Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines

src: c8.alamy.com

Vehicle license plates in the Philippines (Tagalog: plaka ng pagsasakyang panlupa ng pilipinas) are issued and regulated by the Land Transportation Office, a government agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Video Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines

History

Maps Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines

2014 series (Plate standardization project)

In January 2013, the Land Transportation Office ventured on the plate standardization project with modern security features which include holograms and bar codes, and also planned to phase out the old plate format which has been in use since 1981. In the new format, the LTO will issue LLL-DDDD for four-wheel vehicles and LL-DDDDD for motorcycles. The alphanumeric symbols for private cars will be black on a white background, while those for public utility vehicles (PUVs) would continue on black on yellow with the authorized route also to be indicated. Motorcycle plates would also be black on white, as would those for tricycles used for personal purposes. Tricycles used as PUVs would also continue with the black on yellow scheme. Government plates, meanwhile, would have sport red symbols on a white background, with the name of the agency/office to be indicated. Diplomatic plates would continue carry blue symbols on a white background, while Other Exempt Vehicles (OEV) would have black symbols on a light blue background. The new plate format series and design was originally scheduled for release on September or October 2013. However, it has been delayed several times primarily due to concerns on the release of funds for the license plate project, as well as the increase in purchase of new cars using temporary license plates bearing the conduction sticker number. Eventually, on May 2014, the first batch of new license plates were finally released. By January 2015, vehicle owners are now required to change their old plates into a modern series plate, and pay PhP 450 for a replacement.

In 2016, the LTO issued "virtual plates" as a temporary measure to address the backlog in physical license plates. New vehicles will be issued an identification consisting of alphanumeric combinations, which will make it easier for the LTO to release the permanent license plates once they are available.

Finally, in January 2018, the Supreme Court ordered the release of the license plates long held due to restraining orders saddling the plate modernization program. It is expected that the distribution will commence at full swing by mid-February 2018.

Automobile vehicle

Motorcycle

Special vehicle

src: upload.wikimedia.org

1981 series

Automobile vehicle

Motorcycle

Special vehicle

src: www.plateshack.com

Current specifications

Dimensions and medium

The current series of Philippine registration plates measure 390 x 140 mm. The characters are stamped on an aluminium plate which is then applied with reflectorized paint. Previously, numerous watermarks of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) logo as well as a small logo of the plate manufacturer were stamped on the plate. This was replaced in 2002 with a reflectorized printed color sticker of the statue to José Rizal. As of 2008, all plates issued by the LTO are produced by a sole, privately funded manufacturer in Manila.

The slogan on the bottom of the license plate usually reflects the goals campaign of the incumbent President. The practice began under President Fidel V. Ramos' "Philippines 2000" campaign in 1995. Until 2003, plates also bore the word "Pilipinas" at the bottom; it was replaced with the Arroyo government's slogan "Matatag Na Republika" ("Strong Republic") which was still used instead of the "Daang Matuwid" ("Straight Path") slogan even when Benigno Aquino III became President in 2010.

• PILIPINAS (the most common inscription; 1981-1995, 2001-2003; for private and government vehicles, 2001-2014; for-hire and public utility vehicles)
• PHILIPPINES 2000 (1995-2000)
• ANGAT PINOY 2004 ("Raise Pinoy 2004"; 2000-2001)
• PERLAS NG SILANGAN ("Pearl of the Orient"; 2002-2003; starting 2003, it is concurrently produced with the PILIPINAS license plates that have a Rizal Monument in the background that was first introduced in 2002 and continued to use when the MATATAG NA REPUBLIKA slogan was introduced)
• MATATAG NA REPUBLIKA (2003-April 12, 2014; for private, tourist and government vehicles; alternating with the PILIPINAS license plates in 2003 for other Public Utility Vehicles.)
• REGIONAL DESIGNATIONS (April 13, 2014-April 23, 2018; it is concurrently produced with the regional license plates that have with bar code security feature that was first introduced in 2014)
• ALPHABETICAL DESIGNATIONS (April 24, 2018-onwards; it is currently produced with the geographical designations with alphabetical letters license plates that have with QR code security feature that is now introduced in 2018 and continued to use when the previous regional licence plates inscription were permanently removed)

Typeface

There were numerous typefaces for Philippine registration plates. The current typeface used for Philippine registration plates was first implemented in 1981. It is loosely based on the Australian license plate system. There have been slight variations on the font design until February 2018 when all plates switched to FE-Schrift, which has been used since at least 2010 for personalized plates.

