Classification of driver’s licenses in Mexico
In Mexico Driver’s licenses are classified in different ways, depending on the type of vehicle and the type of use that will be given to it.
Each State of the Republic has different classifications according to its legislation, but in general it can be said that in all states there are the following types: A, B, C, D, E and a permit for minors.
At the federal level, there is the following classification in accordance with the “Agreement establishing the categories of the federal driver’s license, according to the type of transport and class of service provided”:
- Type A. It is issued for drivers who make personal use of their car, that is, without commercial purposes of any kind. This license is not allowed for motorists who offer a guide service or transportation to maritime centers or airports.
- Type B. It must be obtained by the owners of cargo transportation in its different modalities, except those who handle doubly articulated ones, those that carry hazardous materials, residues or wastes.
- Type C. It is intended for drivers who drive cargo trucks but with two or more axles (rabón or torton) except for those who transport materials, residues, remnants and hazardous waste.
- Type D. She is authorized to drive cars destined for the provision of tourism services in her driver-guide mode.
- Type E. It is the license required by drivers of general cargo and specialized cargo transportation, that is, for those who drive automobiles with hazardous materials, residues, remnants and wastes. It is special for double articulated tractor trucks (TSR and TSS).
- Type F. It authorizes the driving of vehicles destined for the provision of the passenger transport service to seaports and federal airports.
It is worth mentioning that if you reside and circulate permanently in a state of the country, it is best for the driver to apply for a driver’s license based on the classification of that state.
What are the types of driver’s licenses in CDMX?
In addition to the previous classification, local laws consider other areas in the documents that accredit drivers. In the Mexico City, one of the cities with the largest vehicle fleet in the country, the “Regulation for vehicle control and driving licenses and permits” of the Mexican capital establishes the requirements and considerations for each type, therefore it is essential that motorists from Chilangos know what the law requires of them to avoid fines.
Driving license for minors under 18 years of age
This is granted especially to young people between 15 and 17 years old who start driving and need a document that certifies them as competent drivers. In the capital of the country, the following documentation is required in original and a copy to process it:
- Proof of address no more than three months, it can be electricity bill, water service bill, bank statement, etc.
- Official identification of the father, mother, guardian or whoever exercises parental authority. (voting card, passport, military service card or similar)
- Original proof of approval of the driving course that establishes the minor’s aptitude to drive, by schools certified by the Ministry of Mobility.
- The adolescent’s birth certificate.
- Fill out and sign the responsive letter that the Ministry of Mobility will deliver to the father, mother, guardian or whoever exercises parental authority, related to the fulfillment of the payment of the damages caused by driving.
- Proof of payment of fees.
- Download the Multiple Payment format obtained from the website of the city’s Mobility Secretariat to be able to pay 754.50 pesos of the amount.
Driver’s license type A
It is the most common license in the country’s capital (1,300 are issued in just one day), it is valid for three years and is intended for driving private cars. It is valid for driving motorcycles, mopeds, motorized tricycles, quad bikes, scooters and automobiles classified as private transport that does not exceed 12 seats and cargo whose maximum authorized weight does not exceed 3.5 tons.
The requirements to document it are the following:
- Valid official identification with photograph, voting credential, passport, professional identification or military service card.
- Proof of address, valid for no more than three months.
- Proof of payment of fees.
- Download the Multiple Payment format obtained from the website of the city’s Mobility Secretariat to be able to pay 754.50 pesos of the amount.
The previous documents will be presented in original and copy. For foreigners, in addition to the aforementioned requirements, they must prove their legal stay in the country, presenting the current immigration document issued by the competent authority.
What driver’s license does a taxi driver need?
Type B which is for the management of individual public transport of passengers and has a validity of two to three years. It is a common license for motorcycles, mopeds, motorized tricycles, quad bikes, scooters and automobiles classified as private transport that offer taxi service, as long as it does not exceed 12 seats and a load of 3.5 tons. With this license you can also drive cars that require a type A license.
To obtain this type of license in Mexico City, the following original and copy documents are required:
- Rights payment.
