Price cap for driving courses set

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office has imposed a price ceiling on theoretical and practical driving courses required for driver’s license applications following complaints of exorbitant charges by driving schools, an LTO official said yesterday.

LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said the maximum permissible fees will take effect on April 15.

Under Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2390, driving schools will be allowed to charge a maximum of P1,000 for theoretical driving courses, both for motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles.

For practical driving courses, the maximum fee was set at P2,500 for motorcycles, up to P4,000 for light vehicles and P8,000 for heavy vehicles such as buses, trucks and other articulated vehicles.

The Omnibus Guidelines on the Accreditation, Supervision and Control of Driving Institutions, and the Standardization of Driver and Conductor’s Education also set a P50,000 fine and six months’ suspension for the first offense; a P100,000 fine and one year’s suspension for the second offense and revocation of their accreditation on the third offense.

Tugade urged motorists to report any non-compliant schools, of which there are around 1,400 accredited driving institutions nationwide.