Licensing violations
From JAO 2014-01, Part I:
| Violation | Fine | Other penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without a valid license (expired, revoked, suspended, wrong restriction code or classification, fake license, a foreign license past 90 days, or a student driver with no licensed driver beside them) | ₱3,000 | Disqualified from getting a license or driving for 1 year from payment |
| Failure to carry your driver's license, CR or OR | ₱1,000 | – |
| Reckless driving (JAO 2014-01 also lists driving an unregistered vehicle here; the vehicle itself is fined separately, see below) | ₱2,000 first, ₱3,000 second, ₱10,000 after | License suspended 3 months (2nd offense) and 6 months (3rd), then revoked |
| Fake documents for a new or renewed license | ₱3,000 | License put on alarm and revoked; disqualified for 1 year, plus possible criminal charges |
| Driving a vehicle used in a crime (upon conviction) | ₱10,000 | License revoked, perpetual disqualification, vehicle impounded |
| Committing a crime during apprehension (upon conviction) | ₱10,000 | License revoked, disqualified for 5 years, vehicle impounded |
Revoked for reckless driving? A revoked non-professional driver can't get a license for 2 years. A revoked professional driver is perpetually disqualified.
Seat belts, helmets and children
| Violation | 1st offense | 2nd offense | 3rd offense | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not wearing a seat belt, or a child 6 and below in the front seat | ₱1,000 | ₱2,000 | ₱5,000 + 1-week license suspension | RA 8750 (JAO I.g.1) |
| No standard motorcycle helmet (driver or back rider), or a helmet with a fake PS or ICC sticker | ₱1,500 | ₱3,000 | ₱5,000 (4th and after: ₱10,000) | RA 10054 (JAO I.h) |
| Child with no car seat, or a child in the front seat | ₱1,000 | ₱2,000 | ₱5,000 + 1-year license suspension | RA 11229 (LTO CDE module) |
Public utility vehicles with no sign telling passengers to buckle up: both the driver and the operator are fined ₱3,000 for every violation.
Phone use, drunk driving and speed limiters
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Distracted driving (texting, calls without hands-free, games, videos, browsing while moving or at a red light), RA 10913 | ₱5,000 first, ₱10,000 second, ₱15,000 + 3-month suspension third, ₱20,000 + license revocation after. PUV, school bus and hazardous-cargo drivers, or anyone within 50 m of a school: ₱30,000 + 3-month suspension |
| Drunk or drugged driving, no injury, RA 10586 | 3 months in jail and ₱20,000 to ₱80,000. Non-pro license suspended 12 months (first conviction), revoked on the second; a professional license is revoked on the first |
| Drunk or drugged driving causing injuries / death | ₱100,000–₱200,000 / ₱300,000–₱500,000, plus the Revised Penal Code penalties |
| No speed limiter (vehicles required to have one), RA 10916 | ₱50,000, plus 1-month license suspension or 3-month franchise suspension for a first offense |
Hands-free is allowed. RA 10913 doesn't cover calls on a speakerphone or earpiece, or calls to report emergencies like a crime, a crash or a medical emergency.
Common traffic violations: ₱1,000 each
JAO 2014-01 sets a ₱1,000 fine for "all other violations of traffic rules and regulations", including:
- Illegal parking: in an intersection, within 5 meters of an intersection, 4 meters from a driveway entrance or a fire hydrant, in front of a private driveway, double parking beside a parked vehicle, or anywhere with a no-parking sign
- Disregarding traffic signs
- Illegal turns and driving against traffic
- Illegal overtaking: at an unsafe distance, on a curve, crest, intersection, railroad crossing, "men working" area or no-overtaking zone, or when the left side isn't clear
- Failure to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk, to vehicles on the right or already in the intersection, or to ambulances, police and fire trucks
- Failure to stop before a through highway or railroad crossing
- Failure to signal, failure to dim headlights, unsafe towing, obstructing traffic
- Leaving a vehicle unattended with the engine on or the handbrake off
- Passengers on the roof or running board, uncovered truck cargo, hitching
- Motorcycles carrying more than one back rider, or cargo beyond the saddle bags and luggage carriers
Study the rules behind these in our free LTO exam reviewer.
Registration and vehicle violations
From JAO 2014-01, Part II:
| Violation | Fine | Other penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Unregistered vehicle (expired, suspended or invalid registration, or an unregistered or fake replacement engine or chassis) | ₱10,000 | Impounded if unregistered for over 1 month, until registered |
| Unauthorized modification (including a change of color) | ₱5,000 | Impounded until inspected and corrected |
| Right-hand drive vehicle | ₱50,000 | Impounded until corrected and roadworthy |
| Missing, defective or unauthorized accessories (horns, sirens, blinkers, lights, mirrors, mufflers, wipers and similar) | ₱5,000 | Impounded until fixed; the unauthorized parts are confiscated |
| Plates: not attached, covered, tampered, or extra plates or devices around them | ₱5,000 | The unauthorized plate or device is confiscated |
| Smoke belching (RA 8749) | Up to ₱2,000 first, ₱4,000 second, ₱6,000 + 1-year registration suspension third | Impounded until it passes an emission test; seminar for the driver and operator |
| Fraud in registration or renewal | ₱3,000 | Impounded and barred from registration for 1 year |
| All other registration violations | ₱2,000 | – |
Keep your registration current to avoid these: see LTO registration renewal and plate numbers.
