Getting your Teen a Driver’s Permit and Driver’s License here in Guam is a bit challenging. There are quite a few steps that are required and it’s not a fast process, like most things in Guam, but it is achievable! We recently went through the process with my son and I’ve been asked by several people about it so I wanted to share the info to help others.
First either you or your Spouse will need a Guam driver’s license to get a Guam permit for your child. I took the hit for our family and spent 3 hours down at the DMV getting my Driver’s license back in Dec because I knew we’d need it for his permit. You can schedule an appt HERE, which I highly recommend, but I was trying to get it done before we left on leave and there were no appointments available. Note the appts seem to be booking a few months out, so plan ahead!
Then you need to get your teen enrolled in a Driver’s Training course. We are using a family run driver’s training course and they do 1 on 1 drivers training and come to your home as well. After completing the study part of the Driver’s Training you’ll be given a certificate which you need in order to sign up for the Driver’s license test.
Sadly you are not able to make an appt to sign up for the Driver’s license test so you’ll be spending a few hours in line at the DMV with your teen.
You’ll need:
Driver’s training certificate
Birth certificate
Social Security card
ID card
Mayor’s letter
DMV form (found at the table at the front of the line) or online HERE
Glasses/contacts to complete the vision test
Recently they started the new requirement of the form from the Mayor of your village or if you live on base a letter from housing stating residency. To get the Mayor’s letter from your local village you’ll need to bring your lease agreement as well
ID’s for everyone in the household over 16 years of age and birth certificates for those under 16 years of age.
They will assign you a time and date to take the driver’s license test. It’s given twice a month on Friday. It’s also located at the University of Guam and you’ll need $15 cash to pay for it.
Day of the test arrive early, we arrived an hour early which was a bit of overkill but it is a bit tricky to find. It’s located at the University of Guam in the Computer Center although the test takes place in another building. NOTE you cannot take a cell phone with you into the testing building, they check bags are are super strict on this. You’ll need your slip from the DMV to check in and pay $15 cash for the test.
Once that is done they will give you a slip with info on it for checking the test results online which you can do on the Wednesday following the test. You’ll wait in the seating area until near test time and then they will walk them to the testing room in the other building. Testers can leave the building as soon as they are done taking the test so I waited in our car as it was parked near the testing building and my teen had to leave his phone with me. I could see him walk out of the building and to the car after the test.
To find the building at the college turn Left on College lane. Drive all the way down to the stop sign and take a right. You’ll turn into parking area, look for the huge tree and park there. Buildings will be to the right. I’ve pinned the parking are in front of the tree HERE After your parked you’ll see a building on the corner. This is where they actually take the test but you need to go in and check in and pay in the other building first. As your walking across the street you should see a sign that says Driver’s License exam.
You can also see the Campus map HERE Its building #5 that you check into for the test. Go up the stairs to the 2nd floor and to the left & around the corner. There will be someone sitting at a desk to verify your slip, ID, & take your $15 – cash only! The testing takes place in building #3 on the map.
After taking the test you wait until Wed after 12 noon and then use the provided link to check your test results. If you passed, congrats, and you now get to to wait in line at the DMV again to pick up your permit! If you did not pass you’ll have to make the visit to the DMV again to sign up for another test date. Link to check for the Exam results HERE
My husband took my son to pick up his permit the following Monday. Note if you arrive at the DMV around 7:30-7:45 for their opening at 8 am your experience will be much shorter. They were only there around 1.5 hours. To pick up your permit you need your ID you used for the test and $10 to pay for it. The Driver’s Permit here is not an ID like in most States but a huge bulky rectangle sized paper that they have to fold up and carry around in their wallets.
After holding their Driver’s Permit for 6 months and completing the required driving hours they can then take the Driving Road test. This must be done at one of the Driving Centers that they accept, there is a list posted at the DMV. The fee will vary by testing center.
After completing the Driving Test you can then get an Intermediate License which you have to hold for 1 year. You are able to make an appt. for this one, so I highly recommend that. You’ll need $10 to pay for the Intermediate license.
After one year of a perfect driving record you can successfully go back to the DMV and get a full Driver’s License, for a fee of course. Bring another $10 for the driver’s license fee.
I’ll update the latter part of this post in a few months as we complete the Driver’s road exam and going back to get his Intermediate license. The Intermediate license is then held for a year and after a year and having a perfect driving record you can take them back to get their full driver’s license that will finally be transferable to other States. You can however make an appointment for this, which I highly recommend!
I’ve also included a free printable that you can download HERE to help you get the process done as information here is hard to find!
Thank you for the information. Our son is of course wanting to do his driving here in Guam…
I always say there are worse places our kids could learn to drive 😉
Did your child have to be present with you to schedule the written permit test?
Yes! They have to show ID, social security card, and take the vision test before they will schedule the date for them.
At what age can a teenager get their permit in Guam???
15 1/2 years old for permit
Thank you for this helpful information! After they’ve completed these steps and had their intermediate license for a year, do you know if there’s a minimum age to get their full driver’s license?
I don’t think there is a minimum age but if they get the permit at 15.5 years and have to hold it for 6 months, they would then get their Intermediate at 16 years. Holding that for a year would make them 17 or right around there when they are getting their full license.
Ok so my question is if my permit has expired, do I need to retake the test again only because I missed the 6 months to go back to DMV to get my intermediate license?
I’m really not sure on that, I’d say give the DMV a call to verify. You may have to try calling a few times before someone answers. Sorry for the delay I was in the States on Emergency leave.
Just for information, your child can begin the schooling at 15 which will put him at 15 1/2 for the written test.
Hi what if my child isn’t so young but never had their license? She’s 20 and doesn’t know where to start and honestly neither do I. She’s leaving for school this August, so the 6 month wait doesn’t sound to appealing. Does the 6 month wait even apply to 18+?
I’m not sure for over 18 years old. Your best bet will be to call the DMV for answers. You may have to call several times before they answer 😉
My daughter has her permit in California, but all of the behind-the-wheel tests were postponed and we move to Guam in August. Can she go straight to take the behind-the-wheel test or will she have to start over and get her permit?
Guam is very unique, most likely she’ll have to start all over. Your best source of info will be to contact the DMV, however getting ahold of them can be a nightmare. You can try contacting one of the driving schools as well.