How to get a Non-Professional Driver's License in the Philippines 2014

LTO East Avenue - Licensing Center

LTO East Avenue Branch.
I have always wanted to get my Philippine Drivers License ever since I graduated from driving
school. I have done some research and read some guides on how to get one, but nothing beats the
real thing. Join me as I share to you the story of how I got my Non-Professional Driver's License
the
Anti-Fixer
way.
(Information available in this article is as of June 24, 2014)

Here are the basic FAQs that you should know firsthand before getting your Non-Professional
Drivers License:
Qualifications:
1. Must be at least seventeen (17) years old.
2. Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle.
3. Must not be a drug user or alcoholic.
4. Must be able to read and write in Filipino or English.
5. Must be clean, neat and presentable (wearing of sando, playing shorts and slippers during
photo-taking and examinations will not be allowed).
Requirements:
1. Duly accomplished Application form for Drivers License (ADL).
2. Valid Student Permit (at least 1 month old)
3. Medical Certificate with Official Receipt (from LTO accredited or Government physician)
4. Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN) if employed
5. Must have passed the written and practical examinations
Please keep in mind that a new drivers license can only be acquired through an LTO branch that has
their own Licensing Centers (Tayuman, Mandaluyong, Paraaque, and East Avenue - Quezon City to
name a few). I decided to go hard core and applied for my Driver's License at the LTO Central Office at
East Avenue, Quezon City. The entire process should take at least 4-5 hours depending on the volume of

applications and renewals being handled by the center so I suggest going there early and it better be on a
non-peak working day (Tuesday to Thursday).

Student Permit
I arrived early at around 8:30 AM but I had extended my stay there for almost 8 hours due to
carelessness. So learn from my experience and please don't forget to bring the Official Receipt that
comes with your Student Permit. I was forced to file an affidavit of loss and get a duplicate of my Student
Permit that comes with a fresh O.R. since your Student Permit is not valid without the O.R. issued by
LTO. That processing alone took me more than 2 hours and an extra expense of Php 317.63.

STEP 1

Certificate of Training from Universal

Before proceeding to the LTO Licensing Center, you should already know how to drive! Dont
be like those egoistic individuals who boast that they got their Drivers License without learning
how to drive. It is both reckless and stupid and might cause you or someone elses life. It doesn't
have to be in a driving school, as long as you actually learn how to drive! You may opt to get
someone who knows how to drive and ask them to teach you.

No Drug Testing Notice

STEP 2

You should take your medical examinations in any LTO-accredited clinics beforehand and on the same
day that you are planning to apply for your license. Some of these medical clinics can be found just
across the LTO compound. The medical exam only costs Php 100.00 so you should not be paying more
than that. As of June 28, 2013, the mandatory drug test is no longer required. This is good because it
would slash around Php 350.00 on your expenses but as a consequence, there would be an increase in
the number of drug-users driving freely on our roads.

Public Assistance Booth

STEP 3
So after preparing all of your requirements, that first thing to do inside the LTO compound is ask
for a queue number in the Public Assistance booth located just before the main lobby of the LTO
Licensing Center. Get your documents checked and they will give you a queue number and
direct you to which window from the main lobby you should be waiting for your number to be
called. I had my Application form for Driver's License (ADL) downloaded from their website
and accomplished it earlier to save time but they did not accept mine and still gave me their own
copy and asked me to fill it up... AGAIN. So it's up to you if you would like to prepare your
Application form beforehand. Even if they do not accept your pre-accomplished application
form, you will be more familiarized with the fields to fill-up and your form will be much more
presentable and error-free.

Fill-up the correct fields to avoid erasures

Just be sure to select the correct fields in your ADL such as "A" under the Type of application
since this a new application, select "non-professional" under the type of license being applied
for, and then select the correct restriction code. I opted to get Restriction Code number 2 since
this will allow me to drive both the Manual and Automatic Transmission Vehicles that are up to
4500 Kilograms in Gross Weight. If you are planning to drive a motorcycle then you can also
select Restriction Code 1. For professional drivers, they are eligible to get Restriction 3 which
will allow them to drive larger vehicles above 4500 KGs. If you would just want to drive an
automatic transmission car for up to 4500 KGs, just select Restriction 4.
Here's a download link, just scroll down and click the Driver's License Application Form:
LTO Driver's License Application Form

Main Lobby
STEP 4
The next step is to head to the main lobby and wait for your queue number to be called by an
Evaluator from windows 8 to 10. Once your requirements have been evaluated and your form
has been checked, you will need to wait again for your name to be called from window 11, where
your photograph and electronic signature (PHOTOSIG) will be taken. If you are really good in
smiling on-the-spot then great, but if not, do practice a few smiles in front of the mirror or else
you will be stuck with a lousy ID picture that you will be regretting for the next 3 years.

