Get a driver's license in the Philippines as a foreigner

pej1111 wrote:

How did it all go Uniden?

Yeah....how did it all go Uniden?

May the force be with you & Good luck!

Cheers

I went to CarCar,  the man behind d the desk said I needed a ACR card, which I know I don't need. So I went to the LTO at  SM Seaside. The only thing they wanted was a copy of our marriage license,  because I'm here on the Balikbayan privilege. I took the medical, was asked a few questions,  read an eye chart, and tried to find numbers in a bunch of colored dots, and I had to pee in a bottle. Then we waited for my name to be called. Window 2, hand in all my documents,  sat waited again window 4 pay the fees, more waiting,  window 6, get my photo taken, fingers printed, more waiting,  window 5, I get my plastic Drivers License, about 8 hours total, but it's for driving a car only. To get my motor cycle indorsment I had to go back the next day, get a copy of the medical I took the previous day,  and go through the whole procedure again, but this time I had to rent a motorcycle to take a road test,  which was to drive up the road a bit, make a u turn, and come back. I got my new plastic drivers license with both car and motorcycle endorsement,  ( class 1 and 2), this took about an hour.
Being a senior,  I got to go ahead of the line, the staff there where friendly,  and helpful.
This is how it went for me, I think the process for getting a DL here is different depending on your situation, are you here as a tourist,  a BB, on 13a etc. don't go by what is on the LTO website, because the site is not updated regularly as the rules change. Just remember, your in the Philippines,  always smile be friendly,  and have patience, and it helps to have your Filipina wife/ girlfriend with you.

Great job Uniden;

Me too..I got my official license ONLY for *driving & not for motorbike riding.
But I'm happy in getting it done legally w/o any fixer.
My local brother in law (u.o) used a fixer last year & paid a flat fee of 3.5t. He's got a license for both the car & motorbike....funny part is he cannot drive !!! (License Issued could be a fake...Not too sure!!!)

My take : For us expats its best to stay safe & to go thru the "PAINFULL' so called "official process" w/o fixers.
Otherwise jus dun bother & jus keep  driving/riding on wif your foreign drivers license.

Thanks & stay safe!!!

Cost me just under 2000 pesos for everything. I think it's worth it, the fine for driving without DL here is 3000 peso. A foreigner friend on a visitor visa, said he rather drive with his home country DL, said if he gets caught, they don't ask when he got here, and the fine isn't that much. Well  glad he wants to gamble, me I like to be on the up and up, all legal.