Ecuador Drivers License
We felt almost like teenagers this week when we showed our Ecuador drivers licenses to each other!
After all, we did pass the test in Spanish. And the process only took four months. Well, yes, our effort to get our NC drivers record apostiled took over three months. And mucho dinero. The government website and friends confirmed this was necessary. But in the end we simply tossed the apostile!
The exam has changed! The sample 100 questions bought on the street by ANT no longer contain most of the questions. You better learn many new words in Spanish (many are on the sample test).
How did we complete this amazing feat? It only took seven offices and eleven steps!
1. Obtain NC driving record to prove our USA license was valid.
2. Have driving record translated in Cuenca.
3. Get it notorized in Cuenca.
4. Download and complete Formulario para Canje de Licencia de Conducir (see #7 below)
You will need weight in kilos and height in centimeters (with two decimal points)
5. Obtain green blood type card from Red Cross on Borrero street in Centro. And a copy.
6. Make copies of your Cedula and US Drivers license (color). Take every document to every office! Your original Cedula will be examined by everyone.
7. Obtain two passport size color photos.
8. Pass eye, hearing, Psychometric exams. Currently located one block right off Don Bosco on Salado. (#6 below)
9. Go to ANT office to get all documents approved and scanned. Just moved to Ordinez Lasso, turn right at first light after Oro Verde Hotel. ANT will tell you when you may schedule your exam (usually a couple of days, max of 30 days)
10. Go to Paute (best service), Giron or Cuenca to take exam (Jeffe in office #5, approval in #4, exam downstairs, back to office #6, license photo downstairs, license finally printed upstairs. You see why service is important to avoid confusion and delays. Paute even allowed us to go near front of line for final step to avoid returning the next day! This office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 to noon, but stayed open until 2:30 to complete our processing. The office is located in second floor of bus station near the river.
11. After office #4 above, go to bank two blocks north, then two blocks left to pay $48 and obtain receipt. Entire trip with three short road construction delays and a great celebration lunch at Corvel in Paute only took 6 hours!
And they ask why Gringos do not have a car!
From my previous blog the requisites are as follows:
1. Original and copy of the original valid foreign drivers license.
2. Original and copy of your ID documents such as cedula and censo. You receive these documents after you get your residency visa.
3. Original certificate of authenticity. This is a (apostilled?) document from your home state’s secretary of state office saying that your driver’s license is valid. It must be translated into Spanish and notorized in Ecuador.
4. Original and copy of your blood type. You can get this at the Ecuadorian Red Cross for $2.50.
5, Two photographs, facing, ID size
6. Pass the psychometric exam ,eye and hearing tests, and the driving test ($38) These are written, practical, and medical. The psychometric exam is a coordination test. Cost $11.40
7. Fill out the special request form which you get from the Transit office in Quito, or you can download it from the www.ant.gob.ec website. ANT stands for Agencia Nacional de Transito in Quito.
I have added the websites and its details (in Spanish).
Print this form for application for drivers license:
http://www.ant.gob.ec/index.php/internacionales/homologacion/canje-de-licencia-de-conducir-extranjera-por-licencia-de-conducir-ecuatoriana-art-10-lotttsv
Government website for Transit Authority: http://www.ant.gob.ec/
