Getting legit information on how to renew your driver’s license could feel like combing through a haystack of dubious and outdated websites. Here’s a simplified and updated guide complete with tips and step-by-step information on how to renew your Philippine driver’s license.
1. Create an LTMS account online.
You must create an account on the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) official website to start the process. The LTMS website has the following capabilities:
- Book an online appointment to renew your driver’s license
- Apply for a new student’s, driver’s, or conductor’s license
- View your online profile and edit select personal information
- Print and review online records related to your driver’s license such as your Official Receipt
- Track your traffic violations, if any
- View transactions related to your driver’s license such as your renewal history
- Take the Comprehensive Drivers Education (CDE) e-learning courses
Tip: Do not confuse the LTMS portal with the LTO website. The latter is the official website of the Land Transportation Office which houses all information related to its services including licenses, vehicle registration, and law enforcement; hence, the word jungle and text-heavy format.
2. Pass the CDE Online Validation Exam and Print the certificate
The LTMS portal offers the required online Driver’s License Renewal course and a complete audiovisual Driver’s Manual.
It is not a requirement to finish all the chapters of the e-learning course. You may even opt to take the test directly since it is a multiple choice type of exam with no time limit to answer the questions.
It is recommended to complete the course to refresh your knowledge about Philippine traffic laws and regulations especially since more information about motorcycles have been included in the e-learning modules.
You will need to get a 50% score or 13 correct answers out of 25 questions in order to pass the exam and generate an online certificate which you can print out.
You may opt to take the exam at select satellite offices that offer computer services but it is recommended to take it prior to your schedule to save you time.
Tip: Do take note that the website refreshes if you take too long to complete the exam which will force you to take the exam all over again with a different set of questions.
3. Book an appointment to renew your driver’s license.
The LTMS portal allows booking a renewal schedule at your preferred location.
To complete your online booking, you must secure a medical certificate from any LTO accredited clinics. For a complete list of clinics, click here. The medical certificate must be uploaded on your LTMS account before you will be able to proceed with the booking of your renewal schedule.
Tip: A more convenient option is to simply do a walk-in renewal. Simply drop by an LTO satellite office that offers in-house medical examination.
4. Visit your preferred LTO Driver’s License Renewal Center
Go to your nearest LTO satellite office to complete the renewal process.
Be sure to bring your old driver’s license, the printed CDE certificate, and a physical copy of the medical certificate if you had prior medical examination at an LTO accredited clinic.
Tip: Malls are convenient options due to proximity in key areas. Smaller malls would have smaller volume of people and faster queuing times. The LTO satellite office at Paseo Center in Makati has an efficient renewal process in as fast as 15 minutes. Paseo Center also has both in-house medical evaluation and computer services for walk-in applicants.
5. Complete the process and wait for your driver’s license.
The following steps outline the usual renewal process across LTO offices:
Step 1: License pre-evaluation at the cashier where the attending officer will check your documents and guide you to the next step.
Step 2: LTMS portal registration and the CDE examination for those who have not taken it yet.
Step 3: Medical examination for those who have not completed this yet. A medical physician will perform a quick physical evaluation and an eye test. This usually cost around Php 600 depending on the location.
Step 4: Updating of LTMS record and payment bar code generation. You will be required to log into your LTMS account and verify your current information. This step also allows you to officially update personal records such as your address which you are unable to do with your regular log-in capability.
Step 5: Payment at the cashier. Here are the current costs to renew a driver’s license:
- Renewal fee, professional and non-professional licenses – Php 585
- Late-renewal penalty, one day to one year – Php 75
- Late-renewal penalty, one year and one day to two years – Php 150
- Late-renewal penalty, more than two years – Php 225
- Revision of records – Php 100
- Application fee – Php 100
Step 6: Biometrics, e-signature, and photo. This step will capture your index fingerprints and your e-signature. Your photo will then be taken against a white background. Remember to come in camera-ready as your new driver’s license will last either up to 5 or 10 years.
Step 7: Release of license card and official receipt. Congratulations! You’re good to go with your renewed license.
10-year Driver’s License Qualifications
The ten-year driver’s license can be issued to motorists with a clean record or those who have not committed any traffic violation. Therefore if you have multiple or even just one traffic violation on record, you will not qualify for the ten-year driver’s license and you will be issued the new standard five-year license. The same process will apply for both licenses.
The Philippine driver’s license servicing arm of LTO is making strides to make their services convenient and favorable to Filipinos. The extension of the validity period from the previous 3-year standard to either 5 or 10 years is an improvement in our local renewal policy.
Photos from Unsplash, Cosmo.ph, DOTr official FB Page, and the LTMS/LTO official websites
