LTO extends driver’s license validity to April 2024

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  • The Land Transportation Office has extended the driver’s license validity to April 2, 2024 or until there is enough supply of plastic cards
  • An LTO memo granted a year’s extension for licenses that expired beginning April 3, 2023 until April 1, 2024
  • The supply of drivers’ licenses is in short supply due mainly to a legal battle between two firms that bid for supply of the cards, stalling their delivery

The validity of driver’s licenses expiring from April 2, 2023 until April 1, 2024 has been extended until April 2, 2024 or until there is enough supply of plastic cards, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said in a memo issued on September 6.

The memo, signed by Transportation assistant secretary and LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II, said no penalties will apply during this period.

The supply of drivers’ licenses is in short supply due mainly to a legal battle between two firms that bid for supply of the cards, stalling their delivery.

In case of renewal, the system-generated driver’s license Official Receipt will be stamped or printed with “Valid as Temporary Driver’s License Until Plastic Card is Released” with the following details:

  • Name of issuing office, contact personnel/cellphone number/email address
  • Name and signature of releasing officer
  • A screenshot of the client’s driver’s license card (front and back) printed at the back of the official receipt.

“The old or expired driver’s license card must be returned to the owner and shall be valid until the new plastic card is released,” the memo said.

DOTr earlier initiated procurement of five million pieces of plastic cards to address the backlog by early 2024; LTO facilitated distribution.

Around 100,000 plastic cards have already been delivered by the winning bidder but a Quezon City court issued a a temporary restraining order halting production and delivery based on a case filed by the losing bidder. The TRO lapsed on September 6, 2023 but has yet to be lifted as of this writing.

LTO’s Mendoza earlier confirmed at a Lower House hearing that the LTO will extend expiring  driver’s licenses for another year.