Motor Vehicle License Plates Standardization Program

July 1, 2013

LTO MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. VPT-2013-1772

MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE PLATES STANDARDIZATION PROGRAM

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 4136 states that every motor vehicle shall display in conspicuous places the motor vehicle license plates, one in front and one in the rear where the plates are designated;

WHEREAS, Batas Pambansa Blg. 43 states that the letters and numbers of license plates assigned to any motor vehicle shall be permanently assigned to such motor vehicle during its lifetime;

WHEREAS, there exist nine (9) license plates of various designs, some of which date back to 1981;

WHEREAS, there is a proliferation of dilapidated and illegible license plates and the prevalent practice of not replacing lost license plates by motor vehicle owners;

WHEREAS, there is difficulty in promptly identifying counterfeit license plates;

WHEREAS, the foregoing problems have adversely affected law enforcement and national security;

WHEREAS, in order to aid law enforcement, improve the motor vehicle registration database and enhance the institutional capability of the government, there is a need to replace all existing motor vehicle license plates with standardized license plates.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 4136, Batas Pambansa Blg. 43 and Batas Pambansa Blg. 74, the following rules and regulations are hereby promulgated for the guidance of all concerned:

SECTION 1. Definition of Terms. —

a.) Newly designed plate — motor vehicle license plates which bear new designs including the new font and new color schemes issued by the LTO.

b.) Motor Vehicle — any vehicle propelled by any power other than muscular power using the public highways, but excepting road rollers, trolley cars, street-sweepers, sprinklers, lawn-mowers, bulldozers, graders, forklifts, amphibian trucks, and cranes if not used on public highways, vehicles which run only on rails or tracks, and tractors, trailers and traction engines of all kinds used exclusively for agricultural purposes. Trailers having any number of wheels, when propelled or intended to be propelled by attachment to a motor vehicle shall be classified as separate motor vehicles with no power rating. AHSaTI

c.) New Plate Number Series — all brand new Private and For Hire motor vehicles shall have license plates bearing three (3) alpha and four (4) numeric symbols; motorcycles shall have license plates bearing two (2) alpha and five (5) numeric symbols; diplomatic plates shall have license plates bearing five (5) numeric symbols.

d.) LTO security locks — stainless destructible 10mm bolt head screws plate locks and nuts with washers.

e.) Third Plate Sticker — sticker that bears the license plate number of the registered vehicle to be attached to the upper right corner of the windshield of such motor vehicle, excluding motorcycles.

SECTION 2. Classification of Motor Vehicle License Plates. —

a.) Private — a pair of license plates bearing black alphanumeric symbols on white background issued for motor vehicles that are for personal use of vehicle owners or for business use but not intended for direct compensation when using such, with the region where the motor vehicle was first registered indicated therein.

b.) For Hire — a pair of license plates bearing black alphanumeric symbols on yellow background issued to vehicle owners with motor vehicles authorized to operate as public utility vehicles by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, with the authorized route indicated therein.

c.) Motorcycle — a piece of license plate bearing black alphanumeric symbols on white background issued to riders owning two (2)-wheeled motor vehicles that are for personal use of the vehicle owners or for business but not intended for direct compensation when using such.

d.) Tricycle — a piece of license plate bearing black alphanumeric symbols on white background (for those used for personal use) or yellow background (for those authorized to operate as public utility vehicle by the Local Government Unit) issued to riders owning a motorcycle with an attached side car.

e.) Government — a pair of license plates bearing red alphanumeric symbols on white background issued for motor vehicles that are owned by the Philippine Government or any of its political subdivisions including government owned or controlled corporations, with the name of the agency or office where such is assigned to indicated therein.

f.) Protocol — a pair of license plates bearing red alphanumeric symbols on white background issued for registered motor vehicles owned by Government Officials pursuant to Executive Order No. 400A, with the name of the agency or office where the vehicle is assigned to indicated therein.

g.) Diplomatic — a pair of license plates bearing blue alphanumeric symbols on white background issued for motor vehicles owned by foreign governments or by their duly accredited diplomatic officials in the Philippines and used in the discharge of their official duties.

h.) Other Exempt Vehicles (OEV) — a pair of license plates bearing black alphanumeric symbols on light blue background issued for motor vehicles owned or used by officials and members of the Administrative and Technical Staffs of different embassies, consulates and other international organizations in the Philippines, while enjoying diplomatic privileges and immunities, with the port of origin indicated therein. cSDIHT

SECTION 3. Permanency of Plates. — The identification numbers and letters of any motor vehicle license plate are assigned permanently to such motor vehicle during its lifetime. Thus, motor vehicles shall always bear the same license plate number series that was initially assigned thereto.

SECTION 4. Replacement of Existing Plates. — Upon surrender of the existing motor vehicle license plate, the newly designed plates together with the Third Plate shall be attached to the motor vehicle within forty-five (45) days from the renewal of the motor vehicle registration at the District Office where the renewal of registration was transacted.

Only LTO security locks shall be used to attach the newly designed plates on the registered motor vehicle.

In case of new registration, until such time that the newly designed plate is available, the official receipt (OR) and certificate of registration (CR) of the motor vehicle shall be used for verifying registration of the motor vehicle upon request by law enforcement officers.

SECTION 5. The maximum cost of a motor vehicle license plate, inclusive of LTO security locks, shall be Four Hundred Fifty Pesos (Php450.00), exclusive of other charges. Motorcycle license plates, inclusive of LTO security locks, shall cost a maximum of One Hundred Twenty Pesos (Php120.00), exclusive of other charges.

SECTION 6. License plates shall be attached to the front and rear of the motor vehicle. No other license plate, plate cover, frame or any similar accessory may be attached to and/or around the motor vehicle license plate.

In case of loss, dilapidation or change of classification, the registered owner of the motor vehicle shall apply for duplicate, replacement or change classification of plates in accordance with existing rules and subject to the payment of the corresponding fees.

SECTION 7. Fines. — Failure to replace the license plates and attach the same accordingly shall be subject to corresponding fines and penalties under existing rules and regulations.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Circular is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — All circulars, rules or regulations inconsistent with the provisions hereof are hereby repealed and modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in a newspaper of a general circulation.

(SGD.) VIRGINIA P. TORRESAssistant Secretary

Approved by:

(SGD.) JOSEPH EMILIO AGUINALDO ABAYASecretaryDepartment of Transportation and Communications

Published in The Philippine Star on July 18, 2013.