Legal basis and related framework
- The IRR is issued to execute Presidential Memorandum Order No. 65 (20 June 2002) authorizing the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), through the LTO, to issue optional motor vehicle plates bearing preferred inscriptions.
- The IRR uses the definition of “motor vehicle” as defined under Republic Act No. 4136.
- The IRR authorizes an on-line auction system for “LIMITED EDITION” vanity license plates in line with Republic Act No. 8792 (E-commerce Act).
- The IRR fixes penalties by reference to Department Order No. 93-693 Series of 1992 for violations involving illegal/improper use of vanity plates and VLP validation stickers.
- The IRR’s approval authorization permits public bidding and award procedures for the supply and production of vanity license plates.
Policy and program intent
- Vehicle owners may avail of vanity license plates for personalization and/or to establish a more prestigious identification of the motor vehicle to its owner (or vice-versa).
- The vanity license plate system aims to provide optional preferred-inscription plates linked to the motor vehicle’s regular license plate for identification in official transactions.
Key definitions and systems
- A Vanity License Plate (VLP) is an optional motor vehicle plate with preferred inscriptions for establishing personalized identity of the motor vehicle to the registered owner.
- MV refers to a motor vehicle as defined under Republic Act No. 4136.
- An LTO License Plate (LLP) refers to the regular motor vehicle license plates issued by LTO bearing the standard alphanumeric characters in accordance with BP 43 & 74.
- A Commemorative License Plate (CLP) is a one piece duly issued plate used in lieu of the regular license plates for commemorating historical events and valid for a limited period, installed at the front portion of the MV.
- Existing MV means a currently duly registered motor vehicle with LTO.
- New MV means a new motor vehicle (locally assembled or imported) that has not been previously registered with LTO.
- A Motor Vehicle Plate Title is the VLP title of ownership issued together with the VLP.
- A VLP Validation Sticker (VLPS) is an inside windshield security sticker used for proper motor vehicle identification.
- A Computerized Issuance Verification System (CIVS) is an on-line verification system via the Internet containing listings of available and issued character combinations for public information and internal LTO operations.
- A VLP On-line Auction System (VOAS) is an electronic internet-based system for conducting on-line public auctions only for “LIMITED EDITION” vanity license plates, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8792.
Coverage, eligibility, and exclusions
- Motor vehicles under the four (4) wheel category are eligible to avail of the program, subject to prerequisites and requirements.
- Existing motor vehicles eligible include: cars, SUV, vintage & collectors, AUV, and sports pick-up.
- New motor vehicles eligible include: cars, SUV, AUV, and sports pick-up.
- Public Utility Vehicles, Cargo Trucks (Private/For Hire), and Service Vehicles (Hotel Limousines, Tourist Vehicles, Car Rentals, Ambulance, Funeral Hearse) are excluded for both existing and new motor vehicles.
- Government Vehicle and Diplomatic/OEV are excluded for both existing and new motor vehicles.
- Motor vehicles with more than four (4) wheel category are excluded.
Issuance categories, process, and installation
- The program has three (3) vanity license plate categories: LIMITED EDITION, PREMIUM, and SELECT.
- Applicants must submit: the standard documentary requirements (OR/CR for vehicle registration based on the current year registration), a filled-up and completed “Vanity License Plates” Application Form, and the corresponding fees.
- LTO issues with the VLP an accompanying Motor Vehicle Plate Title in the form of a certificate with security features.
- LTO issues a single piece vanity license plate installed at the rear portion of the motor vehicle.
- LTO issues a pair of VLP Validation Stickers to establish linkage between the regular license plate and the vanity license plate; the VLP validation stickers are required to be renewed through payment of fees prescribed by LTO at the time of the motor vehicle’s annual renewal registration.
- The applicant and issuing officer use the VLP Catalog (and, when available, the online computerized IVS) to select from available and issued alphanumeric combinations based on current updates.
- One (1) of the pair of plate year tags issued is placed on the vanity license plate and the other is placed on the regular plate currently used in conjunction with the vanity license plate.
- “LIMITED EDITION” VLPs are purchased through public auction (manually or electronically) and must be selected from predetermined combinations in the VLP catalog.
- “LIMITED EDITION” combinations must meet these rules: only identical numeric or all identical alpha characters are allowed and no alpha numeric permitted; character length must be minimum of four (4) and maximum of six (6) characters.
- “LIMITED EDITION” permits only combinations consisting of all identical alpha or all identical numeric, and “LIMITED EDITION” VLPs are installed at the rear license plate space.
- “PREMIUM” VLPs use a fixed-price scheme and must follow these rules: six characters consisting of 3-numeric and 3-alpha; alpha characters must be A–Z (total 26 letters); numeric combination starts from 001 to 999.
- “PREMIUM” excludes “pre-determined combinations” published in the computerized IVS catalog and referenced provisions.
- “SELECT” VLPs use a fixed-price scheme and must follow these rules: combinations not in conflict with regular plate series combinations and provisions on restrictions; may include name, slogan, initial and other combination not in conflict with LIMITED EDITION and PREMIUM; length must be minimum of three (3) and maximum of six (6) characters.
- “SELECT” allows alphanumeric or alpha character combinations such as name, slogan, initial, and other combination not in conflict with the Limited Edition and Premium categories.
- The Vanity License Plate must be installed at the space allotted for the rear license plate.
- One VLPS piece containing the same characters is mounted at the upper center in the inside windshield adjacently opposite the rear view mirror; the other VLPS piece is installed at the upper right hand corner of the inside rear windshield.
