LTO Vanity Plates explained: Top questions answered

Vehicle number plates in the Philippines are classified into three categories. Yes, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has segregated license plates into three major categories -

• Private
• Public
• Official

However, there is one more special inclusion: personalized or vanity license plates (VLPs), officially called Optional Motor Vehicle Special Plates (OMVSP), if the price is right. These plates are also referred to as special plates, which are customized plate numbers by people.

In this article, we’ll be discussing vanity license plates in detail and try to answer the most common questions about the subject. So, let’s get started.

Q1. What is a vanity license plate?

Vanity License Plate (VLP), aka, Optional Motor Vehicle Special Plates (OMVSP), is a vehicle’s personalised license plate issued by the LTO. Customers are allowed to choose any number or letter combination as per their liking, however, the combination must be unique (with no duplication throughout the country) and should be different from that reserved for government vehicles. Unlike regular license plates, motorists have to pay a sizable fee for VLP.

Q2. What are the different types of VLP in the Philippines?

License plates in the Philippines are segregated into three categories (public, private, and official), and so are vanity plates—limited edition, Premium edition, and Select edition. While the first two editions are no longer available, the latter is still offered but at a hefty price.

Types of VLP	Definition	Format	Price	Availability
Limited Edition	As the name suggests VLPs under this category are limited-edition types. It is free from the MMDA Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program/number coding scheme.	4 to 6 characters containing either identical numbers or characters Combining numbers and letters is not allowed.	PHP 50,000 (last piece floor price that was offered at a public auction)	Not produced since 2005
Premium Edition	It is the most affordable customized version of VLP available. It is not exempted from the country’s coding system.	It consists of 6 characters; three letters and three numbers	It is the more affordable VLP, issued at just PHP 15,000	Available in the market, however, the last VLP was offered back in 2017.
Special Edition	A bit different from the limited edition VLP, a special edition VLP is still accessible and does not offer car owner/driver privileges.	Can be customized as per motorists' choice, but should have at least three and a maximum of six characters	PHP 10,000	Available in the market.

 

Did you know? The most expensive Limited Edition VLP to date is priced at PHP 40,000 and reads 88888.

Q3. What are all vehicles that can and can not acquire a VLP?

The official LTO vanity license plate can be acquired by any private vehicle, new or used. The list below elaborates on the subject and is common for both new and used motor vehicles.

• Sedan
• Hatchback
• Wagon
• SUV
• Sport pick-up
• Asian Utility Vehicle
• Vintage & Collectors car
• Commuter van

While we are the subject, let’s also shed some light on the vehicles that LTO does not permit to bear a VLP. Public utility vehicles and those above the 4-wheel category can’t bear a vanity plate. This includes the following -

• Cargo truck - both private and hire
• Vintage vehicles
• Government vehicles
• Service vehicles, like ambulances, rent-a-cars, hotels, tourist vehicles, limousines, and funeral hearses
• Diplomate/OE vehicle
• Used imported/surplus MV
• All motor vehicles with more than 4-wheels

Q4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning an LTO VLP?

Official LTO Vanity License Plate
Pros	Cons
It is a good idea for personal and business branding; serves as a mobile advertisement.	You need a regular license plate first and then only you can apply for a vanity plate.
A great tool that expresses your individuality, you are free to express yourself via the license plate.	High cost, it is almost 20 to 50 times more than a regular license plate.
Can be acquired by most car owners, old and new; making it widely accessible.	Long waiting time (about 7 to 15 days for Metro Manila and more in the provinces)
With a smart combination of numbers and characters, a VLP can add a character and flair of sophistication to your ride.	No exemption from the number coding scheme

Did you know? In 2017, LTO temporarily suspended issuing the vanity plates, due to a production backlog.

Q5. How much does an Optional Motor Vehicle Special License (OMVSL) cost?

