Philippine Driver License and Car Registration Assistance

Getting a driver’s license or registering your vehicle can be a frustrating process making for a long day, especially for a foreigner!   You need our assistance to get what you need done in a hurry!

• No need to stand in the long lines
• Avoid the hassle and long delays
• You won’t waste all day trying to get it done
• You won’t be approached by the ‘fixers’
• Get it done in a hurry and save money in the process!

Getting Your Philippines Driver’s License

We make it easy for you so there is no wasted time standing in long lines all day.

If you went to get your Philippines Driver’s License on your own, you would have to plan for a long and tiring day at your nearest Land Transportation Office (LTO). There you will find yourself among a hundred or so people all jockeying to get to the front of the line to have their License Application approved.  If you arrive after lunch, most of the people that are in front of you will have been there since early morning. You will notice too there are not really any signs directing you where to go and how to follow the process.

Then there are the “fixers”.  They love to see a foreigner coming and will offer to get your license done for what seems like a small fee, but that fee increases the farther you go along in the process.  You see “Fixers” tend to invent that there is some type of problem with your application and will tell you “don’t worry, I will get it all sorted out”, then disappear into a back office.  20 minutes later they will reappear (usually from a smoke break out back!) saying “they fixed it”.  Yeah right.  There was really never a problem in the first place and they just do this to justify their higher increase in fees!

Our Service to You

Instead of going through all that hassle on your own, we have experts that can escort you to LTO and take you smoothly through the entire process.  You will normally expect to receive your Driver’s License within about two hours, compared to all day on your own.  We charge a small fee for this service, but it is well worth it as our system avoids the stress and wasted time that occurs when foreigners try to do it on their own.

Important Driver Information

In the Philippines everyone (well almost everyone) drives on the right side of the road.  The steering wheel is on the left.  This might be a bit confusing for our British friends =)
Distances and speeds are in Kilometers (Km) and Kilometers Per Hour (KPH).  One Km equals .6 of a Mile.  So one Mile equals 1.6 Km.  Most the cars in the Philippines display KPH and some have both.
If you plan to be in the Philippines for more than 90 days and you want to drive, you will need to obtain a Philippines Driver’s License (foreign driver licenses are honored for the first 90 days of stay only).
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) issues all driver’s licenses.  They have offices located throughout the country.  Some are very busy.  Some are not.
The Philippines has two types of driver’s licenses.  The Non-Professional License is for the average everyday driver.  The Professional License is to drive big trucks, buses, jeepneys, etc.
If you have a foreign driver’s license which is not in English, you will need to have it first ‘officially translated’ into English by the Embassy or Consulate of the country where the license was issued from before going to LTO.  There are many Foreign Embassies and Consulates in the Philippines.  No other types of English translation are accepted at LTO.  Only the ‘officially translated’ version through your Embassy will be accepted.
If your foreign license is expired at the time the application, you will have to take both a written examination and a road test just to verify you can still drive.
If you do not hold a foreign driver’s license, you will need to get a Student Permit first and drive for a minimum of one (1) month before applying for a non-professional permanent driver’s license or five (5) months for a professional driver’s license.  There is a catch though.  You must show proof that you are going to stay in country for a minimum of five (5) months when applying.
You can upgrade to a Professional Driver’s License, but must have a minimum of four (4) months of driving experience either on a foreign driver’s license or non-professional Philippine Driver’s License.
Philippine Driver License’s are valid for three (3) years.

If you lose your Philippine License, you must get a notarized Affidavit of Loss before going to LTO to get a replacement.

Philippine Driver’s License Requirements and Fees

In the Philippines, they call it “Conversion of a Foreign Driver’s License to Philippines Driver’s License”.

Convert to Philippines Driver’s License

Qualifications:

Must be at least seventeen (17) years old for Non-Professional License and eighteen (18) years old for a Professional License
Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle

Must not be a drug user or alcoholic

Must not be afflicted with any contagious disease or epilepsy (for the Professional License because you will be dealing with passengers)
Must be able to read and write the local dialect, Tagalog, or English

Must be clean, neat and presentable for the license photo when applying

Requirements:

Original and one (1) photocopy of valid foreign driver’s license.  Must be ‘officially translated’ in English
Original valid passport showing the latest date of arrival in the Philippines

Original valid visa or Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card if the foreign applicant temporarily resides in the Philippines

Completed Application Form for Driver’s License (ADL),  You can click here to print and fill out before coming to LTO (recommended)
Original copy of Medical Certificate with Official Receipt issued by LTO Accredited Physician or Government Physician
Original copy of Negative Drug Test issued by LTO Accredited Drug Testing Center or Government Hospital
Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN) (In compliance with Executive Order 98)

If foreign driver’s license is expired, applicant shall undergo written and practical examinations
If foreign driver’s license is to be converted to a Professional Driver’s License, then applicant must get National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)/Police/Court Clearance and undergo written and practical examinations

If you never had a foreign drivers license, you will need to start out with a Philippines Driver’s Permit…

For a Student Permit

Qualifications:

Must be at least 16 years old (16 – 17 years old, requires parent’s or guardian’s consent)
Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle

Must not be a drug user or alcoholic

Must be able to read and write the local dialect, Tagalog, or English

Must have arrived in the Philippines for at least one (1) month prior to the date of application and can show evidence that you will stay in the country for at least five (5) months from the date of application

Requirements:

Original and one (1) photocopy of passport with visa showing duration of at least five (5) months from date of application
One of the following –

• Valid Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) I-Card
• If originally born in the Philippines, provide original and photocopy of birth certificate
• If student, provide original and photocopy of school ID
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN) (In compliance with Executive Order 98)

Completed Application Form for Driver’s License (ADL),  You can click here to print and fill out before coming to LTO (recommended)
Original copy of Medical Certificate with Official Receipt issued by LTO Accredited Physician or Government Physician
Original copy of Negative Drug Test issued by LTO Accredited Drug Testing Center or Government Hospital
Pick a Venue –

• For Metro Manila Applicants go to the License Section of the LTO Central Office on East Avenue, Quezon City
• For Provincial Applicants go to your nearest LTO Regional Office or any designated District Office

LTO Fees and Charges

For Driver’s Permit – Must drive to gain experience for one (1) month before applying for Non-Professional License or (4) months for the Professional License

Application Fee – PHP 100
Student Permit Fee – PHP 150
Computer Fee – PHP 67.63
Total – PHP 317.63

Non-Professional License – Applying with a valid or expired Foreign Driver’s License

Application Fee – PHP 100
Conversion Fee – PHP 100
License Fee – PHP 350
Computer Fee – PHP 135.26
Total – PHP 685.26

Professional License – Applying with a valid Foreign Driver’s License

Application Fee – PHP 100
Conversion Fee – PHP 100
License Fee – PHP 350
Computer Fee – PHP 67.63
Total – PHP 617.63

Applying with an expired Foreign Driver’s License

Application Fee – PHP 100
Conversion Fee – PHP 100
License Fee – PHP 350
Computer Fee – PHP 135.26
Total – PHP 685.26

License Renewals – License Renewals (for both non-professional and professional licenses) not expired more than two (2) years

License Fee – PHP 350
Computer Fee – PHP 67.63
Total – PHP 417.63

Expired Penalties:
1 day to 1 year – Add PHP 75
1 year 1 day to 2 years – Add PHP 150
More than 2 years – Add PHP 225

Getting Your Vehicle Registered