As a non-resident that owns property on AC, can I obtain a Belize Drivers License?

Yes you can, apply at local transortation office. You will need to take a written test. They give you a list of the actual questions and answers. Memorize them and pass the test.

dabunk, I was told that I had to be have residency or a work permit or own a business. Well I do not do have any of the above. However, I have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars here on the Island. I was granted a golf cart permit with the condition that I get a Belize drivers license. But, that looks like it's going to be a problem because I'm not a resident, even though I spend 5 months out of the year here. Makes no sense whatsoever.

Well we got ours after living in belize for 6 months, while renewing our passsports every month. We were told we had to be in Belize for 12 months before we could get it. But at the check point on the Northern highway was a PC who told me I had to get it immediately. So we went to transport and they told us one year but allowed us to get ours anyway after explaining about the PC hassling us. Go to transport in Belize City and ask there.

&nbsp Loansum,
I was never asked about residency at all. I just went to the office in Belize City and applied.

&nbsp &nbsp Dan

&nbsp

Just to put a little perspective on this problem.

My parents spend most of their year in the US. They are Belizean. They are having a hell of a time trying to get their residency permits. They have spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in the US and they are living on pensions - not sucking off the system. They cannot get US drivers licenses until they are residents.

So, I guess it works both ways.

My neice got hers after being on the island one week as a visitor and having no previous license. No palms were greased either.

I use my international drivers permit when in Belize. It is recognized in 130 countries as a valid operators license( you have to carry your country of origin permit or license with you).
I took two pasport photos and $10.00 US to AAA.
aaa.com
The checkpoints in San Pedro accept it as well as rental agencies in Belize City. Realizing it doen't do you much good if you are in Belize already, it's just another option...

This is the first I have ever heard about the transport department not allowing applications for driving licenses until someone is a resident. Maybe the rules have changed, or are being enforced.

Either way most everybody (long term visitor - non resident)I have ever sent over to transport has taken the test, provided the photos and the medical form and received a license within a few days or so.

Might be worth another try Al-K.

Amanda, they went ahead and allowed me to complete an application and submit everything necessary. The guy behind the desk just repeatedly said that it was going to be very difficult but would "help me all he could". I translated that into $$$$, but absolutely refuse to pay 1 penny more than what is required by law. I take the test this coming Monday. We'll see.

Is this in Belize City or on the Caaye?

Alright - good luck with the test. Apparantly there is a study sheet and the test involves some multiple choice.

I don't actually know anybody that had to $$$$ for a license. But I have heard about that involving permits to have vehicles.

Tell us what happens.

This is on Ambergris Caye.

Amanda, will keep you posted.

Well I made the journey, and I do mean journey, down to the Traffic Dept to take my drivers license "test".....I passed and was issued my license right on the spot. Now I have to take a copy of it back down to them to get my golf cart permit....a real revolving door.....oh well it give me something to do.

Sow how did you like the "test" Do they still have the questions about the one way streets in Belize City?

Wow, congratulations are in order AL K. Woo hoo.

Has the traffic office moved to DFC yet? The roads are just rotten.

Do they still have the rear view mirror question?

What is a rear view mirror for?
a. seeing behind you.
b. seeing in front of you.
c. just for looks.
d. womens purposes.

Loved that one.

fyi - womens purposes means putting on make-up.

dabunk, you do not have to answer the questions that are targeted to Belize City.

Amanda, yes I had to go down to the new office. The roads down there are terrible. I've never suffered with back pain until now! There is still the rear-view mirror question and a lot others that are unbelievable. Like "what are you to supposed to do when you come to a STOP sign"! Oh well, that's behind me....now I just have to get the golf cart I bought transferred into my name.....hope I live long enough to accomplish that!

The saga continues......went down to the Traffic Dept. this morning to bring them a copy of my Belize drivers license, that they themselves issued me yesterday, to pick up my golf cart permit. They said they have to type it up and to check back with them on Thursday......oh well, gives me something to do.....but it's getting old and so am I :-(

Aha, now the story sounds more credible. I've never seen somebody pass the test AND get their physuical license on the same day. Just roll with the punches and you will prevail.

"women's purposes" . .but of course, for hanging women's purses.

