I took a leave during my birthday week. However, I ended up sleeping most of the time that I worked on renewing my driver’s license two days after my birthday (ultimately means that it’s expired for 2 days). Just thinking about the whole renewal process is stressful already. I can remember the stress, the heat, the long queue from 2 years ago. I dread to experience the same yet again.
Luckily, I got some tips from a friend that it would be best to just renew inside a mall. There are some watch outs: never to go on a payday, not to go during mondays, not in the mornings & definitely not in crowded LTO renewal centers (i.e., Ayala MRT station, Farmer’s Plaza Cubao, Metropoint Mall Pasay).
I decided to write this post because I’m sure that after 3 years, I won’t be able to remember any of this experience. Thus, it would be best to document so that I can refer to this post when I need to renew my driver’s license again in 2016.
One huge lesson that I learned today: ALWAYS renew your license before it expires.
Best time to renew is one month before expiration date.
Plan your Trip.
Find the nearest LTO branch near you.
Here’s a complete list:
- DLRC NE Pacific Mall, Maharlika Hi-way, Cabanatuan City
- DLRC SM Marilao, Bulacan
- OSS SM Mall City, San Fernando, Pampanga
- DLRC SM Clark, SM City Clark Field, Angeles City, Pampanga
- DLRC Sta. Rosa, 3rd Flr., Robinson’s Market, Sta. Rosa, Laguna
- DLRC SM Naga City, Brgy. Triangulo, Naga Cit
- DLRC Bacolod, Robinsons Place, Bacolod City
- DLRC Iloilo, Robinson’s Place, Iloilo City
- DLRC SM Cebu, SM North Reclamation Area, Cebu City
- DLRC Robinson’s Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental
- DLRC ICM Tagbilaran City, Bohol
- DLRC Cagayan de Oro City, Limketkai Mall, Lapasan, Cagayan, De Oro City
- DLRC SM City, 2nd Flr., Quimpo Blvd., Davao City
- DLRC NCCC Mall of Tagum, Highway 55, Tagum City
- DLRC SM Manila 5th Flr. SM Manila
- DLRC Araneta, 3F Araneta Square Mall, Caloocan City
- DLRC Ayala MRT Station, Makati City
- DLRC Guadalupe Upper Level, Guadalupe Commercial Complex, Makati City
- DLRC Robinson’s Galeria, Level 1 East Lane Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
- DLRC Tutuban, 2nd Flr Central Mall Bldg, Tutuban Center
- DLRC Metro East, Basement Robinson’s Metro East, Marikina
- DLRC Ever Gotesco, 2/F Gotesco Mall, Commonwealth Ave., Q.C.
- DLRC Robinson’s Place Fairview, 3F Robinson’s, Novaliches, Q.C.
- DLRC Metro Point, 3rd Flr., Metro Point Mall, Pasay City
- DLRC SM Super Center, Grd., Flr., SM Hypermart, Pasig City
- DLRC SM Megamall, G/F SM Megamall B, Mandaluyong City
- DLRC SM North Edsa, G/F SM North Edsa Annex, SM City
- DLRC SM Cubao, 3rd Flr., Farmer’s Mall, Cubao, Quezon City
- DLRC Alabang, Ayala Alabang Town Center, Muntilupa City
Bring the following items to prevent hassle on the driver’s license renewal process:
- Ballpen – There are 1 or 2 pens available at either the medical center or LTO branch. However, if there are a lot of people filling up the forms, then you have to wait for them to finish. If you brought a pen, you can save some waiting time 🙂
- Bottle of water – this is very important because a drug test would require you to fill up a small bottle with your urine. You have to fill up the whole bottle so it would be best to drink lots of water.
- Hand Sanitizer – I can’t stress this enough. Considering that you will be working on submitting your urine, it’s best that you have this with you. Hygiene should be a top priority.
- Driver’s License & Official Receipt – Without this, your driver’s license renewal won’t be processed. If you lost your license, then it’s another process altogether. Better check that you brought all required items before leaving the house.
- Money – Be ready to bring about Php 1,000 to Php 1,200 to be sure. You’ll need to spend money on both medical exam and driver’s renewal fee.
