How to get your student permit (PH)
Getting a driver's license is a privilege that a Filipino can have. But to get a driver's license, one must become a student driver first.
And to be a student driver means you need to have a student permit before you can sit in the driver's seat of a motor vehicle.
I just got my student permit last July 20, so I want to share my experience with you.
Why should you get a student permit?
A student permit allows a student driver to drive a car granted that they are accompanied by someone with a duly driver's license (non-professional or professional).
And while a student permit is not a valid ID, it can still be used for verification. One example is for identity verification on coins.ph, you can use a student permit and another secondary ID to verify your account.
What you need to know before getting a student permit
The most important thing to remember is that getting a student permit is a privilege. This means that it is not a right. So just because you are a Filipino does not guarantee that you will get your student permit.
This is why the Land Transportation Office changed the process of getting a student permit.
In the old process, all you had to do was go to any LTO branch with your requirements and you can get the student permit.
But now in the new process, you have to undergo a 15-hour Theoretical Driving Course, and obtain a certificate after passing the written tests.
What is Theoretical Driving Course (TDC)?
Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) is a series of classes where an aspirin student driver earns the basics of road safety and other things one needs to know before holding a motor vehicle.
Here we tackled the road signs, and the violations that we should be aware of. We were also taught how to communicate with any authorities on the road. We learned when to give and not give our driver's license (or student permit).
We also watched various videos showing what could happen if we are not careful. This is honestly a good addition since it really emphasized the point that we need to be aware of our surroundings at all times.
We were taught what it means to be a defensive driver and how to be one. Basically, you need to be alert and not aggressive on the road. The priority is always your safety and that of your passengers than your ego when driving.
Why should you undergo TDC?
The answer to this is because it is a requirement to getting a student permit.
However, I will not lie and say it was a waste of time and money. No. It was actually a great thing to experience because I was able to learn new things. It also helped me become more aware of what is happening in the traffic even though I am just still a passenger.
Here you can see me as I wait for the first TDC session. I was nervous about the written exams but if you just listen, the tests are a piece of cake.
After passing all the exams, I was given my TDC certificate.
I highly discourage anyone from hiring a fixer for this part. It is uploaded on the LTO portal itself and has to be validated by both the driving school admin and driving instructor. So you never know if you are getting scammed. Maybe they will just give you a piece of paper calling it a TDC certificate yet it is actually not accredited with LTO.
Remember, getting a driver's license is a privilege so best to do your part in earning it. Moreover, the fixer's rates for their assistance are crazy expensive. It is cheaper and more secured to just undergo the right process.
Getting the student permit
You need to go to an LTO branch for this process. The requirements are:
TDC certificate of completion from LTO accredited driving school
Original and Photocopy of PSA birth certificate
Original and Photocopy of a Government valid ID
Medical certificate from LTO accredited clinics
LTO portal account
Once you have all the requirements, go to the LTO branch and you just have to wait.
This is what my student permit looks like. I blurred everything since I do not want to share my information.
Closing words
My expenses for getting the student permit was only P750.
The breakdown is as follows:
Medical certificate (2 copies)- P500
Student permit application- P250
TDC- Free (I just needed to avail the PDC from the same school)
The free TDC was a life saver for expenses since other driving schools offer it for P900 up. If you are in Mandaluyong area, I highly suggest BTS driving school for their free TDC. They alsi have cheaper rates for Practical Driving Course (PDC) than other driving schools.
After 1 month and 1 day, you will be able to apply for a non-professional driver's license as long as you have the complete requirements.
Thank you for reading this article!
If you want to read some more articles of mine, I have monthly summaries here:
December 2021 Articles Summary
November 2021 Articles Summary
Ganyan pala pag kuha ng student permit. It's my first time hearing this sis. Thank you for sharing it kasi nagkaroon kami ng idea.