EDSA Number Coding Overview for 2026
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, widely known as EDSA (Circumferential Road 4), serves as the central circulatory spine of Metro Manila. Stretching approximately 23.8 kilometers from Caloocan in the north down to Pasay in the south, EDSA traverses six key local government units: Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay.
Because of its immense daily vehicle volume, EDSA is strictly regulated under the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) supervised by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). If you commute along EDSA on weekdays, adhering to designated coding hours is crucial to avoiding traffic citations and unnecessary delays.
How Window Hours Work on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
A frequent question among Metro Manila motorists is whether window hours apply to EDSA. Under official MMDA guidelines for 2026, EDSA observes standard off-peak window hours from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM from Monday through Friday.
During this window period, private vehicles bearing coded license plates are legally permitted to travel on all standard main lanes of EDSA without being apprehended. The restriction resumes sharply at 5:00 PM, lasting until 8:00 PM in the evening.
Clarifying the Historical Odd Even Scheme versus UVVRP
Many drivers search online for the odd even scheme on EDSA. Historically, traffic authorities in Metro Manila experimented with an odd-even rationing scheme during the early 2000s, where odd and even ending plates were restricted on alternating days. However, this system has long been superseded.
Today, EDSA operates strictly under the standard two-digit UVVRP plate schedule. There is no special odd-even rule on EDSA. Two specific digits are restricted each weekday, giving every motorist four coding-free weekdays out of five.
Day-Wise Plate Schedule for EDSA Motorists
Review the standard weekly plate restriction schedule for private vehicles along EDSA:
| Day of Week | Prohibited Last Digits | Morning Peak Ban | Off-Peak Window Hours | Evening Peak Ban | Night Free Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 1 & 2 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 10:01 AM – 4:59 PM | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 8:01 PM – 6:59 AM |
| Tuesday | 3 & 4 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 10:01 AM – 4:59 PM | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 8:01 PM – 6:59 AM |
| Wednesday | 5 & 6 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 10:01 AM – 4:59 PM | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 8:01 PM – 6:59 AM |
| Thursday | 7 & 8 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 10:01 AM – 4:59 PM | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 8:01 PM – 6:59 AM |
| Friday | 9 & 0 | 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 10:01 AM – 4:59 PM | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 8:01 PM – 6:59 AM |
| Weekends & Holidays | Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) Completely Suspended | ||||
Interactive Plate Restriction Checker
Select the last digit of your vehicle plate or conduction sticker to check restricted hours and window schedules for EDSA Coding Window Hours:
EDSA Carousel Busway Rules and Heavy Violation Fines
The dedicated inner bus lane along EDSA, designated as the EDSA Carousel Busway, is strictly exclusive to public utility buses and officially authorized government emergency convoys. Private motorists are strictly prohibited from entering the busway at all times, regardless of the vehicle plate number or time of day.
Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, penalties for unauthorized use of the EDSA bus lane are substantially higher than regular coding fines:
- First Offense: ₱5,000 fine and referral to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for alarm.
- Second Offense: ₱10,000 fine, 1-month driver license suspension, and mandatory road safety seminar.
- Third Offense: ₱20,000 fine and 1-year driver license suspension.
- Fourth and Subsequent Offenses: ₱30,000 fine and recommendation for permanent revocation of driver license.
The Makati Segment Border Trap for EDSA Commuters
Motorists driving on EDSA through the Makati segment (such as Guadalupe, Buendia, and Ayala flyovers) must exercise caution when planning exits. While the main lanes of EDSA follow MMDA window hours, turning right or left into local Makati roadways (such as Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue / Buendia, Ayala Avenue, or J.P. Rizal Street) instantly places you within Makati City jurisdiction.
Makati City implements continuous number coding from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM without any window hours. Makati Public Safety Department (PSD) officers actively monitor all highway off-ramps.
Authorized Vehicle Exemptions on EDSA
The following vehicles are automatically exempted from the UVVRP number coding scheme on EDSA:
- Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Fully electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid vehicles officially recognized under Republic Act No. 11697 (The Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA).
- Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs): Registered public buses, jeepneys, UV Express vans, and accredited transport network vehicles with proper trade decals.
- Emergency and Law Enforcement Vehicles: Marked ambulances, fire trucks, PNP police cruisers, military vehicles, and disaster response units.
- Medical Emergencies: Private vehicles carrying patients requiring immediate medical attention in a hospital or clinic.
- Vehicles with Valid MMDA Exemption Certificates: Motorists granted temporary exemption permits by the MMDA Chairman for humanitarian or work-related reasons.
Frequently Asked Questions about EDSA Coding
The coding window on EDSA runs from 10:01 AM to 4:59 PM from Monday through Friday. During this window period, private vehicles with coding plates are permitted to travel on all standard main lanes of EDSA without receiving a traffic violation.
No, EDSA does not use an odd-even scheme. EDSA follows the standard MMDA UVVRP scheme where vehicles are restricted once a week based on the last digit of their license plate: 1 and 2 on Monday, 3 and 4 on Tuesday, 5 and 6 on Wednesday, 7 and 8 on Thursday, and 9 and 0 on Friday.
Yes, fully electric and hybrid vehicles are officially exempt from the number coding scheme throughout EDSA and the rest of Metro Manila under Republic Act No. 11697 (EVIDA Law).
The penalty for a standard number coding violation on EDSA is ₱500 under the Metro Manila Single Ticketing System (STS), enforced by MMDA traffic personnel and high-definition CCTV cameras.
No, the MMDA number coding scheme is automatically lifted on Saturdays, Sundays, and all nationwide official regular and special non-working holidays.