Fixing errors or updating info? How to revise your driver’s license

LTO Driver’s License key aspects -

Purpose

It serves as proof that the holder is capable of driving on Philippine roads. Further, it also serves as a valid ID proof in the country.

Issuing authority

In the Philippines, the driver’s license is issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Type 

• Student Driver Permit
• Non-professional license
• Professional license

Parts

Front: Driver’s picture, signature, & credentials (name, age, nationality, weight, address, license number, expiry date, blood type, eye colour, and restrictions)

Rear: At the back, the license mentions the following - the legend of restriction code, the legend of conditions, the serial number, emergency contact, and indicates if you are an organ donor.

Eligibility 

Student Permit -

• At least 17 years old
• Physically and mentally fit to drive
• Must be literate in both English and Filipino
• Must have completed the mandatory 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) seminar

Non-professional license -

• At least 18 years old
• Physically and mentally fit to drive
• Must be literate in both English and Filipino
• Hold a valid student permit for at least 30 days before the application

Professional license -

• At least 18 years old
• Physically and mentally fit to drive
• Must be literate in both English and Filipino
• Not be charged with 2 or more counts of reckless driving 
• Holder of a valid student permit issued at least 6 months before your professional license application - If applying for Restriction Codes 1,2,4, and 6 
• Holder of a valid non-professional driver’s license for at least one year before your application - If applying for Restriction Codes 3,5,7, and 8

Fees

Student Permit - PHP 5,447.63 (est. total including the following fees: application, computer, student permit, birth certificate,    medical certificate, and driving course/driving school)

Non-professional license - PHP 1,270.26 (est. total including the following fees: application, computer, license, additional computer, and medical certificate)

Professional license - PHP 1,270.26 (est. total, including the following fees: application, computer, license, additional computer, and medical certificate)

Validity

• Valid for 3 years from the date of issue if registered before Oct 2021
• Valid for up to 10 years for holders with no demerit points, starting Oct 28, 2021
• RA No. 10930 increases the validity from 3 to 5 years & allows motorists to enjoy a 10-year validity tenure, given there’s no demerit point incurred already

Expiry

Three years from the date of issuance

Renewal

Within 1 month before expiry, but not more than 2 years after expiry

Replacement

Lost or misplaced license can be replaced for a fee

LTO DL revisions  

Corrections involved

Requirements for revision 

Incorrect name

Requirements for incorrect name revision only involve a clerical correction and refer to the following: misspelled first name, incorrect name format. 

Note that it is just a clerical correction and requires no authorizing court order.

Drivers requesting such revision need to submit the following documents -

• Duly accomplished Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) form
• Applicant’s birth certificate as issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - Original & Photocopy
• Current driver’s license and/or motor vehicle official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR)

For Muslim applicants -

• Certificate from Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA)
• Affidavit of at least two disinterested individuals 

Incorrect birth date

It could refer to mentioning the incorrect month or date of birth on the license. There are certain things to be noted -

• This error could be corrected via a simple clerical correction.
• This error needs to be corrected as soon as possible, as it might cause problems or penalties.
• In the case where the birth year is incorrect, it qualifies for judicial correction, which requires drivers to submit a notarized affidavit or a court order authorizing the change - both inconvenient and expensive.

Drivers requesting a change for an incorrect birth date need to submit the following documents -

• Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License
• Affidavit of Discrepancy
• Current or Expired License
• Applicant's Birth Certificate issued by PSA - Original & Photocopy 

For Muslim applicants -

• Certificate from the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA)
• Affidavit of at least two disinterested individuals 

Change in name 

It usually refers to a change in the applicant’s last name and is usually requested by a woman who gets married or divorced, or annulled. In all these cases, the woman needs to get rid of her husband’s last name.

This change is relatively simple and requires the applicant to submit the following documents -

• Proof of marital status  - Marriage certificate and court order in case of divorce or annulment 
• PSA Birth Certificate 
• Current or expired license
• Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License

For Muslim applicants -

• Certificate from the Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA)
• Affidavit of at least two disinterested individuals 

Change in marital status 

This particular revision is required when a driver gets married, divorced, or annulled. Also, a driver can make such a change after getting widowed. 

In case the driver gets married or widowed, the applicant needs to submit the following documents -

• Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License (ADL) Form
• Current or expired license
• Proof of change in marital status, including a photocopy of marriage contract, court order (for annulled or divorce applicants), or passport with amendments for change in marital status

For Muslim applicants -

• Certificate from Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA)
• Affidavit of at least two disinterested individuals 

Change in address

Such a change is requested when a driver moves into a new house or an old one after getting the license.

Note, such a change needs to be requested in person at any LTO branch.

The requirement for making a record change for an incorrect address requires the submission of the following documents -

• Proof of current billing
• Current or expired license
• Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License
• Barangay Certificate

Change in citizenship

Making such a request is usually a driver requesting to revise or update his/her citizenship, usually stemming from one of the two reasons - 

• Gaining dual citizenship status with another country 
• Acquiring Filipino citizenship (for foreigners)

To change citizenship in the LTO driver’s license, the applicant needs to submit the following documents -

• Duly accomplished Application for Driver’s License
• Alien Certificate of Registration
• Passport
• Foreign License
• Immigration Card
• Visa
• Requisition of Filipino Citizenship

For Muslim applicants -

• Certificate from Office of the Muslim Affairs (OMA)
• Affidavit of at least two disinterested