Most teenagers turning 17-18 are like, "Oh Yeah! I can go clubbing now 'cause I'm already in legal age."
And I'm like, "Yes. I'm 18 (actually, you can have your non-prof at age 17), I can have my driver's license now!"
It's totally a different perspective but thinking about the advantages, the DRIVER'S LICENSE is definitely on a bigger edge.
New Non-Professional Driver’s License
Qualifications:
1. Must be at least seventeen (17) years old.
2. Must be physically and mentally fit to operate a motor vehicle.
3. Must not be a drug user or alcoholic.
4. Must be able to read and write in Filipino or English.
5. Must be clean, neat and presentable (wearing of sando, playing shorts and slippers during photo-taking and examinations will not be allowed).
Requirements:
1. Duly accomplished Application form for Driver’s License (ADL) [Download this form here].
2. Valid Student Permit (at least 1 month old)
3. Medical Certificate with Official Receipt (from LTO accredited or Government physician)
4. Negative drug test result (from a DOH accredited drug testing center & Government Hospital)
5. Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN) if employed
6. Must have passed the written and practical examinations
Procedures:
1. Proceed to the Customer Service Counter to get your checklist of requirements and secure a Driver’s License Application Form. (This form is available for download here. You can accomplish this form prior to transacting your business at the LTO.) Get a queue number and wait for your number to be called.
2. When your number is called, proceed to evaluator counter and submit all the required documents and have it checked for completeness and authenticity.
3. Proceed to the Photo taking /Signature Area to have your picture and signature taken when your name is called.
4. Proceed to the Cashier when your name is called to pay the application fee.
5. Proceed to the Examination Room for the lecture and written exam.
6. After passing the written examination, wait for your name to be called for the practical exam.
7. After passing the practical examination, proceed to the Cashier when your name is called for payment of necessary fees and obtain an Official Receipt.
8. Proceed to the Releasing Counter when your name is called, present the Official Receipt and claim the Card type license.
Venue: Any Licensing Center/ District Office with New Driver’s License Transactions
Fees and Charges:
| Application Fee | Php 100.00 |
| Computer Fee | 67.63 |
| TOTAL | 167.63 |
| License Fee | Php 350.00 |
| Computer Fee | 67.63 |
| TOTAL | 417.63 |
I'm here to share about my experience on getting my driver's license.
First off, have your Student Permit at least one month old. Mine's like already 11 months (old enough). Prepare a pen 'cause there will be lots of signing and stuff especially for the written exam. And of course, prepare at least 1000 php for payments.
So, I have my driver's license processed at LTO Cebu City (Main), which is near South Bus Terminal. I got there like around 7:30 but only to find out that the clinic inside the vicinity of the LTO office (if I'm not mistaken, it's called St. John's Clinic/Laboratory. This clinic is quite rundown.) is still closed. A man which is an officer told me that the clinic will open at 9 (Goodness!) and there are like women who approached me and told me to have my medical exam on the other clinic, which is across the street. At first, I didn't trust this women (it's an instinct. they might be scammers or what.) and the guard around the corner gave me a gesture(shaking off of his head) which I decided not to take the offer of the women, so I waited and waited. Until, a woman which is also there for the medical examination approached me and we chatted and waited and waited, until we have given up and we went to the clinic across the street. (This woman I met has been my companion for the entire process.)
At the clinic:
This clinic is quite surprising. It's not even the clinic that everyone will expect. I have my name listed, and then the woman who's at the desk took my height measurement and then I had to wait in line for the doctor to examine me.So, it was my turn and the doctor just had this medical certificate signed and SURPRISINGLY, I found out on the paper that my blood pressure is already 120/80 without even getting my blood pressure (wow! magic). I guess the clinic that I visited is only functioning for the people who really wants to have a medical certificate for the sake of having a license or for renewal (written down as NORMAL immediately without the proper examination. It's a chance for those people who are having health problems and wanted to have a normal findings just for the sake of the license and other stuff.) This is not really an accurate clinic but since I don't really have a choice then I had to take this. (argh, my guilt...) And you have to pay 100php for the "examination".
