A GUIDE ON HOW TO GET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE BACK FROM LTO EAST AVENUE MAIN OFFICE (AFTER BEING CONFISCATED)

Let me start this guide with this question: Who has the authority to take away your driver’s license after a traffic violation? 

MMDA? No. Traffic Police (ex. Highway Patrol Group)? No. Only the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its deputize LTO officers have the authority to confiscate your precious driver’s license.

The dreaded day when my driver’s license was confiscated at NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) still haunts me today. Based on the Department of Transportation website, the Skyway Expressway has a minimum of 60 km/h and a maximum of 100 km/h speed limit. However, the NAIAX which is connected to the Skyway apparently has a maximum speed limit of 60 km/h. Thinking that no one would catch me over-speeding, I admit that I disregarded the 60 km/h limit and travelled at 75 km/h. I know it was a dumb move and I regret what I did. 

Enough with the drama, I will now give a step by step guide on how to retrieve and get back your Driver’s License back from the LTO Main Office/Branch at East Avenue, Quezon City. Take note that this happened during the COVID-19 PANDEMIC and the steps may change in the future. 

STEP #1 : KEEP THE TEMPORARY OPERATOR’S PERMIT (TOP) SAFE

After your Driver’s License is confiscated by the LTO Officer, you will be given a Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) a.k.a. “Pink Slip”. You should take good care of this piece of paper since this will be your Temporary Driver’s License for 72 hours. It would be wise to review the details on your TOP especially the violation(s) you were charged and the LTO branch where your Driver’s License can be redeemed or claimed.  Please note that you will be asked to claim your Driver’s License at the LTO Main branch at least 3 days after it was confiscated. 

 

STEP #2 : VISIT THE LTO MAIN BRANCH AT EAST AVENUE, QUEZON CITY

You need to bring the following items with you: 

• Temporary Operator’s Permit (TOP) a.k.a. Pink Slip
• Vehicle's OR/CR - (for Overloading Violations, not required for Speeding Violations) 
• PPE (Both Face Mask and Face Shield)

I arrived at the LTO Main Office at East Avenue, Quezon City at around 6:45 AM. Upon my arrival at the gate, I was be greeted by a Security Guard. I asked him for directions and he asked me for the purpose of my visit. I told him I was there to claim my Driver’s License after it was confiscated and he told me that there was already a long line of people queuing to “TUBOS” or bail out their licenses. 

Based on my research, the claiming process normally starts at 8 AM. However, I suggest you should arrive very early (6 AM preferably) at the LTO Main Office. By the time I arrived (6:45 AM), there was already almost 30 persons ahead of me in the line. 

Another perk of being early is the availability of parking space. The parking space for non-employees is very limited and could be full as early as 7 AM. 

 

STEP #3 : LINE UP AND WAIT 

Upon lining up (near the guard house and branch entrance), I was given a Health Declaration Form. Please note that it is very important that you should fill this up and don’t lose it since you will be needing this to enter the TRAFFIC ADJUDICATION SERVICE (TAS) BUILDING. At around 7 AM, we were directed by the Security Guard towards the WAITING AREA in front of the TES Building, near the Chapel and CASHIER. 

After sometime, a LTO employee from the TAS Building approached us individually to ask for our requirements. In my case , I was asked for my TOP (Pink Slip). He then went back to his office to process everything. Before 8 AM, he came back and started to call our names. He asked us to proceed to the CASHIER.

 

STEP #4 : CASHIER

There was no sign indicating which window is the CASHIER. Use this image as your guide. It is beside the Chapel and near the WAITING AREA. Since this was my first offense, I was asked to pay P2,000 + P78. I was given some documents to sign and was also given the Official Receipt. 

STEP #5 : TRAFFIC ADJUDICATION SERVICE (TAS) BUILDING 

After payment, I then went to the TAS Building. At the entrance, the Security Guard asked for my Health Declaration Form and took my temperature. He told me to go up the second floor. 

On the second floor, I was directed to the LICENSE RELEASING AREA where I got back my Driver’s License. SUCCESS!

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:

• We should all follow traffic rules and regulations. They are there for a reason which is to keep everyone safe. 
• Being very early (6 AM) has its perks. You will be one of the first in line and you will be able to park your car. However, you will be given priority if your are a “FRONTLINER”, Senior Citizen, PWD, or Pregnant.
• Don’t forget to bring your PPEs (both face mask and face shield) as you will be denied entry into the TAS Building if you are not wearing them.