Great Video Simon. Entertaining and informative. Nice to have all those issues behind you, the road ahead looks a little brighter. The best part, it was damn funny.
Thanks mate, you did the right thing going to Thailand the time before rather than staying here for 6 months because you wouldn't have been able to get your license anyway 👍
I got pulled over by a traffic enforcer in camouflage and by the look on his face he wasn't in the mood for smartarsed foreigners without a licence. Luckily for me i had a undated International license.
Another great yarn. Always a pleasure listening to you. Just out of curiosity, what stuff did they need copies of? I wanna go there prepared. And can you get the medical done before you go in? Enjoy your evening ... 😁
Thanks mate, it was a couple of months back now but if memory serves me right 🤔 They needed copies the photo page of the passport, the date of your arrival in the Philippines and your most recent visa extension. I think it's just to prove that you've been in the Philippines continuously for more than 12 months. I hope it all goes well for you mate 👍
I was on Negros Occidental for 2.5 years (just left at end of September 2024) and never got stopped once and drove daily. Pulled up to maybe 5 checkpoints and they always waved me right through. Maybe I have a good smile. LOL
The PNP starter wearing their Field Service Uniform, or FSU for short, during covid. They wore it constantly for 2 and a half years but now its not "required" for all of them like it was. Comes down to the local bosses now on what they wear.
If you went to the LTO and checked they would have said yes this is a Fake license and then who knows what would have happened. When you went through the correct process as I also did they took your Biometrics and checked the systems for records of other things that may have been in the system as valid or flagged by the NBI so they would not have gave you that Real license if the Fixer License was Legit and in the system. I’d keep that fixer license and educate others about that scam. My Wife’s cousin is the Personal assistant of the Mayor and told us everything we needed in advance and called us to meet him at the LTO after we went to get the Medical so I was prepared for everything that they wanted. Total time spent was 2 hours and I also got the same Plastic license that day. This was why he called to let us know that the LTO had plastic that day. It was well worth the wait and that night we had him over for a Nice Fish Dinner. I also don’t even drive a motorcycle but received that endorsement like all the others that’s on yours. I was actually stunned by that part of the process. In the states I would have had to have went though a course for all of those endorsements… 😂😂😂✌🏻🍺
Great post, I agree with you 100% if the license had been genuine it would have been flagged up in the system. I did the wrong thing using a fixer in the first place but the right thing not taking the license to the LTO to get it checked, that could have ended very badly 😮
Im not a a Philippines legal expert, but often the "needs translation" step is not really about translation. Generally speaking, It's more to solve the problem that government workers in a country cant know if a card is a legitimate card for another country. So when they ask for "translation" what it means is "someone in your country needs to sign this so we know its not sus"
Yeah I haven't had my license for 16 years. Been coming to the Philippines for 9. Yes I'm American so we are different. I seem to skim by. Cebu is a no Bohol is hit and miss. Needless to say I will have a license before I go back. They are getting stricter. Thanks for the video.
I've been here for over 2 years but am on a 2 month tourist visa. Did they ask you for your visa status (I thought they needed a 6 month visa which I can't get)?
You don't need to have a 6 month visa but you do need to have been in the Philippines for 12 months continuously. If you left the country in the last 12 months they won't give you a license, at least they won't in Dumaguete anyway. Yes, they did check my visas to make sure I had been in country for the full year.
Mine does about 45. More if there's weight on the back. Only problem is that the front wheel is bigger than the back two. Flipped it over once on a sharp turn. Well with it overall though. About 38k a charge. 8 hours to juice it up
The first time the driving license is valid for five years. If you have behaved yourself in traffic for five years and there are no markings in the LTO's register, you get a new one that is valid for ten years.
