Drivers License Renewal - Anything New?

[smokey 21,748]

Has anyone renewed their drivers lic and car registration i hear this year is different anyone have the how too? Step one.   Step 2 etc

[Headshot 29,178]

For you, the easiest would be to go to Seaside Mall. On the south side of the mall, on the outside, you first stop at Kaiser Medical Clinic to get your medical and drug tests (be sure that you can fill their cup because they will double charge you if there isn't enough pee to test (and they have to give you a new cup).

Next, you turn left on exiting the clinic, and go along the wall until you get to the LTO office. They have a senior priority system, so take advantage of it. They will process your application and give you a receipt. Take the receipt, turn left on exiting and walk around the outside of the mall until you get to the mall entrance.

As you enter the mall, the LTO printing office is on your left. Go to the receiving table, and tell them you are a senior. Otherwise, they will tell you to come back the next day. The seniors have a seating area right up front (so the hard-of-hearing can hear their names being called). Your name will be called for processing (again), and then you will be called again (after a while) to pick up your finished license. For those who are not seniors, this is a much longer process, and it will take at least parts of two days.

[smokey 21,748]

Thanks finally a plus for being old

[bugeye29 0]

What age constitutes being a senior ?

[Davaoeno 37,142]

60

[fivestarph 391]

I have to renew my Driving Licence and I am a Senior.

Is it better to renew at J Center or SM Seaside?, I reside roughly between the two.

Views appreciated.

[lamoe 13,908]

4 minutes ago, fivestarph said:

I have to renew my Driving Licence and I am a Senior.

Is it better to renew at J Center or SM Seaside?, I reside roughly between the two.

Views appreciated.

Seaside is a more pleasant wait and being somewhat harder to get to probably better - go early  - not sure what time garage opens

[to_dave007 5,596]

Renewed license at LTO Danao in early May.

Arrived 7.30 am.  LTO opens at 8..  but drug test/medical test place was already open..  walked out of LTO before 11am with plastic 5 year license.  Painless.  Didn't seem any different from last time.

[smokey 21,748]

Done lto talisay used seinor with wife one hour

[fivestarph 391]

7 minutes ago, smokey said:

Done lto talisay used seinor with wife one hour

Wow, that is quick..

[smokey 21,748]

With wife one hour without 3 hours

[Soupeod 6,940]

smog test, register car, doc check and drivers lic in 1hr 30min. 

Move to Cebu where it takes you days and days!

[smokey 21,748]

I became one of the smart ones dealing with lto i ask someone else to do it

[govoner 269]

On 6/17/2019 at 7:43 AM, to_dave007 said:

Renewed license at LTO Danao in early May.

Arrived 7.30 am.  LTO opens at 8..  but drug test/medical test place was already open..  walked out of LTO before 11am with plastic 5 year license.  Painless.  Didn't seem any different from last time.

Can you get license on a tourist visa at Danao or do you need acr card or whatever it is called?

[Jawny 4,617]

2 hours ago, govoner said:

Can you get license on a tourist visa at Danao or do you need acr card or whatever it is called?

There is a requirement that to get a license, the foreign applicant has to prove they are residing in the Philippines for at least one year.  There are some recent threads on this topic in the archives. The differing LTO agencies have been strict or liberal about allowing tourist with visa extensions to be permitted to get the license. Check the archives or perhaps a member will respond. 

[cookie47 1,547]

There is a requirement that to get a license, the foreign applicant has to prove they are residing in the Philippines for at least one year.  There are some recent threads on this topic in the archives. The differing LTO agencies have been strict or liberal about allowing tourist with visa extensions to be permitted to get the license. Check the archives or perhaps a member will respond. 

Correct, check the archives (not too far back)

Although I'm on a different Visa,,, differing results from Jmall than Seaside.

Sent from my MI MAX using Tapatalk

[to_dave007 5,596]

5 hours ago, govoner said:

Can you get license on a tourist visa at Danao or do you need acr card or whatever it is called?

