How to Get a Student Driver's Permit in the Philippines | A 2022 Guide for First-Timers

Never have I thought that I would need to get a driver's license in my life. I mean, we don't have a car. And I don't think we can afford one yet. But who knows?

Still, it would be nice to finally have a national ID with my new last name on it!

I thought it was going to be a simple process. You know, pay over the cashier, attend a quick seminar, then get my driver's license. I must have been living in the cave to have thought it was this easy!

So, if this is your first-time to getting a driver's license, then you're not alone! I'll share with you the updated process, tips, and mistakes I made when getting my student's permit.

Processing a student driver's permit in the Philippines is a hassle and extremely expensive!! You'll know why in a while.

Know The Basics

A little disclaimer here — these are basically the things I know. There are a lot of things to grasp in driving. You talk about the terms, licenses, restrictions, rules, and many more! So here are the basics:

• Filipino citizens who are at least 16 years old can process a Student Driver's Permit in the Philippines while those who are 18 years old can process their Non-Professional Driver's License.
• You need to get a student's permit first before getting a driver's license
• The Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) is a REQUIREMENT for getting a Student Driver's Permit in the Philippines.
  • The TDC is a 15-hour seminar that takes a day and a half to complete. It talks about the basics of driving, licensing, and road rules. They even have a QUIZ by the end of the course.
• The Practical Driving Course (PDC) is a REQUIREMENT for getting a driver's license which is usually offered as an 8-hour course.
• Basically, you need to allot:
  • 1 and a half days for your TDC
  • Half a day (if you're lucky) for your Student's Permit processing
  • An entire day for your Driver's License

If you want to learn more, you will in your TDC or you may head over to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) website for more information.

Requirements for Student Driver's Permit in the Philippines

Here's the checklist as per the LTO

• Duly accomplished Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) Form.
• Medical Certificate
• Presentation of original and submission of one (1) photocopy of any of the following:
  • a. PSA/NSO Certificate of Birth
  • b. Philippine Identification Card
  • c. Passport
  • d. Local Civil Registry (for areas where there is no PSA)
  • e. PSA Certificate of Marriage
• Presentation of original and submission of one (1) photocopy of any issued ID with photo and signature of the applicant
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN), if employed
• Certificate of Completion of the 15-hours Theoretical Driving Course from an LTO-accredited driving school or Training Center

👉 Check out the list of LTO-Accredited Driving Schools here 👈

The Garnet Medical Clinic gave me two copies of the medical certificate which I will be using for processing both my Student's Permit and Driver's License.

How to Process your Student Driver's Permit

It takes a total of 3 days to process your Student's Permit and costs almost Php 4,000.

Here's the step-by-step process on how to process your Student Driver's permit in the Philippines:

1. Enroll in the Theoretical Driving Course (TDC)
You may schedule your class or attend the course on-the-spot. You will need to pay upon enrollment. There will be a mock quiz after the 15-hour course.

I enrolled at Garnet Driving School for my TDC which was worth Php 3,000. They offered free lunch, unlimited snacks, and a discount for the medical exam.

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After the entire course, we got dismayed because we really thought we'd be able to process our SP right after the class. But no, you'd have to allot another separate day to process it. Definitely not ideal when you're working and keep on requesting these days off 🤦

2 . Take a medical exam and secure a medical certificate
When you enroll in Garnet Driving School, you have a discount in their medical clinic with the same name.

So instead of paying Php 550, you'd only be paying Php 50 for two sets of medical certificates.

3 . Book for a schedule
Go to the LTO and present all your requirements for initial screening then get a schedule where you'd go back to process your SP.

💡 It's important that you have all your requirements ready and complete by the end of the TDC.

4 . Get your transaction number and line up for evaluation
Do this on your scheduled day. Walk-ins don't get much attention and may either be processed in the afternoon or scheduled on another day.

💡 Note: Make sure to observe proper dress code! Wear pants and a decent shirt with sleeves. People wearing shorts and slippers are asked to come back wearing a more decent attire.

5 . Pay at the cashier
They would get your requirements and input the information for your SP. And don't worry, they won't be getting any original copies except for your Medical Certificate and TDC Certificate of Completion.

💡 LTO fees for Student's Permit: Php 250

6 . Photo capture, signature, and biometrics
They'll call your name for a photo capture. Make sure to double-check all your details before they print your SP.

7 . Voila! You're Student's Permit is printed in black and white on a cheap bond paper!

Document Validity

When processing your student driver's permit in the Philippines, you'd have to be time-sensitive since some documents have an expiration.

Plan ahead and schedule your PDC date within the appropriate time frame.

Breakdown of Costs

See what I mean when I said that it's insanely expensive to get a driver's license nowadays? And to think I only went through all this hassle and expense just to get a legit ID with my new last name on it.

The good side here is that the driver's license expires after 5 years on your birthday. When you plan to renew, its validity would extend up to 10 years.

💡 NOTE!
Register into their LTMS Online Portal for FREE. I was enraged when they asked me to pay Php 100 just to register online when I could have done it in my own home. They even told me it's a 'requirement' when processing my SP. Gullible, I obliged. Then I later regretted it knowing I was duped and wasted good money on it.

List of Driving Schools for PDC

💡 Note: These are LTO-accredited driving schools located in southern central Cebu (Mambaling to Talisay City area) since it's convenient for me. Rates are also focused on Code 2 based on my preference. If you plan to know more about their rates, feel free to contact them!

👉 Check the full list of LTO-accredited driving schools in Cebu here! 👈

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Hope this guide was helpful! That's all for now and I might write another blog about how to get a driver's license once I experience it myself.

Before wrapping up, just want to share with fellow newbies to be extra patient when processing your license.

Be polite.
And don't hesitate to ask questions.
Be respectful.

Even when things are too slow or the staff get too cranky, be the better person and stay composed 👌