Live in the Philippines

Live in the Philippines helps expats with visas, moving and other services regarding the Philippines.

An International Driver What?

Adjustment, Drivers License, Tourist Visa / by

A few weeks back I received a comment to one of my article’s here with a lot of ideas about driver’s licenses in the Philippines that were … well .. wrong, for lack of a better term.

Let’s review a few common thoughts and misconceptions here, especially about the so-called International Driver’s License and where and when you might use it.

Be sure to ask any follow-up questions you may have, because no question is “dumb” unless you fail to ask it and get yourself in trouble because you relied on “half-baked” information instead of the facts.

If you want the short version of this article, here it is:

  1. There is no such thing as an International Driver’s License.  There is an International Driver’s permit, which allows driving in certain countries who have signed an international treaty authorizing the use of the IDP.
  2. The IDP never confers the right to drive, anywhere, UNLESS it is accompanied by a valid state-issued license from the country which issues the IDP.
  3. You do not need an IDP in the Philippines, ever (unless your home-country license is not in English, or is not colored on the map) (example China).

That’s Basically All You Need To Know — Not Needed

International Driver's License
International Driver’s License

First of all, here’s an authoritative source of information on the International Driver’s Permit, including a handy map that shows you what countries  recognize it.  The dark blue shaded countries are parties to the string of treaties which authorize the IDP, while the lighter blue shaded countries will recognize the IDP for use on their roads.

International Driver’s Permit Facts

But I Heard That ….

Now for those who you who want to know more, or who want to tell me what “Joe” down at the VFW told them, here is some factual information.  These are some of the comments and questions I’ve received about the IDP over the years and some thoughts, suggestions and clarification.

One gentleman wrote in to say he had bought and paid for an “International Driver’s License” in the States because he wanted to make sure he would have no legal issues with driving here in the Philippines.

No Legal Issues in the Philippines

According to the US AAA (the main agency authorized by treaty to sell such permits)  what you received was an International Driver Permit.  These are valid (with valid home country license), in the Philippines but are never necessary so long as your home country license is valid, and in English.

Does Not Extend Your Time To Drive on a Foreign License in the Philippines

Another comment recently said, “I have an IDP because my Stateside license is only good for 90 days in the Philippines (yes, that is completely correct), so I got the IDP to use for driving in the Philippines AFTER my 90 days is up”. (oops, no, sorry, that’s wrong)

As clearly stated on the IDP itself, it is ONLY valid when your home country license is valid.  Ninety days after you last arrival in the Philippines your home country license is no longer valid for driving in the Philippines … thus your IDP is also no longer valid for driving in the Philippines.  It’s basically a useless piece of paper.

Getting a Philippines License Requires Permanent residency

This is not so.  The LTO will issue a Philippine license to any foreign license holder who is legally in the Philippines, even on a tourist visa.  It’s called a “License conversion” here, but there is no surrendering of you home country license or alteration to it in any way.  The LTO does not check your US driving record, so you don’t have to worry about those last three speeding tickets ;-).

Getting a Philippine LTO (Land Transportation Office) license is quick and (relatively) painless and it is good for driving in the Philippines for three full years from date of issue .. no US license or IDP required.

You Don’t Need a US License if you Have a Philippine License

Another reason a lot of people give for wanting an IDP is they might be overseas when their US drivers license expires, and they want an IDP to use in place of their US license when they return to the USA.

Well, as you already know, if you’ve been reading along, that won’t work.  The IDP is useless without a valid US license to accompany it, AND the IP is always useless in the country in which it was issued.

The solution for someone in the Philippines would be simply to get a Philippine drivers license (before the US license expires) and use that Philippine license for 90 days after they return to the USA.  Just as the Philippines will issue a Philippine license based on your valid US license, any US state, by treaty, is required to issue you a new state license based upon your valid Philippine license.  International reciprocity I believe it is called.

Can You Rent a Car in The Philippines on You US License Alone (no IDP).

The answer, based on my personal experience is yes indeed.  In fact the first time I ever tried to rent a car in the Philippines was on my first trip here, when I had foolishly bought an IDP from the AAA in the US before I came.  When I showed my IDP to the rental agent she developed that “deer in the headlights” look and called her boss over.  The supervisor said, “Sir, you can’t rent a car with this, do you have a valid US License”?  I showed it and bingo, the car was rented.

