Traffic law in the Philippines consists of multiple laws that govern the regulation and management of road transportation and the conduct of road users within the country.
The official and latest traffic code of the Philippines is Republic Act No. 4136, also known as the "Land Transportation and Traffic Code", which was enacted into law on June 20, 1964.
Applicable laws The following table lists all Philippine laws applicable to the governance of road transportation and road users across the Philippines or in specific major areas within the country.
Designation Date passed Title Status Scope+ List of national traffic laws Act No. 3045 March 10, 1922 Motor Vehicle Law Establishes a law regulating motor vehicle traffic and requiring the registration of motor vehicles and licensing of motor vehicle drivers. Act No. 3992 December 3, 1932 Revised Motor Vehicle Law Revises provisions in Act No. 3045. Some of these changes include changes to definitions, penalties, and speed limits. RA 2000 June 22, 1957 Limited Access Highway Act Authorizes the construction of limited-access highways and defines traffic laws applicable to users of limited-access highways. RA 4136 June 20, 1964 Land Transportation and Traffic Code National traffic code. Covers the regulation and licensing of owners, dealers, conductors, drivers, and similar matters of motor vehicles, as well as the traffic laws that apply only to motor vehicles. This act is based on Act No. 3992 and repeals it. PD 96 January 13, 1973 Presidential Decree No. 96 Prohibits and penalizes the usage of sirens, horns, or other similar gadgets with "exceptionally loud or startling sound" on motor vehicles and restricts such usage to authorized government vehicles. RA 8750 August 5, 1999 Seat Belts Use Act of 1999 Mandates the inclusion of seat belts on private and public motor vehicles, excluding tricycles and motorcycles. RA 10054 July 27, 2009 Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009 Mandates the wearing of a standard motorcycle helmet for riders and backriders of motorcycles. RA 10586 July 23, 2012 Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013 Penalizes driving under the influence of alcohol, dangerous drugs, and other substances. RA 10666 July 28, 2014 Children's Safety on Motorcycles Act of 2015 Regulates the backriding of children onboard on public roads with heavy and fast moving traffic. RA 10913 July 27, 2015 Anti-Distracted Driving Act Defines and penalizes distracted driving, particularly with electronics such as mobile phones. RA 10916 July 27, 2015 Road Speed Limiter Act of 2016 Prohibits the registration and operation of any covered motor vehicle without a speed limiter device. RA 11697 April 15, 2022 Electric Vehicle Industry Act (EVIDA) Defines policies and responsibilities to create an enabling environment for the development of electric vehicles and micromobility.
Designation Date passed Title Status Scope+ List of department-level traffic issuances and orders DPWC AO No. 1 s. 1968 February 19, 1968 Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Limited Access Highways An administrative order issued by the Department of Public Works and Communications (now the Department of Public Works and Highways), by virtue of RA 2000, defining traffic rules and regulations governing limited-access highways. DPWH DO No. 123 s. 2001 July 18, 2001 Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Limited Access Highways Amends provisions in DPWC AO 1 s. 1968 to allow motorcycles on limited access highways and defines rules and regulations specific to motorcycles on such highways. LTO AO No. 2006-01 March 31, 2006 Guidelines in the Registration of Light Electric Vehicles (LEV) Defines, classifies, and regulates the operation, registration, and related penalties of light electric vehicles, mainly electric motorcycles, scooters, and electric tricycles. Electric bicycles and "bicycle-like" vehicles are not covered by this order. LTO AHS 2008–015 May 15, 2008 Rules and Regulations for the Use and Operation of Motorcycles on Highways Defines traffic rules and regulations for motorcycles on roads and highways. JAO 2014–01 June 2, 2014 Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation Additional fines and penalties for the violation of land transportation traffic laws. JMC 2018–01 January 17, 2018 Guidelines and Standards for the Classifications of Roads, Setting of Speed Limits Under Republic Act No. 4136, and Collection of Road Crash Data Standardizes speed limits to be based on road classification and empowers local government units to collect road crash data and set local speed limits on local roads. DOTr DO No. 2020-14 August 25, 2020 Guidelines and Protocols for Active Transportation and Light Mobility Vehicles Establishes and prescribes road safety protocols and penalties for motor vehicles, bicycles, and other non-motorized transport on the road. LTO AO No. 2021-039 May 11, 2021 Consolidated Guidelines in the Classification, Registration and Operation of All Types of Electric Motor Vehicles Consolidates and updates the definition, classification, and regulations on electric motor vehicles, including electric cars, electric bicycles, and mobility scooters. LTO AO No. VDM-2024-044 February 21, 2024 Amended Consolidated Guidelines in the Classification, Registration and Operation of All Types of Electric Vehicles Amends and revises sections of LTO AO No. 2021-039 for light electric vehicles. DOTr DO No. 2024-013 September 23, 2024 Guidelines on the Use of Active Transport Infrastructure, Non-Motorized Vehicles (NMVs) and Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs) Outlines updated guidelines on the proper use of active transportation infrastructure and integration with other modes of transport.
The following laws are only applicable to the Metro Manila area.
