Okay, so I tried to get my Peruvian driving license recently. It wasn’t too bad, honestly.
First off, I found out that I needed a valid license from back home. No big deal, I had that. But then they told me I also needed an International Driving Permit. I was like, “What’s that?” Turns out it’s just like a translation of your license into a bunch of languages.
So, I started by digging up my old license and figuring out how to get this International Permit thing. Took me some time to find the right info, but basically, I just applied for it online. Filled out some forms, paid a fee, and boom, it arrived in the mail a few weeks later.

With those two documents in hand, I went to the local transportation office here in Peru. I walked in, grabbed a number, and waited for my turn. When they called me up, I handed over my documents, answered a few questions about my driving history. They took my photo and fingerprints – felt a bit like a criminal, haha.
Next, I had to take a written test. It was mostly common-sense stuff about traffic rules, but there were a few questions specific to Peru that I had to guess on. Luckily, I passed!
After that, it was time for the driving test. I was a little nervous about this part, I had to borrow a friend’s car since I don’t have my own here yet. The test was pretty straightforward though. I just had to drive around the block, parallel park, and do a three-point turn. The instructor was chill, which helped calm my nerves.
And guess what? I passed the driving test too! They told me to come back in a few days to pick up my Peruvian license.
So yeah, that’s how I got my Peruvian driving license. It took a bit of time and effort, but it wasn’t as complicated as I thought it would be.
Here’s what I learned through the whole ordeal:
- Make sure you have a valid license from your home country.
- Get an International Driving Permit – it’s important!
- Study up on the basic traffic rules in Peru.
- Practice your driving, especially parallel parking.
- Don’t stress too much – it’s doable!
If I can do it, you can too. Good luck!