As per Memorandum Circular No. 2022-2335, the pricing scheme for vanity license plates in the Philippines is as follows -

OMVSL scheme	Price
Three (3) Alpha and Three (3) Numeric characters Any Three (3) Alpha combination + Triple Numeric except 000, or Any Three (3) Alpha combination + any Three (3) Numeric combinations which are not yet issued as series.	PHP 15,000
Three (3) Alpha combination + Two (2) Numeric except 000 Any Three (3) Alpha combination + Two (2) Numeric combination except 00	PHP 25,000
Three (3) Alpha and Four (4) Numeric characters Any Three (3) Alpha combination + Quadruple Numeric except 0000 or Any Three (3) Alpha combination + any Four (4) Numeric combination that is not yet issued as a series.	PHP 35,000

 

Q6. What are the requirements to secure a custom license plate in the Philippines?

Wanna get a custom license plate for your vehicle? Then before heading to the LTO to apply, prepare the following documents -

• Duly accomplished OMVSP application form by the vehicle owner or authorized representative (form can be downloaded from LTO’s website).
• A certified true copy of the Official Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR), both issued by the Transacting District Office (TDO).
• Certificate of No Plate Issued from the TDO.
• Vehicle’s sales invoice.
• Vehicle owner’s or authorized representative’s ID.
• Authorized letter from vehicle owner (if applicable).

Once you have collected the required documents, it is time to head over to the LTO Central Office or any regional or district LTO office to submit the above-mentioned requirements.

Q7. Is it difficult to fill out the LTO vanity plate number request form?

The LTO vanity plate number request form is required to be filled by the vehicle owner who wants a personalized license plate. It is a pretty straightforward form wherein you are required to fill in personal and vehicle details.

• Personal details such as applicant’s name, contact details, address, and email address.
• Vehicle details such as make, model, years, and other identifying details.
• Other details such as desired plate number along with the reason for request.

Q8. From where to collect the requested vanity license plate?

Once your application is submitted, reviewed, and passed by LTO officials, you need to wait for your vanity plate. Once ready, you’ll be notified and the ready plate needs to be collected from the MID-Computer Section of the LTO’s central office, located on East Avenue, Quezon City, or any LTO district or regional office.

Q9. Is it possible to reserve a vanity plate combination?

Yes, you can reserve a particular vanity plate combination with the LTO, however, you need to pay a reservation fee of PHP 1,000. Note the combination is only kept secured for 30 days.

Q10. Can a foreigner secure a custom license plate as a souvenir in the Philippines?

No way. LTO has strict guidelines when it comes to vanity plates and their use. For instance, they are only limited to the Philippines and are issued only to a Filipino citizen with a duly registered motor vehicle.

Q11. What if I sell my car with a vanity license plate?

When you decide to sell your car with a custom plate, you can either give it away as it is or remove the plate upon sale of the vehicle. In the latter case, you can get the VLP transferred to your new car or get it transferred to an existing vehicle.

Q12. What to do in the event of the vanity plate getting misplaced and is it possible to get it replaced?

In the event of the vanity plate being lost, the car owner can request a duplicate plate. To get a replacement plate one needs to submit the following to the LTO’s Bids and Awards Committee -

• A police report
• Affidavit of loss
• Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication System (LETAS) alarm report
• Original Official Receipt on payment of the lost VLP
• Original VLP Certificate of Title
• Photocopy of Certificate of Registration (CR) of motor vehicle
• Photocopy of the latest OR of registration

Step-by-step process of getting an official LTO vanity license plate

Now that we have answered all the major questions about the LTO vanity license plate, we’d like to wrap up by giving you a detailed, step-by-step to get one. So, let’s begin.

Step 1. Car registration at the LTO; the first and foremost step is to get your vehicle registered at the LTO, and get OR/CR. You can check the entire process here.

Step 2: Submit the duly accomplished OMVSP application form along with other required documents (as mentioned above) to the Secretariat, Bids, and Awards Committee, at the LTO East Avenue office, Quezon City.

Step 3. If the application is approved by the LTO, pay the applicable fees & charges to the Treasury Section at the LTO. Make sure to collect the receipt.

Step 4. Proceed to the MID-Computer Section with the receipt for transmittal to the administrative division.

Step 5. Wait for 15 to 7 days to receive the requested vanity plate.

Bottom line

Want to boost your car’s character and make it stand out among the rest? The vanity license plate is a great and effective way to do so. However, before moving ahead we’d like to sit over the idea a bit and make sure it makes your car admirable and not a sight of laughter. After all, a lot of money and effort goes into securing a vanity plate and no one wants to see it all go to waste.

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