Protocol/High-ranking government plates

These plates are green D or DD plates reserved for the top government officials of the Republic of the Philippines.

• 1 - President
• 2 - Vice President
• 3 - President of the Senate
• 4 - Speaker of the House of Representatives
• 5 - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• 6 - Cabinet Secretaries
• 7 - Senators
• 8 - Representatives (Congressmen)
• 9 - Associate Justices of the Supreme Court
• 10 - Presiding Justice and other Justices of the Court of Appeals.
• 11 - Chairman, Commission on Elections
• 12 - Cabinet Undersecretary
• 13 - Solicitor-General
• 14 - Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chief of the Philippine National Police
• 16 - Regional Trial Court Judges
• 17 - First Level Courts (Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court in Cities and Shari'ah Circuit courts), added by Memorandum Order No. 297 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 2, 2009, assistant city prosecutors, district prosecutors and chief city prosecutors with initials of 17*ACP (court branch number)

Regular government plates

Red characters on a white background (or with the Rizal monument starting 2003), LLL-DDD (1981 series) or LLL-DDDD (2014 series) plates that start with the letter "S".

Diplomatic/other exempted vehicle plates

Blue characters on a white background plates reserved for diplomats, embassy and consulate officials, country ambassadors and some expatriates such as scientists and researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), in the form of DDDD or DDDDD. Ambassadors' plates are always "1000" and used to have the country they represent at the bottom of the plate (i.e., not present anymore). These plates have a small decal on the bottom left part with a "CM".

1001 - 9999: a small decal on the bottom left part, displayed as "DC" for "diplomatic corps"
10000 - 99999: embassy vehicles - a small decal on the bottom left part displayed as "OEV" for "other exempted vehicle"

Public utility vehicles

Yellow plates (black characters on a yellow background) are in the form LLL DDD (1981 series) or LLL-DDDD (2014 series) and usually begin with either the letter "N" or "P" or "T" or "U" in NCR that was used in 1981 series plates. They always have either "V", "W", "X"(except U) or "Y" in the middle of the letter block. Older license plates starting with "N" and "P" may have other letters in the middle of the block, although the "V", "W", "X", "Y" letters are also present (from 1981 NVA-101 to early 1995 NYZ-999).

For 2014 series, beside the region of registration, the type of PUV is also indicated (e.g. NCR TAXI, R4A JEEPNEY, R8 PROV BUS).

Private vehicles

For private vehicles, the plate contains green-colored symbols on a white background (or reverse - white symbols on green background, used from 1989 to 1995) with the number format as "LLL-DDD (1981 series) or LLL-DDDD (2014 series).

On newer vehicles, the first letter usually indicates the region where the vehicle is registered. For example, if the plate begins with the letter "N", the vehicle is registered in the National Capital Region.

Trailers

Yellow, green or white plates that mostly have either "U" (Private) or "Z" (For Hire) in the middle of the letter block. e.g. CUU-482, NZB-263, BUA-5301

Electric vehicles

For electric vehicles, orange plates are used (white symbols on orange background).

Motorcycles

Private

Green characters (1981 series) or black characters (2014 series) on a white background with the letters "MC" stamped on the upper left-hand corner next to the registration sticker. Usually in the format LL-DDDD (e.g. NK 9081) or LL-DDDDD (e.g. NA 25953), but with the rise in the number of motorcycles on the road, the DDDD-LL (e.g. 9081 NK) format has also come into use.

Public utility

Yellow characters on a black background. Same format as in private motorcycles. This plate is very rarely seen.

Diplomatic

Diplomatic motorcycles use the all-number plates (same for 4 wheels and up) instead of the aforementioned pattern for private, public utility and government ones, but with the same physical dimensions and the "MC" stamp.

Tricycles

Private

Green characters on a white background with the letters "MC" stamped on the upper left-hand corner next to the registration sticker. This is also rare because when a tricycle is purchased, its immediate use is to be a public transport vehicle and will be registered with black on yellow plates.

Public utility

Black characters on a yellow background with the letters "TC" stamped on the upper right-hand corner next to the registration sticker.

