How to Renew Your LTO Driver’s License: 2023 Guide

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is now issuing ten (10) year driver’s licenses in accordance with Republic Act (RA) No. 10930, which revised the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. Along with issuing a ten-year driver’s license, Section 3 of RA 10930 requires the LTO to conduct examinations of applicants for new driver’s licenses and those renewing expired ones.

Motorists renewing their expired driver’s licenses must pass the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) course, which consists of a refresher seminar and an examination. The CDE course and examination are designed to ensure that only deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge of road safety and proper road etiquette have their licenses renewed.


Related Topic: [SOLVED] I am an OFW. Can I renew my LTO Driver’s License Abroad?


Who is eligible for a ten-year license?

Drivers with a clean driving record may apply for a ten-year valid license. This means you should have no demerits on your driving record, and by “no demerits,” we mean zero. That means no tickets or infractions. Motorists with at least one demerit point will only be eligible for a five-year validity driver’s license.

Driver’s License Requirements

Here are the updated requirements if you are planning to renew your driver’s license:

  1. Driver’s license card (Professional or Non-Professional)- You have to bring the original driver’s license card on the day of your ID renewal.
  2. Medical Certificate– Medical certificates must be issued by a facility or physician that is LTO-accredited. You can obtain a medical certificate a few days prior to your application date to save time and avoid excessive waits. The medical certificate costs between Php 400 and Php 450 and is valid for two (2) months as of this writing. No urine or stool samples are required because the medical exam will just check/measure your vision, blood pressure, and overall medical health.
  3. Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certificate– The exam can be taken online using the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) interface or at select LTO offices’ Driver’s Education Centers. You may also take the course and exam at any recognized driving school, although fees will apply. If an applicant does not pass the exam the first time, he or she may retake the course and exam as many times as necessary.
  4. Fully accomplished Application Form for Driver’s License (ADL)

Read: How to Apply for LTO Student License this 2023


Step-By-Step Guide on Driver’s License Renewal

Please keep in mind that this guide does not apply to driver’s licenses that have expired for more than ten years. Those who have expired licenses for 10 years or more are no longer eligible for renewal and must start over and reapply for a student permit. Licenses that have expired for more than two years (but not more than ten years) can still be renewed, but they must pass the theoretical and practical driving exams.

1. Obtain a CDE certificate

To secure a Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) certificate, you must pass the CDE Validating Exam. The CDE validating exam is available in person at the LTO Driver’s Education Center in select offices or online through the LTMS. To take the exam online, go to LTO’s LTMS Portal.


Note: You have to create an account in the LTO’s LTMS Portal to access the online examination. To create an account, follow this guide: How to Register to LTO Online System (LTMS Portal)


To pass the exam, you must have at least 13 correct answers out of 25 questions (50 percent rating) whether you are renewing a professional or non-professional driver’s license. The exam consists primarily of multiple-choice questions. Furthermore, the exam has no time limit and can be retaken immediately if you fail it.

If you pass the exam, you will be able to print your CDE Validating Exam Certificate, which you will need to present when renewing your driver’s license.

2. Secure a Medical Certificate

Get and fill out a medical evaluation form from window 1 (Approving/Cashier). You will provide the required information on this form and then leave the remainder to the medical examiner. Proceed to a medical examination at an LTO-accredited facility. Your physical characteristics, such as your weight, height, and eyesight, will be recorded here. All of these facts will be recorded in your driver’s medical evaluation form by the medical officer.

3. Submit the Documents

Once you’ve completed the driver’s medical evaluation form, you can submit it in window 1 along with your previous driver’s license and CDE certificate. Your license information will be retrieved from the system by the personnel. The license details will be displayed to you so that you can confirm whether all of the information is still correct or if any changes should be made. If no changes are required, move on to the next step.

4. Payment

Following the submission of all required requirements, proceed to the cashier and pay the applicable fees. The amount is Php 589 for both pro and non-pro license renewal. Expect additional fees if you are late and outside of the LTO’s grace period.

