Dominican Republic standardizes driver’s license validity at four years

Santo Domingo.- President Luis Abinader issued Decree No. 675-26 on September 29, 2026, amending the Dominican Republic’s driver’s license regulations to comply with Constitutional Court ruling TC/0904/26 and prevent legal uncertainty.

The decree repeals Decree No. 330-26 and establishes a uniform four-year validity period for driver’s licenses and authorizations, with expiration on the holder’s birthday, in accordance with Article 208 of Law No. 63-17 on Mobility, Land Transport, Transit and Road Safety.

The measure follows the Constitutional Court’s ruling that conditioning or reducing license validity solely on a driver’s age is unconstitutional. Under the new regulations, age alone cannot be used to limit, shorten, or deny the validity of a driver’s license or authorization.

Instead, driving aptitude will be determined through physical, theoretical, and practical examinations administered without discrimination by the National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation (INTRANT).

The decree also states that a license may only be suspended or canceled for reasons established by law, including failure to meet the required conditions or proven permanent physical or mental inability to drive, supported by a medical certificate and subject to due administrative process.

The Executive Branch said the measure strengthens legal certainty, protects citizens’ fundamental rights, and reinforces compliance with Constitutional Court decisions, while promoting equal treatment in driver’s license procedures.