Designation Date passed Title Status Scope+ List of Metro Manila traffic laws Joint Metro Manila Traffic Circular No. 01 February 1, 2023 Metro Manila Traffic Code of 2023 Regional traffic code for Metro Manila covering unified traffic rules, regulations, ticketing, and penalties.
Since its enactment in 1964, there have been 12 amendments to RA 4136, the latest being in 2017.
Designation Date passed Title Scope + List of amendments to RA 4136 RA 5715 June 21, 1969 An Act Amending Section Thirty-four of Republic Act Numbered Four Thousand One Hundred Thirty-six Amends RA 4136 by allowing reflectors in place of lights when parked and requiring either of them for vehicle registration. PD 382 January 28, 1974 Extending the Period for Registration of All for Hire Motor Vehicles, Amending for the Purpose Sub-paragraph 1, Paragraph (B), of Section 5, Republic Act Numbered 4136, as Amended Amends RA 4136 by extending the period for vehicle registration. PD 843 December 12, 1975 Amending Republic Act No. 4136, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code by Increasing the Annual Registration Fee on Private Automobiles and Imposing an Ad Valorem Tax Thereon, and for Other Purposes Amends RA 4136 by increasing registration fees and imposing excise tax. PD 896 February 26, 1976 Further Amending Republic Act No. 4136, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends RA 4136 by updating the registration fees and schedule for registration. PD 1057 November 30, 1976 Further Amending Republic Act No. 4136, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends RA 4136 by including vehicles owned by GOCCs for registration. BP 74 June 11, 1980 An Act Amending Certain Sections Of Republic Act Numbered Forty-one Hundred and Thirty-six, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends the compulsory vehicle registration sections of RA 4136. BP 398 May 18, 1983 An Act Amending Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Forty-one Hundred and Thirty-six, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends RA 4136 by requiring the possession of the driver's license and updating driver's licensing classifications. PD 1934 June 11, 1984 Amending Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Forty One Hundred And Thirty Six Otherwise Known As The Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends RA 4136 by updating its annual vehicle registration fees and a road users' charge. PD 1950 September 5, 1984 Amending Certain Sections of Presidential Decree No. 1934, Amending Republic Act No. 4136 Adjustments to the road users' charge in PD 1934, which amends RA 4136. EO 43 s. 1986 August 22, 1986 Restructuring The Private Motor Vehicle Tax Restructures the Motor Vehicle User's Charge. RA 8794 June 27, 2000 An Act Imposing A Motor Vehicle User's Charge On Owners Of All Types Of Motor Vehicles And For Other Purposes Further amends RA 4136 and nationalizes the implementation of the Motor Vehicle User's Charge implemented in BP 74 and EO 43 s. 1986. RA 10930 July 25, 2017 An Act Rationalizing and Strengthening the Policy Regarding Driver's License by Extending the Validity Period of Drivers' Licenses, and Penalizing Acts in Violation of Its Issuance and Application Amending for Those Purposes Section 23 of Republic Act No. 4136, as Amended by Batas Pambansa Blg. 398 and Executive Order No. 1011, Otherwise Known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code Amends RA 4136 with updated clauses on the validity and registration of driver's licenses and related penalties.
Definitions and coverage Vehicles Motor vehicles are defined by RA 4136 and the Metro Manila Traffic Code as any vehicle propelled by any power other than human power. Exceptions to this definition include vehicles on railway tracks, motor vehicles such as road rollers, trolley cars, street sweepers, sprinklers, lawn mowers, bulldozers, graders, forklifts, amphibian trucks, and cranes when not on public roads, as well as tractors, trailers, and vehicles with traction engines used exclusively for agriculture. In addition, trailers with any number of wheels propelled or intended to be propelled by a motor vehicle are classified as a separate motor vehicle.
Regulations for the use of bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles are defined by the DOTr in Department Order No. 2020-14.
Motor vehicle classifications Motor vehicles in the Philippines are classified by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) according to vehicle category classifications established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Vehicles are classified according to whether they are propelled by diesel, electric, or gasoline powered motor engines, as well as maximum design speed and vehicle weight. Electric motor vehicles are classified in a similar manner, but are subject to additional criteria based on power output, particularly for light electric vehicles (LEVs), which have added restrictions and exemptions.
Regulations on LEVs were first released in 2006, when the LTO issued Administrative Order No. 2006-01 and Memorandum Circular No. 721-2006. The order required that LEVs should be registered with the LTO as a separate category, observe a speed limit of and limited to the outermost lanes of provincial, city and municipal, and barangay roads, but may cross other roads.
In 2021, new consolidated guidelines on electric vehicles were released through LTO Administrative Order No. 2021-039. This order integrated purely electric-powered vehicles into the existing vehicle category classification system and introduced specific requirements for LEVs, delineating restrictions on allowed roads, registration and licensing requirements, and the requirement of motorcycle or bicycle helmet.
In 2024, LTO Administrative Order No. VDM-2024-044 revised these classification guidelines, allowing LEVs to operate on all public highways, excluding expressways, provided they are registered with the LTO and operated by appropriately licensed drivers. Certain classifications were also removed, and all two-wheeled vehicles were required to use motorcycle helmets.