Got 5 demerit points? Here’s how to renew your driver’s license

If you drive a car in the Philippines, you must be aware of the importance of a driver’s license. It is a form of identification the government grants via the LTO (Land Transportation Office), proving the bearer has permission to drive in the country. Therefore, it becomes essential for a car owner to have a valid driver’s license and to renew an expired license to avoid potential penalties.

Also Read: Navigating the Philippine driver’s license application process

We have already discussed the LTO driver’s license renewal process in detail, covering topics like online and offline renewal, OFWs' renewal process via a representative, and the renewal process in advance. You can also find all about LTO driver’s license renewal costs and requirements here.

But what if you want to renew your driver’s license but it has at least five (5) demerits points on it? Will your license be renewed? If yes, is the renewal process different from the ones without any demerit points? Let’s find answers to all the questions in this article.

Basic understanding of the Driving Enhancement Program

Every driver’s license renewal application in the Philippines needs to undergo the mandatory Driving Enhancement Program.

What is the Driving Enhancement Program (DEP)? It is a seminar designed by the LTO for driving license holders, regardless of the license classification (student, professional, or non-professional).

 

This training seminar covers a wide range of topics including - road safety, road courtesy, traffic rules & penalties, and road courtesy & discipline. Also, there is a special segment on values and land transportation laws, rules, and regulations.

Further, the DEP includes two separate driving courses -

• The Comprehensive Drivers Education (CDE)
• The Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC)

The former is a 5-hour mandatory course for anyone who wishes to renew their driver’s license and culminates with a 25-item multiple-choice exam. The latter is a course that is of interest to someone who wishes to renew their driver’s license with demerit points (at least 5).

So, to answer the earlier question. Yes, even a driver’s license with demerit points (at least 5) can be renewed, however, such an application needs to undergo a specially designed course called the Driver’s Reorientation Course.

In this article we’ll be discussing the DRC in depth, telling you all about the course’s purpose, benefits, requirements, eligibility, and more.

So, without any delay let’s get started -

Drive’s Reorientation Course (DRC)

What is DRC? It is a course designed for the renewal of a driver’s license with at least five (5) demerit points. Further, it is also a condition precedent to driver’s license renewals with at least 10 demerit points or applicants who committed the same violation at least three times while the license was still valid.

 

Key points -

• It is part of the DEP and designed according to Section 14 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 10930.
• Unlike the CDE, DEP requires the applicant to complete a set number of training hours before they can claim the course certificate of completion.
• It is usually paired with the Theoretical Driving Course (TDC).
• It culminates in a written examination which applicants need to take and pass.
• Successful administration of the course and clearing the exam would result in the renewal of the driver’s license.

Why does LTO administer the Driver’s Reorientation Course?

In addition to the LTO Theoretical Driving Course (TDC), an in-depth 15-hour seminar on the fundamentals of driving and road safety, a license renewal candidate with at least 5 demerit points must take the Driver’s Reorientation Course.

While TDC promotes safe roads, better driver attitude, technical understanding of road signages, clearer driver intuition, and supports the government’s resolution to fix & resolve the traffic issues in the country; DRC is assigned the job of refreshing licensed drivers' knowledge on the long list of violations on driving and road safety.

Further DRC acts as a penalty and disciplinary education for drivers with five (5) or more demerit points while the license is still within the validity period. It creates a hope that now that the driver is reminded of his/her driving, they will be more careful on the road and won’t pose any trouble to other drivers and pedestrians.

What are the key advantages of the Driver’s Reorientation Course?

In addition to acting as a crucial step towards renewing your driver’s license with at least five demerit points, the DRC has several other benefits including -

• It enables a driver’s license renewal application to secure the Certificate of Completion.
• It teaches the drivers about the new LTO rules and revises the old rules that they might have forgotten.
• It gives the drivers a chance to serve at least one of the penalties for accumulated demerits that are free of cost.
• Helps avoid possible suspension of a driver’s license 30 days after committing a traffic or driving violation.
• You’ll get a valid, government-issued driver’s license useful in fulfilling several transactions.
• It is a key requirement for license renewal with demerit points.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Driver’s Reorientation Course?

