The Land Transportation Office (LTO) clarified that the digital driver’s license or e-driver’s license is officially recognized as valid identification for driving. This is in line with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Department Order No. 2023-015.
This means that motorists may present their e-driver’s license to authorities should there be traffic inspections or when apprehended for a traffic violation. LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao shared that LTO law enforcers and their deputized agents may accept an e-driver’s license as it is a valid replacement for the physical card.
Lacanilao said that if a driver is stopped for a traffic violation or during a scheduled inspection and does not have the physical license, the e-driver’s license may be shown through the LTMS portal.
Of note, the e-driver’s license will only be accepted and valid if it is shown via the LTMS portal. The LTO reminds motorists that screenshots or photocopies of the e-driver’s license will not be accepted by its enforcers.
As a review, the LTMS portal, or the Land Transportation Management System, is an official online platform managed by the LTO. It intends to be a one-stop online portal where motorists and vehicle owners can access LTO services online, including renewing their driver’s license.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez also reiterated that the e-driver’s license will only be valid and accepted by traffic enforcers when it is shown to the enforcer by accessing it through the LTMS portal. One can access the e-driver’s license by clicking on the Digital ID icon once you are logged into the LTMS portal.
“For example wala po kayong actual physical card pero may e-driver’s license kayo at kayo po ay nahuli o mayroon kayong paglabag sabihin na natin, ang gagawin n’yo lang po ay ipakita nyo sa enforcer ang inyong e-driver’s license na to be accessed through LTMS portal at ‘yan po ay allowed,” Lopez said.
(For example, if you do not have your physical license card but you have an e-driver’s license, and you are stopped or cited for a violation, you only need to show your e-driver’s license to the enforcer. The e-driver’s license must be accessed through the LTMS portal, and this is allowed.)
To support this, LTO Memorandum Circular HAV-2023-2024 states that: “In order for LTO law enforcement officers and their deputized agents to accept and recognize an eDL [e-driver’s license], the same should be presented only by accessing the LTMS portal account using the electronic device in front of the LTO law enforcement officer and their deputized agents.”
“Failure/refusal to present the eDL through the mode mentioned above shall be a violation of failure to carry driver’s license.”
