LTO sets cap on driving lessons fees starting April

Beginning April 15 this year, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said it will set a limit on the rates that can be charged by driving schools.

For motorcycle driving lessons, the maximum fee is P3,500 for an eight-hour session (P2,500 for practical driving and P1,000 for theoretical driving course), while those who will take up lessons using four-wheel vehicles can be charged up to P5,000 (P4,000 for practical and P1,000 theoretical).

“Wala po talagang maximum before dahil we allowed the market forces to dictate the price. Eh yun nga po talaga pong umiiyak na po yung kababayan, Ang objective ngayon, pababaan ng presyo yung mga driving schools,” LTO chief Jay Art Tugade said on Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras.”

Driving schools who will not comply with the limit on fees will face penalties from P50,000 to P100,000 for the first two offenses, and revocation of accreditation on the third offense.

The Association of Accredited Driving Schools of the Philippines Inc. (AADSPI) said it is amenable to the fees for motorcycle lessons, but asked that the fees for four wheel vehicles be limited to the manual sedan.

The group said some of their members offer executive courses for P57,000 using luxury vehicles.

“Kasi po iba iba po yung at iba ibang skills ang kailangan nyang ibigay sa isang driver kaya mas mataas ng konti,” Marie Franz Gavino, AADSPI president said.

Tugade said the LTO does not require the use of SUVs for the driving lessons.

AADSPI also said that for some students, an eight-hour driving lessons will not be sufficient.

“It’s really a choice kasi may mga customers, parents who are very concerned about the safety of their children and we really encourage them to enroll 15 hours, 16 hours

The LTO said driving schools may introduce promotional offers to allow students to have longer driving hours, but reminded that the charge per hour will not exceed the limit set by the agency.—LDF, GMA Integrated News