Chile Forum

what are the procedures to obtain a Chilean drivers license? I already have chilean foreigners id and my US license is set to expire next month. Unfortunately I do not have any plans to be back in the states until August.



[b]ADMIN NOTE: Files with the driving test in Chile and other information about taking the exam can be found on this page on the Chile Wiki at:[/b] http://www.allchile.net/chilewiki/index ... in_English

You can obtain chilean drivers licence only if you have identity card with temporary or permanent residence. The requisites are:

- Certificado del Director de Tránsito de alguna comuna que indique que aprobó los exámenes correspondientes.
- Cédula de Identidad Nacional o de Extranjería vigente, con letras o dígitos verificadores.
- Tener 18 años de edad como mínimo. Excepcionalmente se podrá otorgar a postulantes que tengan 17 años, que hayan aprobado un curso en una Escuela de Conductores y cumplan con los requerimientos estipulados en el Artículo 13 de la Ley de Tránsito 18.290.

You have to go any Municipality, to Direccion del Transito, I reccomend you the smaller municipality is better (generally the medium-big are crowded)

Tomás, are the required examinations along the lines of those common in the States, Canada, and western Europe (written, regarding traffic laws, and practical, taking an examiner for a short ride and parking)?

From about 2 years or so ago, if you have a valid overseas driver's license, you do not need to take an exam.

As eeuunikey said no need for theorical/practical exam, but many municipalities may require a coordination (psicotectico) and sigth exam

Thanks, EE.UU. One of the minor joys for me of moving to Chile will be freedom from having to buy and maintain a car; but I do think it was always to have a valid driver's license.

Thanks, Tomás. I think that, with spectacles, I should check out successfully for eyesight. As for psychological soundness . . . I'll not expound upon my non-mainstream thoughts!

It is not a psycological exam (I would never pass such thing) but psyco-tecnico, a sort of coordination drill:

1.-Two pedals, you must "acelerate" and when a beep sound you must change to brake
2.- Several leds blinks at random and you must "kill" them with a sort of pen
3.- A sort of "scissor which you must follow a path, every time you go out a beep sounds

I renewed my license weeks ago and, thanks God the examinators are good friends of mine, I have NEVE passed any of such drills sucesfully, ever, every time I go to renew examinators come to see me making the fool

The best are smaller municipalities, you just give an adress of a nearby hotel or such.

I hope that Quillota (en la quinta región), my likely destination, will be small enough.

What would a crippled person do? That hand-eye coördination could be quite daunting.

Usually those control are very lax, I have never heard from someone rejeted by less of coordination (I havent obtained never license with strict controls, I failed since my first try, having no friends, and the exam just laughed at me)

thanks...guess i'll charge the ipod and load it with NPR talk of nation and head over there and see how it goes..

FYI....in Vina, they require everyone to take the entire test, so a good link to have is:

http://www.munivinaenlinea.cl/ex_teorico/

Clase B practice questions can be downloaded for free from the site. It is better than paying the 2500 pesos at their offices.