To be able to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course, an applicant must meet the following criteria -

• Must hold an active driver’s license.
• The driver’s license must have expired, but not for more than two years.
• The driver’s license must have accumulated at least five demerit points (10 or more but less than 40 demerit points).
• The driver’s license must be expired for more than two years and/or with ten or more (but less than 40) demerit points.
• Applicants must want to renew their license.
• Applicants must be physically fit to drive.
• Applicants must be a traffic violator.
• Applicants must not have any unsettled traffic violation to his/her name.
• Applicants must be of sound mind to operate a motor vehicle.

What documents are required for taking the Driver’s Reorientation Course?

For the driver’s license renewal application with at least five demerit points, one needs to submit the following documents to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course.

• Proof for payment of fine/s in the form of Official Receipt (OR)
• Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) (Pink copy) or e-TOP
• An Affidavit of Loss; in case of loss of TOP/e-TOP
• Apprehension details from the Releasing Unit of the LTO Central Office
• Printout or screenshot of the document showing the driving violation and the corresponding number of demerit points from the Data Control Unit at the LTO Central Office

Once you are ready with all these requirements, you are all set to attend the Driver’s Reorientation Course facilitated by the TSD/DEC proctor.

Step-by-step process to take up the Driver’s Reorientation Course

To take the Driver’s Reorientation Course, an applicant must follow the following steps -

Step 1: Visit any LTO office and from there choose either a Drivers Education Center (DEC) at the LTO Regional Offices or a Traffic Safety Division (TSD) at the LTO Central Office

Step 2: Head to the selected DEC or TSD service counter and submit the required documents to the personnel in charge (TSD/DEC officer of the day). The officer will then check the document's authenticity and complete the evaluation.

Step 3: Upon checking the violations on your driver’s license, the TSD/DEC officer of the day will inform you to register to the Client’s Attendance Sheet and fill out the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) form.

Step 4: Do the needful, i.e., register on the Client’s Attendance Sheet and fill out the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) form.

Step 5: Attend the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) by the TSD/DEC proctor.

Step 6: After completing the course, take the exam facilitated by the TSD/DEC proctor.

• If you pass, the proctor will take your picture and get the DRC Certificate of Completion ready.
• If you fail, you’ll need to retake the exam on the following working day or any other day at your convenience.

Step 7: The Certificate of Completion will be signed and uploaded to the Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication Service (LETAS)-Seminar Penalties to settle the seminar requirement. Once all that is done, the TSD/DEC officer will release your Certificate of Completion.

How much does it cost to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC)?

Nothing! Yes, an applicant looking to renew their driver’s license with at least five demerit points can take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) free of cost. All one needs to take care of expenses related to travel and other personal expenses.

Things you should know about DRC

• Only drivers who have accumulated at least five demerit points (due to traffic violations) and want to renew their license need to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC).
• The Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) doesn't cost the applicant a penny, it is a free course by the LTO.
• The Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) can be taken by the applicant either at the LTO Drivers Education Centres at any LTO Regional Offices or the Traffic Safety Division (TSD) at the LTO Central Office in Quezon City.
• It is necessary to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) within 30 days from the date of last apprehension.
• If an applicant fails to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC) timely, chances are the license gets suspended until the course is completed.
• The driver's license holder will receive a notification from the Land Transportation Office about the requirement to undergo the mandatory Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC).

Bottom line

Any driver who wishes to renew his/her license but has accumulated at least five demerit points while the license was valid is required to take the Driver’s Reorientation Course (DRC). This course is conducted by the LTO DEC or any LTO-accredited service provider. Also, the course is a good chance to renew your knowledge of traffic rules and violations. Not to forget, it’s completely free!

Also Read: Converting Foreign Driver's License to Philippine Driver's License: A Step-by-step guide.