...the two main issues for a drivers license are 1. a place to park off the street and 2. understanding which street has priority over which at the circle in Belize City...this issue does not seem so important if one only drives a golf cart in San Pedro, but it is a Belize Drivers License. Amanda: Very sorry to hear your parents are having difficulties here in the states...obviously, they represent a threat to take back its colony .

Since I am old enough to have taken MANY written driving tests I thought I could ace this one. The guy asked if I wanted time to study and I said no. That was the strangest test I had ever seen.
I loved the question "What type of vehicle is allowed to park in a space marked "Taxi parking only?"
When he took it to grade he didn’t even pick up a pencil. Just s-l-o-w-l-y scanned it, tossed it aside and said “You did not pass.”
When I asked him when I could take it again he said tomorrow and gave me two sheets of typed out pages to study.
When I came back in I had the sheet and he did not even take them from me. I could have sat and copied the answers, but fortunately I didn’t need to. After he scanned it, and I still had missed a couple, he tossed it in a basket and said OK – you pass.
I stood and waited and finally said, so when do I get my license. The answer was that the guy that typed them up wasn’t in and I would have to come back.
When I cam back several days later it was typed up but not signed. You guessed it; the guy who neededto sign it wasn’t in.
When I came back and it was singed and I tried to pay them they did not have change and I had to walk to the bank.
I love it when I go to the states and rent a car and provide them my Belize Drivers License.
As Loan-Sum Al says – It gives us something to do – and something to talk about

Harriette: Obviously they wanted to see you as many times as possible. Bill

Renewed the golf cart registration this morning, total time including travel - 1 hour.

Wow !!! I am a non-resident who owns property on A.C. and I am not presently in Belize and furthermore, my property has no roads running by it and hence no address. Would it be possible for me loansum to get a drivers license if I came to Belize? How is your situation similar or different? Give me your best shot. Thanks, EL-777

EL-777, You will not have a problem. I have a condo in the Boca Del Rio area.....it doesn't have a real address.....on my driver's license they just put "San Pedro Town" for my address. Of course there is no need for you to have a Belize license unless you need a golf cart permit.

Got my Belize drivers lic. last week - only took 6 trips. Plus my husband went back to the house to get the copy of the rules, which HAD to be turned back in.
After all that they hand me my drivers lic and said I would have to come back with a copy of it to put in with my golf cart permit application. Another trip for a copy, only to hear "now you know that the $50 application fee is non refundable". What can you do? And that is what I said.
I think it is the Gringo test to see just what kind of stuff you are made of.

indygal, you are so right on with the "Gringo test" thing. Those guys down at the traffic department enjoy every minute of their little power trips!

only the strong survive! But we all love the daily challenges. There simply isn't a better place to be - warts and all.

Amanda, you're so right.....despite on the moaning & groaning, it's all worth it!

If you live here full time, its important to get a drivers license even if you do not have a golf cart. My US license has expired but US car rentals will honor the Belize license, I do not really need it here but will need it when I travel.

Cooper - so true but they sure do look at you funny when they see how it is put together. I think I could probably make one on a really bad printer. LOL
OH yea; when I tried to use mine the first time they pointed out to me that it had expired. I said "It couldn't have, I just got it." It doesn't matter when you get it it will expire on your next birthday. What a joke!

My BZ drivers license has my birthday wrong and says I'm a male! LOL! When I asked them to change it they wanted to charge me for a new lic. I said forget it. No one at Hertz, Thrifty, or Avis has picked up on it yet, Or they just don't care. I'm waiting for the day I get pulled over in the States for speeding. That is going to be hilarious when I show the police my license!

So if I buy a piece of property on Ambergris Caye, I understand from this discussion that the drivers license people will put San Pedro on my Drivers License as my location. But do you think that Avis or other rental companies in the U.S. would accept a license that does not have any address on it but just has a town?

Also, from the day you take the test until the day that you get the license we are talking about how many days total?

JZB, maybe they;ll just think you're a really convincing Drag Queen!! LOL!

The first time a Belize drivers license is issued it is only valid for one year and expires on your birthday (regardless of how soon after obtaining the license) but when you renew you can buy a 3 year license.

Amanada - thanks - however, the first time it is issued it is not good for one year - it is good up to your next birthday. In my case that happened to be only a few months.

