LTO Exam Reviewer 2026: Driver's License Written Test, Items and Passing Score

This page reviews the LTO written licensing exam you take at the district office to get your driver's license. Renewals use the shorter CDE online validation exam instead.

We matched each exam situation to the law behind it. RA 10930 Section 23-A (2 August 2017) requires LTO to match its tests to the license type. For a professional license, the tests must suit the vehicle and service you will drive.

Each answer below comes from the law the exam draws on, with the section beside it. Cover the answer, say yours aloud, then check. Miss more than four? Reread that topic further down this page.

1. On an open country road, what is the top speed for a car? For a truck?
   80 kph for cars and motorcycles, 50 kph for trucks and buses (RA 4136 Section 35).
2. What is the limit when passing a school zone?
   20 kph for every vehicle, the same as on crowded streets and at blind corners (RA 4136 Section 35).
3. Two cars reach an uncontrolled intersection at about the same time. Who yields?
   The car on the left yields to the car on the right (RA 4136 Section 42(a)).
4. You are leaving a private driveway onto a highway. Who goes first?
   Every vehicle already approaching on the highway. You yield (RA 4136 Section 43(a)).
5. How close to a fire hydrant may you park?
   Not within 4 meters. Not within 6 meters of the intersection of curb lines either (RA 4136 Section 46).
6. Can you overtake at a railway grade crossing?
   No, unless a traffic signal, watchman or peace officer allows it, or the road has two or more lanes your way (RA 4136 Section 41(c)).
7. You read a text while stopped at a red light. Is that distracted driving?
   Yes. RA 10913 Section 4 covers a vehicle in motion or temporarily stopped at a red light. First offense: ₱5,000 (Section 8).
8. Is a hands-free call allowed?
   Yes, if the device does not block your line of sight (RA 10913 Section 5(a)).
9. What happens if you refuse a breath test at a checkpoint?
   Your license is confiscated and automatically revoked (RA 10586 Section 8).
10. You drive with a valid license but left the card at home. What is the fine?
    ₱1,000 for failure to carry your license (JAO 2014-01 item I.i, in force since 2 June 2014).
11. On a through street or boulevard clear of traffic, what is the car limit?
    40 kph for cars and motorcycles, 30 kph for trucks and buses (RA 4136 Section 35).
12. What is the fine for a first reckless driving offense?
    ₱2,000. A second offense is ₱3,000 plus a three-month suspension (JAO 2014-01 item I.e).
13. Does JAO 2014-01 have a separate overspeeding fine?
    No. Speeding is charged as reckless driving under item I.e.
14. A child aged six sits in the front seat. Which rule applies?
    The seat belt line of JAO 2014-01 (item I.g.1) covers a child six and under in front: ₱1,000 for a first offense.
15. What is the first-offense fine for riding without a standard helmet?
    ₱1,500 (JAO 2014-01 item I.h, under RA 10054). A fake PS or ICC mark counts as no helmet.
16. Drunk driving with no injury: what is the penalty?
    Three months in jail and a ₱20,000 to ₱80,000 fine (RA 10586 Section 12).
17. How long may a tourist drive on a valid foreign license?
    90 days from arrival. After that, a Philippine license is required (RA 4136 Section 21).
18. How long is a new driver's license valid?
    5 years from your birthdate. A renewal after five violation-free years runs 10 years (RA 10930).
19. What happens if you cheat on the licensing exam?
    ₱20,000 fine, revocation of any license granted, and a two-year bar on applying (RA 10930 Section 23-B).
20. How long do you have to contest a traffic ticket in writing?
    Five days from apprehension (JAO 2014-01, general provisions, Section V).

The LTO written (theoretical) exam has 40 multiple-choice questions, taken on a computer at the LTO office. It covers traffic signs, road markings, right-of-way rules, speed limits, and penalties under RA 4136 and RA 10913 (Anti-Distracted Driving Act).