5. Biometrics and Photo

You will be directed to Window 3, where your fingerprints will be registered and your photograph will be taken. You’ll also be asked if you want to update your signature. You will then be asked to wait in the waiting area.

6. Releasing

Wait for window 4 (Releasing) to call your name and hand you your renewed driver’s license. Once your license has been printed and is ready for release, you will be called to window 4 to sign the driver’s license release log. If you have no recorded violations from the start, you will be issued a license with a 10-year validity period.

73 thoughts on “How to Renew Your LTO Driver’s License: 2023 Guide”

  1. Paano po ba gumawa ng bagong account kasi yung email ko na ibinigay ayaw maopen nakalimutan ko yata password, isesend naman daw sa email kaso ala namang dumadating, malapit ng maexpire license ko this month pahelp naman po

    Reply
    • Wow dka ba nagbasa?

      Motorists renewing their expired driver’s licenses must pass the Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) course, which consists of a refresher seminar and an examination. The CDE course and examination are designed to ensure that only deserving applicants with sufficient driving skills and knowledge of road safety and proper road etiquette have their licenses renewed.

      Reply
  2. Pano ko makukuha yung serial number ko sa license eh temporary license inissue niyo saken dahil wala kayo card last time ang hawak ko resibo na tinatataka lang ng tmporary license. Pano ako ngayon maka register online?

    Reply
  3. Na passed na namin ang online exam CDE bakit pa kami pina exam ulit sa loob ng LTO for CDE nnmn daw? Ano pang purpose ng online exam kung ipa exam ka parin in person? This is for renewal ng license

    Reply
  4. paano po malalaman ang serial number ng license ko sa likod ng lisensya ko nagexpire po siya last 2017/11/22 gusto ko po sana mag register sa online registration system niyo salamat po.

    Reply
  5. More than 13 years nang expired yung driver’s license ko marerenew pa kaya? at meron akong Saudi Drivers license which will expire this year pwede ko bang mai convert to philippine driver’s license. Please advise.

    Reply
    • as far as I know,even your Philippine Driver License is expired,ok lang yan basta mayroon kang e pakita na valid driver license where ka nagddrive k?pwede mo parin yan epa renew basrta dalhin mo yong isang driver licennse mo na ginagamit mo ngayon sa saudi

      Reply
    • “Licenses that have expired for more than two years (but not more than ten years) can still be renewed, but they must pass the theoretical and practical driving exams.” Binasa nyo po dapat ng buo yung article. Nakalagay na po

      Reply
  6. I lost my license and its expired already. I dont know if I should file for a lost license or should I go directly to renew? Thanks

    Reply
    • In order to avoid alzheimer’s and confusion, it is not advisable to apply for another license because you will lose it again and once you lose it you’ll be confused again.

      No driver’s license, no problem.

      Reply
      • I lost my driver’s license, too, in a typhoon (no pun intended) and severe flooding where many families lost their homes and loved ones. Your advice is great though.

  7. Maaari po ba akong kumuha ng lisensya kahit hindi pa expired ang driver license ko para gawing professional from non-professional?

    Reply
  8. My son’s license is expiring May 15, 2023. However, he will be on a 2-yr overseas employment from Oct. 2022. Can he opt to renew his license now instead of wait for the expiry, esp. since he will not be in the country by then? If so, is it the same procedure as any regular renewal of license? Pls advice.

    Reply
    • Called lto today. Upon registration, click no when asked if you have an existing license. The system being used now is new, accdg to lto.

      Reply
    • This happened to me as well. Nagsend lang ako ng email to LTO thru the Contact link sa site, then like others said, I signed up and chose No when prompted if I have an existing license. Then an LTO agent reached out to me via email asking for photos of my driver’s license and other documents so they can link my license manually to my LTMS Portal account.

      Reply
      • expired po ba renewed DL nyo? Kasi ganun din ako expired na in 2018 then I cannot renew sa mga malls, kasi luma na ang DL ko.

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