Getting a driver’s license requires you to know which types of vehicles you’re allowed to drive. Restrictions codes come into play here.
Driving an unlicensed vehicle can lead to penalties and charges if you’re caught.
A recent update to the Land Transportation Office’s restriction and condition codes has clarified which vehicles you are authorized to drive.
Previously known as restriction codes, driver’s license codes (DL codes) have been renamed. A DL Code is an alphanumeric character located at the back of your driver’s license that replaces the old restriction codes 1 to 8.
A driver’s license with code B enables the holder to operate passenger vehicles with up to eight (8) seats and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of not more than 5000 kilograms. Drivers with DL Code B are permitted to operate hatchbacks, coupes, sedans, and SUVs under this category.
DL Code
A:
Motorbikes
L1: – two wheels with a maximum design speed of 50 km/h
L2: – three wheels with a maximum design speed of 50 kph
L3: – two wheels with a design speed exceeding 50 kph
A1:
The tricycle
L4: – Motorcycles with sidecars that can reach speeds exceeding 50 mph
L5: – Three-wheeled, symmetrically arranged with a maximum speed of 50 kph
L6: – Four wheels weighing no more than 350 kg unladen with a maximum design speed not exceeding 45 km/h
L7: – A vehicle with four wheels weighing no more than 550 kilograms unladen and capable of a maximum design speed of 45 kph
B:
Eight-seater vehicles with a GVW of 5,000 kg
M1: – vehicles up to 5,000 kgs GVW with up to 8 seats
B1
GVW up to 5,000 kg/9 seats or more
M2: – vehicles with more than eight seats and GVW up to 5,000 kgs
B2:
GVW 3,500 kg for vehicles carrying goods
N1: – Goods-carrying vehicles up to 3,500 kgs GVW
C:
Carrying goods weighing more than 3,500 kilograms
N2 & N3 – Goods-carrying vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3,500 kgs
D:
Bus: > 5,000 kgs GVW/nine or more seats
M3: – vehicles with a GVW over 5,000 kilograms and more than eight seats
BE:
BE: – 3,500 kg trailers
01: – An articulated vehicle that has a maximum gross weight of not more than 750 kg
02: – Vehicles with a GVW exceeding 750 kilograms but less than 3,500 kilograms
CE:
Combination GVW of articulated C > 3,500 kgs
03 & 04: – articulated vehicles over 3,500 kg gross vehicle weight
The old system placed motorcycles and tricycles in the same restriction code (1), but now they have their own DL codes: A and A1. These DL codes specify which types of tricycles or motorcycles can be driven with each subcategory.
As of now, the old restriction code 2 has been replaced by DL codes B and B1 with a weight limit of up to 5,000 kilograms Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). The DL code B allows drivers to drive only cars with up to 8 seats, while the DL code B1 allows drivers to drive cars with 9 seats or more.
In the case of a vehicle hauling goods, you can use either DL code B2 or C, depending on the vehicle’s weight. Vehicles weighing more than 3,500 kg GVW are assigned the C code, while vehicles weighing less than 3,500 kg GVW are assigned B2.
The DL code D is assigned to buses weighing more than 5,000kg with more than 9 seats. Finally, DL codes ‘BE’ and ‘CE’ pertain to articulated vehicles, such as semi-trailers and cars with trailers.
Where to Find the DL Codes
In contrast to the old licenses where the restriction code was located on the front, the new DL codes are located at the back, next to the transmission and condition codes.
Video: The new DL codes in the Philippines 2024
Important Reminders
Here are some tips for your reference:
In the new DL Code system, the European and United Kingdom versions are used.
Automatic transmission (AT) vehicles can only be driven by manual transmission (MT) approved drivers, whereas manual transmission (MT) vehicles can only be driven by automatic transmission (MT) approved drivers.
The Philippines allows drivers with licenses issued by any ASEAN member-state government to drive.
Driver’s licenses issued in foreign countries may be used in the Philippines for up to 90 days.
DL Code B is not necessary to drive any type of motorcycle without facing legal consequences.
There is only one Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental: the Cadiz City District Office (DO). This LTO office meant to serve the city the way every LTO office is supposed to serve the city: To extend the agency’s operations and make their services more accessible, more efficient, and more convenient for the residents of Bacolod and its geographical area of responsibility (GAOR).
Cadiz City is also known as “the City of Whales” because several whales have washed up on its shores. It is a coastal component city that has a wide and rich island and marine resources as well as fertile agricultural lands. Cadiz City has become a favored location for many business and government offices, such as the LTO, thanks to its strategic location.
Cadiz City District Office (DO) is the sole LTO office located in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. In the same way as the other LTO offices in the country, this district office is designed to ensure that LTO services, such as motor vehicle registration and renewals, license and permit applications, and renewals, are accessible to the people, especially to drivers, car owners, and operators in Cadiz City. Now that Cadiz City has an LTO agency, Cadiz City residents no longer have to travel to other places to get their LTO needs met.
