Requirements for Getting a Driver's License in Ecuador
In Ecuador, driver's licenses are issued by the National Transit Agency (ANT) and, in cities with their own jurisdiction, by the municipal agency (for example, the ATM in Guayaquil, the AMT in Quito or EMOV in Cuenca). This guide summarizes the general process; before you go, confirm the current requirements and fees on your city agency's website.
License types
| Type | Category | Allows you to drive |
|---|---|---|
| A | Non-professional | Motorcycles, motor tricycles and similar |
| B | Non-professional | Cars and pickups up to 3.5 tons (the most common) |
| F | Non-professional | Vehicles adapted for people with disabilities |
| C1, C | Professional | Taxis, police vehicles and light service vehicles |
| D1, D | Professional | Buses and passenger transportation |
| E1, E | Professional | Heavy trucks and articulated vehicles |
| G | Professional | Farm machinery and road construction equipment |
Requirements for a Type B license (first time)
- Be at least 18 years old (from age 16 there is a driving permit with the authorization of a parent or guardian).
- Valid national ID card (or passport and immigration document for resident foreigners).
- Certificate of completion of a course at an authorized driving school.
- Exams: psychosensometric (vision, hearing and reflexes), written and road tests, at the ANT or your city's agency.
- Blood type certificate.
- Payment of the license card and processing fees.
- No outstanding fines in the traffic system.
Step by step
- Enroll in and pass the course at an authorized driving school.
- Book an appointment online on the website of the ANT or your city's agency.
- Take the psychosensometric exam and the written test (questions on traffic law and road signs).
- Take the road test.
- Pay the fees, have your photo taken and receive your license.
Validity, points and renewal
- The license is valid for five years.
- It starts with 30 points. Traffic violations deduct points; if you reach zero, the license is suspended and you must take a course to get it back.
- To renew, you usually just need to have no outstanding fines and pass the psychosensometric exam.
Tip: study the written test question bank thoroughly. Beyond passing, knowing the rules on right of way, following distances and road signs is what prevents the most common crashes in the city.
Why it matters for your insurance
Driving with an expired or suspended license, or one that doesn't match the type of vehicle, can be grounds for exclusion from coverage under many policies. When inspecting a claim, the adjuster always checks the driver's license; in Peritovia that information is recorded in the claim file along with the photos and interviews.
General information based on Ecuador's Organic Law on Land Transportation, Traffic and Road Safety and its regulations. Requirements and fees may change; always check ant.gob.ec or your city's traffic agency.
Do you work at an insurer or as an appraiser?
Peritovia records interviews at the scene, transcribes them automatically and delivers the signed report the same day.
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