LTO: use of DIY temporary license plates unlawful, PHP 5K fine

Just last month, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a memorandum suspending the production of license plates for motor vehicles (MV) and motorcycles (MC) due to the unavailability of supply.

For MV owners, they must use the vehicle’s conduction sticker, while MC owners must use the MV File number as the temporary license plate number.

The LTO however, clarified that it is unlawful to produce your own temporary or improvised license plate.

“Ang general rule po ay bawal po mag-print ng sariling plate number. Tanging mga dealer lamang po ang pinapayagang mag-issue ng temporary plate para maiuwi ang mga bagong sasakyan dahil mayroon tayong ‘no plate, no travel’ policy,” said LTO chief, Atty. Jayart Tugade during yesterday’s press briefer at the agency’s head office in Quezon City.

(The general rule is that it is prohibited to print your own plate number. Only dealers are authorized to issue a temporary plate so that the new vehicle can be driven home because we have a ‘no plate, no travel’ policy.)

On the other hand, for lost, stolen, or damaged plates, the LTO advises to put “LOST PLATE” on the improvised plate and it should not be identical to the original design and font of the original LTO-issued license plate.

“Itong paggawa ng improvised license plates ay masasabing exception sa general rule na bawal gumawa ng sariling plaka pero dapat ay nasusunod ang panuntunan ng LTO hinggil dito,” added Tugade.

(The making of the improvised plate in this scenario is an exception to the general rule of the prohibition of a DIY license plate, but it should be done in accordance with LTO’s existing guidelines.)

Additionally in the event of a lost, stolen or damaged license plate, the owner should bring his/her MV/MC to LTO to request a duplicate plate and to apply for authorization to use a temporary plate. Anyone who is caught using a do-it-yourself (DIY) improvised plate without proper authorization from the LTO will be penalized under Section II (e) of Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01 with a corresponding PHP 5,000.00 fine and confiscation of the said DIY plate.