You can legally drive in Nica on a U.S. license, however, if you get a ticket they will take your license. You will have to go through hoops to pay the fine and recover your license. You may continue to drive legally since the ticket will replace your license.
Word of advice, replace your "Lost License" before you leave the states. If they take your license here you can let them keep it, and ignore the fine, as you will still have a license to use when you get back home.

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I also always carry an expired DL with me, and once surrendered that instead of the current one, and the transito cop accepted it; This was near Matagalpa, and I was flying out the next day and had to get back to Managua.

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It's always good to have a "spare" license. It's easy to get a duplicate in the US,,, just "misplace" the original for a couple of days: "I misplaced my driver's license" is all the explanation required. A few places let you complete the transaction online.

While the Nica's are used to losing their license, it's hard for us to give it up. Knowing that puts the Transito person at an advantage. If you are in a urban area you can simply find a bank, pay the ticket, and go back to the Transito who will give you your license in exchange for the receipt. It's easier to avoid even this disruption. You have plenty of time to pay the ticket, and you drive on the ticket in lieu of a license. It's no big deal, although in smaller jurisdictions getting the license back can be problematic. I made three trips to Estelí to get mine back once.

First time it was not there (still in the Transito's pocket), second time,, the window was closed, person just not there that day; third,, she "couldn't find it",, but looked again for me and there it was.

"Couldn't find it" probably meant she could for a fast C$100, but by then I was going on about how I had already made three trips,, burned a lot of gas,,



MOST --but not all Transito would rather have a small gratuity than issue a ticket. You would rather pay a small gratuity (less than the fine) and avoid the grief of standing in a bank line, and later retrieving your license. I had ONE who would not accept "on the spot payment", and had to find a bank and pay the $12 fine. One.

Most newbies overpay outrageously when C$200 or less would suffice.

Transito make less than $300 monthly, so this is an important source of supplemental income.

Spanish ability is not necessary, you can do it all with body language and English. A big smile, and "can we settle this here"? What would get you slapped in handcuffs in the US will put a chicken in the pot of your new found friend that night.

With paper work in order, (they have begun to look for insurance since the fine went way up),, you are most likely looking at something cheap and opportunistic,, like crossing over a solid line when passing,, not maintaining your lane in a turnabout (biggie in Managua, where it's often impossible due to the bus or taxi parked in your lane). Maybe you forgot to buckle your seatbelt,, their favorite as they can see it through the windshield.

Moderate your speed in urban areas. This makes good sense anyway due to the bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, darting about.

DON'T give away any information that can be used to the Transito's advantage: "I'm on the way to the airport,, I won't have time to retrieve my license".

Good luck,, stay relaxed, bargain a bit, he expects it, Get the car off the road if you feel exposed. Keep that C$200 number in mind. Remember, if he gives you a ticket he gets nothing. You have the advantage here.

After a few stops you actually start to look forward to the interaction.

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They mail back the licenses now.

As far as driving, Nic has 2 laws. One says you have to get a Nic license after so many days and the other says foreigners may drive on your foreign license until it expires. Needless to say, you lean on the second law.

If you are just visiting, use your foreign license and don't worry about it. When you get residency, get your Nic. license, which includes a psychological exam and a blood typing because they know more about driving in Nic. than you do.

This ain't Kansas, Toto. Avoid driving here if you posisbly can.

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Just been through this. After 6 years resident I bought a car. The head of the local traffic told me to keep ans renew my US licensewhen needed and not bother with a Nic license. She thought i was out of my mind to even ask. I also understand the test and timing is very difficult and you need to be fluent.

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I should ad, outside of Managua (where they are posted on all exits from the airpor/city) there are virtually no traffic cops. If stopped, have $20 bill in your hand.

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For some perspective on this. In my six years here I have driven my car 1.000's of miles...stopped 7 times...1 ticket for real violation and 1 for a "maybe", rest just check documents and go. Rented a car 10 times...never stopped in a rental.....4 times last year. Much of this is just the typical nonsense that is posted here...little of it from actual experience.

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Rental cars in Nicaragua are often more expensive than in the US. Find out for sure, then look at hiring both a car and a driver on days you need them.

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" . .This ain't Kansas, Toto. Avoid driving here if you posisbly can... "

This is really not that bad a place to drive. Lots of new drivers without experience, people (and not just taxi's ) --stop when and where they please.

It's congested,, so many new vehicles on the roads. Take your time,, relax,, smile. I see a lot of courtesies from the new drivers recently that I had not seen before. Invariably someone will stop,, flash his lights, and allow you a left turn in Estelí

But,, I've driven in MUCH worse places,, I remember Italy in the mid-sixties as being particularly challenging. New drivers too,, with the pedal to the metal 100% of the time. Thank God their little Fiats wouldn't go that fast.

I used to drive a 2 1/2 ton M35 military truck through downtown Tijuana,, only way to get on the free road south.


One of the things so frustrating here is the almost complete lack of signage. It just screams:
Third World!!!

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,, the signage is 1000% better.

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$20 is too much!!

You guys are ruining a good thing.

Count the number of Transito at the stop, multiply by C$100,, and have 100 cord bills ready. There will be typically three these days, if they arrived in a car.