First-time applicants must complete a 15-hour TDC seminar before taking the exam. The seminar costs ₱185-335 depending on license type and is conducted by LTO-accredited driving schools.

Schedule your exam appointment through the LTO portal (portal.lto.gov.ph) to avoid long queues.

Sign questions ask you to identify regulatory, warning and informational signs. You must recognize signs by shape, color, and symbol even without text labels. Regulatory signs (circles and octagons) appear most frequently, including Stop, Yield, No Entry, Speed Limit, and No Parking signs.

Warning signs use yellow diamonds with black symbols to alert drivers of hazards ahead. Common exam questions cover Curve Ahead, Intersection, Pedestrian Crossing, School Zone, and Slippery Road signs. Informational signs (blue or green rectangles) indicate directions, services, and expressway exits. Expect questions about Hospital, Gas Station, and Expressway Exit signs.

Road markings questions test your knowledge of broken white lines (lane changes allowed), solid white lines (no lane changes), yellow center lines (two-way traffic), and pedestrian crosswalks. You must know that double solid yellow lines prohibit overtaking, while broken yellow lines allow passing when safe.

Study the official LTO Driver's Manual (available free at lto.gov.ph), which uses Philippine road signs. Next: drill the shapes and colours on our road signs guide.

Right-of-way questions test who goes first at intersections, merges and pedestrian crossings. The answers come from RA 4136 Sections 42 and 43, in the five rules below. One detail examiners like: a driver at an unlawful speed forfeits the right of way (Section 42(a)).

Expect merge questions too: vehicles on the main expressway lanes have priority over those entering from on-ramps. When merging onto NLEX, SLEX, or other expressways, you must yield to through traffic and use the acceleration lane to match highway speed before merging. Exam questions may show diagrams of toll plaza approaches where you must identify which lane has priority when multiple lanes merge into fewer toll booths.

1. Emergency Vehicles
   Yield to police, fire and ambulance vehicles on official business that sound their signal (RA 4136 Section 43(b)). Pull to the right and stop if necessary.
2. Vehicles Already in Intersection
   A vehicle already in the intersection, or turning left in it after signalling, goes first (RA 4136 Section 42(b)).
3. Main Road vs Side Street
   Vehicles entering from a private road or drive, or onto a through highway, yield to traffic already on it (RA 4136 Section 43(a) and (c)).
4. Right-Hand Rule
   At about the same time at an intersection, yield to the vehicle on your right (RA 4136 Section 42(a)).
5. Pedestrian Crosswalks
   In business and residential districts, yield to pedestrians on a crosswalk unless a traffic officer or signal controls the crossing (RA 4136 Section 42(c)).

Speed limit questions cover urban, rural and expressway scenarios. The answers come from RA 4136 Section 35 (20 June 1964). Cars and motorcycles: 80 kph on open country roads and 40 kph on designated through streets. On city and municipal streets it is 30 kph. On crowded streets, at blind corners and in school zones it is 20 kph. Trucks and buses: 50, 30, 30 and 20 kph on the same roads.

Expressways post their own limits under operator authority. NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX post 100 kph for Class 1 vehicles (cars, SUVs); Skyway, CALAX, CAVITEX and NAIAX post 80 kph. Motorcycles 400cc and above follow the same limits as cars, but riders must stay in the rightmost lane when traveling below the speed limit.

Following distance rules require maintaining at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead, or three seconds in rain. Working: 100 kph is 27.8 meters per second, so two seconds is about 55 meters, and three seconds in rain about 83 meters.

Penalty questions test fines, license suspensions and which violation applies. LTO fines come from Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01, issued by the DOTC and LTO on 2 June 2014. It is still the schedule in force. Reckless driving is ₱2,000 for a first offense, ₱3,000 plus a three-month suspension for a second, and ₱10,000 plus six months for a third. JAO 2014-01 has no separate overspeeding line, so speeding is charged as reckless driving. Driving without a valid license is ₱3,000 plus a one-year bar from holding a license.

