I remember the first time I got my Driver’s License. It was all relatively quick because I had all the requirements with me. I also remember when I first had to go through the License renewal process. It was almost as if you were applying for a new one again with all the paperwork to fill out.
Decades later, I had to go through it again. Today’s LTO has put a lot of new processes in place to make it faster, easier, and as hassle-free as possible. Call me lucky, but today seemed to be a good day to get it done. Here’s how my license was renewed in as quick as half an hour.
The Driver’s License Renewal Process
Before going to the LTO, I had to create an account on the LTMS Portal. In it, my personal information had to be plugged into the system but more importantly, an account is required to be able to take the online Comprehensive Driver’s Education certificate. To pass, you’ll have to answer 50% of the questions correctly, or at least 13 out of 25 questions right. Once the exam is completed, your certificate and grade will be recorded.
Along with the CDE, having or not having any record of apprehensions will determine the validity of your license. I am eligible for a 10-year license, so hooray for responsible driving theory and application.
So with grade in hand, my old driver’s license in my wallet, and with enough cash to pay for the medical exam and the license renewal itself, I set off to the satellite LTO nearest me. Time check: 9:00 AM, and I was let inside by the friendly lady. At the counter, I was asked for my license, and if there are any amendments or revisions needed in my records. There were none, and with her trusty felt tip pen, she made a wide straight mark across the card and asked me to head next door for medical.
Time check: 9:01 AM. What? Well, this license renewal is pretty fast! Or is it?
Clinics are always so conveniently near LTO branches, aren’t they? This particular satellite was no exception. So after being told to get a medical exam, I moved next door with two people ahead of me. The exams remained the same throughout the years. First, they took my height, and my weight (don’t ask, please), and took a quick reading of my blood pressure. After which, I was asked to read letters off the Snellen chart; you know, the familiar chart we see at opticians’ clinics. I was given Condition A in that I have to wear my eyeglasses while driving.
After the exam, my information was encoded and printed. The document is what I needed to present to the LTO before my license renewal can be processed. It cost PHP 500 to get all that done, and after paying, I again walked next door.
Time check, 9:16 AM.
The first thing I had to do was to login into my LTMS account in the presence of an LTO employee/encoder. After which, it was he who input the details of my medical exam into my profile. At 9:18 AM, I was told that I can already go to go to the cashier and prepare PHP 585 for the renewal fee.
Verification: check. LTMS account: check. Medical: check. Portal Login: check. And so I finally have to pay to get my license renewal going. Before they took my payment, though, I was asked to input my fingerprints via a scanner (which I hope they sanitize after every use), and then for a very quick moment, take my mask and eyeglasses off for a photo. The last thing needed was my signature and after being shown the information they have on the system, they asked if we can proceed.
Are you kidding? Let’s go! Time check: 9:23 AM.
I was asked to take a seat and wait to be called. It took all five minutes before I heard my name and saw that my license receipt and card were already printed! Of course, I had to check both the paper and plastic card if all the information on them were correct before merrily going my way. They were. After neatly folding the receipt and putting my brand spanking new license card into my wallet, I had already taken two minutes and by 9:30 AM, I was out of the LTO. License renewal: success!
I was amazed and at the same time curious if this was a fluke. So before I even thought of keeping time, I worked out a plan to validate my own experience against another’s. After my medical exam, I took note of another individual who was just coming into the LTO. While at the LTMS encoding station, I overheard him say that he was there for license renewal as well. What luck!
So I took note of his time starting with Validation, and until he walked out, new license in hand. Thankfully there was a convenience store beside the LTO so I ninja’d my way into keeping track of the time this individual spent getting a renewal. At 9:52 AM, he was done, much to the amazement of what I can only assume to be his significant other who kept looking at his card. The process for his license renewal took around 35 minutes. Still not bad!
Let’s not forget that by the time I and my “experimental individual” were done, there were already a few more people filing into the LTO. I also noticed that other people who came in at around the same time as the other person I observed also (seemed to have) finished their license renewal soon after.
So is it a freak day? Is it a fluke or “chamba”? No, in this case, I don’t think it was. Sure, this satellite office didn’t have as many people as a Main Office of the LTO would, but again, it’s sites such as these that are meant to take the hassle out of transacting with the LTO, specifically for license renewals. And for this, I along with a lot of others are surely thankful.
Good job, LTO! Let’s keep it up, yes?
