Driver's licence in Mexico (CDMX baseline)
In Mexico the licencia de conducir is issued by each of the 32 states, not by the federal government.
This guide treats Ciudad de México (CDMX) as the baseline because it concentrates the largest foreign-resident population and its four licence types map closely to federal minimums. Residentes temporales and permanentes apply on equal footing with citizens; tourists are not eligible and drive on a home-country licence.
Estimated time
Roughly two to eight weeks end-to-end, dominated by appointment availability at the issuing module
Cost
Headline SAF-set fees for CDMX, plus optional examination and medical-certificate charges; exact figures surface in the línea de captura
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Licencia Permanente A is a Ciudad de México programme; equivalent permanent-validity licences are not issued by other Mexican states.
- The federal Unidad de Medida y Actualización (UMA) for the current year is MX$117.31. It does not index CDMX licence fees directly but is used to scale certain traffic-infraction multas and federal derechos.
- Estado de México publishes a separate foreigner fee schedule (MX$777.00 for Automovilista and MX$1,040.00 for Motociclista). CDMX does not maintain a separate foreigner tier — foreigners pay the same SAF amounts as citizens.
- Validity of any CDMX-issued licence is capped at the remaining validity of the applicant's INM tarjeta de residente. If the card expires in 18 months, the licence is issued for 18 months even when the type's nominal vigencia is three years.
- A second sanction under the Conduce sin Alcohol programme within a 24-month window triggers permanent cancellation of the licence under Article 67 of the Ley de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México and bars application for Licencia Permanente A.
- Other states — Jalisco, Nuevo León, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Baja California — publish their own document lists and fee tiers. Some require a constancia de no antecedentes penales that CDMX does not. Always consult the destination state's Secretaría de Movilidad before assuming the CDMX recipe transfers.
Step-by-Step
- 1
Confirm the CURP is linked to the current INM tarjeta de residente
- Open gob.mx/curp and look up the CURP using full name and date of birth
- Check that the document of identity shown alongside the CURP is the current tarjeta de residente, not a prior Forma Migratoria Múltiple
- If the CURP still references an earlier FMM, visit any Módulo CURP with the new tarjeta de residente to update the linkage before opening any licence trámite
⚠️ Watch out: An expatriate applicant who completed the CURP step on first arrival under a tourist FMM, then renewed status to residente temporal, regularly discovers at the SEMOVI module that the CURP still points at the old FMM and the trámite is refused on the spot — losing the appointment slot and any pre-paid línea de captura. Updating the CURP at a Módulo CURP and re-booking the cita is the recovery path; both have to be sequenced before the licence step is attempted again.
- 2
Register a Llave CDMX digital credential
- Visit llave.cdmx.gob.mx and create the credential using a Mexican mobile number and a verified email
- Foreign residents may register provided the CURP is current and linked to the INM card
- Keep the Llave CDMX credentials accessible — they are required for both the cita portal and the Licencia Permanente trámite
💡 Tip: Llave CDMX is the single sign-on for SEMOVI, SAF, and the Licencia Permanente portal; without it no cita can be booked.
- 3
Generate and pay the línea de captura
- Sign in to the SEMOVI licence portal (or licenciapermanente.cdmx.gob.mx for the Licencia Permanente A) with Llave CDMX
- Select the trámite — Permanente A, Tipo A renewal, Tipo A1, Tipo A2, or reposición — and generate the línea de captura for the published amount
- Pay through online banking, OXXO, or any authorised channel; keep the proof of payment for the cita
- 4
Pass the examen de conocimientos viales (first-issuance Permanente A, A1, A2 only)
First issuance of Licencia Permanente A, Tipo A1, or Tipo A2
- For Permanente A, complete the SEMOVI online theoretical exam — drawn from a published bank of 200-plus questions, 20 questions presented, 25 minutes to complete, 16 correct answers required to pass
- For Tipo A1 and A2, attend a SEMOVI-designated centro evaluador for both theoretical and practical components
- Download the constancia de acreditación in PDF form on the exam-pass screen
💡 Tip: The exam covers CDMX-specific traffic rules in the Reglamento de Tránsito de la Ciudad de México, including Hoy No Circula and local signage. Prior driving experience abroad does not exempt the applicant.