(NO DRUG TEST required)
After that, I returned to the office with my medical certificate and had my name signed on the logbook of the guard-in-charge at the entrance of the office. So this logbook is for the people who will apply for driver's license, you have to jot down your name so that you can determine if you're BATCH 1 or BATCH 2. During my time, I'm in batch 2 (12:00-1:30). It was like around 10:30 and I have to return at 12, so I had my lunch. It's not really a problem where to take your lunch since there's a canteen inside the LTO vicinity and Elizabeth Mall is just so near.
You have to fill it up and submit it again to the lady. And she'll have it stapled with the medical certificate and the student permit, and she gave it to me, telling me to give it to window 1. I gave it to the lady in window 1 and she told me to wait for my name to be called. When my name was called by the girl at window 2, I immediately went there to have my photo taken and my signature. After that, she told me to wait. Next, I was called at the cashier to pay 167.63php for the application fee (exams! exams!) and after that, she told me to proceed to the lecture room.
Lecture Room:
Typical classroom setting: with white plastic armchairs (orange plastic folder is placed on top of each armchair; this folder is the reviewer), white board filled with road signs, Road signs charts and etc. (plus AIR CONDITIONED). I immediately sat on the second row and opened the reviewer.
(TIP: please read the reviewer because 15% of the written exam will be based from there and this will help also: http://www.boxpinoy.com/answer-to-lto-exam-reviewer/)
When the applicants are already complete, the lady which is on the entrance desk of the office (which I mentioned before...) will be the one to conduct the lecture, although the lecture will not cover the entire road and traffic rules that may help for the exam, it's still okay since she will also give and discuss some possible questions that may come out.
After that, DUN DUN DUN~ The MOST FEARSOME AND MIND BLOWING WRITTEN EXAMINATION. (Please don't forget to give your receipt to the examiner and have your name signed on a paper. Wait for your name to be called and they'll give you the questionnaire and the answer sheet.)
- For Non-Professional License, you need to answer 40 questions. It’s randomized, so make sure to read them well. The passing score is: 30
The exam is in ENGLISH. If possible, ACE the identifying the ROAD signs (10 points) for a bigger possibility of passing.
When I was done, I gave it to the examiner and she told me to wait in Window 1. The other applicants and I waited nervously, thinking if we passed or NOT. Then, the examiner came with the papers. She started calling names and then, WHOOOOOHHHH! My name was called and I was really, really HAPPY. Her assistant gave me a paper and I have to sign it. On the paper, you have to fill it up whether you're going to use your own car, borrow a car or rent a car for the drive test.
There's an assigned person who will conduct the drive test. When I was done signing, I gave it to the assistant and he told me to approached the person who will conduct the drive test. (This assigned person is also the owner of the car to be rented.). He lead me and my companion near South Bus Terminal and told us to pay for the car. I paid 250php and told him I only drive Automatic (since his car is Manual and he just told me "Ayawg Kabalaka, ako'y bahala nimo." He gave me the receipt and told me to go back to the office. (Which I figure out that there's NO actual DRIVE TEST at all. You just really have to pay and have the receipt.)
So I went back and handed the receipt to the man on the desk.He told me to proceed to the Cashier to pay up for the License Fee: 417.63php
After that, I waited near the RELEASING area for my license.
You can purchase the Driver's License Jacket from the vendors outside the office which cost 20php.
Overall, I spent 955.26php. But compared to my companion who asked help for the processing from a certain driving school, she paid 2500php. Know the difference. It's way better if you have to work it on your own, you can save money and you will learn a lot from the processing experience.
I hope that this information will help. Good Luck and Be Attentive at all times! :)
"Having a Driver's License is a PRIVILEGE"
