Only motorcycles of 400cc or more are allowed on Philippine expressways, and the Toll Regulatory Board applies that as an exact minimum: a 398cc or 399cc bike is banned. The rule comes from DOTC Department Order 2007-38 and covers the tolled network, from NLEX, SLEX and Skyway to SCTEX, TPLEX, CALAX and CAVITEX. That rules out the 125cc–160cc scooters most people ride, the 373cc Dominar 400 and the 398cc Kawasaki Z400, whatever the “400” in their names suggests. The one standing exception is Cebu’s CCLEX, which admits smaller bikes in a marked lane. Of the bikes we rent, only the Kawasaki Vulcan 650S qualifies, at 649cc. If you want to ride an expressway-legal bike before you buy one, renting it costs ₱2,900 a day.
The rule at a glance
| Minimum engine size | 400cc, read literally. 399cc does not qualify. |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | DOTC Department Order 2007-38, under RA 2000, the Limited Access Highway Act |
| Roads covered | All expressways declared limited access facilities, including NLEX, SLEX, Skyway, SCTEX, TPLEX, STAR, CALAX and CAVITEX |
| Passengers | One back rider, with their own seat and footrests, both wearing helmets |
| Toll class | Class 1, the same as a car |
| Lane-splitting | Not allowed |
| Headlights | On at all times |
| Exception | CCLEX in Cebu admits 110cc–399cc bikes in a dedicated lane |
Where the 400cc rule comes from
The legal root is Republic Act No. 2000 of 1957, the Limited Access Highway Act, which lets the government “regulate, restrict, or prohibit access” to limited access roads. In March 2007 the then Department of Transportation and Communications declared all expressways to be limited access facilities (Department Order 2007-015). In October 2007 it issued Department Order 2007-38, which sets the motorcycle rules. Its core sentence allows only motorcycles with an engine displacement of “at least 400 cubic centimeters”.
The order replaced an earlier 2001 DPWH order that the Supreme Court declared void. Riders have challenged the 400cc line in court since, without success; the courts have treated it as a reasonable exercise of the state’s police power rather than a question of whether 400cc is the “right” number.
Why 398cc and 399cc bikes are still banned
The order says “at least 400”, and the Toll Regulatory Board reads that literally. In an August 2018 letter to seven Luzon tollway operators, the TRB said that “398cc or 399cc bikes do not fall in the 400cc-and-above category” and are therefore prohibited. It told operators to check displacement against the manufacturer’s technical specifications rather than decals, and not to let sub-400cc bikes use the RFID system.
Here is where our fleet stands.
| Displacement | Expressway-legal | Rent2Ride daily rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Click, ADV, PCX and Yamaha Aerox, NMAX scooters | 125cc–157cc | No | ₱525–₱1,700 |
| Yamaha WR 155 | 155cc | No | ₱1,200 |
| Kawasaki Dominar 400 | 373cc | No | From ₱1,500 |
| Kawasaki Z400 | 398cc | No | ₱2,200 |
| Kawasaki Vulcan 650S | 649cc | Yes | ₱2,900 |
Do not trust the model name, or every headline. Top Gear Philippines’ report on Bajaj’s February 2026 Philippine launch describes the Dominar 400 as “an expressway-legal naked bike with a 373cc single-cylinder engine.” Both halves of that sentence cannot be true. At 373cc the Dominar is 27cc short of the minimum in DO 2007-38, and the TRB’s own 2018 directive bans bikes far closer to the line than that. Our Dominar 400 guide covers the bike itself.
The Z400 is the harder case because it misses by just 2cc, and it is the bike riders most often assume is fine. It is not. See our Z400 guide for what it is good at instead.
Which expressways, and where they differ
The 400cc minimum applies across the Luzon tollway network: NLEX, SLEX, Skyway, SCTEX, TPLEX, the STAR Tollway, CALAX, CAVITEX and the newer links built since. In 2019 some rider groups argued that DO 2007-38 covers only a closed list of five roads, but the order applies to every expressway declared a limited access facility, and operators of later roads enforce it. Metro Pacific’s southern tollway arm reported stopping 273 motorcycle riders at CAVITEX entry points in January 2023 alone, most of whom said they had gotten lost.
