Philippine Driving Licence

[Jollygoodfellow]

Let's keep the topic as Driving licences. Once someone starts talking about Visa its stuffed. Members if you have several questions ask in correct forum as to the topic, split them up. 

[GeoffH]

8 hours ago, robert k said:

I have never had them ask to see my passport at a checkpoint. Most of the time I drive firmly up to a checkpoint they just wave me through. If they don't look at your passport, they don't know if you are past the 90 days from arrival you are allowed to drive or not.

The people who know they won't pass any kind of inspection pull over and wait for the checkpoint to close or go another way as inconspicuously as they can.

I was asked for my passport when travelling from Ozamiz to Cagayan De Oro and return but that was during the time that the Battle of Marawi was happening.  Now days (even though it is still martial law in Mindanao) the check points just stop the car and look briefly inside then wave you onwards.

They are stricter with the motorbikes, they check for license and registration, it’s normal to see motorbikes parked a bit before the check point waiting until it is unmanned.

Edited September 3, 2019 by GeoffH

[Tommy T.]

12 hours ago, robert k said:

They want you to show you will be in the country one year from the time you apply for the drivers license which is just not possible on the tourist visa.

This was my experience in Davao when first applying for a license - must have minimum 1 year visa - period.

That was about one year ago, when I tried.

Edited September 4, 2019 by Tommy T.
Update information

[jimeve]

51 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

This was my experience in Davao when first applying for a license - must have minimum 1 year visa - period.

It varies from one office to the next, I did mine in Dumaguete main office. I never had a visa only a BB stamp on my passport with only 5 months left.

[robert k]

54 minutes ago, jimeve said:

It varies from one office to the next, I did mine in Dumaguete main office. I never had a visa only a BB stamp on my passport with only 5 months left.

What year was this? I got my license in 2015, before the one year requirement.

Edited September 4, 2019 by robert k

[Dave Hounddriver]

20 minutes ago, robert k said:

What year was this? I got my license in 2015, before the one year requirement.

Many expats on this forum have reported getting a driver's license conversion recently, without any questions about length of stay.  Other people will have a different experience, PLUS the rules continually change here.  You know how it is.  So any advise from yesterday and before may be worthless today or tomorrow.

One has to go to the local LTO and jump through their hoops to see what they require today.  The only information that is always good advice is to not tell them or give them anything they do not ask for.  It will just make them add more bureaucratic hoops for you to jump.  They seem to like watching that.

[robert k]

52 minutes ago, Dave Hounddriver said:

  So any advise from yesterday and before may be worthless today or tomorrow.

Which was exactly my point.

Edited September 4, 2019 by robert k

[jimeve]

2 hours ago, robert k said:

What year was this? I got my license in 2015, before the one year requirement.

2017

[adrian canuck]

Good afternoon.

Are there any Agents available to escort you to acquire a drivers license ?

In Thailand most Visa service companies provide this service, as they know the hoops to jump thru in their respective region and can help smooth the waers so to speak.

I have both Canadian and Thai licenses for car and motorcycle

Thanks

[expatuk2014]

Gave up driving here no road rules, everybody does their own thing ! We employ a driver on a regular basis i can sit in the back of the car and enjoy the scenery , and arrive at our destinations and home again relaxed