LTO Fines & Violations Sheet (PDF)The common LTO fines from JAO 2014-01 and what to do after a ticket. Free, no sign-up.DownloadWhat happens after you get a ticket
Under JAO 2014-01's general provisions:
- No more on-the-spot confiscation (since January 2026). Under DOTr Memorandum Circular No. 2026-001 and the LTO's implementing guidelines (MC No. MVL-2026-4846), your license is not taken at apprehension. Instead, a license with an unsettled violation is put on alert in the LTO system. (JAO 2014-01 had allowed confiscation, with a Temporary Operator's Permit valid for 72 hours.)
- Contest within 5 days. Every apprehension is treated as admitted unless you file a written contest within 5 days of the apprehension. The LTO resolves a contested case within 5 days.
- Pay within 15 working days. The 15-day settlement period is now counted in working days from the date of apprehension, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, declared non-working holidays and days when government work is suspended. If you don't settle in time, your license is automatically suspended for 30 days, and you still pay the fine. The LTO says the rule applies to apprehensions made on or after it took effect.
- Can't be enforced on the spot? Your license, student permit or vehicle is put on alarm until the penalty can be carried out.
- Fines don't stop criminal charges under other laws.
Tickets from your city or the MMDA follow local ordinances, not this LTO schedule. Franchise violations by PUV operators (colorum and similar) have a separate LTFRB schedule in Part IV of the JAO.
Pay only at the LTO. Never hand cash to anyone offering to "fix" a ticket or remove an alarm. Settle violations at an LTO office, and keep your official receipt.
Official sources
- JAO No. 2014-01, Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties (DOTC, LTO and LTFRB, 2 June 2014): on LTO Issuances
- LTO Comprehensive Driver's Education, Special Laws module: lto.gov.ph
- Republic Act No. 10913, Section 8: lawphil.net
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fine for driving without a license in the Philippines?
₱3,000 under JAO 2014-01, and you're disqualified from getting a license or driving for one year from payment. This includes driving with an expired, suspended or fake license.
How much is the fine for an expired or unregistered vehicle?
₱10,000. If it's been unregistered for more than one month, the vehicle is impounded until it's registered and the fine is paid.
What is the fine for not carrying my driver's license or OR/CR?
₱1,000 under JAO 2014-01.
How much is the LTO fine for no helmet?
₱1,500 for the first offense, ₱3,000 for the second, ₱5,000 for the third, and ₱10,000 for the fourth and later offenses, under RA 10054 and JAO 2014-01. A helmet with a fake PS or ICC sticker counts as no helmet.
What is the fine for using a phone while driving?
₱5,000 for the first offense, ₱10,000 for the second, ₱15,000 plus a three-month license suspension for the third, and ₱20,000 plus revocation after that, under RA 10913. Hands-free calls are allowed.
How much is the fine for illegal parking or disregarding traffic signs?
₱1,000 each under JAO 2014-01, which sets a ₱1,000 fine for most other traffic violations.
How long do I have to pay an LTO ticket?
15 working days from the date of apprehension, under the LTO's January 2026 guidelines (MC No. MVL-2026-4846): weekends, non-working holidays and days when government work is suspended don't count. If you don't pay in time, your license is automatically suspended for 30 days, and you still pay the fine.
Can I contest an LTO traffic violation?
Yes. File a written contest within 5 days of the apprehension; otherwise the violation is considered admitted. The LTO resolves contested cases within 5 days.
Are these fines still in effect in 2026?
JAO 2014-01 is the schedule of fines the LTO publishes on its Issuances page. Laws passed after 2014, like the Anti-Distracted Driving Act and the Child Safety in Motor Vehicles Act, carry their own fines, which are listed on this page.
Keep reading
LTO license renewal
Requirements, the ₱585 fee, late penalties and a fee calculator.
Read guideLTO registration renewal
Renewal schedule by plate number, requirements, MVUC and late penalties.
Read guideLTO exam reviewer
Practice test on signs, rules, right of way and laws, with answers.
Read guideSources
- LTO: implementing guidelines on the 15-day settlement period for traffic violation fines (MC No. MVL-2026-4846, January 2026)
- JAO No. 2014-01, Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws, Rules and Regulations Governing Land Transportation (DOTC, LTO, LTFRB)
- LTO Comprehensive Driver's Education: Special Laws module (fines for RA 8750, RA 10586, RA 11229, RA 8749, RA 10916)
- Republic Act No. 10913, Anti-Distracted Driving Act (Section 8, penalties)
- LTO Issuances
Last checked 12 October 2026. See how we research and the updates log.