LTO License Restriction Codes: Complete Guide to Philippine Driver's License Restrictions

LTO restriction codes are single-digit numbers (1-8) printed on the back of your driver's license under the 'Restrictions' field. These codes define legal limitations on your driving privileges based on your license type, medical conditions, or vehicle training. A Restriction Code 1 means you can only drive motorcycles and tricycles. A Restriction Code 2 limits you to vehicles with automatic transmission. A Restriction Code 8 requires you to wear corrective lenses while driving. The LTO assigns these codes during license application or renewal based on your chosen vehicle category, medical exam results, and Theoretical Driving Course (TDC) and Practical Driving Course (PDC) completion. Violating your restriction code results in a ₱3,000 fine under Republic Act 4136 and potential license suspension. Expressway operators check restriction codes at toll plazas — motorcycles under 400cc (Restriction Code 1 without Code 2) cannot legally use NLEX, SLEX, Skyway, or any limited-access expressway.

The LTO uses 8 standard restriction codes. Your license may display one code or multiple codes depending on your vehicle training and medical status. A license marked '1,2' means you can drive motorcycles and light vehicles with automatic transmission. A license marked '2,8' means you drive automatic vehicles only and must wear corrective lenses. Understanding each code prevents legal issues when renting vehicles, applying for driving jobs, or using toll expressways.

Your restriction code is printed on the back of your driver's license card in the 'Restrictions' field below your license number. The code appears as a single digit or multiple digits separated by commas (example: '1,2,8'). If you have a digital copy of your license, the restriction code is visible in the same location. You can also verify your restriction code through the LTO Portal at portal.lto.gov.ph by logging in with your license number and birthdate. The portal displays your complete license details including all active restriction codes. For paper Student Permit holders, the restriction code is handwritten on the permit card by the LTO examiner after you pass the PDC. If your restriction code is missing or illegible, visit any LTO office with your license and request a free verification. The LTO officer will print a verification slip showing your official restriction codes on file.

Expressway operators enforce LTO restriction codes at toll plazas. Motorcycles with Restriction Code 1 only (without Code 2) cannot use NLEX, SLEX, Skyway, TPLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX, CALAX, MCX, or STAR Tollway unless the motorcycle is 400cc or above and the rider has completed the Motorcycle Safety Training Seminar. The LTO and TRB require motorcycles on expressways to meet three conditions: 400cc minimum displacement, rider must have valid license with Code 1, and motorcycle must pass LTO roadworthiness inspection. Riders caught on expressways with sub-400cc motorcycles face ₱3,000 LTO violation plus ₱5,000 TRB expressway violation. Car drivers with Restriction Code 2 can use all expressways without limitations as long as the vehicle is Class 1 (cars, SUVs, vans, pickups under 4,500 kg GVW). Drivers with Restriction Code 7 (automatic only) can use expressways but cannot drive manual transmission vehicles even if the expressway allows them. Truck drivers with Codes 4, 5, or 6 pay higher toll rates (Class 2 or Class 3) and must follow truck lane and truck ban restrictions on certain expressways.

You can remove or add restriction codes by taking additional PDC training and applying for license amendment at any LTO office. To remove Restriction Code 7 (automatic only), you must enroll in a manual transmission PDC at an accredited driving school, pass the PDC exam, then submit your Certificate of Completion to LTO with a ₱585 license amendment fee. The LTO will issue a new license card without Code 7 within 30 days. To add Restriction Code 1 (motorcycles) to an existing Code 2 license, you must complete Motorcycle PDC training, pass the motorcycle practical exam, then pay ₱585 for license amendment. The new license will show '1,2' allowing you to drive both motorcycles and cars. To remove Restriction Code 8 (corrective lenses), you must pass a new LTO medical exam showing 20/40 vision or better without glasses. If you've had LASIK or corrective surgery, bring medical clearance from your ophthalmologist. The LTO medical clinic will retest your vision and remove Code 8 if you pass. The amendment fee is ₱585 and processing takes 21 days. You cannot remove Restriction Codes 3, 4, 5, or 6 unless you downgrade from Professional to Non-Professional license, which requires surrendering your current license and applying for a new Non-Professional license.

1. 1

   Enroll in Additional PDC Training

   Visit an LTO-accredited driving school and enroll in the vehicle category you want to add. For manual transmission, enroll in Manual PDC (₱3,000-5,000). For motorcycles, enroll in Motorcycle PDC (₱2,500-4,000). Training takes 8-15 hours over 3-5 days.

   Choose driving schools near LTO offices to simplify the certificate submission process.

2. 2

   Complete PDC and Pass Practical Exam

   Attend all PDC sessions and pass the final practical driving exam. The driving school will issue a Certificate of Completion with LTO validation stamp. Keep the original certificate — you'll submit this to LTO.

   Request 2 photocopies of your PDC certificate before submitting to LTO in case of processing delays.

3. 3

   Submit Documents to LTO Licensing Section

   Visit any LTO office and go to the Licensing Section. Submit your PDC Certificate, current driver's license, and 1 valid ID. Pay ₱585 license amendment fee at the cashier. The LTO officer will process your restriction code change.