- Once the VLPS adheres and sets, it becomes permanent and non-transferable, and it is securely destruct if tampering is attempted.
- Vanity plates use a special font adopted from the European Union to differentiate vanity plates from regular plates.
- Vanity plate dimensions are identical to the LTO license plates with a new design and format as provided under the IRR’s specifications.
- Vanity plates use a single piece of full-color graphic license plate with security markings, together with a motor vehicle plate title and a pair of VLP validation stickers bearing the same alphanumeric combinations as the vanity license plate.
Ownership rules, restrictions, and content limits
- LTO issues the vanity license plate to the motor vehicle owner and the vanity license plate belongs to the owner with an effectivity period for life, unless revoked by LTO due to violations and non-compliance with existing mandatory motor vehicle registration laws and regulations.
- LTO issues a vanity license plate only to the motor vehicle owner when the owner’s motor vehicle has been issued a regular LTO license plate.
- The owner may not transfer the vanity license plate to any other motor vehicle not authorized by LTO; illegal transfer is subject to confiscation and payment of fines.
- The owner may apply for transfer of the VLP to another likewise-registered vehicle, subject to VLP transfer rules and payment of the prescribed fees, applicable upon sale or change in ownership.
- The owner may request replacement/duplication of a damaged/dilapidated or lost VLP with the same characters upon payment of a re-issuance fee.
- Authorization of commemorative plates is no longer granted once the vanity license plates program is implemented, but existing commemorative plates are allowed to mature their validity period with no further extension.
- Alphanumeric combination schemes are recommended by the Special Study Committee on Vanity License Plates, and LTO prepares a catalog of alphanumeric combinations for ordering.
- Any character combination similar to regular MV license plates using the pattern three (3) alpha succeeded by three (3) numeric (AAA-999) cannot be applied for.
- Nationally allocated protocol plate numbers restricted and reserved for the House of Representatives, Senate, and Government Offices of similar or higher stature cannot be applied for.
- Only character combinations with a minimum of four (4) to a maximum of six (6) characters qualify, subject to no conflict with the restrictions on combination usage.
- Only duly registered motor vehicles with regular license plates under the IRR’s covered classifications are entitled for application and issuance of vanity license plates.
- Any given character combination (purely numeric, purely alpha, or alphanumeric) is issued only once to serve as a unique identifier for a particular motor vehicle.
- Regulations apply to the content and meaning of vanity character combinations such that a character combination that is offensive to religion or referring to sexual orientation, disability status, political affiliation, or similar manners is prohibited.
- Only one (1) vanity license plate is allowed on a single motor vehicle.
- Prescribed corresponding fees are collected for: annual renewal fee of the VLP paid with annual renewal registration; transfer of the VLP; and transfer to a beneficiary indicated in the MVPT in case the original owner dies.
- Any violation of the restrictions is subject to corresponding penalties under land transportation rules and regulations.
Fees, prices, auction floor, and fund disposition
- Vanity license plate sale or reservation is conducted at authorized LTO district offices nationwide, regional offices, at the LTO main office, or through the LTO web page lto.gov.ph.
- The price is based on the preferred category.
- “LIMITED EDITION” has a floor price of Fifty Thousand Pesos (Php 50,000.00) including the handling cost by a designated LTO courier.
- “LIMITED EDITION” consists of four (4) to six (6) characters, allows only identical numeric or all identical alpha characters and prohibits alpha numeric combinations, and has only 105 pieces available for this category.
- “PREMIUM EDITION” consists of six (6) characters (3-numeric and 3-alpha), uses alpha A–Z (total 26 letters) and numeric starting 001 to 999, and sets a price of Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000.00) inclusive of handling cost by a designated LTO courier.
- “SELECT EDITION” allows alpha numeric or alpha combinations such as name, slogan, initial and other combination not in conflict with LIMITED EDITION and PREMIUM categories, and uses a price of Ten Thousand Pesos (Php 10,000.00) inclusive of handling cost by a designated LTO courier.
- LTO, through DOTC, submits annual reports of income and expenditures to DOF and DBM for vanity license plate issuance.
- All collections from vanity license plate proceeds are treated as a “Revolving Fund” and deposited intact with any authorized Government Depository Bank (AGDB).
- The revolving fund is used exclusively to defray costs incurred in issuing and processing vanity license plates, including administrative and operating expenses, fulfillment of obligations under the contract, and other incidental expenses.
- All other accounting and auditing procedures, rules, and regulations on revolving fund handling and operations apply.
- All proceeds received by LTO in excess of the cost incurred in issuing and processing vanity license plates, including interest earned thereon, are deposited with the National Treasury and accrue to the general fund in accordance with the New Government Accounting System (NGAS).
Violations and penalties
- Illegal or improper use of vanity license plates and/or VLP validation stickers is penalized under Department Order No. 93-693 Series of 1992 for:
- Unauthorized transfer
- Tampering
- Improper installation
- Illegal application
- The use of bogus or fake vanity license plates and VLP validation stickers is penalized under laws against falsification of public documents and related LTO laws and guidelines.
Implementation authority and program execution
- LTO, represented by its Assistant Secretary, is authorized to devise a system and issue necessary guidelines to carry out the IRR, including the conduct of public bidding for the supply and production of vanity license plates and the approval of the award.
- LTO uses the computerized systems (CIVS and IVS) to list available and issued character combinations for public and internal operations, and VOAS for on-line public auctions for “LIMITED EDITION” vanity license plates.
Restrictions on commemorative plates
- Once the vanity license plates program is implemented, no further authorization of commemorative plates is granted.
- Existing commemorative plates retain their validity period and are allowed to mature without further extension.