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If you take a look outside there’s one thing you’re almost always guaranteed to find: cars. Almost every household has someone who can drive a car, and for good reason too! Being able to drive truly brings a lot of convenience to one’s life.

However, driving a car may not be as easy as it seems. For starters, it’s important to know that having a driver’s license is a privilege, and not a right. It has to be earned, and those with a driver’s license have earned their privilege to use their motor vehicles on the road.

If you already have an existing driver’s license that’s about to expire, then this article is the one for you! Be sure to follow these steps to finally renew your driver’s license in LTO, even online.

Qualifications for Renewal of License

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The process is definitely lengthy and requires a lot of time, effort, and patience. Being able to drive once again, however, is definitely worth all that time.

First, one must find out whether or not they are qualified for a renewal of their license. You will need to meet the following requirements:

You have an expired driver’s license for up to 9 years

It is important that your license has not expired for an extremely lengthy amount of time. If you have an expired license for 10 years or more, then you will have to start all over again and go through the process of first getting a student permit.

If your license has expired for 2 or more years but not more than 10, then you may still renew it. This comes with a catch, however, as you would have to take the theoretical and practical driving exams again.

You have a relatively clean driving record

One must not have more than two counts of reckless driving during the period of time that their license was valid.

You have completed and passed the Comprehensive Driver’s Education and the CDE exam

All those who wish to have their licenses renewed must now go through this process. It is a major requirement, and one cannot push through with their renewal unless they have gotten their certification here.

Requirements for Renewal of License

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Say you meet all the qualifications to renew your license - that’s great! You are now one step closer to officially renewing it. Of course, just like when you originally got your license for the first time, a few documents are needed.

You will need :

• a fully accomplished application form for driver’s license.
• your original professional or non-professional license
• original and photocopy of a government ID and applicant’s signature
• taxpayer identification number (TIN), only if employed
• LTO-accredited medical certificate
• theoretical and practical exam certification (if license has been expired for 2 or more years)
• Comprehensive Driver’s Education certificate

Comprehensive Driver’s Education

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The Comprehensive Driver’s Education or CDE is a mandatory requirement for renewing your driver’s license. It consists of a 5 hour seminar and a 25 item exam. To receive your completion certificate, you must also pass the exam.

Fortunately, this exam is free and relatively simple to access and take. You can simply do the entire thing online, or at any LTO-accredited driving school or education center.

For the 5 hour seminar, you may opt to finish it online through the LTMS portal at the LTO website. If you choose to go through a driving school, costs would range from 1,000 - 3,000 pesos.

You can also complete the 25 item exam online, also through the LTMS portal. The passing mark is 13/25 or 50%, and if you pass you can now print your certificate for it.

Payment

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While the CDE may be free, the renewal process as a whole is not. Certain fees will have to be paid depending on how long one’s license has expired as well. Here is a breakdown of how much one can expect to pay :

• License Fee - 589 Pesos
• 1 day to 1 year expired Penalty Fee - 75 Pesos
• More than 1 Year to 2 years expired - 150 Pesos
• More than 2 years expired (with exams) - 225 Pesos
• Computer Fee - 68 Pesos
• Application Fee (more than 2 years expired) - 100 Pesos
• Additional Computer Fee (more than 2 years expired) - 67.63 Pesos

Conclusion

Renewing your license may be quite tedious, but it’s definitely worth it. To save yourself a lot of inconvenience, it is highly suggested you renew your license before it has been 2 years expired.