Professional and non-professional driver's license: What's the difference?

These are the difference between professional and non-professional drivers' licenses that we will show you. Let's see what can buck you up!

To ensure traffic safety, you must have a driver's license corresponding to the type of car you are using. Today's driver's licenses generally require various legal procedures like application and a rigorous driving test. Based on the road traffic law provisions, the driving license in the country has three types, including student permit, professional, and non-professional.

First-time applicants may be confused, so that let's see more clearly the difference between professional and non-professional driver's licenses in the Philippines.

There are three things to consider: requirements, fees, and restriction codes.

1. The Restriction Codes

With each restriction, there are particular types of vehicles included and they are the only ones you are allowed to drive.

RC 1: Motorcycles and Motorized Tricycles

Restriction Code 1 is related to driving motorcycles or motorized tricycles. And if you have a Professional Driver's License but do not have an RC 1, you cannot drive a motorcycle or a motorized tricycle.

RC 2: Vehicles with a growing weight up to 4500 kg

In short, a person with a Restriction Code 2 license can drive a car, pick-up, SUV, or any vehicle with a manual or automatic transmission having a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 4.5 tonnes.

RC 3: Vehicles with a gross weight above 4500 kg

Drivers who own this restriction can drive vehicles, either manual or automatic, with a weight exceeding 4.5 tonnes, such as 6-wheelers and 10-wheeler trucks. This driver can also drive vehicles under 4.5 tonnes, but not motorcycles. Again, motorcycle drivers must have an RC 1.

RC 4: AT vehicles having a gross weight of about 4500 kg

It's the same as Restriction Code 2. The only difference is that drivers who have this can only drive vehicles with automatic transmissions.

RC 5: AT vehicles above 4500 kg

This is like the Restriction Code 3, but drivers with this restriction can drive vehicles with automatic transmission only but can exceed 4.5 tonnes.

RC 6: Articulated vehicles with a gross weight no under 1600 kg

Drivers who possess RC 6 can drive a vehicle with a towed trailer, similar to those intended for motorcycles, jet skis, side by side, or small farm equipment.

RC 7: Articulated vehicles with a gross weight ranging from 1601 to 4500 kg

The RC-7 class license is a high-value license, and if you want to get it, the driver must have many years of experience and knowledge to own this type of license. Drivers who own RC 7 can drive a vehicle with a towed trailer built to transport a small boat, another car, or the like.

RC 8: Articulated vehicles with a gross weight between 4501 kg and above

In a nutshell, a driver with this restriction code may drive trucks with trailers carrying heavy loads, such as container vans (or wing vans with cargo) along major thoroughfares that allow these types of trucks.

2. Application Requirements

Having a license is regulated and supervised by the Ministry of Transport to bring the best quality of training, ensuring that each student can self-control the car safely for themselves and those around them after being granted a license. The procedure to get a permit is not difficult, but not everyone is qualified enough because of the following conditions:

• An application for a driving test (the form is available with the LTO's profile)
• At least 18 years old at the time of application.
• The driver should always ensure normal mental and physical ability.
• For foreign applicants, there should have been proof that they will stay in the country for at least one year from the application date.

Requirements For Non-Professional Driver's License

For individuals applying for the non-pro driver's license, additional requirements include a student's request at least 30-day-old before the application.

Requirements For Professional Driver's License

Those who request a pro driver's license should ensure that they have not been charged with two or more reckless driving offenses at the time their current license is valid, in the condition that they switch from non-pro to pro or renew their pro license. This should be assisted either by the police or the NBI clearance.

For those applying for a pro license under category 1 (RC 1, 2, 4, and 6), you should have a student driver's license that has been valid for six months prior to your current application. On the other hand, those applying under category 2 (RC 3, 5, 7, and 8) should have held a non-professional license for at least 12 months.

In addition, those who already have a pro license under category 1 and wish to move to category 2 should ensure that their current pro license is at least six months old.

3. Professional & Non-Professional Driver's License Fee And Process 

Present charges for driver's license applications for both pro and non-pro are at Php 820.26, while upgrades for non-pro to pro license and vice versa are currently at Php 560.26. The fee includes a fee to the LTO to make documents and the health examination fee for the hospital you examine according to regulations.

The steps on how to apply for a pro and non-pro driver's license are quite the same, as they include the requirement for application and validation, picture and signature, fee payment, written professional or non-professional driver's license, and passing test, as well as actual driving skills tests.

Conclusion

As a traffic participant, knowing the difference between professional and non-professional drivers' licenses is both a responsibility and an obligation for citizens that each needs to be aware of.

When you actively equip the necessary knowledge about road traffic and types of licenses, it could help you more conveniently join in traffic while ensuring safety when traveling on the road.

That's the end of today's article. Bookmark Philhyundai Stories for more helpful driving tips & advice!