A guide to RFIDs and tollways

With travel already challenging as it is, no doubt many are currently worried about the impending cashless transaction deadline for all major tollways in Luzon.

By November 2, all major tollways in Luzon will go fully cashless, which means any and all vehicles passing through these expressways will have to be fitted with an radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker in order to enter and manage tollway payments.

Luzon has two major tollways operators, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Metro Pacific Tollways (MPTC), both of which have their own RFID system and sticker. For SMC tollways, it’s the AutoSweep system. For MPTC, it’s the EasyTrip system. In addition, each one will require a certain amount of load tied with each sticker in order to enter the expressway.

Both Metro Pacific Tollways and San Miguel Corp. are working to integrate the readability of their RFID stickers with the other tollway systems. Nonetheless, it still requires driving to the other tollway and enrolling the sticker with their system. This may also only be active 1-2 days after initial enrollment. With this extra step coupled with the current rush to acquire RFID stickers, we recommend simply getting one for each.

So which sticker works for which tollway? We have a list below.

AutoSweep

SMC is the parent of the companies that operate the following expressways and toll roads.

1. SLEX - South Luzon Expressway

2. STARTOLL - Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway

3. SKYWAY – Elevated expressway

4 TPLEX - Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway

5. MCX – Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway

6. NAIAX – NAIA Expressway

7. SKYWAY STAGE 3 – Elevated expressway over Metro Manila

As such, an AutoSweep RFID sticker will work and grant passage through all of these tollways.

EasyTrip

MPTC, on the other hand, is the operator of the following expressways and toll roads:

1. NLEX - North Luzon Expressway

2. NLEX Harbor Link

3. SCTEX - Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway

4. CALAX - Cavite Laguna Expressway

5. C5 LINK

6. CAVITEX – Cavite Expressway

As such, an EasyTrip RFID sticker will work and grant passage through all of these tollways.

So if you have an out of town trip coming up, you may need just one or both stickers depending on where you’re going.

For trips from Metro Manila to Baguio, for example, both an EasyTrip and AutoSweep sticker will be needed as the fastest route is via NLEX, SCTEX, TPLEx and on to national roads up to Baguio.

For a trip to Batangas, one can either get an EasyTrip or Autosweep depending on where you pass. A route through CAVITEX will require an EasyTrip. A route through SLEX will require an Autosweep RFID.

Where to get them

Where’s the best place to get stickers? RFID stickers are available at nearly all toll plazas and gas stations within the expressways.

For Autosweep, they can be availed at the following toll plazas 24 hours a day: SLEX Calamba toll plaza; SLEX Southwoods northbound toll plaza; SLEX Eton northbound toll plaza.

Outside of the tollways, Autosweep stickers are also available at Petron NAIA, Petron Evia Daang Hari, Petron Dasmarinas EDSA, Petron C5 Taguig NB, Petron Valle Verde, and Petron Commerce Avenue at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For EasyTrip, they can typically be availed at most of the toll plazas and gas stations from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.

Outside of the tollways, EasyTrip stickers can be had at Shell C5/Heritage Park (from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.); Shell Magallanes (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) and at MPTC’s C5 Customer Service office (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon-Sat).

EasyTrip RFID and an AutoSweep RFID are both available at Shell Magallanes. Be warned, the line may be long.

Last chance venues

Besides these locations, stay glued to the official social media sites of SMC and MPTC for announcements on pop-up RFID sticker locations. The community pages or groups of your baranggay or village may also arrange special registration dates for residents.

In addition, MPTC says vehicles that don't have EasyTrip stickers yet may receive one when they enter tollways after November 2, 2020. The RFID sticker will be registered and applied upon entry. Motorists will have to have some cash on hand to pay for the minimum load.

SMC, on the other hand, has extended the deadline to November 30, 2020. Vehicles without stickers will be allowed to enter, but must register and secure a sticker from any one of the venues within the tollway.