How to get a Non-Professional Driver’s License

Heading photo credited to Judgefloro

Step 1: Create an account on the LTMS at https://portal.lto.gov.ph/

Use an email and a strong password to create an account in LTMS. In LTMS you can access tutorials or lessons for driving and car maintenance. Once you created the LTMS account, you’ll have to provide that LTMS client ID to the driving school which will use it to officially log your training hours and completion into the LTMS system. Later, when you take the LTO exams, the system already recognizes your training history because it’s tied to that Client ID.

Step 2: Enroll in an Online Driving School.

You can enroll in an online or attend a physically at a Driving School. Payment ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 depending on the location and driving school brand. Once you paid them, you will get a receipt and an access (password sent to your email) along with your email address.

Points to remember:

• Learn the traffic signage

• Learn defensive and safe driving

• Learn vehicle maintenance

After gaining an online access, finish the course. Take note that you’ll have 30 days of access to finish the course from the start of your enrollment.

Go to an LTO-accredited health clinic. There some staff will get your temperature, weight and height. Prepare a 500 php fee. A doctor will ask about your vision and some medical history. Afterwards, the clinic will print out a medical certificate which you will bring to the LTO. Take note that the medical certificate is only valid for 2 months from the date of your application.

Prepare the documents such as your birth certificate, TDC certificate, government-provided IDs and medical certificate. Head on to the nearest LTO office. Once you arrive there, a security guard or any front desk personnel will assist and instruct you to leave the documents in the window counter along with queue number. Wait your name to be called. A cashier will call your name to process a payment of 317 php (this could change depending on economic conditions and government policies).

Wait again for your name to be called and this time – wait for the release of student permit. Once your name is called, get your student permit which is valid for 1 year. Your student permit is a piece of paper that allows you to drive legally while being accompanied by a licensed driver.

Points to remember:

• Go to a driving school and enroll in practical driving course or PDC. The fee for PDC depends upon the driving school and it ranges from 6,500 php to 7,500 php. If you own a car, you can save more money by paying just 4,500 for 4 hours session wherein a driving instructor will accompany you in your driving practice.

• Take note that it’s better to start learning at manual cars first than starting at automatic cars. If you know manual you can drive automatic, but not automatic to manual. Besides that, manual cars are inexpensive to maintain than automatic cars. Also, manual cars have more reselling value than automatic cars.

• You have 1 month and 1 day waiting time before you can apply or upgrade your student permit to a non-professional driving license.

Prepare your documents or satisfy the following:

• A holder of valid student-driver permit for 1 month and 1 day.
• PDC certificate.
• Physically and mentally fit – non drug user and non-alcoholic.
• Pass the computer exam (if you fail, you can retake this again the following day)
• Exam fee: 100.
• 600 to 700 php fee for non-prof driving license.

Step 8: Congratulations! You can now drive legally. Continue learning and practicing the best driving practices.

You can now drive legally. Continue learning on the best practices of driving. Maintain your car, maintain your health and follow driving laws. Your driving license is valid for 5 years before you can apply for renewal.