LOOK: LTO releases new format of temporary, improvised license plates

As early as April of this year, former LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade said that come July 2023, the supply of vehicle license plates may run out. In order to face the upcoming shortage, Tugade said that the LTO is working on a temporary solution that would allow vehicle owners to use temporary license plates.

Fast forward to the present day, and the LTO has released the design and format of new temporary license plates for motor vehicles. Under the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. JMT – 2023-2400, the government agency listed down the exact details and information about the design and use of improvised plates and temporary plates.

Under the MC, temporary plates shall be issued by dealerships to vehicle owners pending the issuance of the actual physical license plate number of a newly-registered vehicle. It may also be made by owners of motor vehicles without assigned plate numbers, which were registered prior to the LTO's order. Newly-registered vintage vehicles are also allowed to use temporary plates.

On the other hand, improvised plates shall refer to plates that may be made by the vehicle owner while waiting for the replacement of their lost or damaged plate number. The concerned LTO District/Extension Office which will process the duplicate plate request, will issue the corresponding authority/permit to use an improvised plate which shall be valid until the actual plate is available.

In addition to this, then LTO Chief Tugade also mentioned before motorists can use the improvised plates, they first have to get an “Authorization to Use Improvised Plate” from the LTO. This is further reiterated under the new MC wherein it's stated that those looking to use the improvised license plates will need to get approval to use them.

Also worth mentioning are the font colors that will be assigned to each temporary and improvised license plate. For private vehicles, their font color will be black while government vehicles will use the familiar red font. PUVs and other for-hire vehicles must have yellow fonts on their license plates. Those issued with diplomatic license plates will need to have their fonts finished in blue. Last but not least are the hybrid and electric vehicle license plates requiring green-colored fonts.

Check out the pictures below and see the different formats for the temporary and improvised license vehicle plates the LTO will deem legal.

New Registration with Assigned Plate

New Registration without Assigned Plate

Previously Registered without Assigned Plate

Electric Vehicle with Assigned Plate

Hybrid Vehicle with Assigned Plate

Vintage Vehicle with Assigned Plate

Improvised MV Plate for Lost/Mutilated Plate