- Book/Gadget – You will spend at least 30 minutes waiting for your medical exam result and driver’s license so it’s best that you make good use of your time. Read a book, check emails, play games, whatever you like 🙂
- Traffic Violation Receipts – If you’ve been apprehended before, then it would be best to bring the proof of payment. You do not want to encounter any problem when you’re in the LTO Express Center.
The Process
Medical Exam Center
- Fill out Drug Test Forms (2 pages)
- Proceed to the Cashier and pay for the Medical Exam & Drug Test Fee. You will have to surrender your expired license.
- Submit Urine. Make sure that you have enough capacity to fill up 60ml bottle of urine.
- Proceed to the Medical Doctor to have weight and height taken. The eye exam will be taken at that room as well. Be ready to pay another Php 50 for the computer fee. The personnel told me that this is specific for LTO renewal applicants only.
- Get your picture taken and finger scanned for your records to be stored in the system.
- Wait for the Results. Waiting time is usually 20-40 minutes.
- After obtaining your medical exam and drug test results, you can now proceed to the LTO centre for the Driver’s License Renewal.
LTO Center
- Fill up Driver’s License Application form
- Submit filled up LTO form together with Medical Certificate and Negative Drug Test result from the accredited testing centre at Window 2.
- Pay corresponding fees to the Cashier at Window 1.
- Proceed to Photo taking/signature area at Window 4 to have your picture and signature taken when your name is called. Be sure to smile at the camera 🙂
- Wait for Driver’s License release. It usually takes around 15-30minutes.
- Claim the Driver’s License & Official Receipt at Window 3.
The Cost
Medical Exam
Medical test: Php 100.00
Drug test: Php 300.00
Computer Fee: Php 50.00
LTO License Fee
License Fee: Php 350.00
Computer Fee: Php 67.63
Change of Address Fee (if applicable): Php 100.00
Penalty (if expired): Php 75 (1 day to 1 year)/Php 150 (1 year & 1 day to 2 years)/Php 225 (more than 2 years)
So that’s it! If you go at the right time and at the right LTO express center, you can finish everything in less than an hour. Always remember to renew your license as it will definitely hurt you if MMDA or local police caught you driving without a license. That’s a big no-no. Let’s be law-abiding drivers. We’ll enjoy driving more!
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) Drivers License is valid for three years.
I also had mine renewed in LTO Robinson’s Galleria. I absolutely love that they (LTO) allow smiling on the picture! My driver’s license best reflects me, compared to the rather bland faces on my SSS, passport and visa pictures.
It will be the picture you will be stuck with for three years. You sure as heck want it to look good.
Great job on providing the list of renewal centers! I’ve been to 2 other blogs and have only see filled urine bottles so far. :p
Am very thankful for this blog. My driver’s license is also about to expire. Thanks for the tips and all the other info you provided. Keep posting helpful stuffs like this. =)
thank you po,..laking 2long na yan sa amin.,,.,.
Thanks for the tips. I just went yesterday (8/14/2013) to Cebu SM location and spent 2 hours and 40 minutes there after arriving at 10:10am. My time was split about even between waiting for medical and the renewal process. Numbers 10-20 took an hour to get started with the medical whereas the next 22 numbers took less than 30 minutes…so be careful if walking off… This place is the one exception to the arrive early rule. You should actually go later in the day around 2:30pm for non-peak and supposedly quicker processing times… Also, there is no more drug testing. The Philippines will now implement field sobriety tests and drug tests for people in accidents. Overall, not a bad experience, other than drinking coffee and water to perform the drug test and then having to hold my bladder for a while since there is no drug test. Total cost: p518 (p100 medical, p418 renewal)
SALAMAT! and that’s very kind of you! 😀
Thanks for this blog! This is going to be my first time to renew my license and this was very helpful! My brother’s also going to renew his license and unfortunately, he has a traffic violation. Thanks for your tip to bring the proof of payment!
Ask ko po lang.. Pede po ba mag upgrade ng restrictions pag renew? ano pa mga dapat gawin? kasi po yung restriciton ng akin ay 1..gusto ko po sana maging 2 para maka drive na ako ng kotche…
Maraming salamat po
Hi! Thank you so much for a well put information about renewing Driver’s License. I’ll be needing this!
gusto ko lang po itanung kung may penalty po ba kung di nakuha ang lisensya ng date kung kailan dapat kunin? or ihohold ng LTO ang lisensya mo??
