Legal driving and insurance.

[MikeFisher]

the important passage for the many american bordmembers is the following:
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Nota (2): Las Licencias de Conducir de lo Estados Unidos de América no se Homologan por lo tanto para la obtención de la licencia Dominicana deberán optar por el proceso de emisión de una licencia Nueva.
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Mike

[alicious]

Originally Posted by Dolores

Nevertheless, I checked the law online and it actually says something different. It says the foreign license is only valid for 90 days.

What is good to know is that one can legally apply for a driver's license without having to get a residence. So one could actually get a license in less than a week -- it sends one to the Consulate of the country that issued the foreign license, then that probably has to be legalized, and then one gets to apply for the Dominican license. This is a procedure that does not seem to require a lawyer. One can do all the steps by oneself.



On the other hand, from what the person at the Casa del Conductor tells us, apparently it is a practice to allow those who keep their legal status to drive. But to be extra safe and legal, would seem best to apply for the Dominican license is the way to go.



To translate, what it is saying is that those with foreign licenses can drive for 90 days legally here. Then in (b) it says that anyone who has a foreign license can request a driver's license, without any other requisite but paying the fees for the license and presenting a certificate from the consul of the country where the license is from and with a certificate that the license is valid and with a medical certificate.

To read the law, see http://www.ottt.gob.do/LinkClick.asp...bid=64&mid=406

What would be the better way to go in this situation?

Getting the license legalized and then validated by paying the fees, etc?

[MikeFisher]

i guess that been answered above a few months ago.
just read
Mike

[alicious]

Originally Posted by MikeFisher

i guess that been answered above a few months ago.
just read
Mike

Clearly I've read this thread if I have searched for it and asked a pointed question on the information in it.

According to Delores' post (if you read it) there are 2 basic options.

The 2 options being, going to get your 90 day stay renewed, therefore allowing you to drive for the renewed time period. (And carrying a copy of that law with you if any problems should arise).

The 2nd, to get your license legalized and then validated.

I understand the Pro's seem to be towards getting your license legalized, but it sounds like that is not an option from some countries?

And in the meantime, it seems it would be legal, to get the 90 days extended.

Maybe I missed, or didn't fully understand some of the information?? That's why I'm asking.....

[MikeFisher]

alicious,
my prior post/answer been no real answer,
just bad behavior of mine,
MOD can press a delete, please.
sorry for that.
how long do you plan to stay and what is the country of origin of your valid actual drivers license?
Mike

[tflea]

Forget the posts on licenses. It is money and connections and politics.
Punto.
Run like hell. And don't look back. (IMHO of course)

[alicious]

Originally Posted by MikeFisher

alicious,
how long do you plan to stay and what is the country of origin of your valid actual drivers license?
Mike

Plan is currently 1-2 years. So I am not planning on getting a permanent residency at this point.

I have a Canadian Drivers License.

I'm not sure if having a Work Visa will make any difference as far as getting a valid license to drive in the Dominican Rep?

I was looking into getting the international drivers license from the CAA here in Canada, but from what I've read in this thread it wouldn't be any help in extending my legality to drive beyond the 90 days...

[bellakins]

I've heard someone mention that if you leave the DR for a day and legally cross the border to Haiti (and back to DR) then you can get another 90 days of legal driving. Not sure about the semantics of this, but in theory the action seems like a good plan. Maybe you'll
get more suggestions from other people who've done this...

[MikeFisher]

Originally Posted by bellakins

I've heard someone mention that if you leave the DR for a day and legally cross the border to Haiti (and back to DR) then you can get another 90 days of legal driving. Not sure about the semantics of this, but in theory the action seems like a good plan. Maybe you'll
get more suggestions from other people who've done this...

you heard right,
when you leave the country and you come back again you are again on 90 days of visitors visa.
but why to do such hassles and travel to the haitian border, get the passport stamps there, pay the exit fees and again on entrance the visa fee aso??
it's much more hassle free and finally not more expensive to get on the regular way the usual dominican drivers license like described on so many threads about the theme here on the bord.
each his/her own of course, there's legally nothing wrong with leaving the country to Haiti or whereever else and come back with a new stamp and new visa aso, but why such hassles??
Mike

[mountainannie]

Originally Posted by MikeFisher

you heard right,
when you leave the country and you come back again you are again on 90 days of visitors visa.
but why to do such hassles and travel to the haitian border, get the passport stamps there, pay the exit fees and again on entrance the visa fee aso??
it's much more hassle free and finally not more expensive to get on the regular way the usual dominican drivers license like described on so many threads about the theme here on the bord.
each his/her own of course, there's legally nothing wrong with leaving the country to Haiti or whereever else and come back with a new stamp and new visa aso, but why such hassles??
Mike

Mike, the poster is probably American and for us, since our Embassy will not certify our licenses the only way to get the drivers licenses is to get the residency or to keep going to Haiti.


This will give you a really interesting way to see the country. Actually my favorite crossing now is from Elias Pinas to Belledare ....although I have done all four.....