LTO Exam Booking and What to Bring (2026)
2026-07-27
Why we’re not quoting you a fee here
LTO fee schedules cover multiple transaction types and can vary by office and by what stage of licensing you’re at, and figures that circulate outside LTO’s own channels often conflict with each other. Rather than repeat a number we can’t confirm against an official source, we’re pointing you straight to the LTO portal, where the current schedule is posted directly.
This isn’t unique to LTO — most government fee schedules change more often than third-party sites update, and repeating a stale number would do you a disservice if it’s wrong by the time you actually book. A source that’s current the day you check is always more reliable than a figure from an old blog post or forum thread. This guide will update if that changes, but until then, the LTO portal is the only place we’ll point you to for the actual number.
How to book on the LTMS portal
Applications, exam scheduling and appointment management all run through portal.lto.gov.ph, LTO’s official Land Transportation Management System. Create or log into your LTMS account, complete your applicant profile, and book your written exam slot from there rather than showing up at an LTO office unannounced.
The LTMS portal also handles related transactions beyond your written exam — renewals, additional restriction codes, and appointment rescheduling all run through the same account, so it’s worth treating your LTMS login as a long-term account rather than a one-time signup just for this exam.
Appointment slots at busier LTO offices, particularly in Metro Manila, can fill up quickly. Booking a few days ahead rather than the day before gives you more choice of both date and location.
Before you can even book: student permit prerequisites
You need to be at least 16 years old to apply for a student permit, and if you’re under 18, you’ll need written parental or guardian consent on file. Under RA 10930, completing a driver’s education course (CDE) is also part of the requirements for new applicants — check your LTMS application for exactly where that fits in your own sequence, since requirements are managed and updated centrally.
A non-professional license, the one most first-time applicants are working toward, covers private vehicles only. If you already know you’ll eventually need a professional license to drive for hire, it’s worth asking at your LTO office whether any of your current requirements carry over, since the two license types share some of the same starting steps.
What to bring on exam day
Bring a valid government-issued ID and your LTMS appointment confirmation. Arrive with your applicant profile fully completed online beforehand — an incomplete or unverified LTMS profile is one of the most common reasons applicants get turned away before they even reach the exam room.
Bring a printed or digital copy of your appointment confirmation even if you already completed everything online — testing centers routinely ask to see it before letting you into the exam room.
If you’re a minor applying for a student permit, bring your parent or guardian’s written consent in the exact form LTO requires, not just a signed note. Check your LTMS application for the specific document format expected.
Non-professional versus professional: two different licenses
A non-professional license lets you drive private motor vehicles but not vehicles operated for hire — no driving jeepneys, taxis, or other public utility vehicles for pay. A professional license, which requires you to be at least 18, is the one that covers driving for hire. Both start with a written exam, but they’re separate license types with separate requirements, so confirm which one you’re actually applying for before you book.
Age is the clearest dividing line between the two: 16 gets you a student permit, but you need to be at least 18 before LTO will issue a professional license, regardless of how much private driving experience you’ve built up in the meantime.
If you don’t pass the first time
LTO doesn’t publish one fixed, nationwide waiting period before you can retake the written exam, and any specific number of days circulating outside LTO’s own channels should be treated the same way as the fee figures — unconfirmed until you see it on the LTMS portal or hear it directly from your testing center.
What’s worth doing regardless of the wait is reviewing the specific categories you missed rather than repeating the whole reviewer blindly. If your weak spot was speed limits or right-of-way, drill that category specifically before your next attempt instead of starting from scratch.
FAQ
How much does the LTO exam cost?
We’re not listing a figure here because LTO’s fee schedule varies by transaction and isn’t reliably confirmable from outside sources. Check the current amount directly on the LTO portal when you book.
Do I need to finish CDE before I can take the written exam?
RA 10930 requires new applicants to complete a driver’s education course (CDE) as part of licensing. Check your specific LTMS application for how it’s sequenced for your case.
What’s the minimum age for a student permit?
16 years old, with written parental or guardian consent required if you’re under 18.
Where do I book my LTO exam?
Through the LTMS portal at portal.lto.gov.ph, LTO’s official online booking and application system.
Sources: LTO Philippines