Medical exam now only required for renewals, new applications

Here's some good news to start the week for both 5-year and 10-year driver's license holders.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has removed the periodic medical exam, which previously required DL holders to undergo another medical exam in the third year for drivers with 5-year license validity, and in the fourth and seventh years for drivers with 10-year valid licenses.

According to LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade, the agency decided to remove the requirement as “there's no empirical data that says periodic medical exams prevent road crashes”, said LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade as to why the agency decided to remove the requirement.

It means the medical exam will only be required for driver's license renewals and new driver's license applications.

For valid DL holders, the removal of the periodic medical exam is a definite relief, as not only will it save them a considerable amount of money, but also the precious time and effort consumed in going back to LTO-accredited medical centers every three or so years just to satisfy the requirement.

drivers license medical land transportation office lto