LTO approves 10-year validity of license, starts Oct 2021

MANILA: The LTO (Land Transportation Office) has approved the issuance of 10-year validity driver’s licenses and will implement this incentive starting October 2021.

In order to be eligible, the agency states that motorists must have a clean record.

The issuance of 10-year validity driver’s licenses are in line with Republic Act No. 10930 that was signed into law in 2017. It stipulates that, “Except for student permits, all drivers' licenses shall be valid for five years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended: Provided, however, that subject to Section 26 hereof, any holder of a professional or nonprofessional driver's license who has not committed any violation of Republic Act No. 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations during the five-year period shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for 10 years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO.”

With good drivers getting an incentive, bad drivers, or those who frequently commit traffic violations, will be under a demerit system. Depending on the level of violation (Grave = 5 points, Less Grave = 3 points, Light = 1 point), drivers can accumulate points which will then incur a corresponding penalty, including be suspension if he/she will accumulate 10 demerit points and license revocation if 40 points has been reached.

“Not all license holders are entitled to this privilege. For those who have clean records, you may enjoy not coming back for renewal not only for five years, but ten years. That is if you are not delinquent,” added Galvante.

Photo from the LTO Facebook page

Also read: LTO mulls 10-year validity, demerit system for driver’s license