Can You Rent a Car in the USA Based on Your Philippine License Alone (No IDP).

Again, based on my personal experience and that of other readers who have written me, yes indeed.

Conclusion

There is never a need for a US citizen coming and going between the USA and the Philippines to spend the time and money on an IDP … it just does nothing for you that your valid US and/or Philippine LTO drivers license does for you.

As with many other things involving living in the Philippines, I strongly advocate applying the “KISS Principle”.  Happy Motoring

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Great post Dave! It even cleared up what some erroneously told me when I first got here, that my US license was good here in the RP until it expired then I would need to get the Phil license. I suppose that would be true provided nobody checked to see how long you had been here but if they ever did you would probably have a problem. Philippine drivers licenses are too easy to get tot take a chance. no WRITTEN TEST, NO DRIVING TEST, JUST A MED SCREENING FOR SIGHT AND HEALTH ISSUES. even THE DRUG SCREENING THAT HAD BEEN REQUIRED 2 YEARS AGO HAS BEEN DROPPED.

    • Yep, it’s normally pretty easy. And as I have said to many before, it pays to get a license just for the ID convenience. Many guys get baffled and even angry when asked for ID and the person asking looks with distrust and mystery at their US-issued ID … especially since whatever ID they offer will not have a Philippine address on it. The Philippine driver’s license is the easiest (to my knowledge) way to get a piece of government-issued (Philippine government that is) issued picture ID.

      The other day I made a purchase in a phone/computer store and paid with my Philippine BDO MasterCard. The store clerk asked for ID, I showed her my Philippine drivers license, accepted with no problem of course.

      Later an American acquaintance went into a rant about what a PITA the store clerk had been because she asked for ID.

      So strange, the same folks who worry like hell about identity theft, credit card fraud and such getting angry at being asked for ID before they charge on a credit card? I mean what if the credit card had been stolen (or borrowed) and then an extra P10k showed up on my bill? It’s only common sense to ask for ID from strangers before you hand over P10K worth of purchases. Or, at least it seems that way to me.

  2. Looking to get a possible annulment..married a filipino girl..now. cant find her on my return trip. Help….cost. and. Rules i need to do. Kiss princable. In. Effect

  3. Hi Dave,

    I became a bit worried when I started reading your article about International Driver Licenses. I thought that I was a victim until I looked at mine and saw that it was an Intergallactic Drivers License.

    • Indeed the IGL is good anywhere in or out of this world, but watch out for meteors and other unmarked space debris .. just like driving on Philippine highways 😉

  4. 1994 I was on vacation here in the Philippines when I discovered that my Florida Drivers License had been expired for over 6 months. Since the Olongapo LTO was closer than the DMV in Tampa Florida I applied and received a Philippine Licence within one hour, and as Joe said above with no muss or fuss.
    The hard copy was at that time only issued out of Manila so all I had for the next 14 months was the “Official Receipt” issued by the LTO.
    I flew to San Francisco to pick up a new ship and after landing at SFO I went to Avis to get a rental car. I handed over the Official Receipt, and was behind the wheel within 15 minutes. It seems like they (Avis) knew all about it and asked me no questions.
    In Japan you had to prove that you knew how to drive on the left hand side, I told them I worked in Scotland for six months and they seemed happy with that.

  5. Well, since i come from a country, where my original license isn’t in english i did need that “international” license. It’s my original license, translated to different languages.

    I’ve been stopped once, while i had it – and no problem at all. Maybe luck?

    When i got my Philippine driver license i needed the international, – translation you know. LTO used my original and my International license for conversion to Philippines license.

    Those of us who don’t have English as language in our original license, do need an international license – and yes, that is was it’s called – “International Driver license”…stated loud and clear on the license.

    So these things you write is mainly for US people, Europeans need it for the first 90 days, that’s the valid period and the PNP here accept it. I have 3 family members in PNP, and they say it’s ok, they know it and accept it.

    • Hi Alex, which country is your original license? Which LTO office honored your IDP? My license is from french part of Canada. LTO Vigan refused to honor International Driving Permit and required official translation from the embassy (as per Filipino law). Canadian embassy in Manila does not translate anything because it is not part of their short list of duties. Catch 22, both sides are applying the law Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.

