Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
SCTEX is the 93.77-km expressway linking Subic Freeport, Clark Freeport, and Central Luzon to NLEX and TPLEX. It is operated by NLEX Corp and shares the Easytrip RFID account, so a Manila–Baguio drive feels like one road.
About SCTEX
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway opened in 2008 as a flagship Bases Conversion and Development Authority project. Originally operated by BCDA, it was transferred under a long concession to NLEX Corporation, which now runs it under the same Easytrip RFID system as NLEX.
SCTEX runs west-to-northeast for nearly 94 km. From Tipo near the Subic gate it climbs through Bataan, crosses Floridablanca and Porac in Pampanga, threads behind Clark Freeport, then continues to the TPLEX terminus at Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. Because the closed-system seamlessly continues into NLEX southbound and TPLEX northbound, motorists rarely think of it as a separate road — but the toll is computed per segment and shown on the receipt.
In our toll database, SCTEX plazas sit under the NLEX label because the two roads share an operator and a single Easytrip ticketing flow. Fares for a Class 1 vehicle on SCTEX-only segments run from roughly ₱30 for short hops up to about ₱300+ for the full Tipo-to-Tarlac stretch.
SCTEX is the pivot point for any Manila-to-Baguio drive: NLEX takes you up to Sta. Ines, SCTEX bridges to Tarlac, and TPLEX completes the run to Rosario, La Union. The whole 250-km trip uses one Easytrip account.
Length note: Operationally part of the NLEX network in our toll matrix — SCTEX plazas appear under the NLEX label.
Expressway connections
SCTEX connects to the following expressways. Both Easytrip and Autosweep RFID work end-to-end thanks to the interoperability agreement.
Key exits & destinations
Travel tips for SCTEX
- A Manila-to-Baguio drive uses three expressways (NLEX → SCTEX → TPLEX) but only one Easytrip account — load at least ₱600 round-trip for a Class 1 car.
- The SCTEX Subic terminus exits onto a winding mountain segment — drive carefully if there is fog (common Oct–Feb).
- Clark North vs Clark South: North is closer to the airport passenger terminal; South lands you at the cargo apron and JEST areas.
- Hacienda Luisita is where SCTEX feeds TPLEX — keep right to continue north, left to exit into Tarlac City.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the SCTEX toll fee in 2026?
- Use the toll matrix above to find the exact fare between any two plazas on the SCTEX. All rates are TRB-published and already include the 12% VAT.
- What RFID system does SCTEX use?
- SCTEX uses Easytrip as the primary RFID system. Thanks to the joint Easytrip-Autosweep interoperability agreement, both tags are accepted at every plaza in the network.
- How long is SCTEX?
- Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is approximately 93.77 km, 4 lanes, with a posted speed limit of 100 km/h for Class 1 vehicles. Operated by NLEX Corporation (under BCDA grant), it uses a closed (entry/exit) toll collection system.
- Are SCTEX fares VAT-inclusive?
- Yes. Every fare published by the Toll Regulatory Board already includes the 12% Value-Added Tax. The fee shown is what is debited from your RFID account or paid in cash at the plaza.
- What expressways does SCTEX connect to?
- SCTEX connects to NLEX, TPLEX. NLEX ties in at Sta. Ines / Mabalacat (closed-system tie-in); TPLEX ties in at Hacienda Luisita / Tarlac.
- What is the emergency hotline for SCTEX?
- For emergencies on SCTEX, call 1-35000 (DOTr unified hotline). Operator customer service: (02) 8888-6359 (NLEX/MPTC). Emergency call boxes are spaced along the expressway and patrol units are deployed 24/7.