Amanda, my drivers license was a "first time issue" and I was able to get a 3 year license. It just so happens that my birthday was October 9th so I'm getting a full three years out of it.
"Wealthy" Buyer, I was issued my license the same day I passed the test.

ScubaLdy, they did not offer you a three year license when you first applied? I got a three year license......I guess it's who's behind the desk at the time :-)

Well, I'm glad that one year (or whenever your birthday arrives) rule has changed. It is a pain in the butt trying to figure out where the traffic office is each time your birthday comes around.

Amanda is correct, first license is supposed to be only until your birthday, one year or less. Still ends on your birthday. After first year it is your option to buy 1 2 or 3 year extension.

It depends is the right answer. I dealt with 3 different people all of which were there on my 6th trip. They discussed wheather I should take the test and finally I jumped in and reminded them I already took it and passed. Then they discussed how many years I could get 1(till my birthday) or 3. They decided that since I should not have had to take the test and I had US drivers lic. I could have 3 years. So to mess things up a little I decided on 2 years. Sometimes it is the little stuff....

Oh, the gal ask how tall I am. I thought at any moment she is going to ask my weight in front of all these people. I was trying to decide how big a lie I could tell with out causing alot of laughter. She never ask. I told them I would bring them a copier.

I bet if I greased their palms with several hundred dollar bills they would give me a three year license!!! This would work no matter who is behind the counter at the time you apply?

;- )

Interesting concept. Could land you in jail. Bribery is frowned upon and definitely illegal.

I think thats the reason we have the 'New' Traffic office. The Old was of the blue note persuasion.

Has "Rich Guy" returned ?????

I don't know who that is

looks like it...

Just happened to take a L O N G trip down there today for golf cart permit renewal. Some of my observations:

1. With the exception of one missing and one new employee...the same people were there.

2. After you have lost your gall bladder somewhere along that gawd awful road, and you find the place that is marked, on their own map by, "right around here", I(not because there are any signs mind you, but because you are just a few feet from the lagoon), they inform you that you have to go back down to the end of the street, turn right, and find the little blue and white house where the INSPECTOR will inspect your vehicle.

3. Was there an announcement about this somewhere? This is the first time in five years I had my golf cart inspected!!! AND the best part is either that it costs you $10.00, OR that even if your cart is in great shape when you start the journey, you now have to travel up and down that road four times instead of two.

4. The Official Golf Cart Inspector is working from a bodega in the front of his house. His last name is very familiar to those of us on the island.

5. He didn't think our horn was loud enough........have you heard some of those horns? This one would wake the dead.

6. While smoking his cigarette, and looking up and down the cart, he informed me that the back lights on the cart don't matter.

7. He didn't like that my mirror was dirty. For crying out loud...I just made it up and down the equivalent of the Smoky Mountain range and parts of me are covered with mud.....I'm surprised my mirror was still there.....

8. His issues with my cart were apparently not bad enough to fail me, so he filled out the form, took the $10 and sent me on my way.

9. Back at the office, it was 15 minutes til 12 and I was fearful that I would have to come back....but they took my money and gave me my receipt.

10. The office is much lighter and they don't have all those stacks of manila files and miscellaneous papers laying everywhere...unless they are in the back room......

I made it home without losing any pieces off my cart, and am yes, still thrilled to live in paradise.

What a great place!

I too made the long trek yesterday. Due to some very bad directions I managed to take ALL the back roads and they were deplorable.
There are no signs and a lot of people down there don’t know where it is either as I kept being sent on and on down the long road. At the end some guys working in a yard told me to go back to the first cross road and turn right. I did and that was wrong. It was the second cross road. When I got to what appeared to be the end I was told that it wasn’t to just go around the corner and turn right again. I then faced the equivalent of a lake. This was so bad that a taxi refused to drive through it and the young woman with a baby had to wade across to get into the taxi she had ordered. I took a picture of this and as soon as I can download it I will post it.
There are no signs telling you how to get there or to let you know when you are there. When I asked the woman behind the desk why they moved the office WAY down there she said it gave them more room. I said but isn’t it awful getting to work. She laughed and said no we live down here.
The new traffic chairman is a good and honest man. I intend to talk to him about setting up at least one day a week someplace in town where people can get their business down.

Just kidding about greasing the palms. And no, I am not "rich guy" whoever he was.

Well that's a relief.

Welcome to the board - we all enjoy some comic relief.