Limitador de Velocidad Guatemala: SLV for Buses and Heavy Cargo

Guatemala is one of the few countries in Latin America where a speed limiter on buses and heavy cargo trucks is a legal matter. The rule is the sistema limitador de velocidad, known as the SLV, and since 2 March 2026 fleets without one face fines. In everyday speech you will hear limitador de velocidad, and in English it is a speed limiter.

AutoKontrol makes speed limiters in the UK. We are part of Scorpion Group, which has built vehicle electronics since 1973, and our units are ECE R89 type-approved. If you run buses extraurbanos or camiones de carga pesada in Guatemala, we would like to hear from you about supply and about how the CIV registration side would work. This page sets out what the rule says and which of our products might suit your vehicles.

The limitador de velocidad rule in Guatemala

The legal basis for the SLV is Decreto 45-2016, the Ley para el Fortalecimiento de la Seguridad Vial. It applies to collective passenger transport and to cargo transport. The regulation that puts it into practice is Acuerdo Gubernativo 38-2019. The original deadline was extended by a year through Acuerdo Gubernativo 229-2019, published in November 2019.

What the rule asks for, as reported:

Set speed: a maximum of 80 km/h. The regulation says this does not authorise 80 km/h where the posted limit is lower.
Vehicles: buses (collective extraurban transport) and heavy cargo vehicles.
Method: coverage of the 2019 regulation describes modifying the injection pump so the vehicle cannot exceed 80 km/h, backed by an inspection certificate from the Departamento de Tránsito.
Registration: the SLV is registered through the CIV (Centro de Información de Vehículos) and the DGT, with devices supplied by authorised private installers.

Fines from 2 March 2026

Penalties started on 2 March 2026. The fine was five minimum non-agricultural salaries (roughly Q20,000) and rose to seven, around Q28,000, from September 2026. Operating without an SLV is the offence, and the vice minister has also mentioned licence cancellation. For a fleet running many units, fines at that level add up quickly.

If you need the exact vehicle categories, weight cut-offs and approval steps for your own units, confirm them with the DGT or the CIV before you buy anything. We would rather you did that than guess.

What speed to set

80 km/h is the ceiling in the rule, but the limiter has to respect posted limits too. Many Guatemalan roads post lower speeds through towns and on mountain sections. A plain 80 km/h cap does nothing there. GeoKontrol can apply a lower speed inside defined GPS zones, for example around depots, terminals and school areas, and release it outside.

Which limitador de velocidad fits your vehicles

Your vehicle or need	Fits	Notes
Bus or truck with an electronic throttle	DBW speed limiter	Electronic, works on the drive-by-wire throttle signal. Fit about 1.5 hours.
Older diesel with mechanical fuel control	System 80	Mechanical, works on the fuel line. Fit about 60 minutes. Accuracy +/-1-2 km/h.
Limiter plus proof of speed and position	TrackSpeed	Limiter with ScorpionTrack GNSS tracking. Fit about 60 minutes.
Lower speeds in towns, terminals, depots	GeoKontrol	GPS geofenced zone speed limits.
Vehicles using SENT throttle sensors	SENT speed limiter	Built for the SENT sensor protocol.

The split comes down to how the engine controls fuel. An electronic pedal means the DBW. Mechanical fuel control means System 80, because an electronic limiter has nothing to connect to on those engines. Our guide to electronic versus mechanical speed limiters goes through the difference.

A word on tampering. A limiter that a driver can disable is just a box on the dashboard. Our tamper detection article explains how sealed units show interference, which matters when an inspector asks for proof.

Sectors that feel the SLV most

Intercity bus operators (buses extraurbanos). Long routes, passengers on board and the most visible enforcement.
Heavy cargo (camiones de carga pesada). Port and border traffic, produce, construction material and general freight on the main corridors.
Fleets that mix vehicle types. Older mechanical diesels and newer electronic trucks in the same yard, so more than one product is usually needed.

How supply and fitting work

We ship direct to the fleet with fitting instructions. Your own workshop can fit the unit, or you can use a local auto-electrician or workshop you trust. Our technical team supports you remotely through fitting, setup and calibration.

Registration is the part to talk through first. Send us your vehicle list and we will go through what the CIV registration route involves for your fleet and agree the next step with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SLV in Guatemala?

SLV stands for sistema limitador de velocidad, the speed limiting system required by Decreto 45-2016 for collective passenger transport and cargo transport. It caps the vehicle at 80 km/h.

When do the fines start?

Penalties began on 2 March 2026. The fine was five minimum non-agricultural salaries (roughly Q20,000) and rose to seven, around Q28,000, from September 2026.

Which vehicles does it cover?

Buses in collective extraurban transport and heavy cargo vehicles. For the precise categories that apply to your trucks, check with the DGT or CIV.

How does registration with the CIV work for our fleet?

Can our own workshop fit the limiter?

Yes. We ship with fitting instructions, and your workshop or a local auto-electrician can fit it. A DBW takes about 1.5 hours, System 80 or TrackSpeed about 60 minutes. We support remotely.

Does a limiter save fuel as well?

Speed has a strong effect on diesel use, and a limiter removes the highest-consumption running. The figure depends on load, route and driving, so try your own numbers in the fuel savings calculator.

Get a quote for your Guatemalan fleet

Tell us which buses or trucks you run, the engine type and how many units, and we will come back with the right limitador de velocidad for each. Request a quote or email international@autokontrol.com.