It was 6 years ago that I got my first Philippines drivers license, and I got it at LTO Danao..  and I was on tourist visa at the time. Can't remember if I did or did not have ACR card at the time..  I "think" it wasn't needed.   But getting the PI license was no problem at the time.

The problem.. for you.. is that the rules seem to have changed since then, with the addition of this "12 month residency" requirement.  IMHO it's a simple change, basically to eliminate the nuisance of granting licenses to people who aren't staying long..  Since I am not in the situation of "getting" a license..  but only of "renewing" a license I can't speak with authority about what's required now.  However, if you are on tourist visa..  then one way is to get two 6 months extensions (one on one day and one on the next) then take your two 6 month visa and try for your license.  If you have married a Philippina..  or have some ALTERNATIVE" proof of an INTENT to reside in the Philippines I would consider TRYING to get the license with this alternative evidence. (e.g. condo purchase, business registration, or God knows what else)

Not sure how much experience you have here..  but I have often found that it helps to just go in and have a sincere and CALM discussion about your problem.  and see if they'll help. In my experience.. they often DO help..  even it it's just a clear explanation of what procedure you must follow.

And Cookie is right above.. there was thread on this subject in last 2 months.

Edited June 18, 2019 by to_dave007

[Jim_in_Jax 309]

On 6/18/2019 at 12:46 AM, Soupeod said:

Move to Cebu where it takes you days and days!

I will be renewing the registration for the first time on a car I bought 3 years ago from Suzuki across from JMall.  They told me just bring the smoke test results to them and they'll get the renewal done.  The lady said it takes about a week and they'll call me when it's time to pick up the renewed OCR.

[Davaoeno 37,142]

11 hours ago, to_dave007 said:

It was 6 years ago that I got my first Philippines drivers license, and I got it at LTO Danao..  and I was on tourist visa at the time. Can't remember if I did or did not have ACR card at the time..  I "think" it wasn't needed.   But getting the PI license was no problem at the time.

The problem.. for you.. is that the rules seem to have changed since then, with the addition of this "12 month residency" requirement.  IMHO it's a simple change, basically to eliminate the nuisance of granting licenses to people who aren't staying long..  Since I am not in the situation of "getting" a license..  but only of "renewing" a license I can't speak with authority about what's required now.  However, if you are on tourist visa..  then one way is to get two 6 months extensions (one on one day and one on the next) then take your two 6 month visa and try for your license.  If you have married a Philippina..  or have some ALTERNATIVE" proof of an INTENT to reside in the Philippines I would consider TRYING to get the license with this alternative evidence. (e.g. condo purchase, business registration, or God knows what else)

Not sure how much experience you have here..  but I have often found that it helps to just go in and have a sincere and CALM discussion about your problem.  and see if they'll help. In my experience.. they often DO help..  even it it's just a clear explanation of what procedure you must follow.

And Cookie is right above.. there was thread on this subject in last 2 months.

It's amazing what 500 pesos in a discrete envelope can accomplish in almost any situation . 

[to_dave007 5,596]

7 hours ago, Davaoeno said:

It's amazing what 500 pesos in a discrete envelope can accomplish in almost any situation . 

Honestly Ian..  I've never needed to.

[Davaoeno 37,142]

1 hour ago, to_dave007 said:

Honestly Ian..  I've never needed to.

It saved me 5 speeding tickets one no left turn ticket and  3 illegal right turn tickets. ( I'm a fairly aggressive driver lol)

When I got my licence instead of standing in the sun all day it was done in the LTO Directors office- while I was served lunch! But that one cost me 1200 pesos hehe

Edited June 19, 2019 by Davaoeno

[fivestarph 391]

I went to get my Plastic licence from the offsite Printing office in SM Seaside yesterday. Even as a Senior it took just under 2 hours.

[lamoe 13,908]

The free MyBus from Fuentes Circle now stops at the entrance to the renewal area