A, B, A1, B2: What do the new driver’s license restriction codes mean?
Land Transportation Office is authorized to issue and regulate driver’s license for all types of vehicles. To make driver’s license categories more specific, the LTO has introduced new driver’s license codes (DL Codes) that provide more clarity than the earlier RC Codes.
If you have a driver’s license, you must know the meaning of new DL Codes like A, A1, B, B2, B1 and other codes.
LTO New DL Codes
The Land Transportation Office has published New DL Codes that are printed on back of every driver’s license.
Each DL Code is linked to a specific vehicle type and the license holder is restricted to drive only the vehicles that are mentioned as DL Code(s) on their license. To know the meaning of these DL codes, you can check the list given below.
- DL Code A – 2-Wheeler Vehicles below and exceeding 50 kph speed and 3-Wheeler Vehicles below 50 kph speed.
- DL Code A1 – 3-Wheeler Vehicles exceeding 50 kph speed and 4-Wheeler Vehicle below 45 kph speed.
- DL Code B – Passenger Carriage Vehicles not more than 8 seats with gross weight not exceeding 5000 kg.
- DL Code B1 – Passenger Carriage Vehicles more than 8 seats with gross weight not exceeding 5000 kg.
- DL Code B2 – Goods Carriage Vehicles gross weight below 3500 kg.
- DL Code C – Goods Carriage Vehicles gross weight between 3500 kg and 12000 kg and exceeding 12000 kg.
- DL Code D – Passenger Carriage Vehicles more than 8 seats and gross weight exceeding 5000 kg.
- DL Code BE – Trailers with gross weight below 750 kg and between 750 kg and 3500 kg.
- DL Code CE – Trailers with gross weight between 3500 kg and 10000 kg and exceeding 10000 kg.
So, this is how each DL Code is linked to a specific vehicle category with its limits on vehicle gross weight and maximum speed.
DL Code Meanings and Vehicle Categories
The Land Transportation Office provides a complete guide on Restriction Code (RC) and Driver’s License Code (DL Code) and Concerned Vehicle Category with specific information about the weight and speed limits of the vehicle(s).
In order to help you understand the DL Codes A, A1, B, B2, B1 and others, here I provide a detailed table showing the meaning of all DL Codes with concerned vehicle categories as under.
| RC | DL CODE | VC | DESCRIPTION | GENERAL DESCRIPTION |
| 1 | A | L1 | A two-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 kph | MOTORCYCLE |
| L2 | A three-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed not exceeding 50 kph | |||
| L3 | A two-wheeled vehicle with a maximum design speed exceeding 50 kph | |||
| A1 | L4 | A vehicle with three wheels asymmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with a maximum design speed exceeding 50 kph (Motorcycle with sidecar) | TRICYCLE | |
| L5 | A vehicle with three wheels symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal median plane with a maximum design speed exceeding 50 kph | TWV | ||
| L6 | A vehicle with four wheels whose unladen mass is not more than 350 kg, not including the mass of the batteries in case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 kph | |||
| L7 | A vehicle with four wheels, other than classified for the category L6, whose unladen mass is not more than 400 kg (550 kg for vehicles intended for carrying goods), not including the mass of batteries in the case of electric vehicles, whose maximum design speed is not more than 45 kph | |||
| 2/4 | B | M1 | Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising not more than 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5000 kg | PASSENGER CAR, UV, SUV, LSV, HSV |
| B1 | M2 | Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat, and having a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 5000 kg | LSV, HSV, UV | |
| B2 | N1 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3500 kg | UV | |
| 3/5 | C | N2 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding 12000 kg | UV, TRUCKS |
| N3 | Vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 12000 kg | TRUCKS | ||
| D | M3 | Vehicles used for the carriage of passengers, comprising more than 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat and having a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 5000 kg | BUS, LSV, HSV, UV | |
| 6 | BE | O1 | Trailers with a maximum gross vehicle weight not exceeding 750 kg | TRAILER |
| 7 | O2 | Trailers with a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 750kg but not exceeding 3500 kg | TRAILER | |
| 8 | CE | O3 | Trailers with a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 3500 kg but not exceeding 10000 kg | TRAILER |
| O4 | Trailers with a maximum gross vehicle weight exceeding 10000 kg | TRAILER |
Wrapping Up
Every DL Code is linked to a specific vehicle category. With a valid driver’s license, you can drive the vehicles whose DL Codes are mentioned on the back of your license.
Above I have shared the meaning of new DL Codes A, A1, B, B1, B2, C, D and CE as provided by the LTO (Land Transportation Office), Department of Transportation. In case you still have a doubt, feel free to ask it in the comment section.
