LTO clarifies blanket extension of expired driver's licenses

A few days ago, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) announced that they will be extending the validity of driver’s licenses for one year in lieu of the ongoing plastic card backlog the agency is experiencing.

At the time, the LTO did not release any guidelines or details regarding the said validity extension for expired driver’s licenses. Just recently, however, the agency released an official statement and guidelines regarding the one-year validity extension for expired driver’s licenses.

In a memorandum dated September 6, 2023, LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza III said “All expired driver’s/conductor’s licenses that expired on April 3, 2023, shall continue to be valid until April 2, 2024, or until such time availability of plastic cards is sufficient, which will be the subject of a separate memorandum”.

Mendoza also mentioned that no penalties will be collected from driver’s and conductor’s license holders thanks to the one-year validity extension. As an extra measure, the LTO Chief Assistant Secretary tasked concerned LTO personnel that the system-generated driver’s license official receipt shall be stamped or printed with “Valid as Temporary Driver’s License Until Plastic Card is Released.”

More importantly, it should also include the following key details;

-Name of the issuing office, contact personnel/cellphone number or email address

-Name and signature of the releasing officer

-A screenshot of the client’s driver’s license card (front and back) printed at the back of the official receipt (OR)

Mendoza added that the old or expired driver’s license card must be returned to the owner and shall be valid until the new plastic card is released. The DOTr and the LTO are currently working together to address the backlog in the driver’s licenses due to the shortage of plastic cards that are being used to print them.

“Patuloy na gumagawa ng paraan ang inyong DOTr at ang inyong LTO upang matugunan sa lalong madaling panahon ang ating kinakaharap na hamon ukol sa driver’s license. Makakasa ang ating mga kababayang motorista na sa mga action plan na ito, laging isinasa-alang-alang ang inyong kapakanan,” said Mendoza.

[Your DOTr and your LTO continue to work to meet the challenge we are facing regarding the driver's license as soon as possible. Our fellow motorists can rest assured that in these action plans, your welfare is always considered]

Should your driver’s (or conductor’s) license be due for expiration, you can still use it for one additional year without fear of being flagged for using an expired license. Hopefully, the LTO also inform other agencies like the LTFRB, PNP-HPG, and the MMDA that expired driver’s licenses can still be used until the availability of new plastic cards.

On the other hand, you can also have your license renewed although you will be given a printed copy of your new license which you should carry at all times, along with your current (expired) driver’s license card.