The Anti-Distracted Driving Act (RA 10913, 21 July 2016) bans handheld phone use while driving. Section 8 sets ₱5,000 for a first offense and ₱10,000 for a second. A third costs ₱15,000 plus a three-month suspension; after that, ₱20,000 plus revocation.

Drunk driving under RA 10586 (27 May 2013) is a criminal case. With no injury, Section 12 sets three months in jail and a ₱20,000 to ₱80,000 fine. A non-professional license is suspended 12 months on the first conviction; a professional license is revoked for good. Refusing the sobriety or drug test means confiscation and automatic revocation of your license (Section 8).

A common road mistake: a handheld call while stopped at a red light. That is still distracted driving under RA 10913 Section 4, from ₱5,000. Use a hands-free setup (Section 5) or pull over first.

Expressway questions cover who may enter and how tolls are paid. Motorcycles below 400cc are prohibited on all expressways including NLEX, SLEX, TPLEX, Skyway, and CALAX. Riders must have valid motorcycle licenses and wear helmets with the PS or ICC mark. JAO 2014-01 item I.h counts a fake mark as no helmet.

Tolls are paid by RFID. Know which system works on which expressway: Autosweep covers SLEX, Skyway, STAR Tollway, NAIAX, MCX and TPLEX. Easytrip covers NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX and CALAX.

Stopping or parking on expressway shoulders is prohibited except for emergencies. If your vehicle breaks down, you must activate hazard lights, place an early warning device 100 meters behind your vehicle, and call the expressway hotline (NLEX: 1-35000, SLEX: (02) 5318-8655). Exam scenarios may ask what to do in breakdown situations or which actions violate expressway rules.

Next: before your first expressway drive, find an Autosweep or Easytrip installation site.

1. Check Motorcycle Eligibility
   Only motorcycles 400cc and above with valid registration and OR/CR are allowed on expressways. Riders must have motorcycle license endorsement.
2. Install RFID Before Entry
   Get Autosweep (for SLEX, Skyway and TPLEX) or Easytrip (for NLEX and SCTEX) at an installation site before your first trip.

   Use the operators' official installation sites, not third-party sellers.

3. Keep Slow Traffic Right
   Slow-moving vehicles must use the rightmost lane.
4. Use Proper Lanes
   Leftmost lane is for overtaking only. Return to right lanes after passing. Motorcycles must stay in rightmost lane when not overtaking.
5. Emergency Procedures
   If breakdown occurs, move to shoulder, activate hazard lights, place warning triangle 100m behind, and call expressway hotline immediately.

Defensive driving questions test your ability to anticipate hazards and react safely to unexpected situations. The LTO exam presents scenarios like "A child runs into the street from between parked cars, what should you do?" The correct answer is to avoid the collision first (brake, and swerve only if safe), not to hold speed or honk.

To check the two-second gap from the speed section, pick a fixed object the car ahead passes and count "one-thousand-one, one-thousand-two". Reach the object before you finish and you're too close.

Blind spot awareness questions ask where other vehicles can "hide" from your mirrors. The correct answer identifies areas directly beside and slightly behind your vehicle, particularly in the rear quarter panels. Before changing lanes on expressways, you must check mirrors, check blind spots by turning your head, signal for 3 seconds, then move when clear. Exam questions may show overhead diagrams asking which vehicles are in the driver's blind spots.

Weather questions cover rain, fog and flooded road scenarios common in the Philippines. On wet roads, slow down and widen your gap. Tires that cannot clear water can hydroplane, and you lose steering control.

Fog requires using low-beam headlights, not high beams which reflect off water droplets and reduce visibility further. If fog becomes too dense to see road markings, pull completely off the road, turn on hazard lights, and wait for conditions to improve. Never stop in travel lanes or on expressway shoulders unless it's an emergency.

