Motor Vehicles

State laws vary when it comes to motor vehicle insurance requirements, licensing and registration. The term vehicle generally includes automobiles, motorcycles, vans, trailers and boats regularly parked or garaged overnight. Service members and their families will want to understand their state’s laws on registration and licensing before moving to a new state. Visit the USA.gov Motor Vehicle Services page for links to state-specific websites.

On Guam, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) falls under the Department of Revenue and Taxation. All divisions of Rev and Tax are located in the same building along with the Guam Passport Office with the exception of Vehicle Registration. The main Rev and Tax building is located at 1240 Route 16, Barrigada, Guam 96913; and is open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday - Friday. Rev and Tax Vehicle Registration is located at 542 RT, Marine Corp Drive, Tamuning, Guam 96913; and is open from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Please be aware that different departments have different service hours, so it is best to call ahead for a specific department's hours of operation.

Speed limit on NBG is 35 mph unless otherwise posted; Guam's maximum speed is also 35 mph. Most roads on the island are made of a coral and asphalt mixture and become very slippery with the slightest amount of moisture. Roads on Guam are not well lit or marked. Some of Guam’s roads are quite old and have potholes so construction on those roads is quite common. Please use extreme caution when driving.

As of 1 December 2005, all DoD installations prohibit the usage of cell phones by the driver of moving privately owned and government vehicles, unless a hands-free device is used. Radar detectors are illegal on all DoD bases on Guam. 

On Naval Base Guam, anyone found with 0.02% alcohol in their system is considered legally under the influence of alcohol. Naval Base Guam and the Department of Navy both have a zero tolerance for DUIs. 

Vehicle window tinting policies - Navy allows for a maximum of 18-percent tint on the driver and front-passenger windows. The backside windows and the back windshield can be tinted. However, only a six-inch tint is permitted on the front windshield. Navy personnel must register their vehicles with the security offices at Naval Base Guam, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam or Naval Hospital Guam in order to drive on Navy bases. On Andersen Air Force Base all vehicles windows tinted at or below 80% of light reflected will be allowed entry onto Andersen AFB. Additionally, window tint cannot exist more than 6" below the bottom edge of the top windshield trim. Pass and ID personnel will measure window tinting prior to registering any vehicle on the base. Installation entry guards may also measure tinting.

Motorcycles

Motorcyclists must have specific motorcycle notations on their driver's licenses. If the license has no motorcycle designation, operators must obtain a Guam motorcycle license. They must also have proof of Motorcycle Safety Foundation course completion and wear required safety equipment.  Although Guam law does not require helmets while driving, on all DoD installations helmets and other safety gear is required.

Registering Vehicles on Base

Once you have registered your vehicle with Department of Revenue and Taxation Motor Vehicle Division, you must also register your vehicle with the Naval Base Guam Visitor Control Center (VCC). The following documents are required:

• A valid State or U.S. Territory Driver's License
• Proof of Insurance
• Valid Registration
• Military ID

To operate a vehicle on Guam, those who currently have a state or U.S. territory license must obtain a Guam license within 30 days of arriving on the island. They are not required to take a written or road test, only a vision test provided at DMV.

If their license has expired, they may be required to take both written and road tests. For more information call the Driver's License Branch at 671-635-7651.

State and local laws regulate the operation of motor vehicles, and these laws can vary by location. Many states regulate the following:

• Seatbelt use
• Child safety seats
• Motorcycle operation
• The use of cellphones and other digital devices while driving

Learn more about motor vehicle laws in your state at the Distraction.gov State Laws page.

You must have insurance and a Guam five-day temporary registration before you can pick up your car. Your sponsor will help you get everything in order to pick up your car. All vehicles must register with the Visitor Center within 72 hours of arrival; however, must be registered with Department of Revenue and Taxation as soon as possible.

You must have your registration, ID Card, a safety inspection, and proof of Guam liability Insurance. Your vehicle must be registered with the Guam DMV upon arrival from the time you pick it up.

Military members must also register vehicles through the Guam Department of Revenue and Taxation's Vehicle Registration Branch. It is important to have your actual insurance policy, not the card, when registering a vehicle. For more information call 671-635-1886/1898.

Those who have valid U.S. license plates and registration from either their home of record or in the state they were last assigned are eligible for an exemption through the Service Member's Civil Relief Act (SCRA). However, they must still process their vehicles through Guam's vehicle branch to obtain the exemption sticker for the vehicle's window.

Guam law requires all vehicles to display both a back and front license plate, with the exception of personnel invoking SCRA with states only issuing one plate. 

If registration and plates are not from the military members' home of record or the state of the last duty station, they must register their vehicles through the Department of Revenue and Taxation's Vehicle Registration Branch.

Registration fees will vary according to type of vehicle. Fees are based on weight and capacity. The registration fee for a mid-size sedan averages about $120.00. Fees for pick-up trucks will be slightly higher due to the capacity and weight of the vehicle.

Safety Inspection

Guam law requires a safety inspection of your vehicle on an annual basis. If vehicle was purchased on Guam, brand new, then there is a three year requirement. Vehicles arriving on Guam must pass a safety check once they arrive on island. State-issued certificates are not recognized by the Government of Guam. A safety inspection station is located on Andersen AFB and there are numerous inspection stations off-base.

Insurance

The Territory of Guam has a Financial Responsibility Law in the amounts of $20,000 liability insurance and $25,000/$50,000 third-party/bodily injury insurance. Private vehicle owners must have sufficient current insurance to meet this requirement. If your current insurer does not cover vehicles on Guam, consider obtaining a letter from them that you have had no claims (if appropriate), which could earn you a lower rate with local insurance companies.

Typhoons are frequent occurrences on Guam, and because damage from a typhoon is considered an "Act of Nature", many insurance companies recommend adding a "typhoon rider" to your policy.

Motor Vehicle Laws

On Guam it is illegal to text and talk while operating a motor vehicle without a hands-free device. Those found texting while driving will be issued a ticket that has a hefty price associated with it. This also applies to all Department of Defense installations.

Guam’s Driving Under the Influence (DUI) law states anyone found with 0.08% alcohol in their system is considered legally under the influence of alcohol.  A person who is caught driving under the influence will spend forty-eight hours in the “drunk tank” (jail) before being released.  Naval Base Guam and the Department of the Navy both have a zero tolerance for DUIs.

Guam's laws states that children that are under the age of 12 or less than 4 foot 9 inches must ride in a child restraint or booster chair that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. All passengers and the driver must wear seatbelts at all times. Guam also has laws for riding in the back of pick-up trucks. With Guam's challenging roads it is highly recommend not to ride in the back of pickup trucks.  

Guam has a no helmet law when riding motorcycles on Guam's roads. On all military installations helmets must be worn. Please follow all Department of Navy and Department of Defense regulations for military members using helmets and safety gear when driving motorcycles on or off base. Although you may have taken a motorcycle training course from other bases you will have to take it again here on Guam to operate your motorcycle on base.