Introduction
There are only two types of driver’s licenses in the Philippines, Professional or Non-Professional. The Professional license is only required if you are going to drive a vehicle for hire, or for business, including private vehicles. An example of this is public transportation drivers. Now, the Non-Professional license is only required to drive private vehicles. The Non-Professional license is also easier to obtain compared to the Professional because after only one (1) month from having a Student Driver’s Permit, you can get this license.
Requirements and Things to Consider
Before you proceed with the process of obtaining a Non-Professional license, you must first prepare and consider these things:
- You must be of legal age. You must be seventeen (17) years of age or older. Parental or guardian’s consent with valid ID is required if you are seventeen (17) years of age. If you are a foreigner, you must be eighteen (18) years of age or older.
- You must be able to drive a vehicle. This will also be determined when obtaining a medical certificate because this will determine if there are any conditions for the license you will be obtaining. An example is if your eyesight is blurry and you need glasses to drive.
- You must be able to read and write in Filipino or English. Filling out forms and obtaining a license is in English/Filipino.
- You must have no outstanding traffic violations.
- You must have a Student Driver’s Permit within one (1) month of obtaining it.
- You must attend and pass the Practical Driving Course (PDC) of the LTO Driver’s Education Center (DEC), LTO accredited Driving School, or LTO accredited TESDA Training Center for a total of eight (8) hours over three (3) days. Usually, the Driving School will provide you with a faster PDC. The original and a photocopy of the PDC are required.
- You must have an LTO portal account. You are required to have an email address, preferably Gmail. This will be required by the LTO (LTO Client ID) and other agencies you will be applying to such as medical certificates and driving schools.
- You must have a medical certificate. Nowadays, obtaining a medical certificate is uploaded online, so you must have an LTO portal account. It also has a validity of fifteen (15) days.
- Must pass the actual Theoretical exam (no longer a paper exam, but rather an automated and computer-based exam within the LTO) and Practical driving test.
- You need to fill out the LTO application form. You can download it or get it at the LTO office where you can get it.
Estimated Expenses
Motorcycle (2-wheeled vehicle MT/AT)
| Medical Certificate | ₱500.00 |
| LTO Application Fee | ₱100.00 |
| Student to Non-Professional License | ₱685.00 |
| Practical Driving Course (PDC) | ₱2,500.00 |
| Total | ₱3,785.00 |
Car (4-wheeled vehicle MT/AT)
| Medical Certificate | ₱500.00 |
| LTO Application Fee | ₱100.00 |
| Student to Non-Professional License | ₱685.00 |
| Practical Driving Course (PDC) | ₱4,000.00 |
| Kabuuan | ₱4,785.00 |
Note: This does not include personal expenses, such as food, water, transportation. So be sure to have extra cash ready. And bring coins or smaller bills to avoid delays in paying at the LTO. PDC prices also vary, and you may be able to find a cheaper price.
Process of Getting Non-Professional License
The process of obtaining a Non-Professional license is easy if you have prepared the necessary preparations mentioned above. There are two (2) ways to obtain a license, you can go directly to the LTO office, or you can schedule an appointment on the LTO portal website.
- Go to the Information Desk at the LTO to get a number for the queue. Be vigilant, check the monitor for your number to see which “Window” you are going to. In LTO offices with broken monitors, be patient and listen for your number or name when called.
- Submit your ADL (Application for Driver’s License) and all the requirements to the CSO.
- Pay the required LTO Application Fee of ₱100.00 to the cashier when your number/name is called. You will be given an OR (Official Receipt) after you make the payment.
- Go to the next “Window” when your number/name is called for biometrics capturing. This is the process of capturing your fingerprint for identification in the LTO database.
- After taking your biometrics, the next step is the theoretical/written exam. The exam is computer-based and not paper-based, so it is best if you are computer-savvy. For the Non-Professional license, the exam consists of forty (40) questions, of which you must get thirty (30) correct answers to pass. If you fail, you can retake the exam the next day or any day, and your Student Permit must not have expired for two (2) years from the date it was issued.
- If you pass, the next step is the practical driving test. In this test, you will need to apply what you have learned about driving. Such as, signaling when turning, stopping at a “Stop” sign and other traffic laws that are stated at the test site. If you do not pass, you can take the practical driving test again in seven (7) days.
- If you pass, the next step is to pay the Driver’s License fee of ₱685.00 at the cashier. You will then be given an OR (Official Receipt).
- Wait for your number/name to be called to collect your printed DL or license. In other LTO offices, paper is provided and you have to return to collect the printed license. When you are done with the transaction, you need to sign the logsheet.
