Identity Verification for Drivers

Identity verification is a required step before you can book any car on Sicarro. This process protects our entire community — it ensures car owners know who is driving their vehicle, and it gives you, as a renter, confidence that the platform is safe and trustworthy.

Why Is Verification Required?

Verification serves several important purposes on the Sicarro platform:

Safety and Trust

• Protects car owners — suppliers need confidence that their vehicle is being entrusted to a real, verified person
• Protects you — verified platforms reduce fraud and ensure accountability for all users
• Builds your reputation — a verified badge on your profile helps you get more booking approvals

Legal Compliance

• El Salvador's regulations require rental companies to verify the identity of all drivers
• A valid driver's license must be on file before any vehicle handover
• Verification helps us maintain compliance with local transport and consumer protection laws

Insurance Requirements

• Insurance coverage may depend on having a verified, licensed driver
• In case of an accident or claim, verified identity documentation is essential

Documents You'll Need

1. Driver's License (Required)

• Must be currently valid — not expired, suspended, or revoked
• Must have been held for at least 1 year
• You'll need to upload both the front and back
• Accepted types:
  • Salvadoran driver's license
  • Foreign driver's license in English or Spanish
  • Foreign driver's license in other languages + International Driving Permit (IDP)

2. Government-Issued Photo ID (Required)

• Passport — required for all international visitors
• DUI (Documento Unico de Identidad) — for Salvadoran citizens
• National ID card — from your country of citizenship
• Must be current and not expired
• Upload the photo page or front side

3. International Driving Permit (If Applicable)

• Required only if your driver's license is not in English or Spanish
• Must be obtained in your home country before traveling
• Upload the front page showing your photo and license translation

Step-by-Step Verification Process

Step 1: Access the Verification Page

1. Log in to your Sicarro account
2. Go to My Account → Verification
3. Or click the "Complete Verification" banner that appears on your dashboard

Step 2: Upload Your Driver's License

1. Click "Upload Driver's License"
2. Take a photo or upload an image of the front of your license
3. Then upload the back of your license
4. The system will automatically detect and extract your information
5. Review the extracted data and correct any errors

Step 3: Upload Your Government ID

1. Click "Upload Government ID"
2. Choose your document type (passport, DUI, national ID)
3. Upload a clear photo of the document
4. For passports: upload the photo/data page

Step 4: Take Your Selfie

1. Click "Take Selfie"
2. Position your face within the on-screen frame
3. Ensure good lighting — face a window or light source
4. Remove sunglasses, hats, or anything covering your face
5. The system may ask you to perform a liveness check (turn your head or blink)
6. Take the photo

Step 5: Submit for Review

1. Review all your uploaded documents
2. Confirm that your name and details are correct
3. Click "Submit for Verification"
4. You'll see a confirmation message with estimated processing time

Photo Requirements for Documents

The quality of your photos directly affects how quickly your verification is processed. Follow these guidelines:

General Photo Guidelines

• Resolution: Use a camera or phone with at least 5 megapixels
• Lighting: Take photos in a well-lit area. Natural light works best — avoid harsh shadows
• Background: Place the document on a dark, contrasting surface (dark table for a light-colored document)
• Focus: Ensure all text is sharp and readable — no blur
• All corners visible: The entire document must be in frame, with all four corners clearly visible
• No glare: Avoid reflections from overhead lights or flash. Tilt the document slightly if needed
• No cropping: Don't crop the image too tightly — leave a small margin around the document

What to Avoid

• Blurry or out-of-focus images
• Photos taken in dim lighting
• Documents covered by fingers or objects
• Screenshots or photos of screens (upload the original scan or photo)
• Edited or altered images — these will be flagged and rejected
• Black-and-white photos (color is required for ID verification)

Selfie Verification Details

The selfie is compared against your uploaded documents to confirm you are who you claim to be.

Selfie Tips

• Face the camera directly — look straight ahead
• Neutral expression — a natural face is best for matching
• Good lighting — face a window or light source so your features are clearly visible
• Plain background — a simple wall works best
• No accessories — remove sunglasses, heavy-frame glasses if possible, hats, and scarves covering your face
• Match your ID photo — if you've significantly changed your appearance (hair, beard), the system may request a manual review

Liveness Check

To prevent identity fraud, the system may ask you to:

• Slowly turn your head left and right
• Blink naturally
• Smile briefly

This confirms you're a real person and not using a printed photo.

Processing Times

Here's what to expect after submitting your verification:

Scenario	Typical Time
Clear documents, automatic match	Under 1 hour
Manual review required	4-24 hours
Additional documents requested	Depends on your resubmission
Weekends and holidays	May take up to 48 hours

Common Rejection Reasons and Solutions

If your verification is rejected, don't worry — you can resubmit. Here are the most common reasons and how to fix them:

Blurry or Unreadable Documents

• Problem: Text on the document is not clear enough for the system to read
• Solution: Retake photos in better lighting with a steady hand. Use a flat surface and ensure focus before capturing

Name Mismatch

• Problem: The name on your account doesn't match the name on your documents
• Solution: Update your account name to match your documents exactly, including middle names or accents

Expired Documents

• Problem: Your driver's license or ID has passed its expiration date
• Solution: Renew your documents and resubmit the current versions

Selfie Doesn't Match

• Problem: The selfie couldn't be matched to your ID photo
• Solution: Take a new selfie with better lighting, remove glasses/accessories, and ensure you're looking directly at the camera. If your appearance has changed significantly, a manual review will be triggered

Document Partially Visible

• Problem: Part of the document is cut off or obscured
• Solution: Retake the photo with the entire document visible, including all four corners

Wrong Document Type

• Problem: You uploaded a document that isn't accepted (e.g., a library card instead of a government ID)
• Solution: Upload a valid passport, DUI, or national ID card

International Drivers: IDP Requirements

If you're visiting El Salvador from another country, here's what you need to know about driving permits:

When an IDP Is Required

• Your driver's license is issued in a language other than English or Spanish
• Examples: Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Korean, Russian, Thai licenses

When an IDP Is NOT Required

• Your license is in English (USA, UK, Australia, etc.)
• Your license is in Spanish (Mexico, Colombia, Spain, etc.)
• Your license has both English/Spanish and another language

How to Get an IDP

• Apply through your national automobile association (AAA in the USA, RAC/AA in the UK, JAF in Japan, etc.)
• It typically costs $15-$30 USD
• Processing takes 1-2 weeks by mail, or same-day at some offices
• Get it before you travel — IDPs cannot be issued in El Salvador

Re-Verification When Documents Expire

Your verification status is linked to the validity of your documents. Here's what happens when they expire:

Automatic Expiry Alerts

• Sicarro will send you a notification 30 days before your uploaded documents expire
• A second reminder is sent 7 days before expiry
• Your account will show a "Re-verification needed" badge once documents expire

Re-Verification Process

1. Go to My Account → Verification
2. Click "Update Documents" next to the expired document
3. Upload your renewed document
4. Submit for review — typically faster than initial verification since your account is already established

What Happens if You Don't Re-Verify

• You cannot make new bookings until your documents are updated
• Active bookings are not affected if they start before the expiry date
• Your account remains active — you just need to update your documents to resume booking

Questions about verification? Contact us at support@sicarro.com or via WhatsApp for help.