Three places behave differently:
- CCLEX, Cebu. The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway is the only tollway that admits small bikes. It opened to 125cc–399cc motorcycles in July 2022 and lowered the floor to 110cc that September. Small bikes ride in a blue-marked motorcycle lane, at 40 km/h on the bridge and 60 km/h on the causeway. From July 2025 the approved toll is ₱68 for 110cc–399cc bikes and ₱107 for 400cc and up, with a discounted provisional rate applied first.
- Osmeña Highway, Makati side. In July 2019 the Skyway operator barred sub-400cc bikes from the toll-free, at-grade northbound stretch from Sales Bridge to Magallanes. Rider groups contested it, and we could not find a recent report confirming whether it is still enforced. Follow the signs on the day.
- Ordinary highways. The rule applies only to limited access facilities. National highways such as MacArthur Highway and the Marilaque route are not, so any registered motorcycle can use them.
Toll, RFID and riding rules once you are on
A legal big bike pays the Class 1 toll, the same as a car. DO 2007-38 encourages electronic toll collection. The government’s plan to make RFID compulsory (“No RFID, No Entry”, with fines for missing tags and low balances) was due on 15 March 2025, but Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon suspended it on 21 February 2025, saying “we are not going cashless for the foreseeable future.” We found no report of it being reinstated as of October 2026, so cash is still accepted. Even so, an RFID sticker with enough load saves queuing at every plaza. If you rent, ask whether the bike carries an active sticker before you head out.
DO 2007-38 also sets riding conditions that apply on every expressway:
- Headlights on at all times, with working tail lights and turn signals.
- No lane-splitting or overtaking between lanes. Use the lanes like any other vehicle.
- One back rider at most, who must have a seat and footrests. Rider and passenger both wear helmets, which under RA 10054 must carry a PS mark or ICC sticker.
- Luggage limited to ordinary saddlebags and luggage carriers made for motorcycles.
- A valid license, current registration and a roadworthy bike, plus whatever speed limits the operator posts.
Children are a separate question. RA 10666 bans carrying a child on a motorcycle on roads with speed limits above 60 km/h unless the child can reach the foot pegs, reach around the rider’s waist and wears a proper helmet. Expressway limits are well above that, so the test applies.
What happens if you are caught
DO 2007-38 does not set its own fine. It points to Section 10 of RA 2000, which in turn refers to the penalties of the 1953 Philippine Highway Act and the Revised Penal Code. In practice there are two outcomes. Most riders are simply turned back at the entry plaza. Riders who get through face charges under the LTO’s schedule of fines.
A 2024 case shows how that works. After a rider filmed himself on SLEX on a 250cc Kawasaki, the LTO filed complaints for disregarding a traffic sign and reckless driving, put his license and the motorcycle on alarm, and opened an investigation into suspending or revoking the license. Under Joint Administrative Order 01-14, reckless driving costs ₱2,000 for a first offense, ₱3,000 plus a three-month suspension for a second, and ₱10,000 plus a six-month suspension for a third. Disregarding traffic signs is ₱1,000.
You will see bigger numbers online, such as a ₱3,000 LTO fine plus a ₱5,000 TRB fine and impoundment. We could not trace those figures to any department order, JAO or TRB issuance, so we do not repeat them as fact.
Is the 400cc rule about to change?
Not on any evidence we can find. The TRB said in October 2019 that it was looking into lowering the minimum, after Muntinlupa Representative Rufino Biazon urged a review, and its executive director argued that smaller engines could now match the performance of bigger ones. By January 2020 the TRB was again stating that sub-400cc bikes remain prohibited on all expressways, and a Top Gear Philippines review in May 2024 found that nothing had come of it.
As of 27 October 2026 we found no bill in the current 20th Congress, and no new DOTr or TRB order, that changes the threshold. CCLEX remains the only tollway admitting smaller bikes. If that changes, it will come as a published order, not a viral post. In 2020 the TRB had to deny a fake “new 200cc rule” circulating on social media.
