LTO new mandatory exam, seminar for driver’s license renewal is free

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has started to roll out driver’s licenses with 10-year validity. Individuals qualified for the 10-year driver’s license validity are those without a recorded traffic violation.

You have to have a spotless record to get a 10-year driver's license validity

Drivers renewing their licenses are now also required to take a Comprehensive Driver’s Education (CDE) as well as a mandatory examination. LTO clarified that the CDE and the mandatory exam for driver’s license renewal can be availed for free, and it is accessible at the agency’s online portal. 

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante clarified that the exam and the educational materials needed for the CDE program can be accessed for free at portal.lto.gov.ph. Through this, the agency states that the new requirements in renewing driver’s licenses would not cause “undue delay or hardship.”    

The educational materials uploaded online include videos, slide presentations, and e-books. All of which can be accessed for free. You can view these materials under the E-Learning section, and it is the first option on the drop-down menu. Drivers renewing their licenses can look into the materials prior to taking the mandatory exam. 

The educational materials and the mandatory exam can be accessed online for free

According to a report by the Philippine News Agency, the exam has a total of 25 questions, and requires a passing rate of 50 percent (13 correct answers) for both professional and non-professional license holders. The exam can be taken at any time, and has no time limit. It can also be retaken immediately in case an individual didn’t pass the test. 

Of note, drivers have a choice whether to attend a seminar that’s conducted physically at the LTO’s Driver Education Centers for free. Drivers can also opt to take the seminar through accredited driving schools for a certain fee. On the other hand, drivers can choose to have it via online through the LTO’s online portal for free.   

Drivers renewing their licenses need to take the mandatory exam

However, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez seeks to remove LTO’s CDE program as part of the requirements of drivers renewing their licenses. He said that the new requirements will be an “additional expense to the Filipino people, which is an added burden especially during a pandemic.”  

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