Department of Tourism accredited vehicles

Vehicles accredited by the Department of Tourism (usually tour buses and airport taxis) are issued plates that look similar to those of private vehicles, but have yellow highlights mixed with the green color and share the same first letter of current public utility vehicle plates. These vehicles must also have special stickers placed on the rear windows indicating that they are DOT-accredited.

For 2014 to 2016 series, it now uses yellow plate, same as the PUV and the word TOURIST is indicated (e.g. NCR TOURIST).

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Coding scheme

1981 and 2018 Series Geographical designation

• "A" - Region I (Ilocos Region) and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) / All Regions, April 2014-June 2016 / Region I (Ilocos Region) April 2018-onwards
• "B" - Region II (Cagayan Valley Region) 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "C" - Region III (Central Luzon Region 1981-2003, Superseded by "R" in September 2003 to April 2014, April 2018-onwards
• "D" - Regions IV-A (CALABARZON) and IV-B (MIMAROPA), 1981-2000 Superseded by "V" in May 2000-April 2014, April 2018-onwards
• "E" - Region V (Bicol Region) 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "F" - Region VI (Western Visayas Region) 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "G" - Region VII (Central Visayas Region), 1981-2004, Superseded by "Y" in August 2004-April 2014, April 2018-onwards
• "H" - Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region), 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "I" - Region XIII (CARAGA), April 2018-onwards
• "J" - Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) and ARMM, 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "K" - Region X (Northern Mindanao), 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "L" - Regions XI (Davao Region) and XIII (CARAGA), 1981-2014 / Region XI (Davao Region), April 2018-onwards
• "M" - Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN), 1981-2014, April 2018-onwards
• "N" - National Capital Region, July 1, 1981-September 1982, June 2009-May 2010 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q"), April 2018-onwards
• "P" - National Capital Region, September 1982-March 1991, May 2010-June 2011 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q")
• "R" - Region III (Central Luzon Region), overflow Series for Private since September 2003-April 2014
• "S" - Government-owned (Red Plate) Vehicles, 1981-2014, April 2014-onwards
• "T" - National Capital Region, March 1991-April 1995, June 2011-July 2012 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q")
• "U" - National Capital Region, February 1995-March 1995, April 1995-August 1997, July 2012-June 2013 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q")
• "V" - Regions IV-A (CALABARZON) and IV-B (MIMAROPA), overflow Series for Private since May 2000-April 2014
• "W" - National Capital Region, August 1997-June 2001, June 2013-April 12, 2014 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q")
• "X" - National Capital Region, June 2001-June 2005
• "Y" - Region VII (Central Visayas Region), overflow series for Private since August 2004-April 2014 / CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region), April 2018-onwards
• "Z" - National Capital Region, June 2005-June 2009

2014 Series Geographical designation

April 13, 2014 to April 23, 2018, the plate number letters are all the same throughout the Philippines in a series and combination, since the region where it is registered is now displayed in the new license plates at the bottom part. Since the previous 1981 series designation are now carried with the same alphabetical designations which is now updated from April 24, 2018-onwards.