Rent the one bike in our fleet that qualifies
If your plan involves NLEX, SCTEX and TPLEX (the fast way north on a Manila to Baguio ride, for example), you need 400cc or more. In our fleet that means the Kawasaki Vulcan 650S at ₱2,900 a day. It is a 649cc twin-cylinder cruiser with a low 705 mm seat, comfortable two-up, and covered in detail in our Vulcan S guide.
The rental includes one helmet, a phone holder, 250 km of daily mileage and TPL insurance; the refundable deposit for the Vulcan is ₱5,000, and fuel is same-to-same. It is a heavy manual bike, so we ask for genuine clutch-and-gearbox experience. Filipino riders need a valid license with motorcycle (code A) entitlement. Visiting riders can use a home-country license that covers motorcycles for up to 90 days from arrival under RA 4136; our guide to riding in the Philippines as a foreigner covers the rest. Full requirements are on the rental requirements page.
If your route stays off the tollways, a Dominar 400 from ₱1,500 a day or any of our scooters will do the job for less. The full fleet page shows what is free on your dates. We are open daily from 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM at Stall No. 9, Washington Street corner Urban Avenue, Makati.
Frequently asked questions
Which motorcycles are allowed on expressways in the Philippines?
Only motorcycles with an engine displacement of at least 400cc, under DOTC Department Order 2007-38. The Toll Regulatory Board applies the figure exactly, so 398cc and 399cc bikes are excluded. The one exception is CCLEX in Cebu, which admits 110cc–399cc bikes in a marked lane.
Is the Dominar 400 or the Kawasaki Z400 expressway-legal?
No. The Dominar 400 is 373cc and the Z400 is 398cc, both below the 400cc minimum. Some reports, including Top Gear Philippines’ February 2026 Bajaj launch article, call the Dominar expressway-legal; that is contradicted by DO 2007-38 and the TRB’s 2018 directive.
Can scooters use SLEX, NLEX or the Skyway?
Not the scooters most people ride. The NMAX, Aerox, ADV 160, PCX 160 and Click are all between 125cc and 160cc, far below the 400cc minimum, so they are barred from every Luzon expressway. Only large maxi-scooters of 400cc and up qualify. Ordinary national highways are open to any registered scooter.
What is the penalty for riding a sub-400cc motorcycle on the expressway?
Most riders are turned back at the plaza. Those caught inside can be charged with reckless driving (₱2,000 for a first offense under JAO 01-14) and disregarding traffic signs (₱1,000), and the LTO can put the license on alarm and move to suspend or revoke it, as it did in a 2024 SLEX case.
Can I carry a passenger on the expressway?
Yes, one back rider, who must have a seat and footrests. Both of you must wear helmets. A child passenger must be able to reach the foot pegs and the rider’s waist and wear a proper helmet under RA 10666.
Will the 400cc rule be lowered?
Not soon, on current evidence. The TRB said in 2019 it would study lowering the minimum, but nothing came of it, and as of October 2026 there is no bill in Congress or new DOTr or TRB order changing the threshold.
Sources
The full text of DOTC Department Order No. 2007-38 from the Supreme Court E-Library, and RA 2000, RA 10054 and RA 10666 from the Lawphil Project. The TRB’s 398cc/399cc directive from Top Gear Philippines, 18 August 2018. Court history from Top Gear Philippines, 23 May 2024. The Dominar “expressway-legal” claim from Top Gear Philippines, 27 February 2026. CAVITEX enforcement from Top Gear Philippines, 16 February 2023; Osmeña Highway from Top Gear Philippines, 24 July 2019. CCLEX rules from Top Gear Philippines, 1 July 2022 and 19 September 2022, and tolls from SunStar, 24 June 2025. RFID suspension from Top Gear Philippines and Philstar, 21 February 2025. The 2024 SLEX case from Philstar, 13 September 2024; fines from JAO No. 01-14. TRB review history from MotoPinas, 17 October 2019 and 3 January 2020. All verified 27 October 2026. Rental rates from our own live pricing on the same date.
