Maintaining awareness of your LTO driving records as well as staying informed about your accumulated demerit points is an important responsibility that every driver’s license holder must pay attention to. After all, these points can not only influence the duration of your license validity, but also directly affect your ability to retain your valid driver’s license, renew into a license with longer validity, and affect the fines and penalties you might be required to pay. That said, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has made it easier to keep track by streamlining the process of checking for demerit points through the use of the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal, allowing drivers to conveniently check their demerit points online 24/7.
Thanks to this LTMS portal feature, licensed drivers and conductors can now proactively manage their driving records and violations in order to avoid facing more severe repercussions such as license suspension or cancellation. In this guide, we will walk you through the detailed steps on how you can check your demerit points online via the LTMS portal, ensuring you can leverage the benefits of using this platform more efficiently.
What are Demerit Points
Demerit points form a crucial aspect of the LTO’s traffic violation monitoring system, as mandated by Republic Act No. 10930. These points serve as indicators of a driver’s adherence to traffic laws, with different violations carrying varying point values. It is used to track and penalize drivers for traffic violations and are assigned based on the severity of the offenses committed. Accumulating a certain number of demerit points within a specific period can result in consequences such as license suspension, so it is important for drivers to understand the significance of these points.
As mentioned, demerit points are assigned according to a system designed by the LTO. Different violations carry varying demerit point values, with more serious infractions accruing higher points. Accumulating a certain number of demerit points within a specified period can lead to severe consequences, so it’s best to keep watch on the amount of points you are getting or to simply avoid accruing them altogether.
Benefits of Knowing Your Demerit Points
Knowing how your driving and traffic violations is one thing that helps you settle them on time, but watching out for the amount of demerit points you are accruing comes with several advantages:
- Help you keep your driving record clean
- Allows for proactive measures to rectify behavior and avoid further violations.
- Enables anticipation of potential consequences
- Encourages safer driving habits and contributes to overall road safety
- Help you monitor accumulated demerit points to avoid harsher penalties
Requirements
Checking for your demerit points via the LTMS portal is quite straightforward and convenient. Before you can proceed with checking your demerit points via the LTMS portal however, you first need to make sure that you have:
- Access to a reliable internet connection
- A valid email address for LTMS registration (For those without an LTMS account)
- A registered account on the LTMS portal
- Correct login credentials (email address or LTO Client Number and password)
- Access to a compatible device
- Updated web browser software
- Philippine driver’s license information
- License number
- Expiry Date
Procedure
The process of checking demerit points using the LTMS portal is straightforward and easy. Here’s the step-by-step procedure you can follow:
Step 1. Ensure Internet Connectivity
Make sure you have access to a computing device, astable internet connection, and a compatible web browser.
Step 2. Access LTMS Portal
Navigate to the official LTMS portal website. You can do this by typing “LTMS LTO” into your search engine or directly visiting the official LTMS portal website at portal.lto.gov.ph.
Step 3. Log in to Your Account
If you already have a registered account on the LTMS portal, log in using your credentials. If not, you’ll need to register for an account first by following the registration prompts.
Step 4. Navigate to Violations Section
Once logged in, locate and click on the “Violations” icon from the dashboard menu options.
Step 5. Check Demerit Points
Within the Violations section, you should see tabs for different types of violations. Look for the tab labeled “Demerit Points” which also happens to be the default tab, and check on how many demerit points you have acquired within the validity period of your current license. You may also want to check on the dates and type of violation for good measure.
Step 6. Review and Take Action
Review your demerit points status to see how many points you have accumulated. If there are any discrepancies or unsettled violations, take appropriate action to settle them.
That’s it! By simply following these steps, you can easily check your demerit points online via the LTMS portal and stay informed about how clean or messy your LTO driving record is.
Fees
Checking demerit points via the LTMS portal is free of charge, a testament to the LTO’s commitment to better, more accessible, and more transparent public service.
Processing Time
Unlike before, when checking on your LTO violations can only be done in person at an LTO office, checking for your LTO demerit points no longer takes that much time. At most, it could take about five (5) to fifteen (15) minutes, depending on your Internet speed.
Video: Understanding LTO Demerit Point System
For a better understanding of the LTO Demerit Point System, you may check out this explainer video from DriveSafe PH:
Important Reminders
Understanding the workings of the LTO Demerit Points is simple, but just in case, here are a few reminders worth taking note of to avoid being surprised when you finally check on your LTO violations:
- Regularly monitor your demerit points.
- Understand the implications of accumulating points on your license.
- Take proactive measures to maintain a clean driving record.
- Ensure your information on the LTMS portal is up-to-date.
- Adhere to all traffic laws and regulations.
Summary
Checking demerit points online via the LTMS portal is one of the few things that LTO offers to help empower the drivers to stay on top of their responsibilities and avoid penalties. Understanding the LTO demerit point system is crucial, and by actively monitoring them via the portal, you can take control of your driving future and minimize potential issues. Plus, it helps you stay aware of how compliant you are with the traffic laws or if you are a notorious lawbreaker, how close you are to getting your license suspended.