Is your driving license for a car or motorcycle as I want to ride a motorbike when I get back to the Philippines but only have a UK driving licence for a car
It's for both mate, my UK license is full car license 'like yours' so I gave it to them not really knowing what they were going to "convert it" to 😂 It was only really a bike license that I wanted but the Philippines license gave me is good for everything I can drive in the UK plus scooters & motorbikes over here. Reading the license I can drive pretty much everything over here in terms of cc etc legally here 👍
There's only two license categories, non professional & professional. A non professional can drive any private vehicle, a professional can drive any commercial vehicle. The license for a tricycle driver is the same as for a semi hauler or dump truck. Not kidding. It's up to the vehicle owner if the driver is competent.
It took me 45 minutes to convert my Australian drivers license to Filipino drivers license no medical needed in Cebu maybe it’s from the country you come from
That's interesting, it might be the country your from but I think it's probably more likely to be the island you are on. A few people have told me the different islands seem to operate different policies when you go to the local LTOs. I know Siquijor does it differently to Dumaguete. Anyway, I'm glad it was easy for you 👍
@@kevink1214That's funny 😂 No mate, honestly that's not a thing, I know a lot of "leftie" expats over here who've got their licenses converted without any hassle. In fact I don't think I know anyone who's had to take a test 🤔 The only guy I know who's had problems was my Danish mate I mentioned and that was a translation issue.
Cheers mate but I've still got the beard 😂 This is an old video I made a couple of months ago but I am planning on shaving it off in the not too distant future 👍
@@SpeakingofAsia I know us men obviously grow beards. As much as I absolutely hate having my beard, I also hate shaving. And the worst part as I get older, it grows thicker. And being 60, I have noticed I AM growing hair where hair isn't supposed to grow. 😂 LoL. And the worst of it all, I AM BALDING. Waaah 😥
@@kyleesteban467 💯 mate, that's the only reason I grew mine, I just couldn't face shaving when I was sick 😂 Same here, It's growing in places it doesn't have a right to grow! 😂
Couldn't watch the whole vid, too long winded. Using fixers just costs you more and empowers corruption. I got my Philippines license conversion legally after 3 months in Cebu. Easy, couple of hours and just 850 pesos at the LTO.
He obviously realised that you are British and that if The Empire Strikes Back, there could be serious repercussions . Keep up the good work putting the Great back into Britain
Yeah I haven't had my license for 16 years. Been coming to the Philippines for 9. Yes I'm American so we are different. I seem to skim by. Cebu is a no Bohol is hit and miss. Needless to say I will have a license before I go back. They are getting stricter. Thanks for the video.
another great informative video Simon keep up the good work almost 4k subs .Wishing
you and Ellen a lovely weekend
Take care Jim
Thanks Jim, same to you and Nora mate, be lucky 👍
Great Video Simon. Entertaining and informative. Nice to have all those issues behind you, the road ahead looks a little brighter. The best part, it was damn funny.
Thanks Ted, glad you enjoyed it mate. Be lucky👍
Great video. Glad you got it sorted out! If you get in an accident now you know your legal. Thats worth alot
Thanks mate, you did the right thing going to Thailand the time before rather than staying here for 6 months because you wouldn't have been able to get your license anyway 👍
I got pulled over by a traffic enforcer in camouflage and by the look on his face he wasn't in the mood for smartarsed foreigners without a licence. Luckily for me i had a undated International license.
Then he didn't know his stuff then IDPs are good for a year plus a possible 6 months extension if out of the country of issue..
Another great yarn. Always a pleasure listening to you. Just out of curiosity, what stuff did they need copies of? I wanna go there prepared. And can you get the medical done before you go in? Enjoy your evening ... 😁
Thanks mate, it was a couple of months back now but if memory serves me right 🤔 They needed copies the photo page of the passport, the date of your arrival in the Philippines and your most recent visa extension. I think it's just to prove that you've been in the Philippines continuously for more than 12 months. I hope it all goes well for you mate 👍
I was on Negros Occidental for 2.5 years (just left at end of September 2024) and never got stopped once and drove daily. Pulled up to maybe 5 checkpoints and they always waved me right through. Maybe I have a good smile. LOL
I guess you must 😂 👍
The PNP starter wearing their Field Service Uniform, or FSU for short, during covid.
