Philippines Driving and Autos: Driving and Driver's License
Vehicles travel on the right-hand side of roads in the Philippines.
Requirements for Locals
Driver's licenses are administered by the Department of Transportation and Communications Land Transportation Office (LTO). More information is available online at www.lto.gov.ph.
Written and Road Test
Both a written exam and practical driving (road) test must be passed.
Residence
Residency is required.
Age
You must be at least 16 years old to drive.
Identification
You must present an original valid identification document when applying for a driver’s license. Several types of identification, including passports, are accepted.
Fee
There is a fee to apply for a driver’s license.
Other Requirements
A medical test administered by an LTO-approved physician also is required.
Requirements for Foreigners
Driving Using a Foreign License
As a foreign national in the Philippines, you may legally drive using a valid driver’s license from your home country for the first 90 days after your arrival. If your driver’s license is not in English, you must also carry an English translation issued by your country’s embassy in the Philippines, or an International Driving Permit (see below).
Obtaining a Local License
Once you’ve been in the Philippines for 90 days, you cannot legally drive using a foreign driver’s license and you must obtain a Philippine license. To apply for a new Philippine license, foreigners must follow the same requirements as locals, which are listed above.
An alternative to applying for a new Philippine license is to convert a foreign license. Foreigners can surrender their driver’s license issued by their home country in exchange for a Philippine license. No test is required if your original license is not expired. You can convert an expired foreign license, but you will need to take a written and practical driving exam.
In order to convert a foreign license to a Philippine license, you must submit an Application for Driver’s License along with the following documentation:
- Valid foreign license, translated into English if it is not already in English
- Valid passport showing the date of your most recent entry into the Philippines
- Visa or Alien Certificate of Registration, if you tempoarily reside in the Philippines
- Medical Certificate and receipt issued by an LTO-approved physician
- Taxpayer Identification Number, if you are employed
International Driving Permit
If you do not plan on being in the Philippines for more than 90 days, you may want to consider getting an International Driving Permit (IDP).
An IDP includes your name, photo, and basic information in ten languages. When carried together with a foreign license, it can serve as local identification in addition to permitting you to drive. It is valid in over 150 countries. The IDP is only valid when carried in conjunction with a driver’s license issued by your home country. An IDP is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.
Australia
If you are an Australian citizen, you must have a valid Australian driver’s license to get an IDP. The local Australian Automobile Association (AAA) office issues IDPs: www.aaa.asn.au/touring/idp.htm.
Canada
To get an IDP in Canada, you must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Canadian provincial driver’s license. The Canadian Automobile Association issues IDPs: www.caa.ca/idp.
France
French citizens should contact the Automobile Club Association to get an IDP in France: www.automobile-club.org.
Germany
German citizens with valid EU driver’s licenses may apply for an IDP with the Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobile-Club E.V. (ADAC): www.adac.de.
The United Kingdom
If you are a UK citizen, you can get an IDP from your local post office, the RAC (an automotive services company), or the Automobile Association (AA). You must be a resident of the UK, have a full UK driver’s license, and be at least 18 years old. For more information, visit the RAC at www.rac.co.uk, or the AA at www.theaa.com.
The United States
To obtain an IDP in the US, you must be over the age of 18 and have a valid US driver’s license. An IDP can be obtained from any Automobile Association of America (AAA) office or by mail if you are already overseas. For more information, visit the AAA website: www.aaa.com/vacation/idpf.html.
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