- 5
Book a SEMOVI cita
- Open app.semovi.cdmx.gob.mx/citas/ and sign in with Llave CDMX
- Select the closest Módulo de Control Vehicular y Licencias to the applicant's CDMX address
- Choose a slot — citas run Monday-Friday 08:00-14:00 and 15:00-17:00, with Saturday 09:00-13:00 slots at selected módulos
- 6
Attend the módulo on the cita date
Módulo de Control Vehicular y Licencias
- Present identificación oficial, INM tarjeta de residente, updated CURP, comprobante de domicilio CDMX, proof of línea de captura payment, constancia del examen (if applicable), and the comprobante de cita
- Submit to the biometric capture — photograph, fingerprints, and final document validation
- Receive the physical licence at the counter on the same day for Permanente A and Tipo A renewal; A1 and A2 timing depends on whether the practical exam was completed in advance
💬 Say:
Vengo a tramitar mi licencia de conducir.
"I am here to apply for my driver's licence."
📋 Use when: Approaching the module reception counter
Local Tips from the Community
- Update the CURP to the current INM tarjeta de residente before any other step. The trámite cannot proceed while the CURP still references a prior Forma Migratoria Múltiple.
- Cita slots in core CDMX módulos can be four to eight weeks out during peak periods. Suburban módulos and Saturday slots typically open one to three weeks ahead and are easier to secure.
- If the home-country licence is in a non-Latin alphabet, obtain the permiso para conducir internacional in the home country before travel — Mexican checkpoints treat a non-Latin licence without an accompanying permit as driving without a licence.
What Could Go Wrong
Confirm the CURP is linked to the current INM tarjeta de residente: CURP still references an earlier Forma Migratoria Múltiple
Recovery: Visit any Módulo CURP with the new tarjeta de residente, or update online at gob.mx/curp, then re-book the SEMOVI cita.
Generate and pay the línea de captura: Comprobante de domicilio is older than three months
Recovery: Request a fresh recibo (luz, agua, predial, or fixed-line telephone) before the cita date — SEMOVI rejects expired comprobantes at the módulo counter.
Attend the módulo on the cita date: Comprobante de domicilio shows an address outside CDMX
Recovery: Apply through the state matching the actual residence address — adjacent Estado de México is served by smovilidad.edomex.gob.mx and other states by their own Secretaría de Movilidad.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licencia Permanente A — first issuance | MX$1,500 | Online banking, OXXO, or any authorised channel via línea de captura | Single payment with no renewal; available in CDMX only |
| Tipo A (passenger car) — three-year issuance | MX$1,099 | Línea de captura | Approximate; the exact amount renders when the línea de captura is generated |
| Tipo A1 motocicleta — first issuance | MX$572 | Línea de captura | Theoretical and practical examination at a centro evaluador carries an additional charge |
| Tipo A2 auto + moto — first issuance | MX$1,142 | Línea de captura | Examination fees additional |
| Examen de evaluación (A1 / A2) (Optional) | MX$460 | Centro evaluador | Charged separately from the licence fee for motorcycle and combined-class first issuance |
| Certificación de licencia (Optional) | MX$225 | Línea de captura | Stand-alone verification certificate |
| Reposición por robo o extravío (Optional) | MX$400–MX$500 | Línea de captura | Range; exact figure surfaces in the línea de captura |
| Certificado médico externo (Optional) | MX$300–MX$500 | External clinic | Charged by the clinic when a medical certificate is requested; not a SAF fee |
- Payment:
- Online banking, OXXO, or any authorised channel via línea de captura
- Notes:
- Single payment with no renewal; available in CDMX only
- Payment:
- Línea de captura
- Notes:
- Approximate; the exact amount renders when the línea de captura is generated
- Payment:
- Línea de captura
- Notes:
- Theoretical and practical examination at a centro evaluador carries an additional charge
- Payment:
- Línea de captura
- Notes:
- Examination fees additional
- Payment:
- Centro evaluador
- Notes:
- Charged separately from the licence fee for motorcycle and combined-class first issuance
- Payment:
- Línea de captura
- Notes:
- Stand-alone verification certificate
- Payment:
- Línea de captura
- Notes:
- Range; exact figure surfaces in the línea de captura
- Payment:
- External clinic
- Notes:
- Charged by the clinic when a medical certificate is requested; not a SAF fee
FAQ
General
Does Mexico issue a single federal driver's licence?
