Expired driver’s licenses from April 3 2023 valid until April 2 next year

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) said that the validity of all driver’s licenses that expired starting April 3, 2023 will be considered valid until April 2, 2024. The agency decided to extend the validity due to the “non-availability” of driver’s license plastic cards.

The LTO extends validity of driver's licenses that expired beginning April 3, 2023

The LTO released a memorandum that states “All expired driver’s/conductor’s licenses with expiration beginning 03 April 2023 until 01 April 2024 shall continue to be valid until 02 April 2024 or until such time that there is sufficient available plastic cards.”

The memo also states that no collection of penalty for the abovementioned licenses shall be undertaken.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said that the extension for the driver’s licenses that expired beginning April 3, 2023 is automatic and valid until April 2, 2024. Mendoza added that affected motorists do need to go to an LTO office to secure an extension validity stamp. Affected motorists only need to show the memo pertaining to the driver’s license extended validity.

Heads up

Despite the extended validity, the LTO still released guidelines in case a motorist opts to renew the expired driver’s license. The memo says that the “system generated driver’s license official receipt shall be stamped or printed with “Valid as Temporary Driver’s License Until Plastic Card is Released.”

It should also include the following:

- The name of the issuing office, contact personnel/cellphone number/email address

- The name and signature of the releasing officer

- A screenshot of the client’s driver’s license card (front and back) printed at the back of the official receipt.

The old or expired driver’s license card shall then be returned to the owner and shall be valid until the new plastic card is released.

The LTO initially announced the shortage of driver’s license plastic cards last April. Then, the agency and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) became hopeful that the shortage would be addressed this month.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor Mendoza II

However, the LTO is facing a legal battle concerning its Php 240 million plastic card contract. A Quezon City regional trial court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) to the winning bidder, Banner Plasticard Inc., which put the 1.7 million driver’s license plastic cards backlog on hold. The TRO was issued since the losing bidder, AllCard, Inc., submitted a petition to the court.

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