law #241 Art.30(a). I think law #241 Art. 30(b) was drafted and included in the law to handle the need to drive beyond the 90 days granted by Law #241 Art.30(a) by foreign driver's license holders. Once 90 days after arrival has been reached no amount of prorroga will re-authorize or legally allow a foreign driver's license holder to legally drive in DR. If anyone wishes to legally drive in DR after 90 days of arrival using their foreign issued driver's license they'll have to leave the DR and reenter. Driving with a foreign issued driver's license in DR past 90 days of arrival is illegal.

BTW here is a repost of Law #241 Art. 30(b) and a link to the source of Law #241, it was trash by the spell checker in my previous post.

Source: http://www.ottt.gob.do/LinkClick.asp...bid=64&mid=406

NotLurking

Sorry, I don't mean that a prorroga allows you to drive after the 90 days period with your foreign license. What I mean is : After the 90 days period you can obtain a D.R. license following Art. 30b) and to obtain that license you have to be legal in the D.R. so you need a prorroga.

[MikeFisher]

Originally Posted by La Mariposa

Sorry, I don't mean that a prorroga allows you to drive after the 90 days period with your foreign license. What I mean is : After the 90 days period you can obtain a D.R. license following Art. 30b) and to obtain that license you have to be legal in the D.R. so you need a prorroga.

if somebody plans to stay here mych longer than the 90 days and wanna drive i would recommend to start the process right away, not when it is very late, after 90 days, or there would be a time period during which the person is not allowed to drive alone in his/her own car on the road legally.

when doing the license the dominican way would mean you get the provisional license for 1 year, you have to keep it minimum 45 days, then you can do the practice test and get the permanent license which allows to drive alone. the provisional license allows just to drive with a person at your side who has a permenent license.
Mike

[mido]

It is not important what everybody who posts here thinks, It doesn't matter what the law says or what posters try to interpretate into it.
What counts is reality, and that means if you get caught as a tourist, illegal resident and even as a legal resident driving with your foreign drivers license for more than 90 days you are in trouble. You can fix it with money (bribe) of course. But if you get involved in an accident and your paper work is not up to date e.g. you use a foreign license for more than 90 days, you better be ready to pay bick time $$$'s (US) or go to jail until you find the money.

Now, if you end up in an accident with a high ranking military officer, a government civil servant or just a Dominican with a big family behind..., well what could happen than goes beyond my imagination.

After more than 20 years living here in the Dominican, this is what I would recommend:

1. Dont overstay if you intend to drive!
2. If you plan to live here and need to drive, get your residency permit and then your drivers license ASAP!
3. Use the best insurance you can get and make sure it covers the "Casa de Conductor".

Happy driving everybody and watch out, it's Semana Santa.

[bigbird]

Originally Posted by Robert

............

Related knowledgebase articles with all the info:

Can I drive under my foreign license? Can I get it validated?

How do I go about getting a Dominican license?

Where is the DGTT building located? What hours are they open and are they open on Saturday?

Bienvenidos a la DGTT