LTO shows new format for temporary, improvised vehicle license plates

Following the plate shortage announced earlier this year, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has rolled out the new and prescribed formats for temporary and improvised vehicle license plates. 

Guidelines on the prescribed license plate formats

Under the new guidelines, temporary plates refer to the ones that are issued by dealerships to new owners pending issuance of the actual plate number. Improvised plates meanwhile, refer to a replacement plate for a lost or mutilated plate number.

Of note, car owners must acquire authorization or permit from an LTO District/Extension Office to use an improved plate. The agency also instructed improvised plate holders to always bring a copy of the authorization in case an apprehension occurs on the road.

New license plate format

The LTO also provided the prescribed formats for temporary plates for electric and hybrid vehicles. Since electrified models are said to be exempted from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) under the EVIDA Law, adding either “electric” or “hybrid” on the plate will aid traffic enforcers in flagging down number coding violators.

In addition, vintage cars also get a dedicated temporary plate format, which has the model year on the plate.

Electrified cars get a dedicated license plate

While the new formats look similar to the ones, the former requires more information such as the dealership and its region. The agency also provided the font colors for each vehicle type, which you can see on the list below:

• Private – Black
• Government – Red
• For Hire – Yellow
• Diplomatic – Blue
• Hybrid/Electric – Green

Motorists with concerns regarding the matter are encouraged to send LTO an email at 1300rdmpao@gmail.com or directly call the agency thru telephone number 827-31504 or mobile number 0995-7266837.

The improvised license plate formats for four-wheelers (top) and motorcycles (bottom)

Leading the charge is Atty. Hector Villacorta, who was assigned as the new LTO officer-in-charge (OIC). He will be at the helm until President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assigned someone to lead the agency permanently. Atty. Villacorta replaced Atty. Jay Art Tugade, who stepped down as the LTO chief six months after being appointed.

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