Flooded roads require extreme caution. If water reaches the vehicle's door sills, turn around and find an alternate route. Driving through deep water can flood the engine, damage electrical systems, and cause the vehicle to stall in the middle of the flood. Exam questions test whether you know the safe water depth limits and what to do if the engine stalls in water (do not restart. Exit vehicle and move to higher ground).

Equipment questions verify you know the mandatory items required by LTO for all registered vehicles. These include early warning devices (reflective triangle), first aid kit, fire extinguisher (for public utility vehicles), and functional lights (headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals). Exam questions may show photos asking which equipment is missing or non-compliant.

Bald tires are grounds for LTO citation and fail vehicle inspection. Windshield wipers must function properly, and windshields cannot have cracks in the driver's line of sight. Side mirrors on both sides are mandatory. Driving with only the center rearview mirror is illegal.

License plates must be visible front and rear, with no coverings, tints, or obstructions. Vanity plates are allowed only if LTO-issued. Removing or obscuring plates to avoid toll charges or traffic cameras is illegal.

Parking questions follow RA 4136 Section 46. You cannot park within an intersection, on a crosswalk, or within 6 meters of the intersection of curb lines. You also cannot park within 4 meters of a fire hydrant or a fire station driveway, or in front of a private driveway. Double parking beside a parked vehicle is also prohibited (Section 46(g)). On the road, illegal parking is ₱1,000 under JAO 2014-01 item I.j, and towing is separate.

When parking on a hill, turn wheels toward the curb when facing downhill, away from the curb when facing uphill. Engage the parking brake and leave the transmission in Park (automatic) or first gear (manual). These precautions prevent the vehicle from rolling if the parking brake fails. Exam scenarios test whether you know the correct wheel position for uphill vs downhill parking.

Plan on 2-3 weeks of daily study with the official LTO Driver's Manual, starting with the practice questions above. Time yourself at 30 minutes on full 40-item practice runs, and book the exam once you score 35+ consistently.

On test day, arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled time to complete biometrics and document verification. Bring your TDC certificate, valid ID, and application reference number. Read each question twice before answering.

If you fail the exam, you can retake it after attending another TDC seminar (₱185-335). Passing first time saves that fee and a second LTO visit.

1. Download Official Materials
   Get the LTO Driver's Manual PDF from lto.gov.ph. This is the source document for all exam questions. Third-party reviewers may contain outdated information.
   Download LTO Manual
2. Study Traffic Signs Daily
   Spend 15 minutes daily reviewing sign shapes, colors, and meanings. Use the official sign chart in the manual, not generic images from Google.
3. Take Practice Tests
   Complete at least 3 full-length 40-question practice exams. Score 35+ consistently before scheduling your actual exam.
4. Review Wrong Answers
   For each practice question you miss, read the relevant section in the LTO manual to understand why the correct answer is right.
5. Schedule Exam Appointment
   Book through portal.lto.gov.ph to avoid walk-in queues. Choose morning slots (8-10 AM) when wait times are shortest.
   Book LTO Appointment
6. Arrive Early on Test Day
   Come 30 minutes before your slot to complete biometrics and document checks. Late arrivals forfeit their appointment and must rebook.

Once you pass the written exam with 30+ correct answers, proceed to the practical driving test. The practical test evaluates your ability to operate the vehicle, perform basic maneuvers (three-point turn, parallel parking), and follow traffic rules in a controlled course. This test is conducted at LTO offices with driving circuits or at accredited driving schools.

You practise for it on a student permit, valid for one year (see our student permit guide). If you pass, your license runs 5 years from your birthdate under RA 10930.

License cards are released 5-7 business days after passing all tests and completing biometrics. You'll receive an SMS notification when the card is ready for pickup at your chosen LTO office. Bring your claim stub and valid ID for release. If you cannot claim in person, authorize a representative with a notarized Special Power of Attorney.

Your LTO license is valid for expressway driving once issued. No separate expressway permit is required. Just ensure you have valid RFID (Autosweep or Easytrip) installed before entering toll roads.