Driving licencePanama
Traffic rules
Panama
1. Driving licence
A driving licence is an official document authorising a person to drive one or more specified categories of motor vehicle. It may contain conditions, restrictions, category codes and expiry dates that determine which vehicles the holder may drive.
Drivers must hold a licence that is valid for the vehicle category and jurisdiction concerned. A licence may be provisional, full, restricted, suspended or withdrawn, and additional qualifications may be required for professional driving.
Which driving-licence entitlement is needed for an ordinary car in Panama?
Panama’s Type C licence covers ordinary cars and vans. You need a valid entitlement for the actual vehicle and must respect any conditions on the licence. Other vehicle classes, passenger transport and heavier vehicles can require a different category; a motorcycle entitlement alone does not authorise an ordinary car.
Can a visitor drive in Panama using a driving licence issued abroad?
Under Article 110, a tourist may drive with a valid licence from their country of origin for 90 days. Check that it covers the vehicle and your circumstances. Do not assume that extending a tourist stay automatically extends that driving entitlement; other immigration or residence statuses require their applicable rules to be checked.
Does an International Driving Permit replace the original licence in Panama?
No. An International Driving Permit accompanies the underlying valid driving licence; it does not replace it. Carry both when using an IDP, and check which permit or translation is accepted for your licence and visit.
🔗 gov.uk • UK Government, IDPs and underlying driving licences