  6. Nice article. Saved me money, because I was fixin’ to get me an International next week! Salamat y’all!

  7. Great info thanks. Although a couple of years ago I tried to get a Philippine license and was told at the office that issues them I needed a permanent residence. This was in Tacurong. However there was some vague reference made about paying some extra fee to facilitate me getting a license. I didn’t pay it and just left. Think I will go get one now. Thanks again.

  8. Hi Leonard, whoever told you that was mistaken. Anybody can get a driver’s license even if they are not a permanent resident. Sounds like somebody was trying to shake you down!

  9. Yeah I figured that. The worker at the desk took it to the incharge at the office. He is the one who told me. Tacurong is a small town and not the safest place to show someone up and make them look bad. So, that is why I didn’t push the issue. Can I go to another office in a bigger city and get one even if I am staying in Tacurong, maybe GenSan Or Davao?

  10. I found that yes u can. I live in Gingoog City but when we were in Cagayan de Oro, my father in law needed to renew his lic. and told me come on u need a Philippine Lic now that u are living here So I went with him to the LTO and in an hour walked out with 1, at the same time as here did.

  14. Not all LTO offices can do a foreign conversion license. Thus if you go to your local LTO and they say they can’t do it….they are right.

    The LTO website does list out the offices that CAN do the conversion.

    I just did it last visit. I am not anything but a twice a year visitor and I got the conversion, and while it took most of the day it was easy peasy.

    I last input here. DO NOT use a fixer. In fact if you do it may cause you to be denied the conversion. Just follow the rules and if someone is telling you something else…..you have been warned.

  15. Hi Dave good article as I was going all the way back to Florida just to get a new license. The only trouble is….. in Davao city (SM Matina office) no one knows who or how to process a conversion from the USA Drivers License. I just spent all morning riding around going back and forth trying to get someone to try to process a Philippine Drivers license conversion? They kept sending me to International Office???? Finally… I gave up and will get a family friend…. who has a friend…… in the LTO and pay maybe $5000 pesos to get this done before my license expires in August?

      • Will be in Davao at the end of the month so will go through the process of trying to get a licence and will report back. Does anybody know if the car licence allows you to ride motor bikes?

  16. Hi Tito Joe
    Yes you are right about paying out money….but my brother in law lost his license and our family member who works inside the LTO in a different office fixed it for him….I am sure this will work and also the 5000P fee is just a guess ….it could be much less? Family fixers have done wonders in getting things done so far.

  17. I finally got a Philippine license conversion a few months ago. It was relatively painless process that took around four hours, cost around P2500 (I think… such small amounts of money are irrelevant) mostly due to the medical, and it is good for three years.

    I needed: Valid US DL, Passport, copy of my lease (verification of address), ACR card… and a quick, off site medical exam which consisted of weight, eye test, and checking to see if one foot was longer than the other (just kidding hold up your right foot for ten seconds, while seated)

    You do need to do it at a main (bigger) LTO office… Most of the satellite offices only do renewals (call before you go and ask) IGNORE EVERY FIXER YOU SEE HANGING AROUND OUTSIDE… THEY ARE 100% USELESS.

    As to IDP, it really depends on where you travel and how often… Some places, like the Philippines, it would only be needed if your license is not in English. Some places, like Spain, require it for car rentals if your license is not in Spanish, IN THEORY, but it is rarely enforced. And some places, like the UAE, Korea, or Japan, require it in order to drive if you do not possess a local license. I have also found through my travels, that the IDP is usually a requirement mostly in places that most people from Western countries will not want to drive as tourists (like Korea),

    • I would add that a lot of the confusion about IDP comes from so many SPAM emails and scam artists on the Internet making claims about their use, purpose, and validity… Some people still seem to believe that if they see it on that there Interweb thingy, it must be true

  18. My licence issued in the UK back in the early 80s is on paper. LTO in Tagum would not accept it, said I had to take it to the embassy in Manilla and get an authentification stamp. You can guess what I said to that lol.

  19. Hello everyone……… this is Dave C again (Davao). First let me thank Dave Star for a great article that saved me a lot of hassles. Next my total cost out the door of main LTO office was only 618 Pesos and 100 peso for my Med papers. Our friend made a few phone calls that really helped a lot and I now have my temp. license. I tried to tip the our friend/helper but they refused my money and they said…… we are family……

  20. So what I am understanding from earlier posts is that, as an American with an up-to-date drive’s license in English. that is all I need to drive in the Philippines.