As ATZ states,, once you are here for a while you learn the ropes and don't get stopped that often. You lose that smell of fear that is so attractive to them :)

These guys are mostly easy going,, trying to get by on an impossible salary. Your small gratuity makes a big difference.. It's different,, smile,, be nice, relax, take your time.

Nobody gets pulled out of the car, hit over the head, and hauled off to jail here.

Unless, of course, you get cross-wise with La Chamuka

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KWP is right..if you pay them off 200 cords is plenty. 20 bucks...way too much. Be cool... ask them to pay your fine for you as you are in a hurry. Be nice...whine a bit...1/2 time you can talk your way out!

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$20 bucks is nothing to a gringo tourist, and "they know who you are"! When I always have $5's for US airport services and $20's for any foreign encounter such as customs and police.
.Be calm, be nice, be generous and have a good day.

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ATZ, 7 times? You must reak of 'gringo'!

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In six+ years and 35,000 miles...7 times is not a lot (twice was a real violation...one a "maybe" and the others doc checks.and I drove on after showing them). When they decide to stop you in a road check you are usually too far off for them to really see the driver..by the time they can ID you as a gringo you are on them and past. That is why the myth of "stopping gringos" is kind of weak. Look around when driving and see all the Nicas getting stopped as you drive by. I have also been a pax in cars/trucks and about the same ratio of stops, etc.

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Ah!! the joys of driving in Italy. I drove there in from 1969 through the 80s in Firenze and all over. The thing is ,I think, that the italians really do know how to drive,albeit recklessly :)
My problem was having a car with a Pa plate, my insurance was based on Napoli. But having a foreign license plate avoided the tax in the late 70s based of CC.size of the engine!
I actually enjoyed driving there. Hated driving in Florida…have not driven in Nica-my husband drove and then we got a driver..easier for now until we see if we are going to move to Nica. He is still concerned about what could happen after Ortega..any thoughts?

I admire your driving all over Central America!. I know Costa Rica well and driving there outside of San jose was not bad.

Problem is lack of street signs in Nica and Costa Rica!

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@Feliceb: Driving in Nica is not that bad, unless it is Managua. That is the only time I hire a driver. As for tour husbands worries about Daniel, please tell him not to worry too much. I have seen SO much improvement since 2010. New communities, new airport, more and better stores, improvement in roads, sewer, internet, cell, wind/hydro electric, electric grid in general.
I am here right now and we have no power. The reason, the electric company is installing new concrete poles that can handle expansion and the January winds. Fiber optic was JUST layed. The road from Astellero (spelled wrong) to Limon is being paved. That will connect to the new paved road from Tola to past the new airport. There is also a newer BAC and a new "mini-mall" coming to Las Salinas. I walked the site myself this morning.
Point I am trying to make is this country and in particular the region I am in (Rivas department, Limon area) is growing and improving. That type of infrastructure and foreign investment is due to Daniel and his parties vision for Nica's future. Tourism and foreign investment. The community I am in employs over 600 people. Most are local, some are from Granada. Those jobs pay well, bave benefits and helps their families. That is how tourism and foreign investment will bring the country up in economic stature; just like Daniel's plan for the future.
I say come down, find something and get in now before you are priced out of the area/location you want. You don't have to buy, you can rent. Juat know that the prices are moving up from this time last year.
Hope this helps.

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Hello and happy holidays,
I was so glad to read your post and I thank you for everything you have written.
Will write you after the holidays.i was in Managua myself in october-emergency dental work-no time for anything else!

this is very good news that you sent!
We had read about the commercial mall being built and wondered. So the big area of development is your area even though Land owned by the Ortega family is elsewhere.


May you have a wonderful beginning of 2017
felice

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Hi Felice,
I do not know the locations of Ortega's land holdings, but I am sure they are in quality spots. The area I am in (Tola "beach region) is being marketed as Nicaragua's Emerald Coast. It has a newly paved road, solid and growing infrastructure, 2 golf courses (one is PGA rated and would rival anything I have seen in Southern California or Hawaii), a new airport (Costa Esmeralda Airport - ECI), many mew small to medium delevolpments and more. I am sure other areas are experiencing growth, but all I can report on (and believe) is what I can see.
If you want more information about thw area I know best, feel free to ask. I will be happy to help.

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One clue to driving in Nic. is to obey the laws. Another is to have all your paperwork in order. The more you violate these rules the more problems, tickets, bribes you will have. If you have Bigshotitis, you will pay more bribes than the average person. But relax, you enjoy paying bribes, so savor the moment.

I have about 70,000 klics on my pickup, no accidents, 2 tickets, one deserved and one not deserved. No bribes.
Transito cops are among the best paid people in the community, with regular jobs, clean uniforms, and fringes up the kazoo. They like their gravy jobs and do not want to jeopardize them. Be polite and you will rarely have problems. The fact that a few are crooks is sad, but they are the exception.

That being said, driving is Nic is a pita. Bad road planning, bad drivers, potholes, lack of signage, gridlock, nuisance roadblocks, city planning more childlike than inept, bad parking, are the problems, not a few bad cops. Sandinistas burning tires in the road seems to have tapered off.

I choose not to drive in Managua, so that is not my problem. Esteli is a living monument to bad government, but occasionally, just occasionally, there is a little driving pleasure going to points north like Somoto or Jalapa.

The bus system seems to be going downhill with obscene crowding, the micro buses the same , so renting a car and river are a good option, especially for new visitors.

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Well said!

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