LTO: 10-Year Validity in Driver's Licenses are Not Guaranteed

Yes, they're mandated by law--specifically Republic Act 10930--but that doesn't mean they're actually for everyone. Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante said that only motorists who follow traffic laws will get to enjoy the 10-year validity of their driver's licenses.

"From the one-year validity of the driver's license, we made it three years. Now, we made it five and so it would be 10 [years> so that you don't have to come back every five years but rather, 10. You have to come back only once every 10 years for you to renew your license but that is if you are not delinquent meaning, you do not have violations," Galvante told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

He also added that drivers who have incurred many violations will only be given driver's licenses with a five-year validity once they renew them after the tenth year. Moreover, all licenses can be revoked anytime the driver has acquired several traffic violations--just like what happened to Miko Lopez earlier this month.

Republic Act 10930

The Republic Act 10930--or an "act rationalizing and strengthening the policy regarding driver's license by extending the validity period of driver's licenses, and penalizing acts in violation of its issuance and application for those purposes Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136"--was implemented on August 2017. This is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's move to prevent red tape and corruption in the government.

Under the law, driver's licenses shall be valid up to five years, and can be extended to 10 years if the driver hasn't committed any violations.

"Except for student permits, all drivers' licenses shall be valid for five (5) years reckoned from the birthdate of the licensee, unless sooner revoked or suspended: Provided, however, That subject to Section 26 hereof, any holder of a professional or nonprofessional driver's license who has not committed any violation of Republic Act No. 4136 and other traffic laws, rules and regulations during the five (5)-year period shall be entitled to a renewal of such license for ten (10) years, subject to the restrictions as may be imposed by the LTO," as stated by the law.