Yes. Electric cars and hybrids are exempt from number coding in the Philippines, and the exemption comes straight from the law, not from an MMDA favour that can be withdrawn by memo. Section 25 of Republic Act 11697 — the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act, or EVIDA — puts it among the incentives every EV user gets. The part most people miss is how widely the law defines “EV”. Here is what it says, word for word where it matters, and what it means on the road.
What the law says
Section 25 of RA 11697 lists the non-fiscal incentives for EV users. The second one is the coding exemption:
“(2) Exemption from the mandatory unified vehicular volume reduction program, number-coding scheme, or other similar schemes implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, other similar agencies, and LGUs”
Three things follow from that wording:
- It covers the MMDA’s UVVRP — the Metro Manila number-coding scheme.
- It covers local schemes too. “Other similar agencies, and LGUs” means a city’s own coding ordinance is included, not just the MMDA’s.
- It covers “other similar schemes”, so a future volume-reduction rule under a different name is caught by the same exemption.
Hybrids count — this is the part people get wrong
Many owners assume “EV” means a battery-electric car. The law disagrees. Section 4 defines an electric vehicle as:
“a vehicle with at least one (1) electric drive for vehicle propulsion. For purposes of this Act, it includes a BEV, hybrid-electric vehicle, light electric vehicle, and a plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle”
And it defines a hybrid-electric vehicle as “a vehicle with both a rechargeable energy storage system and a fueled power source for propulsion.”
So the exemption covers four kinds of vehicle:
| Type | Example | Covered by the coding exemption? |
|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric (BEV) | BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model 3 | Yes |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | Charges from the wall, also burns fuel | Yes |
| Hybrid (HEV) | Self-charging hybrids like the Corolla Cross Hybrid | Yes |
| Light electric vehicle | E-scooters, e-bikes, e-trikes | Yes |
The law doesn’t separate “mild” from “full” hybrids. Which models count in practice is up to the implementing agencies, so if you drive a mild hybrid, check with your dealer before you rely on the exemption.
How long it lasts
Section 25 opens with: “The following non-fiscal incentives shall remain in force for eight (8) years from the effectivity of this Act.” RA 11697 lapsed into law on 15 April 2022 and took effect fifteen days after it was published. Eight years from that runs into 2030. After that the exemption ends unless Congress extends it.
This also means the exemption is not tied to how old your car is. A hybrid bought in 2029 gets the same exemption as one bought in 2023, until the incentive itself expires.
The other non-fiscal perks in the same section
Section 25(a) gives EV users three more things alongside the coding exemption:
- Priority registration and renewal at the LTO, and “issuance of a special type of vehicle plate by LTO”.
- Faster LTFRB processing of franchise applications and renewals for public utility vehicle operators that use only EVs.
- Access to TESDA training on EV assembly, use, maintenance and repair for an operator’s employees.
The money side is separate: the EVIDA also cuts the MVUC (30% for battery-electric cars, 15% for hybrids — see our LTO registration renewal guide), and the EV buying guide covers the tariff and tax side.
What to do if you are flagged on a coding day
An enforcer at the roadside can’t always tell a hybrid from its petrol twin, because many hybrids look identical to the non-hybrid version. Make it easy:
- Keep your OR/CR in the car. The Certificate of Registration records the vehicle’s details as registered with the LTO.
- Know the legal basis by name: Republic Act 11697, Section 25(a)(2). Saying that is more useful than “hybrids are exempt.”
- Stay polite and ask for the enforcer’s name and unit if you are still ticketed, then contest the ticket with the issuing agency. The exemption is set by law, not at an enforcer’s discretion.
How an enforcer is supposed to check a car’s EV status is up to the MMDA, the LTO and the local government. Those procedures have changed before, so check the MMDA’s and your city’s latest advisories if you drive in a coding zone.
The bottom line
If your car has an electric motor that helps drive the wheels — a full EV, a plug-in hybrid or a conventional hybrid — RA 11697 exempts it from number coding in Metro Manila and in any LGU’s coding scheme, until the eight-year incentive period ends in 2030. Keep your OR/CR handy and you can drive on your coding day.
Source: Republic Act No. 11697, Sections 4(k), 4(n), 25 and 33 (Lawphil). Read on 17 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Are electric cars exempt from number coding in Metro Manila?
Yes. Section 25(a)(2) of Republic Act 11697, the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), exempts EV users from the unified vehicular volume reduction program, number-coding schemes and similar schemes run by the MMDA, similar agencies and local government units.
Are hybrid cars exempt from number coding too?
Yes. The law's definition of an electric vehicle in Section 4 is 'a vehicle with at least one electric drive for vehicle propulsion' and, for the purposes of the Act, expressly includes hybrid-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids as well as battery-electric and light electric vehicles. A conventional hybrid such as a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid is therefore covered by the same exemption as a full EV.
Are mild hybrids exempt from number coding?
The law does not draw a line between mild and full hybrids; it covers vehicles with at least one electric drive for propulsion and defines a hybrid as having both a rechargeable energy storage system and a fuelled power source for propulsion. Which specific models qualify in practice is decided by the implementing agencies, so check before you rely on it.
How long does the EV number-coding exemption last?
Section 25 says the non-fiscal incentives remain in force for eight years from the effectivity of the Act. RA 11697 lapsed into law on 15 April 2022 and took effect 15 days after publication, so the exemption runs into 2030 unless Congress amends the law.
Do EVs get special plates in the Philippines?
The law provides for it: Section 25(a)(1) gives EV users priority registration and renewal and 'issuance of a special type of vehicle plate by LTO'. How and when those plates are issued is up to the LTO, so ask your dealer or LTO district office about the current process.
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