Conclusion
The first license you can get is a Non-Professional from having a Student Driver’s Permit. One (1) month after that you can apply for a Non-Professional license. The validity that will be granted initially is only five (5) years. If you are a sensible driver, without any violations, upon renewal you will be granted ten (5) years of validity.
Remember, having a license is a privilege and you must be disciplined in driving. Always remember to practice “defensive driving” whenever you drive. Not only must you drive wisely, you must obey traffic laws at all times.
Anong branches po yung licensing centers? Pumunta po ako sa LTO Makati kanina tas hanggang student’s permit lang daw sila
kailangan po ba ng police clearance sa pag kuha ng Non pro?
May weight limit po sa pag-aaply ng non-prof. License at student permit?
pag hnd pumasa sa exam po .pag balik ko hnd ba ako mag medical ulit
pano kung alam mo na yung bloodtype mo i test pa din ba yung bloodtype
Sir, what is the requirements in conversion of Non-Professional license to Professional license, thanks
Ask lang po 820 po ba ung babayadan ng student to non pro licence wala n po bang iba
Kung mag coconvert po ng non pro to pro at ang restrcition ng non pro ko ay 1,2 magprapractical poba ako pra maidagdag ung 3?
Pwede po bang kumukha na agad ng license if ever na NC2 passer ka at may certificate po? Salamat
Hi nahuli ako noon 6yrs ago because of no helmet at hindi ko na natubos license ko. Pano po ba ako magkaka lisensya ulit? Back to student ba ako?
Hi po pwede po bang kumuha ng non pro license kahit hindi marunong magdrive?kaylangan lng po kc ng valid id pra s dicunments..slmat
Goodevening po mam/sir, naka kuha na po ako ng student license, noong feb 7, makakapag non-professional po ba ako sa march 7 po? Kaht kulang po ang february sa buwan ng date if ma makuha na akong ng non-prof sa march 7? reply po kayo asap.
san po pwede mag online exam para sa non-pro license
Same parin po ba ang mga reviewer nyo po sa exam ngayong 2019 to 2020 po.. para po alam kupo. kasi mag take palang po ako ng exam for non pro po.. salamat and God Bless po..
Hello good am
Ask ko lang po if acceptable ba ang non professional Drivers License of Philippines sa RIYADH Saudi Arabia. Pra mkapagconvert to thier Riyadh Saudi Arabia drivers license
Pwde po ba yung scooter for non pro?
what should I do poh, ung OR qu nkaindicate sa non pro code1,2..
pero po yung n print s I.d card code 1 lng.. anu po gagawin ko step to change kakakuha q plng this day?
pwede pa po ba ako kumuha ng non pro license kahit yung student permit ko ay mag expire sa April 30.
thanks po
two questions po.
1) 3 weeks na lang po ay expire na ang student permit ko (April 30, 2019). pwede pa dn po ba mag apply ng non pro bago magkatapusan?
2) sa tayuman lto po ako nag apply ng non pro last Jan.17 bagsak po ang practical exam ko at pinababalik po ako ng Feb.20 pero hindi na po ako nakabalik. Pwede po ba akong mag apply ng non-pro sa Main LTO or sa tayuman po ulit?
Salamat po kailangan ko po ng payo nyo.
May bayad pa po ba magconvert ng owner’s copy to id license?
Non-prof po yung owner’s copy ko
ilang months po vh…ang kailangan kung kkuha na professional licence
Kelan pa naging professional ang restriction 12?..di ba non pro lang yan.
5 years na po expire NON PRO LICENSE ko tz nawala po ung ID ko pwede pwd p po b iparenew un nkapagpagawa nmn nko ng Affidavit of Loss na nawala id ko. magkano kaya penalty sa 5yrs expire na license??
5 years na po expire NON PRO LICENSE ko magkano kaya penalty na babayaran??tz nawala po ung ID ko pwede pwd p po b iparenew un nkapagpagawa nmn nko ng Affidavit of Loss na nawala id ko.
anong kailangan kapag mag drive ng 4500KGS GVW. above
Sir ask ko lang po how many questions po ba kapag non prof?
Panu Kung sa manila ko kinuha student permit ko tapos sa province ako kukuha ng non pro
Ano pong requirements pag kukuha ng non pro. License?
What if I miss my expired student permit? It is not a card but a paper only. Do I need to take a new student permit again for me to take a professional license?
Sa Sacop Sanfernando po pwde daw po kumuha ng non pro license doon? or sa kapitolyo ng SF lang?
anu po pwede kong gamitin pang review para sa non pro examination
san po ako pwede makakuwa ng reviewer para sa non pre examination