IN JANUARY 2021, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) revamped its restriction codes for driver’s licenses. The old restriction codes, while simple, can be vague and open to various interpretations. The new scheme, though, is clearer and would make interpretations easier for both law enforcers and motorists.
The old restriction codes vs. the new restriction codes
You may recall that, in the old codes, having a code 1 in one’s driver’s license simply means he or she can drive a motorcycle, regardless of whether the vehicle has a sidecar or not. The same goes for code 2 which means one can drive a car regardless of whether the vehicle has a trailer or not. The new codes, though, specify whether the vehicle is carrying a sidecar or trailer or not.
The old restriction codes
| Restriction Code | Allowed Vehicles |
| Restriction 1* | Motorbikes or motorized tricycles |
| Restriction 2* | Motor vehicle up to 4500 kg GVW |
| Restriction 3 | Motor vehicle above 4500 kg GVW |
| Restriction 4* | Automatic transmission up to 4500 kg GVW |
| Restriction 5 | Automatic transmission above 4500 kg GVW |
| Restriction 6 | Articulated Vehicle 1600 kg GVW & below |
| Restriction 7 | Articulated Vehicle 1601 kg up to 4500 kg GVW |
| Restriction 8 | Articulated Vehicle 4501 kg & above GVW |
*Note: Restrictions 1, 2, and 4 only apply to non-professional driver’s licenses.
The new restriction codes
| Restriction Code | Category | Description |
| A (Motorbikes)
A2 (Tricycles and microcars) |
L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7 | L1 = Two wheels up to 50 kph,
L2 = Three wheels up to 50 kph L3 = Two-wheel excess of 50 kph L4 = Sidecar tricycle up to 50 kph L5 = Three wheels symmetrical up to 50 kph L6 = 4 wheels with weight up to 350 kg and a max speed of 45 kph L7 = 4 wheels with weight up to 550 kg and a max speed of 45 kph |
| B, B1, B2 (Cars and light trucks) | M1, M2, N1 | M1 = Vehicles up to 5,000 kg GVW with not more than 8 passenger seats
M2 = Vehicles up to 5,000 kg GVW with more than 8 passenger seats N1 = Vehicles carrying goods up to 3,500 kgs GVW |
| C (Large trucks) | N2, N3 | Vehicles carrying goods exceeding 3,500 kgs GVW |
| D (Buses) | M3 | M3 = Passenger vehicles above 5,000 kgs GVW with more than 8 seats |
| BE (Articulated car; cars with trailers) | 01, 02 | 01 = Articulated vehicle not more than 750 kgs GVW
02 = Articulated vehicle exceeding 750 up to 3,500 kgs GVW |
| CE (Articulated truck; trucks with trailers) | 03 | 03 – Articulated vehicle exceeding 3,500 kgs GVW |
The new condition codes
New driving restriction codes also came with new condition codes. These condition codes place conditions for persons with disabilities for them to be allowed to drive on the roads.
You may recall that, in the old codes, the driving restrictions are numeric while the conditions are alphabetic. In the new scheme, however, the restrictions are now alphabetic while the conditions are numeric.
The old condition codes
| Condition Code | Requirement |
| Condition A | Wear eyeglasses |
| Condition B | Drive with special equipment for upper limbs* |
| Condition C | Drive with special equipment for lower limbs* |
| Condition D | Daylight driving only* |
| Condition E | Should always be accompanied by a person without hearing impairment |
*Note: Special driving conditions and special equipment to be used shall be assessed by a Land Transportation Office driver evaluator.
The new condition codes
| Condition Code | Requirement |
| Condition 1 | Wear eyeglasses |
| Condition 2 | Drive with special equipment for upper/lower limbs* |
| Condition 3 | Customized vehicle only |
| Condition 4 | Daylight driving only* |
| Condition 5 | Should always be accompanied by a person without hearing impairment |
*Note: Special driving conditions and special equipment to be used shall be assessed by a Land Transportation Office driver evaluator.
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