No. The Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial — published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 17 May 2022 — sets national minimums for theoretical and practical examination, integral medical assessment, minimum age, and validity-period rules. Each of the 32 states then issues its own licencia de conducir and sets its own fees, document lists, and procedural detail. The federal Secretaría de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes (SICT) does not issue driver licences.
Can a tourist obtain a Mexican driver's licence?
No. Only foreign residents holding an INM tarjeta de residente temporal or tarjeta de residente permanente may apply for a state-issued Mexican licence. Tourists drive on their home-country licence; if that licence is in a non-Latin alphabet they should carry a permiso para conducir internacional (International Driving Permit) issued in their home country.
What is the Licencia Permanente CDMX programme?
A CDMX-only licence type with unlimited validity, sold for a single payment of MX$1,500 MXN. It was introduced by the CDMX Government in 2024 and extended through the end of 2026 by subsequent decree. Applicants must pass a one-time theoretical examination on the Reglamento de Tránsito de la Ciudad de México on first issuance. Eligibility extends equally to Mexican citizens and to foreign residents holding an INM tarjeta de residente.
Is the Licencia Permanente A available outside CDMX?
No. As of mid-2026 only the Ciudad de México government issues a Licencia Permanente A. Adjacent Estado de México, for example, issues only its own Automovilista A and Motociclista C licence types to foreign residents and publishes a separate foreigner fee schedule (MX$777.00 and MX$1,040.00 respectively). Other expat-density states — Jalisco, Nuevo León, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Baja California — each publish their own programmes; none mirrors the CDMX permanent-validity licence.
Does a CDMX licence work in other Mexican states?
Yes. Article 50 of the Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial establishes national recognition: a licence issued by any Mexican state is valid for driving throughout the federation. The applicant chooses the state of application based on the state where the comprobante de domicilio is held.
What if my INM card expires within six months of the cita?
The CDMX licence will be issued for the shorter of the type's nominal vigencia or the residue of the INM card validity. For card residue below six months, renew the INM card first and then apply for the licence — otherwise the issued licence will carry the shorter validity window.
Do I need a CURP biométrica for the trámite?
Not yet. As of mid-2026 SEMOVI continues to accept the standard alphanumeric CURP linked to the current INM tarjeta de residente. The CURP biométrica rollout is in progress at federal level but has not been made a SEMOVI requirement.
Can I still drive after a Conduce sin Alcohol sanction?
A first sanction triggers a 12-month suspension of the licence. A second sanction within a 24-month window triggers permanent cancellation under Article 67 of the Ley de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México. Applicants with two or more sanctions in the prior 12 months cannot apply for Licencia Permanente A and may face cancellation of any active Tipo A.
After This Process
- → Carry a printed or digital copy of the licence at all times when driving — Mexican traffic stops require presentation alongside vehicle documentation.
- → Register for the Conduce sin Alcohol infraction-history search tool on the SEMOVI portal to confirm a clean record before any renewal or Permanente A application.
- → For drivers planning long-term travel abroad, the Asociación Nacional Automovilística (ANA Automóvil Club A.C.) issues the permiso para conducir internacional under the 1949 Geneva Convention; it accompanies — and does not replace — the Mexican licence.
Sources
- SEMOVI — Marco normativo (semovi.cdmx.gob.mx ↗)
- SEMOVI — Sistema de citas (app.semovi.cdmx.gob.mx ↗)
- Licencia Permanente CDMX (licenciapermanente.cdmx.gob.mx ↗)
- SAF — Conceptos de licencias (data.finanzas.cdmx.gob.mx ↗)
- Diario Oficial de la Federación — Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial (dof.gob.mx ↗)
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More in Mexico
12 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-21
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Diario Oficial de la Federación 2026-05-21
The Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial was published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación on 17 May 2022 and sets federal minimums — theoretical and practical examination, integral medical assessment, minimum-age and validity-period rules — that all 32 states must observe in issuing the licencia de conducir. Article 50 establishes national recognition of any state-issued licence across the federation.
dof.gob.mx - T1Secretaría de Infraestructura, Comunicaciones y Transportes (SICT) 2026-05-21
The federal SICT portal describes the secretariat's remit as federal highway concessions, federal cargo-and-passenger vehicle registration at the inter-state level, and infrastructure planning. The portal makes no claim of federal driver-licence issuance, consistent with the state-by-state issuance regime under the Ley General de Movilidad y Seguridad Vial.
