The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is an 84-kilometer four-to-eight-lane expressway that connects Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon region in the Philippines. According to reports, over 230,000 vehicles are plying the NLEX stretch daily on average. It spikes up to 400,000 vehicles when there is a long weekend holiday.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has authorized the NLEX Corporation to collect a nominal 2-3% toll increase starting May 18, 2021. The adjustment is part of the approved periodic adjustments due 2012. TRB and NLEX agreed to implement the increase on a staggered basis to cushion the impact of the adjustments.
NLEX toll fees hike
According to NLEX website, the toll hike will take effect past midnight or 12:01 am on May 18, the increase will be an additional P2 for Class 1 vehicles in the open system, VAT included. For the entire NLEX journey end to end, Class 1 vehicles will pay an additional P6.
The open system, where a flat rate is charged per entry, includes Quezon City, Caloocan City, Valenzuela City, Malabon City, Navotas City, Meycauayan City and Marilao, Bulacan. On the other hand, the closed system is between Bocaue, Bulacan and Mabalacat City, Pampanga.
| Toll fees for NLEX open system | Toll fees for NLEX end-to-end |
| Class 1 vehicles (cars, taxi, jeepney, vans, motorcycles) – P50 (from P58) | Class 1 vehicles – P272 (from P266) |
| Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and buses) – P149 (from P146) | Class 2 vehicles – P679 (from P665) |
| Class 3 vehicles (multi-axle trucks) – P179 (from P175) | Class 3 vehicles – P815 (from P799) |
For other vehicle classes, the minimal increase within the open system will translate to an additional ₱3 for Class 2 (buses and small commercial trucks) and ₱4 for Class 3 (large trucks/trailers). In summary, motorists traveling end-to-end between Metro Manila and Mabalacat City, Pampanga, will be charged an additional ₱6, ₱14, and ₱16, respectively, their vehicle class.
This is the 3rd toll hike approved by TRB. The first one was way back on March 20, 2019, when they adjusted the toll fee of the NLEX open system and end-to-end.
| Toll fees for NLEX open system | Toll fees for NLEX end-to-end |
| Class 1 vehicles (cars, taxi, jeepney, vans, motorcycles) – P55 (from P45) | Class 1 vehicles – P258 (from P236) |
| Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and buses) – P137 (from P114) | Class 2 vehicles – P646 (from P590) |
| Class 3 vehicles (multi-axle trucks) – P165 (from P136) | Class 3 vehicles – P775 (from P708) |
The second toll hike was implemented last November 25, 2020.
| Toll fees for NLEX open system | Toll fees for NLEX end-to-end |
| Class 1 vehicles (cars, taxi, jeepney, vans, motorcycles) – P58 (from P55) | Class 1 vehicles – P266 (from P258) |
| Class 2 vehicles (light trucks and buses) – P146 (from P137) | Class 2 vehicles – P665 (from P646) |
| Class 3 vehicles (multi-axle trucks) – P175 (from P165) | Class 3 vehicles – P799 (from P775) |
Paying NLEX toll fee using Easytrip RFID
The Easytrip RFID can be used at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), and the soon-to-be-completed Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX). This sticker contains a microchip which is mounted on a vehicle’s windshield or headlight. Once the RFID is installed and activated, all NLEX and SCTEX RFID users will be able to traverse other Metro Pacific Tollways-owned expressways like CAVITEX and CALAX vice-versa.
The NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
Sources:
- TRB to implement 2-3% NLEX toll increase on May 18. NLEX Corporation. (2021, May 16). https://nlex.com.ph/2021/05/15/trb-to-implement-2-3-nlex-toll-increase-on-may-18/.
- NLEX sees vehicle traffic growing 6%. Manila Standard. (n.d.). https://manilastandard.net/business/transport-tourism/268721/nlex-sees-vehicle-traffic-growing-6-.html.
- NLEX Corporation. Facebook. (n.d.). https://www.facebook.com/NLEXexpressways.
- Staff, C. N. N. P. (n.d.). NLEX to raise toll fees starting Nov. 25. cnn. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/11/23/NLEX-toll-fee-hike-November-25-2020.html.
- Castro, C. (1970, January 1). Heads Up: NLEX Toll Hike Starts May 18. Esquiremag.ph. https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/industry/nlex-toll-hike-a2635-20210517.