Cancún Defends Driver’s License Costs, Says Municipalities Set Their Own Fees

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún officials have clarified that municipalities, not the state government, set the fees for driver’s licenses, responding to public debate over why costs vary across Quintana Roo and claims that Cancún has the most expensive license in the country.

Miguel Ángel Centeno, the municipal trustee of Benito Juárez, which includes Cancún, explained that while the Quintana Roo Institute of Mobility (Imoveqroo) physically issues the licenses, each municipality determines its own prices based on local tax laws and revenue regulations.

“Each municipality has its own fee, outlined in its regulations and updated annually. Imoveqroo has no say in the costs,” Centeno said.

He noted that this authority was established in an agreement signed two years ago between municipalities and the institute. The variation in prices reflects different fiscal and administrative rules set by each local government.

How License Fee Revenue Is Distributed

Centeno detailed that from the total fee paid by residents, the state government only retains the cost of the physical card and its issuance, which he described as a small fraction of the total.

The remaining revenue is returned monthly to the municipality that set the fee. “Imoveqroo issues the driver’s license, but the collected amount is reimbursed to the municipality. The state only keeps the value of the plastic and issuance, which is a minimal portion,” he explained.

This system keeps operational responsibility with the state institute while the primary income from the process goes to municipal finances.

New Statewide License System Launched in 2024

The current license issuance model began on January 2, 2024, when the state government and municipalities implemented a coordinated scheme to centralize document issuance and improve the driver registry in Quintana Roo.

The system creates a more accurate statewide database, aiding public policy on road safety and mobility. It also allows authorities to track traffic violations and sanctions, preventing practices that were previously common.

Before this system, some drivers with pending violations could obtain a license in another municipality to avoid administrative restrictions. The unified registry makes this more difficult, as driver information is recorded in a single database.

The system also includes provisions to suspend or cancel licenses for serious offenses, particularly for public transport operators or drivers involved in high-risk violations. Authorities believe this model will strengthen road safety and transport oversight while giving municipalities control over revenue from the process.