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) › § 5055 - Exceptions from license requirements

The following shall be excluded from the provisions of § 5051 of this title:
(a) Members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, members of the Reserve of the Armed Forces and of the National Guard of Puerto Rico, whenever driving in active service any motor vehicles operated by or owned by the Government of the United States or by the National Guard of Puerto Rico.
(b) Every person who is duly authorized by law to drive motor vehicles in any state or territory of the United States in which the issuance or granting of driver’s licenses is carried out as per the provisions of Federal Public Law No. 109-13 (Public Law 109-13), known as the “Real ID Act of 2005” (49 U.S.C. 30301), insofar as the requirements of that state or territory are substantially similar to those established herein for issuing driver’s licenses, and said person holds and carries an authorized and valid license from said state or territory issued according to the aforementioned federal law.
(c) Every person, whether or not he/she is a Puerto Rico resident or not, and who is duly authorized by law to drive motor vehicles in any state or territory of the United States, or in any foreign country where requirements to grant driver’s licenses are substantially similar to those established herein and with which state or foreign country there is reciprocity, as provided below, and who holds and carries an authorized and valid license from said state, territory, or country. In the case of a resident of Puerto Rico or a state or territory of the United States, this exemption shall only be valid during the first one hundred and twenty (120) days following his/her date of arrival to Puerto Rico, and in the case of a resident of a foreign country, this exemption shall only be valid during the first thirty (30) days following his/her date of arrival to Puerto Rico.
(d) Members of the United States Armed Forces who have been assigned to serve in Puerto Rico but who do not have permanent residence in Puerto Rico, as well as his/her spouse and children over sixteen (16) years of age, should they hold a valid motor vehicle driver’s license issued by a competent authority in any state or territory of the United States, in any foreign country or place where said person enlisted in the Armed Forces, with which a reciprocity agreement has been entered into.
If a non-resident individual, included in subsection (b) of this section, holds a driver’s license from a state or territory, except for learner’s permit, motorcycle endorsement, and heavy commercial driver’s license, and those jurisdictions that do not require a vision test to issue a driver’s license, he/she may obtain a driver’s license without meeting any other requirement, but to pay the corresponding fees, show proof of citizenship or lawful presence, and surrender any other driver’s license he/she may hold.
If a non-resident individual, included in subsection (b) of this section, holds a driver’s license from a country with which a reciprocity agreement has been entered into, he/she shall obtain a driver’s license after meeting the requirements and conditions established through regulations authorized by the Secretary.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 3.05; Aug. 21, 2009, No. 88, § 2; Feb. 29, 2012, No. 43, § 1.