   Go to LTO on weekdays before 10:00 AM to avoid long queues. Bring ₱1,000 cash for fees and photocopies.

4. 4

   Claim New License Card

   The LTO will issue a temporary paper license valid for 60 days. Your new plastic license card with updated restriction codes will be mailed to your address or available for pickup at the LTO office within 21-30 days. Check LTO Portal for card printing status.

   Update your address on the LTO Portal before applying to ensure your new card is mailed to the correct location.

The most common violation is driving a vehicle outside your restriction code. A driver with Code 1 only (motorcycles) caught driving a car faces ₱3,000 fine under RA 4136 Section 28 (Operating a Motor Vehicle Without License). A driver with Code 7 (automatic only) caught driving a manual transmission vehicle faces the same ₱3,000 penalty. A driver with Code 8 (corrective lenses required) caught driving without eyeglasses faces ₱3,000 fine plus potential liability if involved in an accident — insurance companies can deny claims if the driver violated license restrictions. Repeat offenders face license suspension for 3 months on second offense and 1 year on third offense. The LTO also imposes a 6-month suspension if you're caught driving a Professional vehicle (jeepney, bus, truck) with only a Non-Professional license even if your restriction code allows that vehicle type. For expressway violations, riding a sub-400cc motorcycle on NLEX or SLEX results in ₱3,000 LTO fine plus ₱5,000 TRB expressway violation plus vehicle impoundment. The total penalty reaches ₱8,000 plus towing fees. MMDA and LTO enforcers use handheld scanners to verify license restriction codes during checkpoints — they cross-reference your license against the vehicle you're driving and issue violation tickets immediately if there's a mismatch.

Student Permit holders receive temporary restriction codes after completing TDC and PDC. The LTO examiner writes the restriction code on your paper Student Permit based on which vehicle type you trained on. If you took PDC in an automatic car, your Student Permit will show Code 2,7 (light vehicles, automatic only). If you took PDC on a motorcycle, your permit shows Code 1 (motorcycles only). Student Permit holders cannot use expressways even with Code 2 — the TRB and LTO prohibit Student Permit drivers from limited-access toll roads until they obtain a full Non-Professional or Professional license. The Student Permit restriction codes transfer to your permanent license when you pass the LTO practical exam and receive your plastic license card. If you want to change restriction codes, you must complete additional PDC training before taking the final LTO practical exam. You cannot amend Student Permit restriction codes after the permit is issued — you must wait until license conversion and then apply for license amendment. Student Permits are valid for 3 years or until you pass the LTO practical exam, whichever comes first. The restriction code remains unchanged during this period unless you retake PDC for a different vehicle type.

Foreign nationals converting their overseas driver's license to a Philippine license receive restriction codes based on their foreign license vehicle categories and LTO medical exam results. The LTO cross-references your foreign license vehicle classes against Philippine restriction codes. A US driver's license with Class D (passenger vehicles) converts to Philippine Restriction Code 2. A UK license with Category A (motorcycles) and Category B (cars) converts to Philippine Codes 1,2. A Japanese license with AT限定 (automatic transmission limited) converts to Philippine Codes 2,7. The LTO requires foreign license holders to submit an authenticated English translation of their license if it's not in English. You must also pass the LTO medical exam — if you need corrective lenses, the LTO adds Code 8 regardless of what your foreign license states. Foreign license conversion does not require PDC or practical exam if your foreign license is valid and not expired. The LTO issues a Philippine license with restriction codes matching your foreign license vehicle categories. The conversion fee is ₱585 for Non-Professional and ₱785 for Professional. Processing takes 30 days. If your foreign license has vehicle categories not recognized in the Philippines (example: European Category C+E for articulated trucks), the LTO will assign the closest Philippine restriction code (Code 6) but may require additional certification from the Philippine Embassy in your home country.

Professional licenses carry Restriction Codes 3, 4, 5, or 6 for commercial driving. Non-Professional licenses carry Codes 1, 2, 7, or 8 for private use only. The key difference: Professional license holders can drive for-hire vehicles and receive payment for driving services. Non-Professional license holders cannot accept payment for driving even if their restriction code allows the vehicle type. A Non-Professional driver with Code 2 can drive a UV Express van for personal use but cannot operate it as a public utility vehicle. A Professional driver with Code 3 can drive the same van for hire and collect fares legally. To upgrade from Non-Professional to Professional, you must pass the LTO Professional Driver's Exam (₱619 fee), submit a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance (₱115), pass a Drug Test (₱500-800), and complete additional PDC training for commercial vehicles (₱5,000-8,000). The total cost to upgrade reaches ₱7,000-10,000. Professional license holders must renew their medical certificate every 3 years and submit annual Drug Test clearance. Non-Professional license holders only need medical exam during initial application and 5-year renewal. Professional licenses with Codes 4, 5, or 6 (trucks and buses) require additional Heavy Vehicle Training Certification from TESDA-accredited schools. The training costs ₱15,000-25,000 and takes 2-4 weeks.

