Updated information about getting a drivers license in Jalisco

I know that Bill Ragan posted instructions on the Expats In Vallarta website a couple of years ago, which were very helpful to us as we went today to get our drivers licenses.

1.  The cost of a first-time “Chofer” license is now $620 pesos and a renewal “Chofer” license is $545 pesos.

2.  As of yesterday (our luck!), everyone getting a first-time license must take the actual driving test, in addition to the 10-question test.  The driving area is just outside in the parking lot of the building.  You drive around in an oval circle and you must stop 3 times, before the yellow painted lines.  The first stop is before the first of 3 yellow lines and that is a railroad crossing stop.  The second and third stops are for an “Alto” and for pedestrians.  again, you need to stop before (not on or over) the yellow line.

Then, you have to parallel park, but the hitch is that they use orange cones to indicate the space in which you must park.  However, from inside your car, it is impossible to see the cones!  So, the guy giving me the test told me to adjust my side mirrors to be able to see the cones and I guess that is how they want you to do it.

3.  After the driving test, you take the 10-question test on the computer.  I was able to help Mike with his (translation) and really we both answered all of the questions together.  We got 10 out of 10 right for Mike’s test and 9 out of 10 right for my test.

I had a question on my test that was not one of the 103 study questions that we got from Bill Ragan’s post.

4.  Other note:  I took our Telcel bill as our utility bill proof of address.  Luckily I printed out all 5 pages of the bill and it’s a good thing because whatever utility bill you take, they want a copy of every single page!

5.  You can go online to print out your CURP, which you will need before you get there:  https://www.renapo.gob.mx/swb/swb/RENAPO/consultacurp  In the “Código de verification” box just enter the series of letters and numbers that are just above this box.

In the “Ingresa tu CURP” box, enter your CURP, which is found on the front of your Residente Permanente (or probably also on the Residente Temporal) card.  Then click on “Buscar” and it should bring you to a page with what looks like a small page from a document book.  It has your name and CURP number on it, with a pair of scissors showing where to cut it.  Do Not cut it – they will take the entire page from you and they will print one of your receipts on it for their internal use.

6.  Be sure to have – on one page – both sides of your Residente Permanente or Temporal visa.  We had ours on two pages and had to get a copy made there, with both sides all on the one page.

I think these are all the updates to give you, other than when you are in line to pay for the licenses, there is a Caja 2 (I think), which is for disabled, pregnant and old folks.   We qualify for the old folks window and we got through much faster by using it!

We got there at 8 am, were 2nd in the line that started forming at 8:15 am and we were done and out of there by 10:15 am.  It pays to get there early!

Now you know everything that I know!!