Instead, they should visit the LTO Cadiz City district office on Gustilo Blvd. The agency is responsible for implementing projects in the local area of Cadiz and its surrounding areas. Furthermore, it allows the Secretariat to engage with locals and improve public service delivery in Cadiz City.
List of Services Offered by LTO Cadiz City Office
Check the information in this guide if you ever need some LTO-related services in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental. Please contact the LTO Cadiz City office directly or sign up for a Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal online account if you’re unsure whether the service you require is offered.
If you can’t reach LTO Cadiz just yet, check out this list of some of the most common LTO services:
Obtaining a license and permit
Permit for Students
(Non-Professional) New Driver’s License
Obtaining a conductor’s license
Renewing a driver’s license or conducting license in plain form or in advance and renewing a driver’s license for a Filipino living abroad
Transactions relating to licenses of various types
Expired Driver’s or Conductor’s License Renewals with Examination and/or Demerit Points less than forty (40) but more than ten (10)
The non-professional driver’s license code (NPDL) will be changed to the professional driver’s license code (PDL) with the same driver’s license code (PLD)
ADDITIONAL CODES FOR DRIVER’S LICENSE
Including renewal of an expired Philippine Driver’s License with a valid foreign driver’s license
Professional Driver’s License (PDL) Code will be changed to Non-Professional Driver’s License (NPDL), DL Code will be dropped, and clutch type will be changed
Double license Request for System Updates (RSU)
License and Customer Details/Misrepresentation of Age/Identity System Update Request (RSU)
New Accreditation Standards for Medical Clinics
Medical Clinic Accreditation – Renewal
A new system for registering physicians
Physicians’ Registration – Renewal
New Accreditation for Driving Schools and Driving Enhancement Programs
Driving Schools / Driving Enhancement Program Training Centers – Renewal of Accreditation
A new accreditation program for driving instructors
Driving Instructor – Renewal of Accreditation
Driving School Instructors Examination
DEP (Driving Enhancement Program)
The registration of a vehicle
Registration of the first motor vehicle (MV)
Renewing the registration of a motor vehicle (MV)
The storage of motor vehicles
Transactions of Miscellaneous Types
The re-stamping of the engine/chassis number
Verification Request for Motor Vehicles
Inspecting motor vehicles
Transactions of Miscellaneous Types
OR/CR duplication
Plate duplication
The transfer of ownership
Mortgage cancellation & annotation
Bringing records up-to-date
License duplicate (for lost licenses)
The insurance industry
A proper driver’s education program
Exam and Theoretical Driving Course (TDC)
CDE (Comprehensive Driver’s Exam)
The Practical Driving Course (PDC) and the driving test
The law enforcement community
A settlement of the admitted apprehension
Contested apprehension adjudication
An alarm’s encoding
A complaint is filed and an alarm is lifted
Alarm lifting (Traffic Adjudication Service)
No Pending Apprehension or Alarm Certification
Fees collected from law enforcement violations
Testing for drugs
Testing of emissions
The inventory of plates
The issuance of vanity license plates
Plates with special markings are issued
Kiosks that provide self-service
Application for a New Driver’s License (DL) via the Automated Driver’s License Examination System (ADLES)
Note:It’s true that all of these are LTO-related services, but some offices are unable to offer them. To ensure the service you need is available at the branch office you intend to visit, it is best to call the branch office in advance.
How to Contact LTO Cadiz City
Getting in touch with the LTO Cadiz City Office in Negros Occidental is easy: just give them a call, send them an email, or send them a direct message (DM) on social media. There are two ways to register: directly at the LTO Cadiz City district office or through the LTO Region 6 (Western Visayas) regional office.
Here is the complete contact information for the LTO Western Visayas office:
Land Transportation Office Region 6 – Office of the Regional Director
Code for the agency: 0600
Address of office: Brgy. Ilocos Sur, Jaro, Quintin Salas
Contact number: (033) 326 2482
Executive Director: Eric Lenard E. Tabaldo, CESO IV
Contact email: [email protected]
Office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Monday-Friday).
Contact Information
For more information about the LTO Cadiz City District Office, please check the following contact information:
LTO Cadiz City District Office
Code of the agency: 0612
Address: Gustilo Blvd., Cadiz City, Negros Occidentales
Call us at +639 99 343 6405
The Agency’s head is Joseph A. Danoy
The email address is [email protected]
Our operating hours are 8AM to 5PM (Monday through Friday).
What is the location of Cadiz City?
As part of the province of Negros Occidental, Cadiz is officially known as the City of Cadiz or the “City of Whales.”. The city is known for its sugarcane production and is located in the north part of the province. It is located about 63 kilometers north of Bacolod City.
In the north it’s bordered by the Visayan Sea, in the south it’s bordered by Silay City and Victoria’s City, in the east it’s bordered by Sagay City, and in the west it’s bordered by the municipality of Manapla.
Google Map Location
Check out the map below to find out how to reach Cadiz City or the LTO Cadiz City District Office: