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) › § 5056 - Requirements for driving motor vehicles

Every person authorized to drive motor vehicles in Puerto Rico shall prove and comply with the following requirements:
(a) Be mentally and physically capable to do so.
(b) Know how to read and write in Spanish or English.
(c) Hold 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.
(d) Hold documentation attesting to his/her name and home address.
(e) Hold 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.
(f) Be eighteen (18) years of age. Provided, That the Secretary may issue a driver’s license to a person under eighteen (18) years of age, but over sixteen (16), when the minor complies with the requirement of mandatory attendance to school imposed by of §§ 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 presents attesting evidence to such effect, when said vehicle is for private use, provided that all requirements established by this chapter and the regulations established by the Secretary are complied with, and if the person who has parental rights over the minor submits a written statement to the Secretary agreeing to be responsible for all the fines imposed on said minor for any violation of this chapter, and for the payment of any damages caused by said minor.
(g) To hold a learner’s permit which date of issue, on the date of the application for examination, is not less than one (1) month and not more than two (2) years, subject to the provisions of § 5058 of this title. The learner’s permit herein required shall not be necessary when the person holds a driver’s license, except for motorcycles, and wishes to change such a driver’s license for any of the other licenses authorized by this chapter, or when the person holds a valid license to drive motor vehicles that has been issued in any state or territory of the United States, or in any foreign country, and said license does not comply with the requirements established in subsection (b) of § 5055 of this title.
(h) Have approved a course on the use and abuse of controlled substances and alcohol and their effect when driving, which shall have a minimum duration of one hour. Provided, That said course may be offered by electronic means by the Department of Transportation and Public Works in accordance with the regulations adopted by the Secretary for such purposes. In the case of students, they may take this course in their respective schools, which shall issue a certification attesting to the fact that the student has taken a course of not less than one (1) hour on the use and abuse of controlled substances and alcoholism.
(1) This course shall be taken when a driver’s license certificate learner’s classification is issued, as well as all other classifications, and through the reciprocity mechanisms authorized.
(2) In the case of an expired license, the applicant shall present evidence of the course taken. If required evidence is not presented, the applicant shall take the course once again.
(3) This course shall not substitute the courses required by of §§ 5201—5209 of this title, or any other offered for the same purposes.
(i) Have passed a practical examination in accordance with the type of license applied for, as provided by the Secretary through regulations.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 3.06; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 3; June 27, 2007, No. 53, § 1; June 29, 2007, No. 55, § 2; Aug. 21, 2009, No. 88, § 3; July 29, 2011, No. 161, § 2; June 13, 2012, No. 116, § 1.