What To Do When Your Driver's License is Confiscated in Manila

Saturday, March 05, 2016

Feel free to scroll down (or click here) if you want to go straight to the guide. Otherwise, here's how I got into a traffic violation.

It was a Thursday morning which my car falls under the number coding scheme, meaning vehicles with plate numbers ending in 7 or 8 are prohibited from the roads starting 7:00am.  I left at 6:15am hoping to be parked at my destination before 7:00am.  By a stroke of unluck, I encountered some buses that took 2 lanes, a couple of stalled vehicles, and undecided cars that changed lanes every 5 seconds

I was 10 minutes away from my destination when the stoplight at the Quirino-Taft intersection in Manila turned red.  While stopped, I looked at my watch and saw the time was 7:05am.   Glancing from my watch back to the road, I saw a female MMDA traffic officer walking towards my car.  I was hoping she was just going to cross the road.  She did cross one lane, then stopped right in front of my car and made a hand gesture to her wrist.  I knew immediately what she meant.

I politely said good morning and immediately in defense, said that I left early but traffic delayed my trip.  She told me it's 7:05am and coding scheme has started.  I said I'm aware but asked for some leeway due to the unavoidable circumstances.  In addition, I told her my destination is near and hoping she won't need to issue me a violation.   She hurried me to surrender my driver's license.  I said, I'll pull the car over to the side first to avoid causing traffic.  I guess enforcers get that often and get duped when drivers drive on and never look back.  So I gave my driver's license and then parked at the curb across the intersection and waited for her to approach me.

She had her huge ticket violation booklet with her.  At this point, there was no point in reasoning, so I just said sorry.  Being my first time to be pulled over for a traffic violation in Manila, I immediately asked the officer how soon I could get my license back.  She said to claim it at Manila City Hall within 5 days and said Monday is the latest.  Her explanation didn't sum up since 5 days equated to Tuesday plus I asked if weekends are counted.  She just stuck with her original answer and decided not to argue over specifics.  I did say that I want to get my license back as soon as possible and said I'll go to City Hall in the afternoon.  She said it won't be available then cause she'll be going back to City Hall around 2pm and will just start to encode all the traffic violations made for that morning.

After issuing me a ticket, she said I don't need to rush anymore since I was already caught.  If that was supposed to make me feel any better, it didn't.  Her last piece of advice was to be careful not to make any other traffic violations outside Manila cause the ticket she gave me served as a temporary license only for Manila.  So if I get caught in Makati, I'll be issued another ticket but with a heavier penalty for driving without a license.

I said thank you to the officer and half-heartedly greeted "have a nice day," cause I already knew that wouldn't apply to my morning.  I didn't want this to dampen my whole day so I decided not to think about it and just get it the next day.

The next day, I went early to Manila City Hall (and turned right at the street before the one I got caught so I wouldn't have to see her face again).  I know where City Hall is but never had any business there so I didn't know where to park.  Thanks to Waze, you could select "Manila City Hall parking lot" and it will lead you to the parking lot near YMCA and near SM City Manila (along Antonio Villegas St.)

Cross the street and walk to the right.  Take the nearest entrance to City Hall and walk straight till you reach the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau "Ordinance Violation Receipt" Redemption Center.  You'll notice that nobody wants to be here so don't expect any happy faces or smiles.

Step 2: Pay fine to cashier.
Claiming your driver's license is a 3-step process.  First step is to go to the Statement of Account windows (to the right) to submit your traffic violation ticket.  You'll be issued a number which you'll be called.  They open at 8am but issue numbers before they open.  I was 10th in line so it didn't take long.
Step 1: Statement of Account
They'll call your number and give you a printout with your violation details and conveniently lists your name as "Violator"  The fine for violating vehicular reduction scheme (their term for coding) is P500.  They'll issue you a receipt after payment.

The last step is to proceed to Room 353 (Releasing of License) on the 3rd floor.
Give your Statement of Account printout (from Step 1) and wait for your number to be called.  This was the longest waiting time of the 3 steps, which took around 20 minutes.   It's hot at the 3rd floor so bring a fan.  While waiting, be sure to go to the nearest window and take time to admire the Manila City Hall clock tower.  You can also compare notes with other "violators" (like new prisonmates asking what you're in for).

Step 3: Releasing of License
When called, you'll be shown your driver's license.  As soon as you see your name and face, give them a thumbs up or nod (cause there's thick glass separating you from them).  You'll be asked to sign the Statement of Account, which they'll retain and that's it!  You can start smiling while taking the stairs 3 floors down.

The whole process for me took only 30 minutes.  For reference, there were 10 "violators" ahead of me during the entire process.  I suggest to be there before 8:00am.

Despite the quick turnaround processing, it's still a hassle to get your license confiscated and go to City Hall to claim it.  So be safe and avoid violating traffic rules as much as possible.


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21 comments

  1. This was very helpful. I wonder if they're open during Saturdays... :(

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    1. It's been a few years since I last visited an LTO office. I remember they aren't open during weekends but you could check in case they've adjusted their working hours.

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  2. Thanks for this! Atleast I have an idea what to do since it was my first time to claim my license at Manila City Hall. Hope that still works the same.

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  3. Very helpful details. I got caught today may 22, 2018 and I will redeem my lisence tomorrow. (Did I spell it correctly?) Anyways thank you for the tip I will leave around 6am tomorrow.

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  4. Thanks for sharing the steps! Really helpful!

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  5. Pwede po ba iba ang mag claim ng license? Mag dala nlang ng authirization letter?

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  6. Crossing my fingers that it is going to be 1 hour max experience

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  7. Straight forward instructions and tips on how you can get back your license :) Thanks!

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  8. How much my penalty regarding my violation.r.d.?

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  9. I got caught last monday too. Im about to claim today. Why is it in Manila the penalty is cheaper compared when you’re caught coding in Makati and QC?

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  10. salamat malaking tulong po itong post nyo 1st time ko kasi ma huli pero hndi kuLang hehe...

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  11. so i can go the next day but the officer said i can go only on friday. i was caught monday .

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  12. so i can go the next day but the officer said i can go only on friday. i was caught monday .

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  13. Thank you for this info sharing.

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  14. Good morning sir bukas po ba Ang city hall Manila tubos po Sana aq Ng lisencya ngayon

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  15. Pde po kaya ibang tao tubos ng lisensya ko?

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  16. Pwede po bang ibang tao ang tutubos ng lisensya? Kahit may authorization letter. Salamat po sa sasagot.

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    Replies
    1. Sorry I wouldn't know. Best to contact LTO to find out if they allow it.

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  17. Got my license confiscated April 29.....bakit po kaya kailangan ko pa maghintay until May 6 to get it back? Normal po ba yun?

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  18. 2023- manila city hall changed. you expect to get your license after after given them days .to my dismay you cannot get it kasi wala pa daw sa kanila ? nakakaasar di ba given n thursday ka nahuli anong nangyari sa friday wala? lunes ako nag punta wala pa daw? ganun na ba ang gobyerno? mabilis mang huli , sana bilisan din mag balik porke hindi sa inyo di ba? dapat nga wala ng DL confiscating , dapat Ticket na lang eh. kailan ba tayo magiging masipag ?

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