gob.mx - T1Congreso de la Ciudad de México 2026-05-21
The Ley de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México defines the licencia de conducir as the document issued by the Secretaría de Movilidad authorising natural persons to operate motor vehicles upon compliance with statutory requirements. The accompanying Reglamento defines the four licence types — Tipo A passenger car (3-year), Tipo A1 motocicleta (3-year), Tipo A2 auto + moto (3-year), and Licencia Permanente A (unlimited validity).
congresocdmx.gob.mx - T1Procuraduría Ambiental y del Ordenamiento Territorial — Ley de Movilidad CDMX text 2026-05-21
Article 67 of the Ley de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México authorises permanent cancellation of the licencia de conducir upon a second Conduce sin Alcohol sanction within a 24-month window or a third sanction within 36 months.
paot.org.mx - T1Procuraduría Ambiental y del Ordenamiento Territorial — Reglamento de la Ley de Movilidad CDMX 2026-05-21
The Reglamento de la Ley de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México (Gaceta Oficial 8 September 2023) details the four CDMX licence types, validity periods, theoretical and practical examination requirements at centros evaluadores, the role of the constancia de acreditación in first-issuance procedures, and the autorización notarial paterna required for applicants aged 16-17 applying for Tipo A1 motocicleta.
paot.org.mx - T1Secretaría de Administración y Finanzas de la Ciudad de México (SAF) 2026-05-21
SAF publishes the CDMX licencias fee schedule and generates the línea de captura used to pay derechos. Permanente A is charged at MX$1,500 MXN as a single payment; Tipo A renewal at approximately MX$1,099 MXN; Tipo A1 motocicleta first issuance at MX$572 MXN plus MX$460 MXN for the examen de evaluación; Tipo A2 first issuance at MX$1,142 MXN; certificación de licencia at MX$225 MXN; reposición por robo o extravío at MX$400-500 MXN.
data.finanzas.cdmx.gob.mx - T1Secretaría de Movilidad de la Ciudad de México (SEMOVI) 2026-05-21
SEMOVI's sistema de citas requires Llave CDMX authentication and allows selection of any Módulo de Control Vehicular y Licencias in the city. Cita hours are Monday-Friday 08:00-14:00 and 15:00-17:00, with Saturday 09:00-13:00 slots at selected módulos.
app.semovi.cdmx.gob.mx - T1CDMX Licencia Permanente programme portal 2026-05-21
The Licencia Permanente CDMX trámite costs MX$1,500 MXN as a single payment with no renewal. First issuance requires a theoretical examination on road-safety knowledge based on the Reglamento de Tránsito de la Ciudad de México. The programme was introduced in 2024 and extended through 31 December 2026 by CDMX Government decree.
licenciapermanente.cdmx.gob.mx - T1Secretaría de Movilidad del Estado de México 2026-05-21
Estado de México publishes a foreigner-specific licencia fee schedule with Automovilista at MX$777.00 MXN and Motociclista at MX$1,040.00 MXN — separate from the citizen schedule. No equivalent of a CDMX-style Licencia Permanente A is available for foreigners in EDOMEX, which issues only Automovilista A and Motociclista C to foreign residents.
smovilidad.edomex.gob.mx - T1Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) 2026-05-21
The Asociación Nacional Automovilística (ANA Automóvil Club A.C.) issues the permiso para conducir internacional (International Driving Permit) to Mexican licence holders under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. The permit accompanies — and does not replace — the underlying Mexican licence.
gob.mx - T2Wise — Mexico driving guide 2026-05-21
Foreign-resident requirements for a CDMX licence include a valid passport, INM tarjeta de residente temporal or permanente, CURP linked to the current INM card, and a CDMX comprobante de domicilio dated within three months. Tourists are not eligible for a state-issued Mexican licence and instead drive on the home-country licence provided it is current, matches the passport, and is in the Latin alphabet.
wise.com - T2anuariolatamseguros — Licencia Permanente CDMX guide 2026-05-21
Document-checklist corroboration for CDMX licencia trámites: identificación oficial (INE or pasaporte), CURP, comprobante de domicilio dated within three months, exámenes médico, manejo and conocimientos viales for first issuance, with Llave CDMX as the SEMOVI single sign-on for cita booking and línea de captura generation through the SAF portal.
anuariolatamseguros.com