- Valid official identification.
- Recent proof of address.
- Proof of studies (proof that you can read and write, certificate of primary, high school, etc.)
- Affiliation photograph.
In addition, accreditation of a course at the Center for the Promotion of Education and Health of Public Transport Operators (CENFES). All taxi drivers are required to take this course to obtain their plastic and must take the exam every time they renew it.
What are the type C, E and D driver’s licenses?
Category C It is required for drivers of collective public transport of passengers, with a validity of two to three years and it is valid to drive a van, minibus, minibus and bus. Also the handling of cars that require a Type A license.
Classification E It is special for the management of patrols, ambulances, fire engines, in the modalities of school, personal, tourist transport, transport of values, custody and transfer of inmates and others established by the Ministry of Mobility of Mexico City, with a validity of two to three years. The Type E license also authorizes the driving of cars that require a type A license.
The requirements to process driving licenses for operators of public passenger, school and staff transport with:
- Comprehensive medical evaluation: with a cost of 350 pesos and valid for 30 business days
- A training course: the duration is 8 hours and has a price of 200 pesos.
- Knowledge and performance evaluation: which costs 230 pesos
- First aid certificate for type E license: all drivers with this type of license must compulsorily accredit a course on the subject with a duration of 6 hours.
- For type E license: motorists must present proof of school, agency, company or parents that certify a minimum experience of 5 years in the provision of service for which they are requesting.
- Authorization or registration of the corresponding authority to operate the specialized service in the corresponding modality by means of an official letter addressed to the General Directorate of Transport.
- Application form for the procedure.
- Proof of payment of fees.
- Valid official identification.
Payment of 1,267 pesos for a license valid for two years or payment of 1,903 pesos for a three-year license.
Classification D It is necessary for cargo transport drivers whose truck does not exceed 3.5 tons, in the same way with a validity of up to three years.
The requirements to request this type of license for any cargo service operator in the capital are:
- Medical evaluation with a price of 350 pesos
- Performance and knowledge exam with an amount of 230 pesos
- Training course lasting 14 hours and cost 300 pesos
- Request form.
- Proof of payment of fees.
- Valid identification with photograph and signature of the applicant.
- Proof of address.
- Proof of studies.
- Operators of companies or agencies must present the last payment receipt, employment certificate or credential of the institution for which they work.
What driver’s license do Uber, Didi and Cabify require?
In April 2019, the Ministry of Mobility of the capital (Semovi) established that the drivers belonging to the transport network companies, better known as ERT must carry a license type E1. What it means for drivers of these platforms to accredit a course at CENFES like taxi drivers.
This driving course is intended for drivers to be accredited as capable of providing private transport service and consists of a theoretical test and a driving test. The cost of the certification is one thousand pesos and includes a medical exam.
To obtain this license, users will also need to have their license in force type A and the capital government will change it to a new E1, but this will have the same validity period as plastic A. For example, if plastic A expires in 2021, the E1 type license will have the same validity limit.
Until now, the process has no cost, but drivers must prove that they have at least 3 years of experience, which implies that many young drivers between 18 and 21 years old are left out of accessing this type of license.
On the other hand, the validity of the E1 licenses will be valid for three years.
What is the driver’s license for?
Obtaining the proper license is not only a document that certifies the abilities of a person to drive, it is also an essential element to carry out any modality of procedures related to the possession and use of cars, vans, trucks or motorcycles, or even to collect the Car insurance.
It should be noted that having the correct driver’s license is necessary to be able to contract and collect auto insurance. In addition, it is essential to avoid fines and also to pay for traffic violations.
It is important to point out that throughout the country there are different places where a driver’s license can be processed, such as in the Finance and Highway Ministries of each State, the transport mobility offices of each locality or in specialized modules.
For these reasons, it is very useful for motorists to know the type of license that corresponds to their car and the type of use they give it. As well as it is practical that they know the requirements to process it.
Finally, it can be said that once Mexican motorists know the types of licenses and the requirements to process them, sanctions from the authorities can be avoided and they will also save time in search of information and clarification of doubts.
