Can you renew your driver's license ahead of time? LTO says yes

Renewing your driver’s license usually happens on or a week before your birthday. This is a relatively small window for people to renew their licenses, making it hard for them to plan for the inevitable process. However, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) wants to change this by offering a wider window of opportunity for people to renew their licenses.

According to the LTO, you can now get your driver’s license renewed 60 days ahead of its actual expiration date. You can even renew it a year ahead as long as you can prove that you are going to be out of the country when the expiration date hits. This makes it more convenient for the public to schedule time off to renew their licenses. To add to this, driver’s license renewal is also now possible on Saturdays this makes it possible for the public who cannot schedule a day off during the weekdays.

To renew for a new license, the applicant will need the following requirements. First, the applicant will need to fill up an application form for a driver's license (ADL). These are given out at the LTO renewal site itself and can be done on-site. Second, the applicant will need to surrender their old driver’s license card either professional or no professional. The final requirement before the actual process can begin is a medical certificate. This can be electronically transmitted to the LTO.

Once these requirements are accomplished the waiting will begin. The applicant will need to submit all the documentary requirements to the personnel. The applicant will be required to confirm that the forms given are correct. If there is no need for corrections then the applicant will move on to the next step. However, if there are corrections to be made the applicant will need to re-fill up an ADL form with the proper and correct information on it.

The next few steps in the process are fairly easy but will require the applicant to wait. The next step is photo-taking and signature taking. These will be shown on the face of the applicant’s new license. After the photo and signature taking is done the applicant will be called to the cashier to pay the required fees. 

The final step in the process is the releasing of the actual card. This might take time and may require the applicant to come back on a later date. Once the new driver’s license is ready, the applicant will be given his or her new driver’s license card with the official receipt with the addition of the old expired card. The applicant will be required to write their name and their signature to the appropriate release form.

For those who are going to leave the country during the time of their license expiration, the steps are fairly similar. There’s only the added requirements of having to bring the applicant’s passport, a plane ticket, and a certificate of an employment contract. The rest of the process is the same as how regular applicants would renew their driver’s license.