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LTO to launch 10-year driver’s license validity starting October 2021

LTO (Land and Transportation Office announced recently that they will launch a premium 10-year validity of driver’s license starting October 2021, A Driver (professional or not) with a clean record can enjoy a driver’s license that will be valid for 10 years.

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However, This new validity is for drivers renewing their license, Not those applying for new non-professional and professional driver’s licenses, Applicants will be issued first a license valid for five years.

It was intended to implement this year but was pushback due to the ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus or COVID-19 according to LTO 7 Director Victor Emmanuel Caindec.

LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante said in a press briefing that the validity of the new license is in line with the current implementation of Republic Act No. 10930, which extended their validity from the current three years to five.

“Not all possessors of drivers’ licenses will be able to enjoy this 10-year validity. This is an incentive for drivers who obey traffic rules,” Galvante said. “Even just one demerit point can disqualify you. So to avail of this premium, your record must be clean.

“Hopefully with this measure, we can reduce crashes and accidents that cause injuries and deaths on the road,” he added. The demerit system is part of R.A. 10930’s implementing rules and regulations that took effect in June.

Point system Scheme

Under the new scheme, those with grave violations will earn a motorist five demerit points. While less grave violations will mean three demerits while light violations will be equivalent to a demerit.

  • Grave violations include driving a motor vehicle used in the commission of crimes, driving under the influence, operating “colorum” vehicles, as well as the third and succeeding times the license holder is caught disregarding driving regulations such as seatbelt use, child safety, and anti-distracted driving.
  • Less grave violations refer to the second-time offense of driving laws, parking and obstruction violations, and acts punishable by local ordinances.
  • Light violations, on the other hand, include first-time offenses of driving regulations and minor traffic offenses.

Asec Galvez said that there will be now a specific cap yet for demerit points, it will be a case-by-case basis on assessing the total accumulated points. He explained that even the licenses of motorists with only a few demerit points for light violations may be suspended or revoked if these are accumulated repeatedly.

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