From our last article, we explain about three types of drivers license in the country, coverages, and how you can apply in the lengthy process. Now that you have a student driver’s permit, you may now qualify for the non-professional driver’s license.

Here are the qualifications and requirements for obtaining, renewing and revising non-professional driver’s license (NPDL), according to the Land Transportation Office (LTO):

Qualifications

  • Must be at least eighteen (18) years old
  • Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle;
  • Must be able to read and write Filipino, English or the applicable local dialect;
  • Must be a holder of a valid student driver’s permit (SP) issued at least thirty (30) days prior to the application; and
  • In addition, for foreigners, the applicant must have been in the Philippines for at least one (1) month with proof that he/she will stay in the country for at least one (1) year from the date of application.

Requirements:

  1. New Application/Conversion
  • Duly Accomplished Application for a Driver’s License (ADL);
  • Valid SP issued at least thirty (30) days from the date of application;
  • Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment; and
  • In addition, for foreigners, original and photocopy of passport with entry of at least one (1) month and visa duration of at least one (1) year from the date of application, or if born in the Philippines, present original and photocopy of birth certificate duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
  • In the event that the applicant is a holder of a valid Foreign Driver’s License, the applicant may present the original and photocopy of Foreign Driver’s License, if not in English language, original and photocopy of official English translation from Embassy of the issuing country instead of an SP.
  1. Renewal
  • Duly Accomplished Application for a Driver’s License (ADL);
  • Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.
  1. Additional Restriction Codes
  • Duly Accomplished Application for a Driver’s License (ADL);
  • Valid Non-Professional Driver’s License;
  • Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.
  1. Revision of Records/ Change Classification
  • Duly Accomplished Application for a Driver’s License (ADL);
  • Valid NPDL/PDL; and
  • Medical Certificate issued by any licensed practicing physician stating that the applicant is physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle or otherwise stating his/her impairment.

Procedure:

New/Additional Restriction Codes

  • The applicant shall submit all the documentary requirements to the receiving personnel
  • Receiving personnel shall check only the completeness of the documents required and transmit the same to the evaluator
  • The evaluator shall evaluate the qualifications of the applicant and, if qualified, encode the application in the system.
  • The applicant shall be called for photo and signature taking.
  • The applicant shall be called to pay the required fees to the Cashier.
  • The applicant shall immediately proceed to undergo written examinations in the form of the Basic Driving Theory Test for NPDL and will be immediately informed of the results of the same.
  • An applicant who passes the written examinations for NPDL shall be required to immediately take the practical driving test for the RC/s applied for.
  • After passing both examinations, the application shall be approved by the Approving Officer.
  • Applicants who fail to pass the Basic Driving Theory Test and/or the Practical Driving Test shall not be allowed to take the same test within a period of one (1) month from the date of the last examination.
  • If the Applicant fails to pass any of the written or practical examinations twice within a period of one (1) year, he/she shall not be allowed to apply for the same within a period of one (1) year from the date of the last examination.
  • If the applicant fails to pass any of the written or practical examination thrice, he/she shall no longer be allowed to apply for the same for a period of two (2) years from the time of latest failure.
  • However, in case the application is only for additional RC/s, he/she shall be allowed to renew his/her NPDL and, for this purpose, such shall be annotated on the record of the applicant.
  • Upon approval, the NPDL card with the Official Receipt shall be released to the applicant, who shall be required to write his/her name and affix his/her signature in the appropriate Released Form.

Venue: Applications for new NPDL as well as its subsequent transactions may be done at any Land Transportation Office (LTO) Licensing Center and District/Extension Office. The plain renewal of NPDL without revision may be done at any Land Transportation Office (LTO) Driver’s Licensing Renewal Offices (DLROs).

Once you’ve completed the requirements and followed the procedures listed above, you will have a non-professional driver’s license valid for 10 years.

*Photos courtesy of Land Transportation Office (LTO)