They wore it constantly for 2 and a half years but now its not "required" for all of them like it was.
Comes down to the local bosses now on what they wear.
Makes sense they always seem to be wearing FSU in Negros 👍
If you went to the LTO and checked they would have said yes this is a Fake license and then who knows what would have happened. When you went through the correct process as I also did they took your Biometrics and checked the systems for records of other things that may have been in the system as valid or flagged by the NBI so they would not have gave you that Real license if the Fixer License was Legit and in the system. I’d keep that fixer license and educate others about that scam. My Wife’s cousin is the Personal assistant of the Mayor and told us everything we needed in advance and called us to meet him at the LTO after we went to get the Medical so I was prepared for everything that they wanted. Total time spent was 2 hours and I also got the same Plastic license that day. This was why he called to let us know that the LTO had plastic that day. It was well worth the wait and that night we had him over for a Nice Fish Dinner. I also don’t even drive a motorcycle but received that endorsement like all the others that’s on yours. I was actually stunned by that part of the process. In the states I would have had to have went though a course for all of those endorsements… 😂😂😂✌🏻🍺
Great post, I agree with you 100% if the license had been genuine it would have been flagged up in the system. I did the wrong thing using a fixer in the first place but the right thing not taking the license to the LTO to get it checked, that could have ended very badly 😮
Im not a a Philippines legal expert, but often the "needs translation" step is not really about translation. Generally speaking, It's more to solve the problem that government workers in a country cant know if a card is a legitimate card for another country. So when they ask for "translation" what it means is "someone in your country needs to sign this so we know its not sus"
Hi Simon,
Isn't bureaucracy great...lol...
Glad everything worked out.
Have a great weekend.
Cheers
Glenn
Thanks Glenn, you too my friend. Be lucky 👍
Another good Vid How long is licence for? Did they keep UK licence
Thanks mate 👍 It's valid for 5 years, no they they don't keep your UK license, they just take a photocopy and give it back to you.
@@SpeakingofAsia thanks pal for Info
@@24017460 You're welcome mate 👍
Yeah I haven't had my license for 16 years. Been coming to the Philippines for 9. Yes I'm American so we are different. I seem to skim by. Cebu is a no Bohol is hit and miss. Needless to say I will have a license before I go back. They are getting stricter. Thanks for the video.
I've been here for over 2 years but am on a 2 month tourist visa. Did they ask you for your visa status (I thought they needed a 6 month visa which I can't get)?
You don't need to have a 6 month visa but you do need to have been in the Philippines for 12 months continuously. If you left the country in the last 12 months they won't give you a license, at least they won't in Dumaguete anyway. Yes, they did check my visas to make sure I had been in country for the full year.
@@SpeakingofAsia thank you so much! I will go to the LTO in Duma next week ;)
@@fightingmenofrhodesia Good luck with your application 👍
@@SpeakingofAsiaunless you're married to a Filipino citizen in which case your marriage certificate gets you an exemption from the waiting period.
@@Ghekko-kw3zzI didn't know that, good info, thanks 👍
Get an electric trike. Only 60k. No paperwork required
Are they any good thought? Ive seen a couple that look really nice but Ive been told that sone of them can only go 20 km on a charge, is that right?
Mine does about 45. More if there's weight on the back. Only problem is that the front wheel is bigger than the back two. Flipped it over once on a sharp turn. Well with it overall though. About 38k a charge. 8 hours to juice it up
How long is yours valid for as mine is for five years, that was exchange from my English which has 9 years left on it
5 years mate, my UK license would have had about 9 years left too 👍
The first time the driving license is valid for five years. If you have behaved yourself in traffic for five years and there are no markings in the LTO's register, you get a new one that is valid for ten years.
