Acquiring a Driver’s License from the Land Transportation Office (LTO) is a privilege and not a right. As with any privilege, it comes with some requisites and provisions. One of these is the need to change the driver’s license classification from Non-Professional to Professional if you want to drive as a means of livelihood. That means, if you need a driver’s license for work, you can’t use a Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL). Instead, you need to request for a change in classification to a Professional Driver’s License (PDL).
To learn how to apply for a change in driver’s license classification from Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL) to Professional Driver’s License (PDL), here’s a quick and easy-to-follow guide on how you can do just that.
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There are different kinds of driver’s licenses available to the public. There’s the student permit, a Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL), and a Professional Driver’s License (PDL). Some might say that the student permit is not considered as a driver’s license, in which case, leaves only the other two options. Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to immediately apply for a Professional Driver’s License (PDL). This means that in at least one point, you will need to process a change in classification request in LTO, especially if you need your driver’s license to earn a living.
For first-time driver’s license applicants who have had a student permit for at least one month, the LTO offers the less restrictive Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL). With an NPDL, an individual is allowed to legally drive any licensed private automobile they are authorized for all on their own. Do note that depending on the date the student permit was issued, an individual has at least a month to up to twelve (12) months to apply for a Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL).
At the top of the hierarchy of LTO licenses is the Professional Driver’s License (PDL). With this type of license at hand, an individual can work and get paid to operate any public or private vehicle they are authorized for or work as a driver for a living. This requires securing and holding on to the other license types, including the Student Permit and the NPDL, for a specific period before they can apply for a Professional Driver’s License (PDL).
The procedures and fees for getting a Professional and Non-Professional Driver’s License in the Philippines are the same. The only difference is that there are certain LTO requirements and limitations that are more requirements that are harder to secure, if you are getting a professional license because of the higher number of vehicle types that they can drive. That said, it is safe to say that the most significant difference between Professional and Non-Professional Driver’s License is the kind of vehicles that the bearer can drive. A non-professional license holder cannot drive heavy and big vehicles while a professional driver’s license holder can, though it would still depend on the restriction indicated on their license.
There are six (6) general qualifications to be able to change your Driver’s License (DL) classification. These qualifications include:
On top of the general qualifications, there are other qualifying conditions involving the current valid NPDL and how long since it has been issued before a Change in Classification can be processed:
There are four (4) things that you need to secure first before you are able to apply for and process a Classification change for your license. These requirements are as follows:
For foreigners with valid NPDL who want to have their driver’s license classification changed, they need to submit the following additional requirement:
For other cases like those who have accumulated TVDPs, applying for a Driver’s License Classification change is prohibited for a certain period, depending upon the number of demerit points:
Those who have Condition Codes 2, 3, 4, or 5 are not allowed to operate For Hire/Public Utility Vehicles or commercial vehicles unless they can present proof that they are allowed to do so, issued by a qualified LTO-accredited medical specialist from an LTO-accredited clinic.
You will need to take both the written and practical driving exam, and pay the fee for additional restriction code.
Once all of these qualifications and requirements are met, then you can proceed with the actual application procedures for DL change in classification:
Step 1. Visit any LTO office, be it a Licensing Center, Licensing Extension Office, Authorized LTO District Office, or LTO Extension Office near you.
Step 2. Check if they process DL classification changes and if they require an appointment or accept walk-in applicants.
Note: The LTO recently rolled out an online website portal called the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) which you can use to set up an appointment and transact with LTO. But not all LTO offices in the country are connected to the system just yet. Some offices still accept walk-in applicants so it is very important that you check first before you go.
Step 3. At the LTO office, ask where you can get an Application for Driver’s License (ADL) form.
Note: To help save you some time, you may also check the LTO website’s LTO Forms section to download the Application for Driver’s License (ADL) form.
Step 4. Once you have completely accomplished the form, get a queue ticket from the service counter and wait for your number to be called.
Step 5. Submit your completed ADL form and all the requirements, including your queue number.
Step 6. The LTO evaluator will check on the completeness and authenticity of your submissions.
Step 7. Once everything is confirmed, you will be asked to proceed to the Cashier to pay the application fee.
Step 8. Once paid, proceed to the encoding / biometric window and complete the form for encoding of your new details into the LTO-IT system.
Step 9. You will be issued a claim stub and informed by the LTO officer when you can come back to collect your OR (Official Receipt) and your driver’s license.
Step 10. When you return to collect your drivers’ license (DL), you will be asked to sign in the log sheet before your license is released to you.
Step 1. Visit any LTO office, be it a Licensing Center, Licensing Extension Office, Authorized LTO District Office, or LTO Extension Office near you.
Step 2. Check if they process DL classification changes and if they require an appointment or accept walk-in applicants.
Note: The LTO recently rolled out an online website portal called the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS) which you can use to set up an appointment and transact with LTO. But not all LTO offices in the country are connected to the system just yet. Some offices still accept walk-in applicants so it is very important that you check first before you go.
Step 3. At the LTO office, ask where you can get an Application for Driver’s License (ADL) form.
Note: To help save you some time, you may also check the LTO website’s LTO Forms section to download the Application for Driver’s License (ADL) form.
Step 4. Once you have completely accomplished the form, get a queue ticket from the service counter and wait for your number to be called.
Step 5. Submit your completed ADL form and all the requirements, including your queue number.
Step 6. The LTO evaluator will check on the completeness and authenticity of your submissions.
Step 7. Once everything is confirmed, you will be asked to proceed to the Cashier to pay the application fee.
Step 8. Once paid, you will need to take and pass the LTO exams.
Step 9. Take the written examination:
Step 10. Take the actual driving examination.
Step 11. Once you pass the LTO exams, proceed to the encoding / biometric window and complete the form for encoding your new details into the LTO-IT system.
Step 12. You will be issued a claim stub and informed by the LTO officer when you can come back to collect your OR (Official Receipt) and your driver’s license.
Step 13. When you return to collect your drivers’ license (DL), you will be asked to sign in the log sheet before your license is released to you.
There is no definitive fee for processing a driver’s license with a change in classification. Instead, the final amount will depend on the circumstances surrounding the license, so it could be anywhere from Php 425.00 to Php 1,375.00 depending on applicable penalties.
You may check the following breakdown for more information:
Total: P 785.00 + penalty
Processing a Change of DL Classification from NPDL to PDL can be done at any official LTO Licensing Centers, LTO Licensing Extension Centers, LTO Authorized District Offices, LTO Extension Offices, or at the LTO Central Office – License Station.
To help you convert your Non-Professional Driver’s License to a Professional Driver’s License, you may check this video posted by Wander J.
