2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE NINE - Highways and Traffic (§§ 1-8 — 5725) › Chapter 27 - Vehicle and Traffic Law (2000) › Subchapter II - Requirements and Procedure for Issuance, Expiration and Renewal of Driver’s Licenses (§§ 5051 — 5077) › § 5058 - Requirements for the learner’s permit

No person may learn to drive a motor vehicle on public roads without a license issued for such purposes by the Secretary.
The Secretary shall issue a learner’s permit to every person who:
(a) Knows how to read and write in Spanish or English, except in those cases established in § 5057 of this title.
(b) Has reached the age of eighteen (18) years, except in those cases established in § 5056(i) of this title.
(c) Approves a theoretical examination to measure his/her knowledge of the provisions of this chapter and of the regulations promulgated by the Secretary to regulate traffic and ensure public safety.
(d) Meets the mandatory school attendance requirement imposed by §§ 143a-146f of Title 3, known as the “Organic Act of the Department of Education of Puerto Rico”, or has graduated from high school and submits attesting evidence to such effect.
(e) Shows a birth certificate.
(f) Shows a Social Security card or a document attesting that the applicant is not eligible for a social security number or that assigning him/her a Social Security number does not apply.
(g) Shows documentation attesting to his/her name and home address.
(h) Shows documentation attesting that he/she is a United States citizen or national, a foreign national with permanent or temporary legal status or valid visa, or that he/she has requested or been granted political asylum as a refugee.
(i) Complies with any other requirements and procedural formalities provided by the Secretary through regulations to that effect.
Any person to whom a learner’s permit is issued may drive a motor vehicle on public roads, subject to the regulations promulgated by the Secretary, provided that he/she is accompanied by a driver who is twenty one (21) years of age or older and who is authorized to drive such a type of vehicle, as long as the physical characteristics of the vehicle so allow. Motorcycles are excluded from this requirement. The person sitting next to the learner must be in such a physical and mental condition so as to allow him/her to act and instruct the learner and take charge of driving the vehicle if necessary.
Any person under eighteen (18) but over sixteen (16) years of age who applies for and is issued a learner’s permit may only apply to take the practical examination for obtaining a driver’s license certificate from the Secretary after six (6) months as of its date of issue, provided he/she has not incurred any of the faults listed in § 5069 of this title and the provisions of § 5073 of this title.
Every learner’s permit shall be issued for a term of two (2) years and shall not be renewable. After said term has expired, the person shall have thirty (30) additional days to apply for the practical examination. Upon expiration of said term, he/she shall have to obtain a new learner’s permit should he/she wish to practice for an additional time.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 3.08; June 29, 2007, No. 55, § 3; Aug. 21, 2009, No. 88, § 4; July 29, 2011, No. 161, § 3.