LTO DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWAL GUIDE 2023

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now issuing ten (10) year driver's licenses in compliance with Republic Act (RA) No. 10930, which updated the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. In addition to providing a ten-year driver's license, Section 3 of RA 10930 mandates the LTO to conduct examinations of applicants for new driver's licenses and those renewing expired ones.

Renewal of an expired driver's license requires completion of the Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) course, which consists of a refresher seminar and an examination. The CDE course and examination are aimed to ensure that only qualified applicants with adequate driving abilities, awareness of road safety, and proper road etiquette have their licenses renewed.

WHO QUALIFIES FOR A 10-YEAR LICENSE?

Drivers with a clean driving record are eligible to apply for a ten-year license. This means that you should have no demerits on your driving record, and we mean zero. That means no fines or violations. Drivers having at least one demerit point will only be eligible for a five-year license.

DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

If you want to renew your driver's license, these are the updated requirements:

1. Driver's license card (Professional or Non-Professional)

You must bring the original driver's license card to your ID renewal appointment.

2. Medical Certificate

Medical certificates must be issued by an LTO-accredited facility or physician. To save time and prevent long lines, obtain a medical certificate a few days before your application deadline. As of the time being, the medical certificate costs between Php 400 and Php 450 and is good for two (2) months. There is no need for urine or stool samples because the medical exam will just check/measure your vision, blood pressure, and overall medical status.

3. Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) certificate

The exam can be taken online through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) interface or at Driver's Education Centers located at certain LTO locations. You can also take the course and exam at any approved driving school for a charge. If an applicant fails the exam the first time, he or she may retake it as many times as necessary.

4. Fully accomplished Application Form for Driver’s License (ADL)

DRIVER'S LICENSE RENEWAL: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE

Please note that this information does not apply to licenses that have been inactive for longer than ten years. One must start over and submit a fresh application for a student permit if their license has been expired for ten years or more. In order to renew a license that has been inactive for more than two years (but no longer than ten years), the applicant must pass both the theoretical and practical driving tests.

1. Get a CDE certificate.

You must pass the CDE Validating Exam to obtain a Comprehensive Driver's Education (CDE) certificate. The CDE validating exam is accessible in person at select LTO Driver's Education Center or online via the LTMS. Go to the LTO's LTMS Portal to take the exam online.

If you are renewing a professional or non-professional driver's license, you must have at least 13 accurate answers out of 25 questions (50 percent rating) to pass the exam. The exam is mostly made up of multiple-choice questions. Furthermore, there is no time limit on the exam and it can be retaken immediately if you fail it.

If you pass the exam, you can print your CDE Validating Exam Certificate, which you must provide when renewing your driver's license.

2. Obtain a Medical Certificate

Get a medical evaluation form from window 1 (Approving/Cashier) and fill it out. You will fill out this form with the necessary information and then turn it over to the medical examiner. Proceed to an LTO-accredited facility for a medical examination. Your physical attributes, such as weight, height, and vision, will be recorded here. The medical officer will record all of these data on your driver's medical evaluation form.

3. Documents must be submitted.

You can submit the driver's medical examination form, along with your prior driver's license and CDE certificate, in window 1 once you've completed it. Personnel will retrieve your license information from the system. The license details will be displayed so that you can confirm whether everything is accurate or if any adjustments should be made. If no adjustments are needed, proceed to the next step.

4. Payment

Proceed to the cashier to pay the necessary fees after submitting all required requirements. The fee for both professional and non-professional license renewal is Php 589. If you are late and outside of the LTO's grace period, expect to pay additional fees.

5. Biometrics and photography

You will be sent to Window 3, where your fingerprints will be registered and your photograph will be taken. You'll also be asked if you want to change your signature. You will then be requested to wait in the waiting room.

6. Releasing

Wait for the person at window 4 (Releasing) to call your name and give you your newly renewed driver's license. When your license has been printed and is ready for release, you will be asked to sign the driver's license release log at window 4. You will be handed over a license with a 10-year validity period if you have no recorded violations from the start.