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) › § 5064 - Effectiveness and renewal of driving licenses

Every license to drive a motor vehicle issued by the Secretary shall be issued for a term of six (6) years, and may be renewed on successive terms every six (6) years. The expiration date of the driver’s license shall coincide with the holder’s date of birth. The renewal may be carried out as early as sixty (60) days prior to its expiration date. When the driver opts to renew the license prior to its expiration date, he/she shall surrender the license to be renewed so as to comply with the provisions of § 5051 of this title, which prohibit authorized drivers from holding more than one (1) driver’s license certificate. Every license issued by the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works, be it at the time of its issuance or renewal, shall comply with the provisions established by the “Real ID Act of 2005”.
The terms and the authority to renew the licenses established in this section shall not apply to learner’s permits and may be modified by the Secretary regarding any type of license whenever public service laws and regulations make it necessary.
Any person who holds a driver’s license must renew it within thirty (30) days as of the expiration date, after paying of the fees mentioned in § 5682 of this title.
After a maximum term of two (2) years counting from the expiration date of the license, the person who wishes to renew his/her license must pay the renewal fees established in § 5682 of this title. Every license shall be void after two (2) years from its expiration. Therefore, every driver who wishes to have his/her driving license renewed after said term has elapsed, must take the examinations determined by the Secretary in order to obtain a new driver’s license of the same category as that of the expired license.
The Secretary shall establish, through regulations, the license renewal process and every renewal shall be requested on the form authorized by the Secretary to such effects. The Secretary shall require headshots of the applicant, as well as a medical certificate attesting to his/her physical, visual, and mental condition pursuant to the provisions of § 5059 of this title.
The Secretary may require any person who requests the renewal of a driver’s license to take a written and practical examination that will gauge his/her knowledge and ability to drive a motor vehicle of the class, and with the limitations as authorized in the license to be renewed.
Every time a driver’s license is renewed, a new certificate shall be issued to the person requesting renewal pursuant to the provisions of § 5063 of this title, containing those modifications pertaining to the renewal, as the Secretary may deem necessary, and as provided through regulations.
Provided, That every person who is domiciled in Puerto Rico who holds a driving license that expires while said person is in a state or territory of the United States or a foreign country, may request the renewal thereof provided the medical certification is completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state or country of residence of the applicant, as attested by the individual code or identification number granted by the corresponding authority.
If the person applying for the renewal of the driving license is registered in the Registry of Persons Convicted of Violent Sex Crimes and Child Abuse, the Secretary shall direct that an alphanumerically coded restriction be noted in his/her certificate, which shall mean that said person shall not be able to operate a motor vehicle devoted to transporting students or a commercial vehicle devoted to transporting passengers.
History —Jan. 7, 2000, No. 22, § 3.14; June 3, 2004, No. 132, § 3; Aug. 23, 2005, No. 61, § 1; Aug. 21, 2009, No. 88, § 6; Feb. 24, 2011, No. 22, § 2.