Requirements for a driver’s license in the Philippines

Before you buy your first car, there are a few things that you need to cover before you get behind the wheel and out on the road. Before you get a Philippine driver’s license, there are certain requirements that you need to fulfill in order to legally operate or drive a motor vehicle. 

Before anything, you need to know or at least be allowed to know how to drive in the first place. A student’s permit will let you legally be on the road provided you are with a professional driver’s license holder. As for the prerequisites, you need the following: 

Prerequisites 

• Must be 17-years old or above to avail of a student permit
• Must be physically and mentally fit to drive a motor vehicle
• Must also be literate in both English and in Filipino
• Must have completed the mandatory 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) seminar at an LTO-accredited driving school that serves as a Practical Driving Course (PDC)

Documents

• A completed student permit application form
• A TDC Certificate or PDC Certificate. 
• A birth certificate
• A Tax Identification Number (TIN)

Application Fees

Student permit

Application fee:                          P100

Computer fee:                           P67.63

Student Permit fee:                   P150

Birth certificate:                        P330 (fee may vary)

Medical Certificate:                   P450 (fee may vary)

Driving course/driving school:  P4,500 or Free

Estimated total:                        P5,447.63

This section is for non-professional licenses. This is for individuals that drive a motor vehicle for private reasons. To apply for this type of license, you will need the following: 

Prerequisites 

• Aged 18 years or older to apply 
• Physically and mentally fit 
• Literate in both English and Filipino 
• Must hold a valid student permit for at least 30 days prior to the license application 
• Passed theoretical written Basic Driving theory test
• Passed practical driving exam 

Documents 

• Driver’s license application form
• Medical certificate from an accredited LTO clinic 
• Valid student’s permit 
• Certificate of completion for the 15-hour seminar 

Application Fees

Non-Professional Driver’s License

Application fee:                        P100

Computer fee:                          P67.63

License fee:                             P585

Additional computer fee:        P67.63

Medical certificate:                 P450 (fee may vary)

Estimated total:                      P1,270.26

To apply for a professional driver’s license in the Philippines is a little more complicated than a non-professional’s. There are a few more steps, processes, and documents that you need to go through. Here's what you need: 

Prerequisites

• Aged 18 years or older 
• Physically and mentally fit 
• Literate in both English and Filipino 
• Must not be charged with 2 or more counts of reckless driving during the validity of the current non-professional license 
• For restriction code 1, 2, 4, and 6 - Must be a holder of a valid student permit issued at least 6 months prior to the professional license application 
• For restriction codes 3, 5, 7, and 8 - Must be a holder of a valid non-professional driver’s license for at least one year prior to application 

If the applicant wishes to apply for Restriction Codes 3,5,7 and 8 is already a holder of a Restriction Code 1,2,4, and 6 professional driver’s license this must be valid for a period of at least 6 months prior to application.

Documents 

• Completed driver’s license application form 
• Medical certificate from an accredited LTO clinic 
• Valid Student permit for at least 6 months prior to application (Restriction codes 1, 2, 4, and 6) 
• Valid non-professional driver’s license for at least 1 year prior to application (Restriction codes 3, 5, 7, and 8)
• Clearance from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that the applicant has not been convicted of any offense involving moral turpitude or reckless imprudence resulting from reckless driving.

Application Fees 

Professional Driver’s License

Application fee:                      P100

Computer fee:                       P67.63

License fee:                           P585

Additional computer fee:       P67.63

Medical certificate:                P450 (fee may vary)

Estimated total:                    P1,270.26