• "AAA, AAH, AAI, AAJ, AAK, AAL, AAM, AAN, AAO, AAP, AAQ, AAW, AAX, AAY, AAZ, ABA, ACA, ADA, AEA, AFA, AGA, AHA, AIA, AJA, AKA, ALA, AOA, APA, AQA, ARA, ASA, ATA, AVA, ABB, ABC, ABD, ABE, ABF, ABG, ABH, ABO, ABP, ABQ, ABR, ABS, ABT; NAA, NAB, NAC, NAD, NAE, NAF, NAG, NAH, NAI, NAJ, NAK, NAL, NAM, NAN, NAO, NAP, NAQ, NAR, NAS, NAT, NAU, NAV, NAW, NAX, NAY, NAZ, NBC, NBD, NBV, NBX, NBY, NCC, NCD, NCE, NCF, NCG, NCH, NCI, NCJ, NCK, NCX, NCY, NCZ, NDB, NDC, NDD, NDE, NDF, NDG, NDH, NDI, NDP, NDQ, NDR, NDS, NDW, NDX, NDY, NDZ, NEA, NEB, NEC, NED" - National Capital Region
• "AAA-ABV; ABA-ATA, AVA-AXA; AYA, AYB, AYC"- Public Utility Vehicles (All regions with indicating the type of service, ex. tourist vehicles from 2014 to 2016)
• "AAA-ABT; ABA-ATA, AVA-AXA; NVA, NVB, NVC, NVD, NVE, NVF, NVG, NVH, NVI, NVJ, NVK, NVL, NVM, NVN, NVO, NVP, NVQ, NVR, NVS, NVT"- Public Utility Vehicles (National Capital Region except with indicating the type of service, ex. tourist vehicles from 2014 to 2016)
• "AUA, BUA; AZA, BZA" - NCR, Region I, Region II, Region III, Region IV-A, Region XI and Region XII - Public Utility Trailer (2014-2016)
• "AUA, BUA" - NCR, Region II, Region III, Region IV-A, Region VII and Region XII - Trailer (2014-2016)
• "NUB, NUC, NUD, NUE" - National Capital Region - Trailer
• "NZB, NZC" - National Capital Region - Public Utility Trailer
• "AAA, AAR, AAS, AAU, ABA, ALA, AVA, ABI, ABV, ACL, ADB, ADC, ADD, AEC, AED, AEE, AEF, AEG" - Region I (Ilocos Region)
• "AAA, AAU, ABA, ALA, ABI; BAA, BAB, BAC, BAD, BBV, BCL, BCM, BDI, BDJ" - Region II (Cagayan Valley)
• "AAK, AAU, ADA, ABN, YAA, YAB, YAC, YBV, YCB, YCL, YCX" - (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• "AAB, AAQ, AAR, AAT, AAU, AAV, AFA, ALA, AMA, AVA, AWA, ABB, ABI, ABJ, ABK; CAA, CAB, CAC, CAF, CAG, CAH, CAI, CAJ, CBW, CBX, CBZ, CCM, CCN, CCO, CCP, CCQ, CDI, CDJ, CDK, CDL, CDT, CDU, CDV, CDZ, CEA, CEB, CEC, CED, CEE, CED, CEE, CEF, CEG" - Region III (Central Luzon)
• "AAB, AAC, AAD, AAV, AAW, AEA, AWA, AXA, ABK, ABL; DAA, DAB, DAC, DAD, DBX, DBY, DCB, DCP, DCQ, DCR, DDL, DDM, DDY, DDZ, DEA, DEB, DEC, DED, DEE" - Region IV-A (CALABARZON)
• "AAD, ABA, AFA, AGA, AMA, AXA, ABL; EAA, EAB, EAC, EBY, ECB, ECR" - Region V (Bicol Region)
• "AAD, AAR, ABA, AGA, AMA, ANA, AXA, ABM; FAA, FAB, FAC, FAD, FAE, FAF, FBY, FCB, FCR, FCS, FDM" - Region VI (Western Visayas)
• "AAD, AAE, AAF, AAZ, AFA, AXA, ABM, ABN; GAA, GAB, GAC, GAD, GAE, GAF, GAG, GAH, GAI, GAJ, GAK, GAL, GAM, GAN, GBY, GCS, GDM, GDN, GEA, GEB, GEC, GED, GEE, GEF, GEG, GEH, GEI, GEJ" - Region VII (Central Visayas)
• "AAF, AAW, ABA, AFA, ABN; HAA, HAB, HCB, HCT" - Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
• "AAF, AAR, AAT, AFA, ANA, AXA, ABU; JAA, JAB, JAC, JAD, JAE, JBY, JCB, JCU, JDN, JDO" - Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
• "AAF, AAR, AAS, AAU, AFA, ANA, ABB, ABC, ABU; KAA, KAB, KAC, KAD, KAE, KAF, KBY, KCB, KCU, KDO" - Region X (Northern Mindanao)
• "AAF, AAG, AAH; LAA, LAB, LAC, LAD, LAE, LCU, LCV, LDP, LDQ" - Region XI (Davao Region)
• "AAH, AAS, AAT, AAU, ABA, AGA, ANA, AOA, ABU, ABV; MAA, MAB, MAC, MAD, MAE, MAF, MAG, MBZ, MCB, MCC, MCV, MCW, MCX, MDP, MDQ, MDR" - Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN)
• "AAL, AAU, ADA, AFA, ABB; IAA, IAB, IBZ, ICX, IDI" - Region XIII (Caraga)

src: 3.bp.blogspot.com

Plate Numbers in National Capital Region

Private (plate series with approximate year issued):

