Title
Guidelines on Distribution of Vehicle Plates
Law
Decision Date
Mar 1, 2018
The law authorizes the Land Transportation Office to distribute license plate numbers for motor vehicles and motorcycles in the Philippines, ensuring an orderly process based on the date of initial registration.

Responsible office and coverage scope

  • The Land Transportation Office (LTO) implements the distribution of license plate numbers released by the BOC after the TRO was lifted.
  • The guidelines cover only the following license plate types: new, replacement, change classification, diplomatic and OEV plates.
  • Coverage is limited to the license plate numbers described in the list to be provided by the CO Administrative Division.
  • The Central Office Administrative Division provides the controlling list of covered MV and MC plates turned-over by the BOC.

Distribution workflow and assignment

  • The Central Office Administrative Division (1) provides the list of covered plates and (2) directs the Property Section to distribute the plates to the concerned Regional Offices.
  • The Regional Office-New Registration Unit/District Office (RO-NRU/DO) assigns and uploads covered license plate numbers in the LTO-IT system.
  • The order of assignment/uploading is based on the motor vehicle’s date of initial registration, with earliest dates and units not yet assigned plate numbers being first for assignment/uploading.
  • The RO-NRU/DO prepares a list of assigned plate numbers with the corresponding names of the registered owners, and submits this list to the Property Section, Central Office.

Consolidation, posting, and public advisories

  • The Property Section submits to the Management Information Division (MID) the list of all plate numbers with the corresponding names of the registered owners.
  • The MID posts the list at the LTO website.
  • The LTO issues an advisory through tri-media in the Regional/District Office’s area of jurisdiction stating the availability of the MV plates.

Release to owners and documentation

  • The RO-NRU/DO releases the license plates to the registered owner or the owner’s authorized representative.
  • Plate release requires submission of (1) a copy of the Certificate of Registration (CR), (2) the latest Official Receipt (OR) of payment, and (3) a valid government issued ID.
  • For CR with no printed plate number, the RO-NRU/DO issues a Certification stating that the license plate is assigned to the described motor vehicle.
  • The RO-NRU/DO uploads the assigned plate number in the LTO IT System for cases covered by CRs without printed plate numbers.

Reporting and compliance requirement

  • The Administrative Division of the Regional Office submits a weekly status of distribution of plates to the undersigned through the CO Administrative Division.
  • The weekly report is submitted using the prescribed form.
  • Each RO-NRU/DO must ensure that all license plate numbers in their possession are promptly distributed to the registered owners.

Direction to implement

  • The memorandum directs “For guidance and strict compliance.”
  • It is signed by EDGAR C. GALVANTE, Assistant Secretary.

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