How to Renew Driver's License Online 2026 (LTO)
Renewing an LTO driver's license is now an online-first process through the LTMS portal, with one short office visit for biometrics and the card. Here's the whole thing in order.
Done online (LTMS)
- • Account and license linking
- • Medical certificate (clinic transmits it)
- • CDE module and validation exam
- • Fee computation and payment
- • Violation check and 10-year eligibility
Still in person
- • The medical exam itself, at the clinic
- • Photo, signature, and biometrics
- • Cashier payment, if you didn't pay online
- • Card release
Requirements
- Your current driver's license card— The plastic card itself. If it's lost, file for a replacement first.
- LTMS account— Free at portal.lto.gov.ph. Link your existing license using your license number and details.
- Medical certificate— From an LTO-accredited clinic only. The clinic transmits it to LTMS electronically — bring your license to the clinic.
- CDE certificate (if required)— Comprehensive Driver's Education online module + 25-item validation exam on LTMS. Needed once — see who's exempt below.
- No unsettled violations— Unpaid traffic violations on your LTMS record block the renewal until they're settled.
Step-by-Step Process
Create or log in to your LTMS account
Go to portal.lto.gov.ph, register with your details, and link your existing driver's license. Your license number, violations, and eligibility all show up here — this is the same system the LTO office uses.
Get your medical exam at an LTO-accredited clinic
Any clinic in the LTO's accredited list (many are right beside LTO offices and inside malls with licensing centers). The result is sent to LTMS electronically — you won't hand over a paper certificate. Typical cost is ₱300–₱500; ask before you sit down.
Take the CDE online validation exam — if LTMS asks for it
The Comprehensive Driver's Education is a refresher module followed by a 25-question multiple-choice exam. You need 80% (20 of 25). It's free, you can retake it immediately, and you only ever do it once. Practice first with our CDE Renewal reviewer below.
🪪 Practice the CDE exam (25 questions, 80% to pass)Start the renewal transaction in LTMS
Under Licensing, choose Renewal. LTMS checks your medical certificate, CDE status, and violations, then shows your fee. If you have no violations during your current validity, it offers the 10-year license automatically. Pay online through the portal's payment options, or pay at the cashier on the day.
Visit the LTO office or licensing center
Bring your old license card and your LTMS transaction/reference number. Photo, signature, and biometrics are captured in person. Mall-based licensing centers are usually faster than district offices; mid-week mornings are the quietest.
Claim your new card
Most offices release the card the same day, typically within the hour. If the office is out of card stock, you get an official receipt that serves as your temporary license until the card is ready — keep it with you when driving.
Fees (2026)
| License fee | ₱585 | 5-year and 10-year validity |
| Computer fee | ₱100 | Charged on every license transaction |
| Medical certificate | ₱300–₱500 | Paid to the accredited clinic, not the LTO |
| CDE online module and exam | Free | On the LTMS portal |
LTMS shows your exact total before you pay, including any late penalty. There is no extra charge for the 10-year license.
Renewing an expired license
| How long expired | Penalty | What else |
|---|---|---|
| Expired 1 day to 1 year | ₱75 | Renew as usual, plus the penalty |
| Expired 1 to 2 years | ₱150 | Renew as usual, plus the penalty |
| Expired more than 2 years | ₱225 | You must retake the written and practical exams |
| Expired more than 10 years | — | Treated as a new applicant: student permit first, then the exams |
Driving on an expired license is a separate violation with its own fine, so renew before you drive again.
Tips
- Do the LTMS steps at least a few days before your visit. Clinic results and CDE certificates can take a while to reflect in your record.
- Check your LTMS record for violations before anything else — a forgotten ticket is the most common reason a renewal stalls at the counter.
- Use a mall licensing center on a Tuesday–Thursday morning. District offices on Mondays and Fridays are the slowest.
- Wear a collared shirt and skip glasses with tinted lenses — your photo is taken on the spot.
- Never pay a fixer. Every fee in this guide is paid to the LTO or an accredited clinic and comes with an official receipt.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my driver's license fully online?
Almost. The account, medical certificate transmission, CDE exam, fee computation, and payment are all done through LTMS. Photo, signature, and biometrics still need one visit to an LTO office or licensing center, which is also where you get the card.
Do I still need the CDE exam?
Only if you haven't done it yet. The CDE certificate is required for your first renewal since the program started on October 28, 2021. If your student permit was issued on or after August 3, 2020, or you already renewed on or after October 28, 2021, you're exempt. LTMS tells you either way before you can proceed.
How do I get the 10-year license?
Under RA 10930, drivers with no traffic violations during the validity of their current license are issued a 10-year license on renewal; everyone else gets 5 years. LTMS checks this automatically. The fee is the same ₱585 license fee.
When can I renew? When does my license expire?
Your license expires on your birthday in the year printed on the card. You can renew ahead of that date — don't wait for the last week, since clinic and office queues spike around month-end and holidays.
My license is expired. Is there a penalty?
Yes, and it grows with time: ₱75 if expired up to a year, ₱150 up to two years, ₱225 beyond two years plus a retake of the written and practical exams. Expired more than ten years and you start over as a new applicant.
Do I need a drug test to renew?
A drug test is not part of the standard renewal checklist for a non-professional license. Professional license holders may be asked for one depending on the office — confirm on LTMS or with your LTO office before your visit.
Can I renew at any LTO office?
Yes. Renewal is available at any LTO district office, licensing center, or mall-based extension office nationwide, regardless of where your license was issued.
Important Note
Fees, penalties, and the CDE rules come from the LTO's published fee schedule and Citizen's Charter as of September 2026 and can change. LTMS always shows the current amount for your own record. brgy.to is not affiliated with the LTO.
Official links
Free reviewer
CDE Renewal Exam practice
Road signs, rules, and traffic laws from the official manual. 25-question mock exam, 80% to pass — same as LTMS.
Start practicing5-year or 10-year?
RA 10930 gives a 10-year license to drivers with no traffic violations during their current license's validity. Same fee, half the renewals. Any violation on record means a 5-year license.