travel

Renewing a driver's license

by Gaenor Speed

The easiest place to go is Albrook, there is one other place, I do not know where, but I do know it is not Los Andes nor Pedregal as I went there first.

Go in the front gate of Albrook and immediately turn left going past the entrance to El Rey. Ahead of you and to the right you will see a sign, "SERTRACEN." Turn right in front of the sign, go past the parking construction then left into the same building's parking lot. I was able to renew my license as it expired in September but everone else that I know has been told to return after the 15th of October.

You need to take a copy of your Jubilado or other immigration document and you give that and the original document and old drivers license to the person at the first desk. That same person finds your name on a computer then takes you around to the left and you sit at another computer and the person takes basic information, name, address, phone. Then she gives you back your Jubilado card or document and other papers and sends you to the CAJA to pay $40. She also attaches a small Jubilado ticket on your paperwork. So you pay and then sit in area number 1 which is in front of and a little to the left of the CAJA. They will not call the jubilado number so you have to walk right up and show the ticket, then you get seen right away, to the grumbling of the others around you.

There they take more detailed information, recheck what the other person asked, also ask your blood type, allergies, next of kin, usual medications taken, need glasses to drive? I said no to this, maybe should have said yes, but at this point I did not know about the eye test. The next of kin and allergy info was printed on the license. Don't know if the medications would be there also as I said I was not taking any, same with the glasses info. Anyway, then right there she takes your photo, no comment on how that turned out, and then she sends you out into the waiting area where you have to face the same people who are still waiting.

It's best not to make any eye contact and go sit in front of number 3, where you will be called for the eye test. I did not remove my glasses and looked into a small table top machine and was told to read a line of letters, which I did, then to identify colors then to interpret a road sign. Was then instructed to sit in number 3 again.

A few minutes later I was called into a closed room for a hearing test. With headphones on you hear various tones on the right then the left and out you go again but don't sit in number 3 this time, go past 3 to the last set of seats and out of a very small window where both you and the person behind it have to bend over to see each other you will get your new license, after signing that the info is correct.

$20 for the license

$10 for the eye test

$10 for the hearing test

Total time: 1 hour, using the jubilado card and I was the only jubilado there.

Guestimate regular time: 2 hours.

NOTE: People 70 and over need a note from an Internal Medicine Physician stating they are in good health.

Happy driving.