Despite all the ongoing problems with the issuance of plastic cards for driver’s licenses in the Philippines, it’s best to get transactions at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) out of the way as soon as you can. If your license is due to expire soon, you might as well renew it on the original date it expires, whether you’ll be issued a much-coveted plastic card with a 10-year validity or a temporary paper printout.
Driving without a valid license is illegal in the Philippines. In case you’re caught, you could be slapped with a hefty fine of P3,000. When is a license not valid? According to LTO, this means “driving with an expired, revoked, suspended, inappropriate driver’s license restriction code, inappropriate driver’s license classification, fake driver’s license, tourist driving a motor vehicle with a Valid foreign driver’s license beyond the 90-day maximum allowable period, and a student driving without being accompanied by a duly licensed driver.”
Photocopies of licenses, laminated copies, screenshots, or saved images of licenses are likewise not considered valid. Somehow these differ from the new electronic driver’s license (eDL) accessible only from the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal and the temporary paper printouts with QR Codes issued by LTO, both of which are considered valid substitutes for the physical cards.
To help you out, we’ve compiled some of the latest requirements and fees that new applicants and existing license holders must pay as of October 2023.
Whether you need a student permit, non-professional driver’s license, or professional driver’s license, the guide below will help you know what documents to prepare and how much it will cost you.
OTHER GUIDES RELATING TO DRIVER’S LICENSES:
Here’s your ultimate guide to the LTO driver’s license
A, B, A1, B2: What do the new driver’s license restriction codes mean?
Student permit
The student’s permit is a requirement for Filipinos who are at least 16 years old as well as first-time applicant drivers before they get a professional and non-professional driver's license. This LTO-issued document is a basic license that authorizes a person to drive a vehicle as long as they are accompanied by a duly licensed driver.
Foreigners who are at least 18 years years old who have stayed in the Philippines for at least one month and who have proof of residence for up to six months can also apply for a student’s permit.
People whose license has expired for 10 years or more and have no traffic violations will also need to get a student’s permit instead of renewing their old license.
Applicants should be physically and mentally fit and have the capability to read and write in Filipino and English. They should have no traffic violations and should have completed the Theoretical Driving Course. Applicants also need to give an email address for registration in the LTMS Portal. The student’s permit is only valid for one year.
What are the requirements to get a new student permit?
- Presentation of the original and one photocopy of a valid government ID. The following IDs are accepted:
- PSA/NSO Certificate of Birth
- Philippine Identification Card
- Passport
- Local Civil Registry (for areas where there is no PSA)
- PSA Certificate of Marriage (for married women)
- Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited clinic
- Valid Certificate of Completion of the 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC)
- For minors (below 18), a notarized parental or guardian’s consent with a valid government ID
- Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN), if employed
What are the requirements to renew a student permit?
- Presentation of student driver Permit
- Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited clinic
- For holders of Student Permit issued before August 3, 2020, presentation of original and submission of 1 photocopy of Certificate of Completion of the 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) (Electronically transmitted to LTO by the accredited driving school / LTO DEC / LTO Accredited TESDA Training Center)
How much does it cost to get a student permit?
- New student driver permit - P250
- Application fee – P100
- Permit/license fee – P150
- Renewal of student driver permit - P150
- Renewal fee – P150
- Duplicate student driver permit - P250
- Certification Fee – P100
- Duplicate Fee – P150
OTHER GUIDES RELATING TO DRIVER’S LICENSES:
Quick guide: What you need to know about electronic driver’s licenses
Here’s your essential guide to the LTO’s online Portal
Non-professional driver’s license
The non-professional or non-pro driver’s license allows users to drive private vehicles. Applicants at least 17 years old with a student’s permit may apply for a non-pro driver's license one month to one year after the issue date.
While we’re all familiar with the standard bluish license, the DOTr has started rolling out the redesigned driver’s license. The new license has a pearl-white color, new security features, and updated driver’s license restriction codes, which you can read about here.
First-time applicants will be granted licenses valid for five years. Upon renewal, drivers with clean records during those five years will be granted a driver’s license with a ten-year validity.