Thanks for the tip! I need to renew my license in a couple of days. This is such a big help!
this is very helpful, thank you for sharing this information. Have a blessed Christmas
Good thing the drug test / urine test isn’t done anymore. Time consuming and adds to the corrupt practices.
Nice Yeng-style hair do! 😀
My son renew his license on feb.20,2015 and he paid 1,200 and he will take on March 20.2015.
Imagine that,1 month for non pro license!!!!
I want to know why I my son license take too long,why 1 month before he get his nonpro license and why it’s too much expensive,??? What happen to LTO ?
Thank you so much for this! Loved that you included the list of renewal branches. Today’s my last day to renew mine since it’ll expire on Monday.
BTW, there’s no longer LTO satellite branch for license renewal in SM Megamall. I went there yesterday only to find out wala na pala. I renewed in SM Hypermart (Pasig). Took only 30 minutes. No more drug test. License fee is 350, penalty is 75 (I should have renewed in January). Computer fee of 67.63. BUT the card is unavailable and I’ll have to call them to check when the card will be available. Maybe sometime in May 2015. There are satellite branches which are able to release cards immediately, like in Guadalupe.
Same Lang po ba babayran pag foreigner ang mag aaply? Expired na kasi licensed so need nya kumuha ng bago since andito sya sa pinas. Do u have any idea about getting an international driver’s license and hm? Thanks.
nag renew license hubby ko sm mla
ang medical 200 pesos bayad nia.. ganun ba presyo nun.. d b dpat 100 lng
last april 16,2015 lng hubby ko renew ksama ako sm mla
Thanks for the tips, Rochelle.
Very helpful tips for those going to apply for licence renewal
san ba mga totoo niyong number!!! hindi naman makontak! sana ibigay niyo yung number na makokontak!
guys the LTO in Farmers Cubao and Robinson’s Galleria are both gone
Thank You GOD BLESS THANK YOU Good Day
Are the ones in the mall open on Saturdays?
Hi po.. Drivers license ko po expired na since 2010 tapos wala na sakin.. In other words lost na xa.. Ano po dapat ang first step na gagawin ko.. Kailangan po ba ng affidavit of lost then pupunta na ako sa LTO? Salamat po..
Thank you Rochelle for sharing the watch outs like not to go on a payday and
not to go on a Monday and come in the afternoon.
This will save my day.
Nice, ang bilis ko nakapag renew ng License sa LTO ROBENSON STA.ROSA 10:30am nakuha ko na agad ang plastic I.D good work LTO Robenson. maraming salamat. kita kits nlang uli sa 2018 hehe.
buti tinanggal na ngaun ang drugtest. at wala ng finipil-upan 2lad ng nagrenew ako sa LTO BIÑAN Last 2012. pagkadami-daming pipil-upan. hihingan kpa ng TIN No. pati yong lumang O.R ng driver licence hihingin pa. pero d2 sa LTO Robenson ang bilis na ng proseso. Tnx. LTO ROBENSON.
Great help.
LTO satellite licensing office in Robinson’s Novaliches, Quezon City is no longer in business.
Can i renew 1 yr before the expiration? I am an ofw and i hardly go back to philippines
thanks,
kung ganto lng website ng mga government, wala ng mauuto
Nagrenew ako nun feb.9 sa robinson sta rosa 417 kapag wala penalty plus medical 300,,wala ng drugtest!! mas maganda magrenew sa mall hindi mainit maghintay,,hindi kelangan ng ballpen,hindi na rin kelangan ng tin no.
Awesome tips ty so much !
Thanks ms. For the Helpful tips
Meron pa ba lto dlrc sa hypermart pasig? Planning to go there tom sana. Thanks dun sa ngpost na wala na sa robinson’s galleria. Balak ko pa naman sana dun pumunta.
Hi, Ms. Rochelle,the information you posted regarding renewal of license is very helpful. Thank you.
Good afternoon. Im just curious. You said LTO license and official receipt. I only have my license. What should I do?
Thank you. SO helpful. GOD bless…