Driver's License Restrictions for Permanent Residents

My driver's license will expire at the end of April. When I went to renew I was told that they were no longer issuing Licenses to "you people" meaning foreigners. I told them I was not an "extranjera" but a "Permanent Resident" with a legal visa. No dice!

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Do we know whose policy this is and why now? Evidently it might be "lifted," so the "complaint office" is collecting names and numbers of folks to call if and when it is.

What are people doing? I may take legal action.

Go to Petatlan. They are issuing them there.

What kind of games are the local goverment doing, not issuing drivers licence, not allowing a reduction on property taxes if you have a fidisicomisio, charging more than locals for transport to Gatas, charging a higher tax than locals when selling property, charging more for parking tickets. Zihua dont kill the golden goose

Have you done this yourself? I heard this but looked online and the guidelines in Petatlan said "voters credential."

The golden goose was served up as chopped liver a long time ago.

--
Tim Sullivan

A friend of mine just got his very first Mexican driver’s licence there last week after being told the Zihua office would issue any for a couple of months. No reason was given.

I assume the friend was an extra hero. What type of visa did he have?

Funny typo... Extranjero not extra hero!

I wonder how the local real estate agents feel about this with regard to there foreign clientele?

Lalo.. I'm going to Petatlan tomorrow. Please tell me the type of Visa your friend has.
I'll report back here.

Permanente visa. I believe I responded to your email previously.

Thanks! I'm going tomorrow. I'll report back.

I'm reporting back as promised. A friend and I were able to renew our driver's licenses in Petatlan with a Permanent Resident Visa. It is not easy, however.

If you don't know what you need to provide, you go to City Hall (Ayutamento) and, at the reception desk, they will give you a little slip with the copies necessary.

Once you have your documents, you go to Transito, with is out of town and nowhere near the City Hall.

There they review your documents, take the copies, enter your data, take your picture, finger print and signature. Then they give you an official document to take back to City Hall.

At City Hall you give your official document and payment to the cashier near the entrance. They then give you your license.

Interestingly, the cost for the three and five year licenses is higher in Petatlan then in Zihua.

I intend to pursue the issue further in Zihua. The policy here is arbitrary and decriminatory, ironically so, in a community the depends on foreigners for it's livelihood.

I'm reporting back as promised. A friend and I were able to renew our driver's licenses in Petatlan with a Permanent Resident Visa. It is not easy, however.

Congratulations! Well done! A question when you have a moment: Was the Transito far out of town? Could you have walked there and back? Were there combis or taxis readily available?

Thank you for the update and information.

If you're unable to get a Mexican driver's license as a permanent resident, is it legal to drive with a foreign license?

Mexico recognizes other countries driver's licenses, no problem. The issue is for those of us who live in Mexico, not the US, not Canada, or anywhere else that we can get a driver's license.

Citizenship here we come!!!

Citizenship here we come!!!

Best of luck and success! Have you been studying Mexico's history? Do you have any recommendations for resources? I read that the Spanish language part of the exam is pretty easy to pass.

Over 60 and don't have to take the history test. We have all the paperwork assembled and are now actively sending stuff in and scheduling the Spanish test.

Our biggest issue, and why we have waited so long to do this is that one of our dogs is OLD, currently 13.5 IF we have to go somewhere far to take the test and be gone overnight, we need to have someone spend the night with them, make sure Karma eats and goes in and out. Other than flying a friend in and out from the US, we don't know what else to do. There isn't a place to leave three large dogs safely overnight here.

Our biggest issue, and why we have waited so long to do this is that one of our dogs is OLD, currently 13.5 IF we have to go somewhere far to take the test and be gone overnight, we need to have someone spend the night with them, make sure Karma eats and goes in and out. Other than flying a friend in and out from the US, we don't know what else to do. There isn't a place to leave three large dogs safely overnight here.

There must be someone you could hire in Zihua to care for your dog while you are away. Check with the folks at the animal shelter right next to the downtown Cancha. (It is called SPAZ, right? Help me here, Susan G.) They love animals.

Over 60 and don't have to take the history test. We have all the paperwork assembled and are now actively sending stuff in and scheduling the Spanish test.

¿Cómo va su rendición del Himno Nacional Mexicano? Tienes que cantarlo con fuerza y orgullo, por lo menos la primera estrofa y el coro.

https://youtu.be/w8HLBlL9CAM

Not that easy. Susan and Ramon have their hands very full with their very old boy dog.

This, just like renewing your plates or paying tenencia, are certainly the best form of corruption. Had to pay 1000 extra for tenencia. And 1000 for the plates

you were robbed. My old beater with a heater was less this year than last year for the tarjeta de circulacion as there were no new placas this year. Perhaps you were charged for two years ?

Really sad that you live there and have no friends to ask.

Would you want to ask someone to dog sit for three very large, very active dogs at three different ages? It's not the kind of favor one asks in our opinions.

Hire a pro, sure, but to ask a friend? Way too much to ask.

Not that easy. Susan and Ramon have their hands very full with their very old boy dog.

They must know some local dog sitters that are looking for work, yes?