When driving a vehicle in the Philippines, you must have a valid driver’s license. If you have lost your Philippine driver’s license, you must obtain a new one as soon as possible. In this article, we will show you a complete guide on what to do if you lose your driver’s license in the Philippines.
What to Do If You Lost LTO Driver’s License
It will be upsetting and annoying if you find that your driver’s license is lost or stolen by others. However, you must follow the tips below if you lose your driver’s license.
Stay calm
You must keep calm and think about some places where you may lose your driver’s license. You are able to leave the driver’s license in the car or the bedroom. If you are lucky, you may find your driver’s license in the corner.
Report the loss
If your driver’s license is stolen and you can’t get it back, you must report the loss with detailed information to the attorney-at-law and have it notarized in a public notary office. An affidavit of loss is one of the most important requirements when applying for a driver’s license replacement. At the same time, your missing driver’s license will not be used by others, which can protect your rights.
Monitor your financial accounts
You need to always monitor your financial account to make sure you don’t lose money. Since the driver’s license can be used as an identification card that can access your bank, you must check if there are any abnormal transactions on your account.
Prepare for lost LTO driver’s license replacement
If your driver’s license is lost, you need to prepare for the application process for the replacement of your driver’s license at the LTO branch or the Land Transportation Office Management System (LTMS). You must prepare a valid ID and the required documents.
Don’t drive your vehicle on the road
You are not allowed to drive a vehicle without a valid license. If you lose your driver’s license, you cannot drive your car on the road. If you get caught by the police, you will be fined and you can’t drive for a year when you get the penalty. Therefore, you won’t be allowed to drive a car until you have a vehicle.
Lost Driver’s License Requirements
Before visiting the nearest Land Transportation Office (LTO) branch in the Philippines to replace your lost or damaged license, you must prepare the necessary information and documents.
Required Information for Lost Driver’s License Replacement
You must provide the following information for the lost driver’s license:
- Full Name
- Nationality
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Present Address
- Gender
- Weight and Height
- Blood Type
- Phone number
- Tax Identification Number (TIN)
- Father and Mother’s Name and Spouse’s Name
- Employer Business Name and Phone Number Employer Business Address
Documents Required for Replacement of Lost Driver’s License
- Completed Driver’s License Application for Permits and Licenses (APL) Form
- Affidavit of loss/mutilation certified by an attorney-at-law
- Copy of Medical Certificate Complaint Copy
- Mutilized Driver License
- One of the legal IDs issued by the government with a photo and signature, such as a Social Security System (SSS)Card, UMIDCard, PhilHealth ID TIN Card, etc.
- The receipt of the application fee
- Law Enforcement Clearance issued by the applicable LTO Regional Office.
- LTO Certification of Licence Records
How to Replace Lost or Stolen Driver’s License in LTO
After you have prepared all the necessary documents, you can replace your lost or stolen driver’s license in LTO. They offer two ways for you to obtain a new driver’s license, including online or in-person application. You can follow the steps below and get a new driver’s license.
Lost or Stolen Driver’s License Replacement Online
If you want to replace a lost stolen or damaged driver’s license, you can apply online by visiting the LTMSPortal website. Here you can follow the steps below:
- You can visit the LTMS Portal website and click the “Sign in” if you already have an account. Otherwise, you need to click the “Register Now” button if you don’t have an account.
- You can click “licensing” and “apply for a duplicate/replacement license.”
- You must enter all the personal details in the application form.
- You must upload a scanned copy of the loss affidavit and other required documents.
- Once done, you need to click on “Payment confirm” to pay for the fees online.
- You can then click the “Submit” button to complete the application.
- Once the authority has accepted your application, you will receive an application status update via SMS.
- You will receive a call from the office asking you to visit their LTO branch of choice to complete vision tests and biometrics procedures.
- Once done, you will soon get a duplicate driver’s license.
Lost or Stolen Driver’s License in-person Replacement
In addition, you can obtain a replacement or duplicate a driver’s license in person. Here you can check the steps listed below:
- You must visit the LTO Central Office to obtain an application form or download it from the LTO website.
- You must fill out all the necessary details in the application form and attach all photocopies of the required documents.
- Then you need to schedule an appointment on the Land Transportation Office Management System (LTMS) Portal online by selecting the nearest branch and available date and time slot.
- On the day of your appointment, you must visit the LTO branch with the application form and required documents.
- Then you need to pay the application fee at the cashier and wait for an acknowledgement receipt.
- You will receive application status updates via SMS.
- Once done, you will receive a call from the office regarding the application and will be required to come to the office to complete the vision tests and the biometric procedure.
How much does a duplicate driver’s license cost?
When you apply for a duplicate driver’s license due to loss, damage, or theft, you are required to pay for the application fees. Here you can check the following required fees.
| Category | Fees |
| Replacement Fee | P225.00 |
| Certification Fee | P100.00 |
| Clearance Fee | P30.00 |
| Duplicate Fee | P50.00 |
However, the application fee may change with the specific LTO Branch you are visiting. Therefore, you need to check for the latest price at the LTO branch.
How Long Will I Get the New Driver’s License?
The process of obtaining a replacement for a valid LTO Driver’s License in the event of loss, damage, or theft will vary, depending on the application method that you choose. If you still can’t receive any message after the processing time, you should visit the LTO branch or call them to check the application status.
| Category | Processing Time |
| Online application | 5-7 days |
| In-person application | 30 days or so |
What Should I Do If My Lost Driver’s License Has Expired?
If your lost driver’s license has expired, you do not need to apply for a replacement driver’s license. Instead, you can renew your driver’s expired license. If you don’t know how to renew your driver’s license, you can read this detailed guide to learn the steps to recover a lost driver’s license.
FAQ
📌Can I still drive while waiting for my replacement driver’s license?
No, you can’t drive while you wait for the replacement. If you do not have a valid license, you will face a penalty for driving without a license, which is a hefty LTO penalty of P3,000.00. What’s worse, it could result in towing and getting your vehicle impounded. Therefore, you must obtain a new replacement driver’s license as soon as possible.
📌Do I need to take another driving test to get a replacement driver’s license?
No. When you apply for a driver’s license replacement, you do not need to take another driving test. However, you must complete the vision test and biometric collection after they have processed your application.
📌Is an affidavit of loss required to replace a lost driver’s license?
Yes, when replacing a lost driver’s license due to theft or damage, it is necessary to show the Affidavit of Loss. It is a must-have requirement when you submit the driver’s license replacement application. It is the proof stating that the previously issued license was lost and it can not be found. If you don’t have an affidavit of loss, your application will be rejected because of the incomplete documents. You can check the Affidavit of Loss template on the official website.
Conclusion
All in all, it is easy to complete the driver’s license replacement online. However, while waiting for the replacement, you are not allowed to drive your car on the road. Otherwise, you may be fined for losing your license. Don’t forget to prepare all the requirements for a duplicate driver’s license to make sure that you have a smooth process.
Dolores Xiao