Lecture Room
While waiting for your name to be called from window 11, you will be asked to go to the Lecture
Room and prepare for the Written Examinations. You can opt to take the English or the Tagalog
reviewers. For those who are not confident enough that they will be able to pass the exam given
just around 30-60 minutes to review depending on how fast your queue number is going to be
called for the other processes before the exam proper, there are exam reviewers that are sold
outside the Licensing Centers that you can use to review beforehand. I found an online blog that
has a copy of the Tagalog exam reviewer which was updated last August 18, 2013 and based
from my experience, the questions are 95% reliable. Here is the link:
LTO Written Exam Reviewer (Tagalog Version)

STEP 5

Examination Room
If your name has been called from Window 11, you may leave the Lecture Room and return
again after getting your "PHOTOSIG" taken. Take your time to review and don't rush it. The
next step is to wait for you name to be called from window 7, which is the cashier. You will have
to pay Php 167.63 for the application fee, and then you may head back to the Lecture Room and
wait until your name is called again to take the written exam. I know a lot of articles and guides
have mentioned that the written exams are so easy and some answering sheets had already
answers on them. Well sorry to burst your bubble but in the LTO Central Office, the written
exams are machine-generated. This means that each examinee has a freshly printed questionnaire
with a set of random questions machine-picked from their pool of questions in either English or
Tagalog depending on the reviewer that you have used. The answer sheets are also clean and you
will not see any pre-circled items on it. Just do your best, relax and take your time, and if you
ever forgot what some of the traffic signs are called, its alright to check the walls of the testing
room since all of the traffic signs are there. You will be seated one seat apart.

Inside the Examination Room

You need to get a score of 30 out of 40 to qualify for the Non-Professional Drivers License. If
you fail this written exam, your name will be called again and you will be asked to head back to
the examination room which is kind of embarrassing because most of the people in the lobby
know that this means you have failed.
You will be asked to retake the exam after 30 days which means you have to restart the entire
process and pay the application fee again, bummer right? As a friendly reminder, please don't be
over confident and take your time to review and prepare for the exam beforehand since waiting
for your name to be called is kind of boring anyway.
STEP 6

New Driver's License Processing

If you have done well and passed the written exam, then off to the next step you go! Wait for
your name to be called again and you will be asked to "proceed to the waiting area for the
practical examination sa tabi ng puno ng langka (beside the jackfruit tree)". Here you will be
briefed by the practical examiners. They will give you the basic Do's and Don'ts and some
friendly reminders. LTO is encouraging examiners to please bring their own vehicles to avoid
paying the car rental fee and to "ensure" that they will pass the practical exam since they are
already familiar with the vehicle that they are going to use. Since I don't own a vehicle, I paid a
rental fee of P250 for a manual transmission car. An automatic transmission car is also available
for rent at P250, a motorcycle at P150, and a mini dump truck which I think costs a bit more.

Practical Exam -Test Track

Just some reminders before heading down the test track. First, if you already know how to drive well,
don't be a show-off as you might piss the examiner off. Second, if you are not that confident with you
driving skills (like me), don't be nervous, just relax because most of the examiners are nice people and
might even give you some pointers during the actual exam. Third, listen to the examiners instructions,
like if you are asked to keep right, them keep the damn right or else you will fail the exam. Lastly, the
clutch on their test cars, which are small hutch back Suzuki manual-transmission cars that looks kind of
like Mr. Bean's car, are hard as hell. Give it a feel a few times before revving up the vehicle because most
of the time the gear won't click and you will end up smoking up the place and over-revving the car like a
baby cow crying for help. Also, don't forget to smile, greet the examiner and thank them after the practical
exam for being patient with you. You need a score of 70 out of 100 to pass the practical exam.

Waiting for their Driver's License

STEP 7
After you have passed the practical exam, you will head back to window 7 again and wait for
your name to be called. Here you will pay the other licensing fees depending on the restrictions
that you have applied for. I only applied for restriction 2 so I just paid Php 417.63. After that you
may relax, have a snack, and wait for your name to be called and get your License card at the
releasing section at Window 13.

My Non-Pro Driver's License

At the end of a long and exhausting day, I managed to get my very own Non-Pro Driver's
License. It just gives you a great sense of fulfilment that you are now privileged to drive on
Philippine's roads and I did it all by myself. Trust me, you don't need those fixers to set you up
and get your license. Some of them will just overcharge you and some might just run away with
your money as some of the other applicants have been complaining about. And besides, the
entire process of getting your driver's license by yourself is the proof that you are indeed eligible
to drive a vehicle out there on the open road. So good luck and dont forget to bring your own
snacks
as
you
may
be
in
for
a
long
day!
BUDGET: Around Php 1,000.00

Fees and Charges:

Medical Exam : Php 100.00

Application Fee : Php 167.63
Car Rental (Manual Transmission) : Php 250.00
License Fee : Php 417.63

TOTAL : Php 935.26

SERVICE RATING: 7 out of 10

For more information about getting your Philippine Driver's License, please visit their website:
Land Transportation Office - Official Website