Article 116. To renew a driver’s license for a person over seventy (70) years old a medical certificate is required. This certification must be from doctor who specializes in geriatrics or internal medicine and it must state that the driver is in good physical and mental conditions in order to drive a vehicle. In cases which the A.T.T.T. requires necessary a experience exam will be conducted.

Note: The driver’s license for a person over 70 will be valid for two (2) years, unless there is a violation of the traffic manual and the A.T.T.T. or a transit judge states the contrary.

Article 117. Driving licenses are valid for four (4) years, unless the driver commits an infraction which causes the suspension or cancellation of the license.

Article 125. All driver of a vehicle is obligated to carry their drivers license at all times. The National Police and the A.T.T.T. can ask for this document at any time in any place.

You must carry a valid license at all times (Foreign or Panamanian). If the license is expired the insurance company will not pay for the claim.

If you have a visa you can present your foreign license and get the equivalent of a Panamanian license without having to present any exams.

IN CASE I BUY A NEW CAR

Article 39. The A.T.T.T. (Transit Department) can give permits or demonstration tags exclusively to the makers or distributors of vehicles which are authorized by the transit department in case of a trial or demonstration period. This period is for five (5) working days. In case an extension is needed, it is the responsibility of the makers or distributors of vehicles to do the paperwork concerning the temporary tag.

HOW DO I GET A NEW TAG

Article 36. The A.T.T.T. will hand out through the “Municipios” the tag and the sticker of the year, after the person presents the following documents:

1. Certificate of vehicle inspection of the year (inspeccion vehicular)

2. Certificate of sole title of the vehicle (registro unico de propiedad vehicular)

3. “Paz y Salvo” from the “Municipio” of the owner (a paper you do not owe anything)

4. “Paz y Salvo” from the A.T.T.T.

5. Payment of the National Permit of Circulation tax at the “Municipio” which is assigned to you

My advice: there are people who do this all for you, and service fees in Panama should not be too high. In case you need information about registration, contact us.

ANUAL INSPECTION

Article 37. All motor vehicles will be subject to an annual check which will be conducted by the A.T.T.T. or authorized agents. These checks will be conducted in times and places determined by the A.T.T.T.

When the annual inspection is conducted after the allotted time established by the A.T.T.T., there will be a ten percent (10%) fee on the tax of the inspection of the vehicle.

WHAT IF MY TAG GETS LOST OR STOLEN?

Article 38. In case the tag is lost the owner is obligated to report it to the Polici­a Tecnica Judicial (the Police) and to the Municipio which you are assigned to. The affected person should ask with a copy of the claim or report for a temporary tag for the time the A.T.T.T. determines. The payment for the duplicate tag must be done at this moment. To be able to obtain a duplicate you must not owe anything to the A.T.T.T. and your Municipio.

Source: DECRETO EJECUTIVO No. 640 (de 27 de diciembre de 2006)

This article is useful to know in case of a traffic accident, because you can use it to support your case.

Article 147. Rules of Priority in the Right of Way in Traffic Roads:

~ Vehicles which transit in the main avenues have the right of transit. In case of turning or crossing, those who transit on roads should stop and allow those in the avenues to go.

~ When 2 or more vehicles transit in contrary sense and try to turn on the same side, the one that is turning to the right has priority. In slopes the vehicle which is going up has the priority.

~ In intersections with no signs of equal circulation, the vehicle which is to the right has the right of way.

~ When 2 or more vehicles transit in contrary sense to an intersection and one of them is going to turn right, the one that is going straight has the right of way.

~ A vehicle in a roundabout has priority over those who are entering it.

~ When 2 vehicles are approaching simultaneously to an intersection, coming from different roads, the driver who sees the other approach on their right side should yield.

~ A parked vehicle incorporating into traffic should put their blinker on and should merge into the flow of cars.