This guide is based on my personal experience when I renewed my 9-year expired driver’s license in Quezon City. I will try to answer as many questions as possible, but will also link to helpful pages. Hope this article can help you renew your dormant or delinquent driver’s license in the Philippines smoothly and seamlessly in 2024.

What is a Dormant Driver’s License in PH?

In the Philippines, a driver’s license is considered “dormant” or “delinquent” if it has already been expired for more than 2 years but not exceeding 10 years.

So, ganito yan. Every 5 or 10 years (varying ito depende sa license holder), we need to renew our driver’s license, tama? Now, if hindi ka nakapag-renew kaagad, mag-eexpire yung lisensya mo. If umabot ng 1 to 2 years na expired ang driver’s license mo, at nag-decide ka na ipa-renew na, tatanggapin pa yan sa mga LTO satellite offices. Ang tawag dyan ay late renewal. Magbabayad ka lang ng penalty, but the process remains the same. P75 if 1 year expired and P150 if 2 years expired. You can open this page for the complete LTO fee and charges information.

Now, kapag lumampas na ng 2 years na expired ang license mo but less than 10 years, ang tawag na dito ay dormant, sometimes delinquent. At iba na ang process and penalties for renewing a dormant driver’s license in the Philippines. For one, hindi mo na ito pwede asikasuhin sa mga satellite offices. You have to go directly as LTO Main Office in East Avenue or sa LTO Eton Centris branch. In my case, sa Eton Centris Branch ako pumunta. It’s located sa 2nd floor ng Centris Station Mall. Here’s the address and direction.

Requirements to Renew a Dormant Driver’s License in the Philippines 2024

You can also see this on the LTO’s official website, so I’ll summarize the requirements here:

1. Your old/expired driver’s license
If you don’t have this anymore, like nawala or stolen, you need to produce an Affidavit of Loss)

2. Accomplished renewal form
This is downloadable from the LTO official website. You can print a copy for yourself or just get one from your preferred branch of renewal.

3. Medical certificate saying that you are fit to drive
There are authorized/accredited clinics where you can have your medical exam. Usually, katabi lang ito ng mga LTO satellite offices. In my case, sa SM North Annex Bldg. ako nagpa-medical. I forgot the name of the clinic but katabi lang ito ng LTO office. This cost me P600.

4. CDE Online Validation Exam result
Some say that this isn’t required na because you will also take an onsite exam sa LTO office. But I did the online exam anyway, brought the printed result, and they took it from me anyway. So better to bring this na rin.

5. Payment 
You will have to pay for the processing fee, onsite examination fee, drive test fee, and penalties. I’d say prepare about P1,500 to be sure. If you’ll include medical test fee, about P2,100 should be fine.

6. Pass the onsite theoretical exam
This is a computerized test that you have to pass before you can proceed to the driving test. Passing grade is 80% or 48 correct answers out of 60 questions. To pass this, you have to read and review this information.

7. Pass the driving test
Yes, you will have to undergo a practical driving test. They want to make sure na you can still drive despite your delinquency. Kaya as much as possible, huwag na paabutin na imaging dormant and driver’s license.

8. Photo, biometrics, and signature
This will be done onsite.

How to Renew a Dormant Driver’s License in the Philippines 2024: Step-by-Step Guide

STEP 0: Pay any pending traffic violation fees.

This might not be applicable to everyone, but in my case, I had to accomplish this. Meron akong penalty about 10 years ago na hindi ko nabayaran. As per an LTO officer’s advise, diretso na sa MMDA i-settle ang violation para agad-agad mabura sa system nila ang violation mo. Kapag kasi sa mga payment centers or through bank centers, madalas hindi nagrereflect agad sa system nila na settled na yung violation.

Through this step, nakuha ko ang expired license ko from the MMDA. Akala ko talaga I lost it, nasa kanila pala and binalik nila after ko ma-settle yung violation fee.

STEP 1: Create an account in the LTMS Online Portal and take the online driving test.

Here’s the website. Open it and sign up for a new account. Dito ka magte-take ng online driving test. Repeat ko lang, may mga nagsasabi na hindi na kailangan ang step na ito since mag-eexam ka rin onsite. But ako, ginawa ko siya to be sure, and at the same time, it served as my review na rin para sa theoretical exam. The online exam has 25 questions, and you have to get at least 20 questions correct to pass. If you pass, they will give you a certificate. Print it and bring it with you sa LTO office during your license renewal.

STEP 2: Get a medical certificate.

Go to an LTO-accredited clinic for this. Pwedeng a different day from your preferred schedule of driver’s license renewal; pwede rin namang same day as long as you have all the requirements na with you and you have enough time para pumila at mag-process ng medical at license renewal.

Mabili lang naman ito. Magfifill-up ka lang ng medical form, magbabayad ng medical fee which was P600 (in February 2024), and then hihintayin and tawag ng clinician. Kukunin nila and basic vitals mo, and then eye test. That’s it, and then they will give you your medical certificate which you need to bring during your dormant driver’s license renewal.

STEP 3: Go to LTO Main Office at East Ave. or LTO Office Eton Centris Branch for your dormant driver’s license renewal.

Don’t forget to bring all your requirements:

• Application form (you can get this from the office kung hindi ka nakapag-download at print)
• Old/expired driver’s license
• Online driving test result (with passing grade)
• Medical certificate
• Cash for payments

Show all your documents to the evaluator. They will check kung may kulang. If wala, you have to wait to be called para sa payment ng fees, photo, and signature.

After this process, you will wait again to be called para sa onsite theoretical driving test.

STEP 4: Pass the onsite theoretical driving test.

This is a computerized test with 60 questions. You need to get at least 80% score to pass. If you didn’t pass, you cannot proceed with the rest of the steps, and pababalikin ka na lang the next day to retake the test.

During the test, they will keep your mobile phones and there will be a web camera in front of your screen to make sure na no cheating at ikaw talaga and magte-take ng exam.

STEP 5: Pass the practical driving test.

Yes, you will take the practical driving test again before you can renew your dormant driver’s license in the Philippines. This is because they are assuming that you haven’t driven for a couple of years na (since wala kang valid driver’s license). There is also a corresponding fee for the practical driving test. If I remember correctly, it’s P400.

STEP 6: Get your driver’s license.

Once you pass the practical driving test, congratulations! You will be given a new (or renewed) driver’s license according to the code or vehicle type that you are eligible to drive.

That’s it! If you have any questions regarding to renew a dormant driver’s license in the Philippines, write them in the comment box below and I’ll try to answer as promptly as possible.