When you move to Puerto Rico and become a resident your United States drivers license is not valid anymore. You have to apply for a Puerto Rico drivers license through CESCO, which’s like the department of motor vehicles within thirty days of moving to the island.
People who move to Puerto Rico have to get a Puerto Rico drivers license within 30 days of becoming a resident. This guide will explain everything you need to know: who needs to apply for a Puerto Rico drivers license, what to bring with you, how to make an appointment and what to look out for.
Note for Act 60 applicants
If you are applying for Act 60 having a Puerto Rico drivers license will help you. It shows that you really live on the island and it can help you get tax benefits. The government looks at a lot of things to see if you really live on the island and a Puerto Rico drivers license is one of them.
Documents You’ll Need to Bring
Preparing for your CESCO appointment is crucial. If you forget something you’ll have to reschedule.
When applying for a license make sure to have these documents:
- Social Security card
- ID with your full name
- Residential and postal address
- Date of birth
- Drivers license number if you have one
- Birth certificate or a valid US passport
- Social Security. A document that shows you’re not eligible for one
- Two documents that prove your Puerto Rico address like a utility bill or bank statement
- Your drivers license from the mainland
- Official driving record from your home state
- Completed Application, for Driver License that’s form DTOP-775
- Certificate, that’s form DTOP-260
You’ll probably need to give up your US drivers license from your residence. Some people keep an ID card issued by their state as a backup in case mainland ID checkers don’t know about Puerto Rico licenses.
The Medical Certificate
This step usually catches applicants off guard. You can just walk into any CESCO office for a quick check up. The doctor is going to ask you a bunch of questions about your health like how’s your vision. If you are getting a drivers license for the first time, you have to get an eye exam. The cost is usually around $20. You have to pay this in cash to the medical office.
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Fees and IRS Stamps
The way Puerto Rico handles payments is really confusing for people when they first do it. By just paying the fees, when you are at the counter, you have to buy stamps from a Colecturía (revenue office).
You will probably have to pay a different fees, such as the written test which is $17, driving test which is also $17, and then you have to buy some Internal Revenue stamps like the 5120 stamp which is $15, the 0842 stamp which is $2, and the REAL ID stamp 2028 which is $17. On top of that you have to pay for a medical exam, which can be anywhere, from $20 to $30.
REAL ID matters practically. Without it, you cannot use your Puerto Rico license to board domestic flights in the US. The extra $17 stamp is worth it for most people.
How the CESCO Appointment Works
Booking and Arrival
Download the CESCO app on your smartphone. The CESCO app helps with vehicle registration renewal. Tracks fines. You can also book appointments on the CESCO website. The wait time is usually 2 to 4 weeks depending on where you’re the time of year.
Get to your appointment 15 minutes early. Try to fill out the form before you go. With the appointment system the whole process takes an over 2 hours. Most CESCO offices have staff who speak two languages so English speakers rarely have a problem.
After Your Appointment
In Puerto Rico drivers licenses are now valid for 8 years. Expire on your birthday. You will usually get a document on the same day and your physical card will arrive in the mail later.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
If your home state has an agreement with Puerto Rico that lets you use your license there you might not have to take the written test or the driving test to get a license in Puerto Rico. If you have a drivers license from a state that has this kind of agreement with Puerto Rico you can go to the CESCO website to check your papers and ask for an appointment.
If your license has expired for more than 2 years and 30 days, you will have to take a written test that is for the kind of license you want. This is true even if you have a license from a state that has an agreement with Puerto Rico.
Some people pay an expediter to help them with the paperwork at CESCO. This person is like a guide who knows what to do.
