The Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced on April 21, 2023, that it would extend the validity of the license expiring from April 24 to October 31 and waive all penalties for late renewal of the driver’s license.
According to Assistant Secretary Jose Arturo Tugade, many have spoken about the criticism against the lack of production of plastic cards for licenses ever since the issue persisted in 2015. The LTO even admitted that it had a backlog of 5.2 million already-qualified motorists who had not been issued proper licenses after being paid for them.
This led to the stopgap solution of the agency to issue temporary licenses on paper, but netizens complained that this type of identification document is not acceptable for certain uses.
Senator Grace Poe, the chair of the Senate Committee on Public Services, demanded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) address the problem that has been occurring for eight years.
Poe said that DOTr, which supervises LTO, should give motorists the “right and respectable license, not a mere piece of paper.” She added that the “inconvenience hounding our motorists due to the unavailability of the license cards defeats the purpose of the law,” which is the Republic Act No. 10930 or the law rationalizing and strengthening driver’s license renewal.
The DOTr commented that it was already working to be allowed to purchase new driver’s license cards.
RA 10930 is a law being implemented by the LTO which mandates extending the validity of driver’s license. All clients must go through the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) to receive their CDE certificate.
You can renew your driver’s license with a validity of 10 years if you don’t have any traffic violation record. However, there will only be a five-year validity of the driver’s license if you have a traffic violation record. To renew your driver’s license, you have to create an account on the LTMS Portal and have a printed copy of your CDE Certificate and Medical Certificate.
CDE Certificates are available on the LTO portal, LTO officers, and LTO-Accredited Driving School. LTO clients are advised to register and participate in the Land Transportation Management System on the LTO portal.
The Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) is a portal where it allows the LTO’s clients to register a “lifetime” account with them, which is one of the steps in getting a driver’s license.
For those who wish to renew their licenses, are the following requirements:
Online renewal of a driver’s license saves a lot of time, energy, and money, plus it is safe and convenient. Follow these steps when applying through the LTMS portal:
Note that multiple applications are allowed, so you can choose more options.
If you still prefer the traditional way of renewing in LTO offices, here are the following steps you need to do:
As early as now, you should apply for a driver’s license. And you need to know the following costs of getting a Philippine Driver’s License.
If you are an individual who wants to acquire a driver’s license for the first time, you need to pay an application fee of Php100 and a license fee (for professional and non-professional licenses) of Php585. Hence, the total amount is Php685. Take note that you need to have a valid student permit in order to acquire a valid driver’s license.
If you plan to renew your driver’s license, you need to pay the application fee of Php100 and a renewal fee of Php585. If you renewed your license late, the following fees apply:
For student drivers, pay an application fee of Php100 and a permit fee of Php150.
For student driver’s permit renewal, pay the Php100 application fee and Php150. For late-renewal penalties, you need to pay the applicable penalties:
Having a driver’s license is one of our daily essentials. Losing it or not having it renewed can lead to various penalties. That’s why before hitting the road, you need to know some penalties for license-related LTO violations in the Philippines.
The penalty for driving without a driver’s license is Php3,000. This fine shall also apply to those carrying an expired, suspended, revoked, improper, or fake driver’s license. Student drivers are not also exempted from this penalty if they get caught driving without a duly licensed driver.
Not wearing a seatbelt is a big no-no inside your car. Failing to wear a seatbelt shall pay Php1,000 on your first offense, Php2,000 for the second offense, and PHp5,000 for the third and every succeeding offense. If you have children below six years old, do not let them sit in the front seat, as you will be paid the same fine, plus your driver’s license will be suspended for one week.
The penalty for reckless driving in the Philippines is a fine between Php2,000 to P10,000 and a suspension of your driver’s license. If you get caught for the first time, the penalty is Php2,000. If you did it for the second time, the penalty is Php3,000 and a three-month suspension on your driver’s license. For the third and subsequent offenses, the fine is Php10,000 and a six-month suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.
Under the Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act, driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs is a serious violation. If the violation results in physical injuries, the penalty will be as provided under Article 263 of the Revised Penal Code, and a fine of Php150,000 to Php250,000. If it resulted in homicide, the penalty will be as provided under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code, and a fine of Php350,000 to Php500,000.
If it didn’t result in physical injuries or homicide, the penalty will be three months imprisonment and a fine of Php50,000 to Php100,000.
Be updated with the latest developments in the Philippines through Brittany. Aside from being in the know, Brittany offers homes that have state-of-the-art and even classic and timeless designs. Our properties are affordable and accessible to major points in Metro Manila, and even provinces such as Tagaytay, Laguna, Baguio, and Davao.
Visit our LinkedIn and Youtube accounts to know more about Brittany Corporation.
Suggested Read: Top 10 Real Estate Investment Questions
Suggested Read: Real Estate Brokers: How To Stand Out
Suggested Read: Safety 101: Fire Code Of The Philippines
Suggested Read: Licenses And Permits For Your Business
Suggested Read: Baguio Number Coding Scheme