Car rental companies in the Philippines verify your license restriction codes before releasing vehicles. If your license shows Code 7 (automatic only), rental companies will not allow you to rent manual transmission vehicles. If your license shows only Code 1 (motorcycles), you cannot rent cars even if you have international driving experience. Major rental companies like Avis, Budget, and Hertz scan Philippine licenses and cross-check restriction codes against their vehicle fleet. Renting a vehicle outside your restriction code voids your rental insurance — if you crash a manual car while holding Code 7, the rental company will charge you full vehicle replacement cost plus ₱50,000-150,000 in damages. For ride-hailing services like Grab and Uber, drivers must hold a Professional license with appropriate restriction codes. Grab Car drivers need Professional Code 3 (light vehicles for hire). Grab Taxi drivers need Professional Code 3 plus a valid Taxi Operator's Permit. Motorcycle taxi riders (Angkas, Joyride) need Professional Code 1 plus Motorcycle Taxi Training Certification. The LTO and LTFRB conduct random inspections of ride-hailing drivers — operating with incorrect restriction codes results in ₱5,000 LTFRB fine, vehicle impoundment, and suspension from the ride-hailing platform. International driving permits (IDP) do not override Philippine restriction codes. If you have an IDP but your Philippine license shows Code 7, you still cannot drive manual vehicles in the Philippines.

The LTO assigns Restriction Code 8 (corrective lenses required) based on your visual acuity test during the medical examination. The LTO requires 20/40 minimum vision in at least one eye without correction. If your vision is worse than 20/40, you must wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to meet the standard. The LTO medical clinic tests your vision using a Snellen chart at 20 feet distance. If you fail the test without glasses, the doctor will retest you with your eyeglasses. If you pass with glasses, Code 8 is added to your license. If you fail even with glasses (worse than 20/40 corrected vision), the LTO will deny your license application until you improve your vision through surgery or stronger prescription. Other medical conditions that affect restriction codes: color blindness does not add a restriction code but may disqualify you from Professional licenses. Hearing impairment does not add a restriction code — the LTO allows deaf drivers to obtain licenses with standard codes. Physical disabilities that limit vehicle operation may result in custom restriction codes. For example, drivers with prosthetic legs may receive a restriction requiring hand controls. Drivers with limited arm mobility may receive a restriction requiring power steering. These custom codes are rare and require medical certification from a specialist. The LTO medical exam costs ₱150-300 at LTO clinics or ₱500-1,000 at private accredited clinics. The exam includes vision test, blood pressure check, drug test screening, and basic physical assessment. Results are valid for 5 years for Non-Professional license holders and 3 years for Professional license holders.

1. 1

   Visit LTO-Accredited Medical Clinic

   Go to any LTO medical clinic or private accredited clinic with your 1x1 photo and valid ID. The clinic will conduct vision test, blood pressure check, and drug screening. Bring your eyeglasses if you wear them.

   LTO medical clinics charge ₱150-300. Private clinics charge ₱500-1,000 but have shorter queues.

2. 2

   Take Visual Acuity Test

   The doctor will test your vision using a Snellen chart. You'll read letters from 20 feet away. First test is without glasses. If you fail, the doctor retests with your eyeglasses. You must achieve 20/40 vision or better.

   If you recently got new eyeglasses, bring your prescription to show the doctor your corrected vision level.

3. 3

   Receive Medical Certificate

   If you pass the vision test with glasses, the doctor will issue a Medical Certificate and mark 'Code 8' in the restrictions field. The certificate is valid for 60 days. You must submit it to LTO within this period.

   Request 2 photocopies of your medical certificate before submitting to LTO in case of processing issues.

4. 4

   Submit to LTO During License Application

   When you apply for your license at the LTO Licensing Section, submit your Medical Certificate along with other requirements. The LTO officer will encode Code 8 into your license record. Your printed license card will show '8' in the restrictions field.

   Always carry your eyeglasses when driving. LTO and MMDA enforcers can verify Code 8 compliance during checkpoints.

The LTO is implementing a new restriction code system in 2026 as part of the Driver's License Card modernization program. The new system adds Restriction Code 9 for electric vehicles and Restriction Code 10 for autonomous vehicle operation. Code 9 will be required for drivers operating pure electric vehicles (EVs) above 200 kW power output. The LTO will require EV-specific training covering battery safety, regenerative braking, and charging procedures. Code 10 will be required for Level 3 and Level 4 autonomous vehicles when they become legal in the Philippines. The LTO is also planning to digitize restriction code verification using QR codes on the new driver's license cards. Traffic enforcers will scan the QR code to instantly verify restriction codes and check for violations. The new system aims to reduce fake licenses and restriction code fraud. The LTO will phase out the current 1-8 code system over 5 years starting 2026. Existing licenses with old codes remain valid until expiration — you don't need to replace your license early. When you renew your license after 2026, the LTO will convert your old codes to the new system automatically. The conversion is free and happens during regular renewal. The LTO is also considering adding restriction codes for specific vehicle technologies: turbocharged engines, hybrid powertrains, and vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These proposals are under review by the Land Transportation Office and Department of Transportation as of February 2026.