There have been a lot of changes at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) since I last renewed my driver’s license five years ago. Along with the changes in validity from 10 years to 5 years, there’s the additional requirement of an online exam and the ongoing plastic shortage that has caused a backlog in the delivery of actual licenses.
Some friends who renewed their licenses earlier this year complained that they only got the temporary paper printout and not the actual plastic card. I was initially hoping to put off the dreaded chore until next year because of the announcement of the automatic one-year validity extension until April 2024.
However, on October 5, the LTO announced that the extension no longer applies and it has enough stocks of plastic cards for licenses that expired from April 1 up to September 30, 2023.
Since my license expires in October 2023, I was unsure whether or not I should go through the process or wait until April since it wasn’t covered by the new advisory. I decided to try renewing at once with the hopes that I would be granted a plastic card with a 10-year validity.
In the past, I usually took care of LTO requirements like motorcycle registration and license renewal at the LTO district office in P. Tuazon in Cubao (which is now closed) or the main LTO branch in East Avenue (which is usually crowded).
Here’s my first-hand experience getting my license renewed at the new LTO Driver’s License Renewal Office (DLRO) at U.P. Town Center in Quezon City, which opened in May 2022.
NOTE: The author renewed her license early on in October 2023, just before the court issued an injunction against the LTO’s plastic card procurement towards the end of the month. Since that incident, it’s been back to plastic cards for new licenses
OTHER GUIDES YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT:
Here’s your ultimate guide to the LTO driver’s license
LTO driver’s license application and renewal guide: Requirements and fees in 2023
Registration at the LTMS Portal
First of all, I checked Top Gear’s very helpful 5-step guide to the entire LTO driver’s license renewal process written in 2022 and signed up at the Land Transportation Management System or LTMS Portal. The process is pretty much the same except for updated fees and test score requirements.
The site allows you to register or update all your details. You will be asked to provide your LTO driver’s license number, and other basic personal information like name, address, contact information, and date of birth.
Once you complete your registration, the LTMS will send a verification link to the e-mail address. After you click it, you will be asked to create your password. It took roughly 5 minutes to register and sign up, including the waiting time to get the verification link.
The portal gives users access to your Digital ID and has clickable sections for licensing, vehicle, transactions, violations, documents, and your profile, which you can update. This site can help you keep track of your driver's license status and let you know if you have any traffic violations.
It also indicates if you're eligible to get a 10-year driver's license or just the 5-year license. Thankfully, there weren’t any traffic violations on my record.
Upon checking my digital ID on the site, I was surprised to see that the Restriction Codes were already updated. My plastic license card shows 1 and 2 (old restriction codes) while the digital ID already indicated A, A1, B, B1, and B2, so there’s no need to bother converting your codes.
Time to complete LTMS registration: 5 minutes
Online Validation Exam
From the LTMS portal, you can take LTO’s Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) online validation exam before you visit LTO or you could opt to take it at the Renewal Center itself. I suggest you do it at home to save time.
In case you need a refresher, LTO offers driver’s license renewal reviewers available on the LTMS website. To access these, select the “E-Learning” tab at the top of the LTO LTMS homepage and click on “Driver’s License Renewal Course.”
For non-professional drivers, the refresher has audio visual content that covers a variety of topics like defensive driving, road safety, stress, road rage, and more. Part 1 of the video lasts 2 hours and 25 minutes while Part 2 is 2 hours and 7 minutes long. While you don’t really have to watch the videos, you can pick up a lot of important pointers. The section also contains useful infographics on road safety rules, special laws, and the like.
The actual test is just comprised of 25 questions, and takers need to get 80% or 20 of the 25 questions right. The exam is made up of multiple-choice questions and there’s no time limit to answer. It will take about 10 minutes to complete.
Do you need to study for the test? While parts of the refresher video can help, some of the questions rely on common sense or are very specific.
Based on the questions I had to answer, I’d recommend skimming some of Top Gear’s explainers on land transportation-related laws, particularly RA 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, the new driver’s license restriction codes, special laws on driving such as the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act (RA 10586), the Seatbelt Law (RA 8750), Anti-Distracted Driving Law (RA 10913) and Child Safety in Motor Vehicle Act (RA 11229), to name a few.