What are the requirements to get a new non-professional driver’s license?
- Completed Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) Form
- Certificate of Passing the Practical Driving Course (PDC)
- Original Valid Student Permit
- Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited Medical Clinic
- LTMS Portal Account
- For minors, a notarized parental or guardian's consent with a valid government ID
What are the requirements to renew a new non-professional driver’s license?
- Original non-professional driver’s license
- Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited Medical Clinic
- Certificate of Completion of the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE)
- LTMS Portal Account
How much does it cost to get a non-professional driver’s license?
- New non-professional driver’s license – P685
- Application fee – P100
- License fee (professional and non-professional licenses) – P585
- Renewal of non-professional driver’s license renewal – P585 (without penalties) / P660 to P735 (with penalties)
- Permit/license fee – P585
- Late-renewal penalties, if applicable:
- One day to one year expired – P75
- More than one year to two years expired – P150
- Renewal of non-professional driver’s license with revision of records – P685 (without penalties) / P760 to P835 (with penalties)
- Permit/license fee – P585
- Revision of records fee – P100
- Late-renewal penalties, if applicable:
- One day to one year expired – P75
- More than one year to two years expired – P150
Professional driver’s license
In case you want to drive for a living, you’ll need to apply for a professional driver’s license. This applies to anyone who will get paid for operating any public or private vehicle, including GrabCar and Angkas drivers. Applicants for professional licenses must be at least 18 yars old and have no unsettled traffic violations. They must also have been a non-pro license holder for at least six months.
Similar to non-professional license holders, first-time applicants for professional licenses will also be granted licenses valid for five years. This can be upgraded to licenses with a ten-year validity during the next renewal, provided no traffic violations are committed during that period.
What are the requirements to get a new professional driver’s license?
- Completed Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) Form
- One photocopy and original LTO-accredited medical certificate
- Original and one photocopy of PDC
- Original valid non-professional driver's license
- Original and photocopy of PSA birth certificate
- Valid NBI Clearance or Police Clearance
- LTO Client ID
- TIN, if employed
What are the requirements to renew a professional driver’s license?
- Original professional driver’s license
- Medical certificate from an LTO-accredited Medical Clinic
- Certificate of Completion of the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE)
- LTMS Portal Account
How much does it cost to get a professional driver’s license?
- New professional driver’s license – P685
- Application fee – P100
- License fee (professional and non-professional licenses) – P585
- Renewal of professional driver’s license renewal – P585 (without penalties) / P660 to P735 (with penalties)
- Permit/license fee – P585
- Late-renewal penalties, if applicable:
- One day to one year expired – P75
- More than one year to two years expired – P150
- Renewal of professional driver’s license with revision of records – P685 (without penalties) / P760 to P835 (with penalties)
- Permit/license fee - P585
- Revision of records fee - P100
- Late-renewal penalties, if applicable:
- One day to one year expired – P75
- More than one year to two years expired – P150
What are the other LTO costs or related fees when getting a driver’s license?
The Medical Certificate is one of the main requirements to apply for and renew a license. These are now sent by medical clinics electronically to the LTO office and are valid and usable for only fifteen (15) days from the date it was issued.
Last May 22, 2023, LTO announced a price cap of P300 for the medical exam fee for driver’s license applicants. However, as of writing, some LTO-accredited clinics in malls still charge around P500 to P700 for this.
The LTO also charges other miscellaneous fees for changes in driver’s licenses. Here are other fees that could come up:
- Duplicate license - P225
- Change classification – P100
- Changing from professional to non-professional (and vice versa) costs the same. A replacement fee of P225 will be charged for valid licenses, while the P585 renewal fee shall apply for expired licenses. For the latter, the same late-renewal penalties for driver’s licenses as mentioned above will also apply.
- Additional restriction code (RC) – P100 per RC
- Revision of records – P100
- This will be charged to applicants whenever a piece of information (such as an address or last name in the case of married women) indicated in one’s license is changed.
- Conversion fee (for foreign licenses) – P100
When applying or renewing for a license, be sure to bring enough cash, as LTO cashiers don't accept payment methods like GCash and credit cards. Good luck!
