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Driver’s licence overview
Renewing a Jamaican driver’s licence: what to know before you go
Most people renew in person, and it isn’t the form that costs them. It’s the day: the traffic, the cashier line, the form filled out at the counter, then another line for the photo. Here’s what’s involved, which route fits you, and how to cut the day short.
At a glance
- Who it’s for
- Drivers renewing a private or commercial licence, replacing a lost one, or renewing from overseas
- How long
- Same day at some tax offices, or up to 20 working days at others. Your receipt lets you drive for up to 60 days while you wait.
- What it costs
- TAJ’s fee is J$5,400 for a private (Class B) licence and J$7,200 for commercial or general (Class C).
Which lane are you in?
Your situation decides what TAJ asks for and how you can apply.
Private licence renewal
A Class B licence for your own car. The most common renewal, and usually the simplest.
Commercial or general renewal
A Class C licence, including trucks, heavy equipment and PPV. A doctor’s medical certificate is needed.
Drivers over 70
Any licence class. A doctor’s medical certificate is needed with the renewal.
Renewing from overseas
Someone in Jamaica acts for you, with a properly authorised letter. A plain notarised letter is not enough.
Lost, stolen or damaged
This is a replacement, not a renewal. It’s done in person by the licence holder and can’t be paid online. TAJ’s fee is J$4,140.
Where you get your card
Same-day printing
Some Revenue Service Centres and tax offices print your card while you wait, often within a few hours.
Drop-off offices
Smaller offices send applications away to be printed. Expect up to 20 working days.
Your TAJ receipt, kept with your expired licence, lets you drive legally for up to 60 days from the date you pay.
What TAJ looks at
These are the things your renewal is checked against before a new card is printed.
- Your traffic ticket recordTAJ checks police and court records as you renew.
- Your TRNThe name on your licence must match your TRN record.
- Medical certificateFor commercial drivers and drivers over 70, and it can’t be too old.
- Authority to actIf someone else is renewing for you.
- PaymentThe right fee for your licence class.
Where the day goes
For most people, a renewal at the tax office looks like this:
- Getting thereTraffic, parking, and time off work.
- The cashier lineOften the longest wait of the day, just to pay.
- The form, from scratchFilling it out at the counter, with whatever details you have on you.
- Another line for the photoPaying is done in one line; the photo is a second wait.
You don’t have to do it this way. With a digital renewal, the paying and the paperwork are done before you leave home. And if there’s a ticket hold on your record, you find out before you go, not after all that waiting.
Renew digitally. Skip the line.
We check your record, fill in your form and pay TAJ online, so you only go in for your photo and to collect your card. Just want to know what’s on your record? A ticket lookup is J$1,500.
See the driver’s licence service → All servicesFees and office services last checked . TAJ can change them without notice.