@@kjelllautrup9519 Good info, I didn't know that, thanks 👍
Is your driving license for a car or motorcycle as I want to ride a motorbike when I get back to the Philippines but only have a UK driving licence for a car
It's for both mate, my UK license is full car license 'like yours' so I gave it to them not really knowing what they were going to "convert it" to 😂 It was only really a bike license that I wanted but the Philippines license gave me is good for everything I can drive in the UK plus scooters & motorbikes over here. Reading the license I can drive pretty much everything over here in terms of cc etc legally here 👍
There's only two license categories, non professional & professional. A non professional can drive any private vehicle, a professional can drive any commercial vehicle. The license for a tricycle driver is the same as for a semi hauler or dump truck. Not kidding. It's up to the vehicle owner if the driver is competent.
@@SpeakingofAsiayep foreigners can't get professional licenses so can't commercially drive, but otherwise can drive anything from a scooter to a bus.
Are you legal to drive a truck motorcycle car every motor vehicle?
Yes, I am mate. I had a full UK license so they gave me a full Philippines license. Vans, trucks, mini bus, cars, scooter motor bike etc 👍
I’m not sure if I need to get a motor cycle license here in the States before I get there ?
Just have a class C for a car license.
@@billlloyd9755 You don’t just a regular license from the US and they will give you the motorcycle endorsement
I agree that tge background.is boring. Can we have a fish tank with exotic fishes to watch as we listen with Mother! ❤
Great idea mate, Im heading off to the pet store now 🐠🐠👍
Blue screen it mate 😆
@@An_Englishman_In_PH Even better 👍
Howz about Tim K doing his monologue, as the dying swan in the Nutcracker Suite, wearing his balerina's Tutu!
It took me 45 minutes to convert my Australian drivers license to Filipino drivers license no medical needed in Cebu maybe it’s from the country you come from
That's interesting, it might be the country your from but I think it's probably more likely to be the island you are on. A few people have told me the different islands seem to operate different policies when you go to the local LTOs. I know Siquijor does it differently to Dumaguete. Anyway, I'm glad it was easy for you 👍
@@SpeakingofAsia I heard that countries where they drive on the left side of the road need to take a test. not kidding.
@@kevink1214That's funny 😂 No mate, honestly that's not a thing, I know a lot of "leftie" expats over here who've got their licenses converted without any hassle. In fact I don't think I know anyone who's had to take a test 🤔 The only guy I know who's had problems was my Danish mate I mentioned and that was a translation issue.
@@SpeakingofAsia It is actually on the LTO portal. Whether or not the person in the LTO actually knows this, or enforces that are office dependant.
Geez man.. 😂
Boring story telling best if straight to point
You L👀K better without a beard. 👍👍👍
Cheers mate but I've still got the beard 😂 This is an old video I made a couple of months ago but I am planning on shaving it off in the not too distant future 👍
@@SpeakingofAsia I know us men obviously grow beards. As much as I absolutely hate having my beard, I also hate shaving. And the worst part as I get older, it grows thicker. And being 60, I have noticed I AM growing hair where hair isn't supposed to grow. 😂 LoL. And the worst of it all, I AM BALDING. Waaah 😥
@@kyleesteban467 💯 mate, that's the only reason I grew mine, I just couldn't face shaving when I was sick 😂 Same here, It's growing in places it doesn't have a right to grow! 😂
The backgrounds in these videos is seriously boring...
Fair point
Geez!
I agree . Spot the ball would be good
Are
It's all part of the Jackanory....
Couldn't watch the whole vid, too long winded. Using fixers just costs you more and empowers corruption.
I got my Philippines license conversion legally after 3 months in Cebu. Easy, couple of hours and just 850 pesos at the LTO.
Judging from the comments its seems easier to do it in Cebu than it is on a lot of tje the other islands 🤔
Open you wallet ! And have a nice day VIP service
He obviously realised that you are British and that if The Empire Strikes Back, there could be serious repercussions . Keep up the good work putting the Great back into Britain
Yeah I haven't had my license for 16 years. Been coming to the Philippines for 9. Yes I'm American so we are different. I seem to skim by. Cebu is a no Bohol is hit and miss. Needless to say I will have a license before I go back. They are getting stricter. Thanks for the video.
Yes, I agree 100% they are getting stricter. Good luck with your license 👍