Argentina's Buenos Aires province license overhaul raises costs and sparks fraud investigation

The Province of Buenos Aires introduced a new system for obtaining and renewing professional driver licenses, raising total fees from around 20,000 pesos to as much as 250,000 pesos. The increase stems from the removal of the National Interjurisdictional Transport License and new mandatory steps: a psychophysical exam, a compulsory 20‑hour theory‑practice course, and evaluations at centers approved by the National Road Safety Agency. The provincial Transport Ministry is considering a 60‑day postponement to adjust the rollout.

In Mar del Plata, a 54‑year‑old woman was arrested after a traffic incident revealed she was driving with a falsified license. Prosecutors are reopening investigations into the network that previously supplied thousands of illegal licenses, a scandal that led to convictions in 2018. The case highlights ongoing concerns about fraudulent licensing practices and their public safety implications.