I, O and Q are previously not used to avoid confusion with the numbers "1" & "0". But with the exhaustion of the "Z" series in 2009, they are already used by reverting to the old "N" series. A new serial scheme is implemented using these characters, instead of the third letter coming into series (e.g. after ZAA-999 has been reached, ZAB-101) the middle letter is the one being replaced (e.g. after NAI-999 series has been exhausted, NBI-101 will follow). After all the possible combinations with I, O and Q as third letter for the same starting letter have been used, I, O and Q are used as middle letters and the third letter is being replaced (e.g. After NIA-999 has been used, NIB-101 will follow), if the reverted letter is exhausted (e.g. After PQZ-999 has been used, TAI-101 will follow). During the span of 2013, some letter combinations (e.g. FJB-101) were also used in Metro Manila.
e.g. NUI-205, NJO-542, NBQ-217, NIA-101, NOR-686, NQZ-544, PXI-296, PSO-338, PQQ-332, PIK-342, POC-902, PQL-497, TEI-517, TZO-390, TSQ-486, TIT-120, TOL-979, TQH-924, UMI-615, UFO-392, UHQ-571, UIP-207, UOG-874, UQF-281, WAI-365, WOO-911, WEQ-451, WIC-143, WOP-723, WQL-851, AAJ-8557, AJA-8068, ABG-9416, ACC-9001, NAA-6789, NCJ-5387, NDG-9693, etc.

src: www.carmudi.com.ph

Provincial Plate Numbers

Private (plate series with approximate year issued):

• " 1981-1989"

• "1990-1999"

• "2000-2009"

• "2010 - Present"

src: i.ytimg.com

Yellow Plate Numbers In Provincial & National Capital Region

src: 4.bp.blogspot.com

Government Plate Numbers

src: upload.wikimedia.org

Motorcycle plate numbers

National Capital Region

• Private Motorcycle (MC):

• Private Motor Tricycle (TC):

• Public Motor Tricycle (TC):

Provincial

• Private Motorcycle (MC):

• Private Motor Tricycle (TC)

• Public Motor Tricycle (TC)

src: c8.alamy.com

Special designation

• SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJ, SK, SL, SM  - Government Motorcycles (1981-2012 series).

e.g. SA-1001

• XA, XB, XC, XD, XE, XF, XG, XH, XJ, XK, XL, XM, XN, XP, Q  - Public Utility Motorized Tricycles

e.g. XA-1001, QA-7587

• "I", "O" - Private Motorcycles

e.g. IA-3339, OA-6210

• NV, NW, NX, NY, PV, PW, PX, PY, TV, TW, TX, TY, UV, UW(A-N), UY(A-F), VV(A-D)  - Public utility vehicles (they usually begin with these letters but not always). They always (since 1995 - PVA 101) have "V", "W", "X(Except for U)", or "Y" in the middle of the letter block (LLL).

e.g. 1981: NVA-101, 2014: VVD-999

• (LL) 0(DDD) series has been used for public utility motorized tricycles in the middle of 2014

e.g. AA-0001

• SI, SN, SO, SP, SQ, SR, SS, ST, SU, SV, SW, SX, SY, SZ. "(DDDD)" and "(DDDD)". S series has been used for private motorcycles in the middle of 2014.

e.g. SS-1001, 1001-SA

• ZZI, ZZO, ZZQ has been used for electric vehicles (e.g. e-jeepneys found in Tacloban City, Leyte)

e.g. ZZI-101, ZZO-101, ZZQ-101

• SUA, SUB, SUC, SUD  - Government Trailers

e.g. SUA-101, SUB-101, SUC-101, SUD-101

src: d0ctrine.files.wordpress.com

Personalized plates

A motorist who would like to have personalized plates can have any letter combination he fancies upon three conditions:

1. It is unique i.e., the plate does not have a registered duplicate anywhere else in the Philippines.
2. The plate should not have the same format as government vehicles.
3. The motorist can afford to pay its PHP 25,000 ($500+) price tag.

src: c8.alamy.com

Optional motor vehicle special plates (OMVSP)

A project of the Land Transportation Office since 2004, these plates are in the form of LLL DD or LLL DDD but not in the order of normal plates shown on the table and it is in the 2003 font series for the "Matatag na Republika"(Strong Republic) plates (e.g. GOD-333).

src: www.plateshack.com

See also

• Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program a road space rationing program used in Metro Manila and other urban areas based on the last digit of the vehicle's license plate.lgn

src: c8.alamy.com

References

Source of article : Wikipedia