Can I drive in Philippines without driving license?
The answer is simply in one word NO. You cannot drive in Philippines without having driving license.
How does local people drive without license?
Most of the people in province does not have driving license, but they drive a motorbike without it. When you go far from the city, there are no police stations and check points, so you might able to drive in province without driving license. If you made an accident and get caught. You will charge with high penalty. The motorbike will be taken in to police custody. It will be release to the owner, who has driving license.
How much is the ticket without driving license? (Click this link to get official site)
There are 2 system of police in Philippines, one traffic police which is called (CITOM), and one city crime police called (The law enforcer), both have different fine rates.
The law enforcer, will charge you 500 PHP for each violation. CITOM has high price rates. Driving without licensee can cost you 6 month prison.
Driving without helmet (Click this link to get official site)
Driving without helmet will cost you 2000 PHP, it is the highest fine you can get. You can buy cheap helmet for 600 PHP in 138 mall, unitop. 2 Person are allow to ride on motorbike, both should have helmet on.
Prevent getting ticket from Traffic police in Philippines
There are some rules, but if you fallow you can avoid getting ticket
1 The rider should wear shoes
2 The bike should have both left and right mirror
3 Side indicator should be working all time
4 front light and back light should be working
5 you should carry your driving license original all time
6 OR CR, Motorbike registration
7 Don’t drive if motorbike is not register in Land transportation office.
Can I drive with foreign driving license?
Yes you can drive for 3 months if you have foreign driving license, after 3 months you have to convert your driving license. Or apply for new one.
How to convert foreign driving license to Philippines
If you have a foreign driving license, you can easily convert in to Philippines license. You need to go LTO office and bring passport with you. It cost 650 PHP approximately. It take only 1 hour if there are not so many people. Best time to go after 4pm. Do not go early in the morning it is the worst time to go.
Beware of the scammer, there are a lots of people standing outside the LTO office to scam you, mostly they charge 2500 PHP, and somehow they able to provide you license if you are lucky.
How to convert car deriving license to motorbike In Philippines
Bring your driving license to LTO and first apply for conversion, while you doing that ask them, you would like to include motorbike as well, it is called 1,2 There are numbers. 1 for car, 2 for motorbike. You might have to take Practical test, you have to make appointment and go with officer and show him that you can ride a motorbike. It might cost you few hundred PHP.
How to get new driving license?
For local people bring one valid ide.
For foreigner, you should have at least 5month valid visa. you cannot apply if you only have tourist visa.
There are some agent who can provide you without having visa they charge some amount. It can be also scam you might get it or not.
Police check points
In the night there are road blocks and check points in Philippines. It can be anywhere anytime. If you have your license, and papers of the motorbike they will let you go. This happens because a lot of people steal motorbikes by doing that they are able to catch them.
Where can i rent a motorbike in the Philippines
There are plenty of rental shops in Philippines. You can visit at https://book2wheel.com Most of the shops require your passport. You have to leave passport and show valid driving license for able to rent a motorbike/scooter in the Philippines. The minimum rates are 500 a day. The rental shop gives you 2 helmets.
Do I get insurance with a motorbike
All motorbike comes with 3rd party insurance. It is a basic insurance. If you like to get private insurance you can also get one. It overs theft insurance, personal injury and own damage claim.
How much it cost to get personal insurance
It depends on until price and model. With my personal experience, I had motorbike worth 50k I paid around 2200 PHP a year.
cebu rental motorbike 
I had my uk driving licence stolen here, the uk won’t replace it without a uk address which I don’t have as I am a resident here. I have a photo copy of my uk licence, can I use that to get a Philippine licence?
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Hi keith thank you for sharing your problem. Base on my Experience, i had a same problem as you have. I lost my driving license. i only had photo copy of it. Police cought me as when i show them the copy of it, they told me. it is not valid. They gave me an example that (what if they give me a copy of paper money is it use full i said no, so they said you have to leave your motorbike with us). They took my motorbike from me. The good thing that i had philippino driving license so i went to LTO office and made affidavit of loss. cost me 100 paso and arround 500 for renew. ok what i can advice you now what you do go to LTO office and it might work that they convert your Uk licesne to local. try to be nice to them. because in the end all they need is a copy of it. so just make stories with them you have forgot back home. might work. or there are many people who take money under the table.End of the story dont drive with out driving license .
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what’s a zipper lane?
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in manila it is a traffic line where cars just get in from the blocking line because of construction on the road.
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Somebody who is calling the currency “Paso” instead of PESO can not be taken seriously giving the newcomers an advice.
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thank you so much. we will fix our mistake right away.
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Hi I have question.. I’ve been in Australia for a year and I’m now planning my next adventure. I’m going to spend a month over in the Philippines and another month in Vietnam and another in Thailand. I’m wondering now I have a bike licence in Australia does that qualify for me to ride one in these country’s? If not is it just as easy to show the rite services that I have one and can be converted in some way. Thanks very much
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Hey I have question.. I’ve been in Australia for a year and I’m now planning my next adventure. I’m going to spend a month over in the Philippines and another month in Vietnam and another in Thailand. I’m wondering now I have a bike licence in Australia does that qualify for me to ride one in these country’s? If not is it just as easy to show the rite services that I have one and can be converted in some way. Thanks very much
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Yes you can use your driving license in the Philippines. You are allow to use your driving license for 90days. After 90 days you can convert to local driving license
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