    Also, if a car is rented around Manila airport, does anyone know the price to haul it on the Ferry from Bantangas Pier to Calapan City Pier.

    Or is there a car rental or motorcycle rental in/around Calapan City?
    Thanks.

    • Hi Tracy,

      According to the local LTO where I last renewed my Philippine license, no you can not have a Philippine Professional license. Reserved, as are many other occupational things, for Filipino citizens only. And if you were thinking about a truck driving job? Fuggetaboudtit. Driving conditions, hours of service and pay here are nothing at all like the USA.

      • Yeah I was being comical lol. I’ve been coming here for around 10 years now. I just started a small collections agency. Should also be interesting.

  22. Hi if I am to do the US license to PH license conversion, will I be surrendering my US license? OR will I still be able to keep my US license?

    • @ Rush

      Hi Rush. No you do not give up your US license to get a Philippine license. I always am ut of by the term they use “Converting your US license. It really isn’t “converting” at all, it’s issuing you a totally separate, independent license.

      But hey, Welcome to the Philippines”. Don’t think that the common words in English you have known all your life always mean the same thing to both parties in the conversation.

  23. Hi, Thanks for the informative article. You saved me bothering with the IDP process, since it doesn’t provide any advantage over the initial 90 days.

    So now the only problem is the new rule of one year validity on the Philippines visa to be able to get a local drivers license. As a tourist I can only get maximum 6 months extension at any time, so it’s impossible to meet the requirements unless I get some sort of fancy/expensive visa. So I can only drive for 90 days and then I am stuck until I leave the county and come back again.

    In case you have any suggestion to get around this I would be happy to hear it.

    Thanks again!

    • @ Nick

      Your understanding seems correct to me. So far as I know there is now way anyone on a tourist visa can qualify for a Philippine driver’s license under the current rules. The only legal way I know would be to leave the country and then return (say an overnight trip to Macau and back), which would legally “restart” your 90 day clock.

      But that alone would cost money and start the cycle of needing a follow on flight, etc. that you went through on your initial visit to the Philippines. Not an easy solution.

      A lot has changed since I first wrote this article, sadly, not all for the better.

  26. Excellent article, informative, well written with authenticity, and a money saver for many. The only thing not jumping out in any of the comments is a response to the question about a license for riding a motorcycle… do you have any insight?

    • Hi Jay,

      There is no separate license for motorcycles in the Philippines. If you have a foreign license that authorizes motorcycles, the your Philippine license will authorize them also. Whatever’s on your home country license, that’s what you get on your Philippine license

    • It’s restriction #1 motorcycle/trikes only for personal use, restrictions #2 is basically a normal car or truck for personal use. Restrictions #3 etc. Are basically fall under the professional driver’s license.The LTO no longer issues license’s to foreigners only here on a tourist visa. We are still renewing Driver’s license’s for foreigners that got their dl’s before the tourist visa exception come into effect only.

  27. I am About to convert my Australian Licence to Philippines, funny about this I have been driving here for over 2 years now on a old IDL, got pulled up in Manila few times they ask for my IDL, i give them old one, they ask how long I been in Country well white lie as they call it right, 3 months only. any till I read your article about 90days on what ever you have from own Country, so now I will get my one here, rang Local LTO, they said just bring your passport and your Licence and that is all I need, sound like to good to be true, but will try it any way, more so it will give me extra ID for Philippines. thanks for your Info

  28. A really excellent piece of work and you have just saved me a mere $26 or it was the last time I got one in Australia. Just one question and I apologize if I missed it, “Being a long term resident do I need to get a International in order to make getting a PI licence easier?”

  29. Thanks, very helpful post! I was just about to buy one! I’m in Canada but I see the same applies to us as to US travellers.

  30. I went to the ph dmv in seaside mall Cebu and was told that I could NOT get a license to drive over here WITHOUT HAVING A VALID VISA for 1 full years time before expiration. I get my visas at 2 months or optional 6 months at a time. 1 year isn’t available to me as a USA Citizen. I now live here full time and it looks to me like I’ve gotta take a trip outside of the country every 3 months in order to drive over here. I don’t have an extra $10,000. to put into some kind of bullshit account in order to get a residence visa. Any thoughts on my dilemma. Thanks.