The test is nothing to worry about. But in case you fail the test the first time or you want to bump up your score for some reason, you can just retake it. However, the number of attempts will reflect on the LTMS portal.
If you scored at least 80% on the CDE exam, you’ll be sent to a page to download the PDF file of your OVE certificate. A notification will also be sent by email. Print one copy, which you’ll need to submit to the LTO driver’s license renewal branch.
Time to complete online CDE test: 10 minutes
Medical exam
Before you drop by an LTO office, make sure to pass by an LTO-accredited clinic first to avoid having to go back and forth. Clinics are usually found in the vicinity of LTO branches. There’s a small LTO-accredited Tres Pemanah Medical Clinic conveniently right next to the LTO Driver’s Renewal Office, so head there first. The clinic is open from 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays.
Flowchart of medical examination:
- Registration of applicant
- Medical secretary takes vital signs and blood type (optional)
- Computer-based examination of visual activity
- Isihara Test and Hearing by computer under the supervision of Physician
- Physician conducts physical examination of applicant
- Release of medical certificate
The clinic staff will check your blood pressure, weight, and height, and do a quick eye test. Taking your blood type is optional. You’ll be asked your civil status, any medical conditions, or if you’re taking any maintenance medicines, and they’ll take your photo.
You’ll be given a Medical Certificate for the Driver’s License which also has a QR Code. Settle the payment and proceed to the LTO next door.
As of October 2023, Tres Pemanah Clinic charges a medical fee of P600 for regular transactions and P480 for PWDs and Seniors. I got here at 9:27am and was issued a medical certificate by 9:39am.
Time to get medical test and certificate: 12 minutes
Total cost: P600
LTO driver’s license renewal office
You can now proceed to the DLRO. Just submit your old license, printed OVE, and medical certificate at the counter. If all your requirements are in order, you’ll be asked to wait. Those who don’t have LTMS accounts or haven’t taken the online exam will have to proceed to another stall in the same office to register first.
The U.P. Town Center branch operates from 9am to 5pm from Mondays to Fridays. I got here at around 9:40am on a Wednesday, but there were already a few people ahead of me in line. It’s a very small branch with just a few chairs inside for people.
While waiting, I checked out the display of diecast car scale models of BenSan Customs which was displayed at the center.
Since I had no late penalties, I was asked to pay P585 for the 10-year license. My new license will expire in October 2033, but based on the official receipt, I should get a medical test in October 2027 and October 2030. Other fees and charges may apply depending on your license.
The cashier at LTO only accepts cash and not online payments like GCash, so make sure you have enough cash on hand.
It didn’t take too long before I was called for biometrics. My fingerprints were taken and I was given the opportunity to take a new photo (or retain the old one) and update the signature on my driver’s license card. The digital ID gets updated immediately on the LTMS portal.
After a final check of records, my card was printed and released with an official receipt. I was asked to sign the releasing form, and that’s it! I was done with the whole process before 10:00am.
Time to submit documents and get an actual license: 19 minutes
Cost of renewal: P585
Compared to my previous experiences getting my license renewed at LTO Cubao and East Avenue, which used to eat up the whole morning (three to four hours) because of long lines, I found this online system and renewing at a mall center a much better option in terms of efficiency. Excluding the travel time getting to and from the mall, the medical test and renewal just took about 30 minutes and was surprisingly painless. Best of all, I don’t have to do this for another 10 years!
According to the LTO officers at the branch I went to, those whose licenses expire in October 2023 onwards can start getting their licenses renewed according to the original expiry date and disregard the extension deadlines, as these only affect those whose licenses expired from April to September due to the plastic shortage.
In case your driver’s license expires in October, November, or December, I suggest you go on your birth month (or earlier) while plastic stocks are still fresh. ICYDK, license holders may renew their licenses as early as 60 days prior to the expiry date. You can also apply for renewal as early as 61 days to 1 year before your license expires, as long as you can submit proof that you will be out of the country at the time.
Meanwhile, some of those who were issued paper licenses earlier this year can head back to the renewal centers they originally went to and ask if plastic cards are available for them. Good luck!
Total time spent (including LTMS, OVE, medical test, and at the LTO center): 46 minutes
Total cost breakdown (medical test + renewal fee): P1,185
