How to Apply and Upgrade to 5 year Driver’s License

Filipino drivers can now apply for driver’s license with 5-year validity. President Duterte signed the Republic Act 10930 to extend the driver’s license validity from 3 years to 5 years.

Motorists who will apply for a new driver’s license or renew their old one will be issued plastic license cards with a five-year validity.

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Here is how you can apply or upgrade your driver’s licenses:

• Head to the nearest Land and Transportation Office
• Bring the mentioned requirements

Note: The agency will cater to up to 400 walk-ins who will apply for or renew their licenses at their main office

Except for student permits, all drivers’ licenses shall be valid for five years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended

As per, the Land and Transportation Office, here are the qualifications, requirements, and procedures to apply for the Driver’s License:

QUALIFICATIONS

1. At least 18 years old.
2. Physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle.*
3. Able to read and write in Filipino or English.

*Must not be afflicted with any contagious disease or epilepsy.

REQUIREMENTS

Duly accomplished application form for driver’s license (ADL) [Download this form here].

1. 1. Valid student permit (Student Permit with a validity of at least six months)
   2. In cases of heavy vehicles: A valid non-professional drivers license for at least 1 year prior to the application, or a valid professional drivers license to operate light vehicles for at least 6 months prior to the same.
   3. Medical certificate with official receipt from any duly-licensed and practicing physician (Note: The LTO will not accept medical certificates which are over 15 days old.)
   4. Negative drug test result (from a DOH accredited drug testing center & Government Hospital)
   5. Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN)
   6. NBI or police or court clearance
   7. Must have passed the written and practical examinations*

   *Applicants who fail the Basic Driving Theory Test and/or the Practical Driving Test twice shall not be allowed to apply for the same within a period of 1 year. An applicant who fails either of the tests for the third time will not be allowed to apply for a period of 2 years

2. RENEWAL

1. Duly Accomplished Application for Driver’s License (ADL);
2. Professional Driver’s License not expired for more that ten (10) years;
3. Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.

3. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION CODES

1. Duly Accomplished Application for Driver’s License (ADL);
2. Valid Professional Driver’s License (PDL);
3. Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.

4. REVISION OF RECORDS

1. Duly Accomplished Application for Driver’s License (ADL);
2. Valid Professional Driver’s License (PDL);
3. In case of change/s in name, date of birth and/or civil status,original and photocopy of birth certificate or marriage contract, as the case may be, duly authenticated by the NSO.

PROCEDURE

Step 1

The applicant shall submit all the documentary requirements to the receiving personnel.

• Receiving personnel shall check only the completeness of the documents required and transmit the same to an evaluator.
• The evaluator shall evaluate the qualifications of the applicant and, if qualified, encode the application in the system.

Step 2

The applicant shall be called for photo and signature taking.

Step 3

The applicant shall be called to pay the required fees to the cashier.

Step 4

The applicant shall immediately proceed to undergo written examinations in the form of the PDL Basic Driving Theory Test for the RC/s applied for or Conductor’s License examination and will be immediately informed of the results of the same.

Step 5

Except for applications for Conductor’s License, an applicant who passes the written examinations shall be required to immediately take the practical driving test for the RC/s applied for.

After passing both examinations, the application shall be approved by the Approving Officer.

• Applicants who fail to pass the Conductor’s License Examintaions, Basic Driving Theory Test and/or the Practical Driving Test shall not be allowed to take the same test within a period of one (1) month from the date of the last examination.
• If the applicants fails to pass any of the written or practical examinations twice within a period of one (1) year, he/she shall not be allowed to apply for the same within a period of one (1) year from the date of the last examination.
• If applicant fails to pass any of the written or practical examinations thrice, he/she shall no longer be allowed to apply for the same for a period of two (2) years from the time of the latest failure. However, in case the application is only for additional RC/s, he/she shall be allowed to renew his/her PDL or Conductor’s License and, for this purpose, such shall be annotated on the record of the applicant.

Step 6

Upon approval, the PDL or Conductor’s License card with the Official Receipt shall be released to the applicant, who shall be required to write his/her name and affix his/her signature in the appropriate Release Form.

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