Getting a Non-Professional Driver's License 2016

I've read a lot of good tips on how to get your Non-Professional Driver's License from the LTO. Just thought I'd give an update on the costs as of May 2016.

I spent 180 pesos on the medical exam at Cabreros Medical Clinic, located on the 2nd floor of the Chowking building to the left side of the LTO Compound in Quezon City. The will measure your height and weight, and give you tests for the eyes and for your feet.

Afterwards, proceed to Step 1 for the LTO Form. You will be given a number after you present your student's permit. Hopefully, it hasn't expired yet. Mine was about to reach a year, so I was pressured to go get my Non-Prof unless I wanted to renew my Student's License again. After getting a number, wait for it to be called at either Windows 9, 8 or 10.

After you are called, the next step would be your photo and signature capture at Window 6. Then payment for the exam at Window 7 which will cost you roughly 170 pesos. After paying, proceed to the Review Room and choose between an English or Tagalog Reviewer. Hopefully, you've tried the free online reviewers available.

After about 30 minutes to an hour of waiting, you will be asked to proceed to the examination room for the actual exam. Try to familiarize yourself with the traffic signs on the wall before the actual exam takes place. Those symbols are a huge help.

Again, wait for the results of the written exam, and if you pass, you will be called for the actual driving exam at their test area. If you fail, I think you can re-apply after a month.

At the test area, you will be given a brief orientation once all the test takers are present. Just a note here, I think processing test takers in batches are one of the reasons why this process takes almost an entire day. If I were to suggest changes in the LTO License Application process, it would be to computerize the written exam so that results are available as soon as the applicant is finished taking the test, and the applicant does not have to wait for his batchmates (the ones who took the test together with him). Same with the Driving Exam. Applicants can be instructed to just read signages on the wall before being called by the driving instructor for the exam. But I guess the vehicles have to be re-fueled and checked for maintenance after a batch is done.

If you don't have a car, you can rent one for 250 pesos. But if you have one, and you have a relative who already has a non-pro license, then it is better to bring it and operate a vehicle which you are already familiar on how to drive. Then, wait for your turn to drive through the test course. Try to be familiar with parking a car via backing. This was my main difficulty. Thank the Lord, I passed.

Even experienced drivers were having some difficulty with models they were not familiar driving. There was a Suzuki model that was really old. There was no signal stick, and the manual transmission was a bit of a challenge. Hopefully, you'll get a better and newer model than that one for the test.

After about 30 more minutes, if you passed, you will have to pay the license fee at Window 7 (the same one before), this time amounting to almost 420 pesos. Wait for another 15 to 30 minutes to get the Official Receipt from Window 13. The actual license will take 2 to 3 months according to the personnel at Window 13 of the LTO.

I started at around 9 in the morning and finished at about 3 in the afternoon. I hope you have a better experience and that you successfully get your Non-Pro License, too.

Medical Fee 180
Exam Fee 170
Car Rental 250
License Fee 420
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Total Expense 1020 pesos

Update: 12/22/2016
After learning of the announcement that the Driver's License I.D. Cards were now available, I dropped by the LTO and presented my receipts. It took about thirty minutes of waiting, but afterwards, I got the actual card and no longer have to carry a paper license.

Passport Certification at the DFA

(Note: the following details are valid as of August 16, 2013, the time of this writing.)

If you have applied for a passport on or before 2009, you would probably remember going to the old Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Main Office along Roxas Boulevard near the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies. But now, they have a new office near the S & R Building a few blocks from the SM Mall of Asia. (Refer to the image below).

Image from Google Maps

To get to the new DFA office, you can take a bus going to Baclaran and tell the driver to drop you off the new DFA office near the S & R building. The S & R building will be very visible along Roxas Boulevard due to its huge logo. From Roxas Boulevard, you would have to walk for several minutes until you get to the S & R  building and just behind that is the DFA's new office.

Another way of getting to the new DFA office is to go down the Taft MRT station and ask for directions where to ride small vans modified to resemble Philippine Jeepneys. Their logo will state "DFA Bago". Fare is about 10 pesos. This is the same convenient method of getting back to the MRT station from the DFA since these mini vans pass directly in front of the DFA building. Be careful not to ride Philippine Jeepneys that say DFA in their logo since these will take you to the old / original DFA building.

Once at the DFA office, tell the guards that you are applying for Passport Certification or Certified True Copy (CTC) of your passport. You should already have a photocopy of your passport's front page (the one with your picture) and back page (the one with your signature), and a photocopy of a valid I.D. These requirements are stated on the application form you will fill out during the interview process. Proceed to Door number 5 and again, state that you are applying for Passport Certification or Certified True Copy (CTC) of your passport.

At the Interview Area, make sure you inform the guards of your application so that they can provide you with a queue slip, which you will fill out with your name, and the reason you are there. You might have to wait for about an hour depending on the number of people ahead of you. During the interview, you will be asked why you are applying for Passport Certification of CTC, and how many copies you will need. Once approved, you will have to pay 100 pesos per copy. You will be given a receipt which you will have to pay at the cashier's office, at the 2nd Floor.

Once you've paid, return the duplicate copy to your interviewer and ask for the date you can claim the Passport Certification. It will usually take 5 business days.

I tried applying for Passport Certification from DFA Mega Mall, but they said they no longer entertain these requests since their turn around time for one was 15 business days. They now encourage applicants to proceed directly to the new DFA office.

I hope you find this information helpful. And as for the DFA, I hope you can improve your queuing systems similar to that of Quezon City Hall where you are given a number and a screen will denote your position in the queue. This suggestion will hopefully result in a faster and orderly queue.