The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has finally released a new renewal schedule for expired driver’s licenses, following the recent announcement invalidating the automatic extension for the validity of expired driver’s licenses until April 2, 2023 or until the number of plastic cards becomes sufficient.
In the announcement, the LTO has said that they now have a sufficient number of plastic cards to cover the printing of the driver’s licenses that expired from April 1 to September 30. They also announced that they have made the process and delivery faster and more efficient in order to catch up with the backlog of driver’s licenses.
Implementing a New Renewal Schedule for Expired Driver’s Licenses
Following the announcement of the cancellation of the previously granted 1-year extension for expired driver’s licenses, the LTO has also released a schedule for the renewal of said licenses. This announcement also covers the procedures for the replacement of paper licenses and digital ones issued during the period when the delivery of plastic cards were temporarily halted due to a court case.
The renewal schedule for driver’s licenses that expired between April 1 to September 30, 2023 was also created in an attempt to avoid overcrowding in the agency’s offices. It was also designed to help people avoid having to wait in long lines, which is a plus for the agency. After all, the shortage of plastic cards has resulted in backlogs and the eventual issuance of paper licenses and digital ones.
New Renewal Schedule for Expired Driver’s Licenses 2023
According to the LTO, here’s the new prescribed schedule that is being implemented in all LTO branches for those whose driver’s license has expired.
Driver’s license expiry date: April 1 to 30, 2023
Schedule of renewal: October 6 to 31, 2023
Driver’s license expiry date: May 1 to 31, 2023
Schedule of renewal: November 1 to 30, 2023
Driver’s license expiry date: June 1 to 30, 2023
Schedule of renewal: December 1 to 31, 2023
Driver’s license expiry date: July 1 to 31, 2023
Schedule of renewal: January 1 to 31, 2024
Driver’s license expiry date: August 1 to 31, 2023
Schedule of renewal: February 1 to 29, 2024
Driver’s license expiry date: September 1 to 30, 2023
Schedule of renewal: March 1 to 31, 2024
The LTO also announced that those with a paper license may claim their plastic card license by returning to their licensing office and presenting the receipt of their payment. The announcement also made it clear that failure to renew within the prescribed schedule will mean that the driver’s licenses will be rendered as expired. In such cases, the violations, demerit points, and penalties for driving with an expired license will apply.
Will the supply last?
For those who are worried that the supply of plastic cards won’t last long, here’s what the LTO has to say:
“Meron na po tayong sapat na bilang ng plastic cards to cover the printing of the driver’s licenses that expired mula April 1 hanggang September 30. Dahil sa tulong ng ating DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista ay mas pinadami ang production at mas pinabilis ang delivery para ma-address na natin ang backlog sa driver’s licenses.” (We already have a sufficient number of plastic cards to cover the printing of the driver’s licenses that expired from April 1 to September 30. Thanks to the help of DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, the production and speed of delivery was increased to address the backlog of driver’s licenses.)
Summary
As one of the most important documents one must have as a driver, the LTO driver’s license is one of the most in-demand government-issued IDs in the Philippines. Unfortunately, despite the importance of a driver’s license, some people still drive without a license or with an expired license, resulting in violations and penalties. Earlier this year, some drivers were able to enjoy the reprieve from the taxing process with the extension of license validity allowed by the LTO due to the shortage of plastic cards resulting from delayed deliveries due to a court case. It has been resolved, but the license validity extension granted earlier has been revoked and is no longer in effect.