How to Apply For a Vanity License Plate

Vanity license plates have their own niche in the motoring world. In a way, they allow car owners to convey their wittiness, passion, lifestyle, and more. Put bluntly, vanity plates are a way for them to show off and publicly announce something, but on an extremely short platform. Think of them as a very limited Twitter message.

If you’re planning to get a customized license plate, you need to make it really count. After all you have to pay a good amount of money for it. Once your vanity plate is installed on your car, it not only becomes an extension of your vehicle, but of you, the car owner, as well.

But before you get those creative juices flowing though, it pays to know what you’re getting into. Here’s a step-by-step guide on obtaining your very own vanity license plate from the LTO.

Step 1 Choose a type of plate

The LTO offers two types of personalized license plates--Premium Edition and Select Edition. The former costs Php 25,000, while the latter, Php 10,000. The Premium Edition reverses the order of the characters, so instead of getting letters first like on a regular plate, you get numbers, like for instance, 777 BBB. Meanwhile, the Select Edition lets you use any combination of three to six characters.

Step 2 Complete and submit requirements

When applying for a vanity license plate, you’re going to need:

• Duly Accomplished Application form (Request for Vanity Plate)
• Photocopy of Certificate of Registration (CR) of motor vehicle
• Photocopy of the latest Official Receipt (OR) of Registration
• A regular LTO license plate for the vehicle being applied for

You can download an application form from the official LTO website or visit your nearest LTO district or regional office to obtain a copy. Once completed, submit the application form along with your OR/CR to the receiving department at the same LTO location.

Step 3 Process your requirements

Prior to approval, the LTO will check your desired set of characters for availability. If available, your next step is to proceed to the audit department for approval. You may then head to cashier for payment. Once fully paid, your documents will be forwarded to the CO MID-Computer Section where it will be encoded and transmitted to LTO’s Administrative Division, Equipment Section.

Step 4 Receive your vanity license plate

After 15 days or so, you may go back to LTO to claim your custom plate. You will be given one vanity license plate and one sticker. The plate itself should only be installed at the rear license of your motor vehicle, and never at the front. The sticker is meant for placing at the right hand corner of the inside rear window of the vehicle.

FAQs about vanity license plates

Do you have any specific concerns about the custom license plate application that you want to have addressed before heading toward the LTO? Check out the frequently asked questions below and see if they provide the answers you’re looking for.

Q: Can I obtain a vanity license plate for an unregistered car?

A: No. The LTO requires a car to have a regular LTO license plate before it can issue a vanity plate.

Q: How long does it take to get a vanity license plate?

A: For Metro Manila applicants, it usually takes within fifteen working days after the application and payment has been completed. Regional applicants may have to wait longer than that, as processes and checks are subject to the approval of the LTO’s Central Office in East Avenue, Quezon City.

Q: Can I use a vanity license plate as a gift?

A: Yes, as long as the person you’re planning to give your gift to is a documented owner of a registered motor vehicle.

Q: Can I reserve my vanity license plate?

A: Yes, as long as you’re willing to pay the Php 1,000 reservation fee. Keep in mind though, that your reservation is valid for only 30 days. If unclaimed within the allotted time period, the paid amount is subject to forfeiture by LTO.

Q: Are vanity license plates exempt from number coding?

A: No. MMDA will continue to impose the number coding scheme on vehicles with vanity plates based on the regular license plate to which it is attached.

Q: What about transferring my custom vanity plates to another vehicle?

A: You can transfer your custom licence plate from one vehicle to another just as long as you’re willing to complete the processes, adhere to the rules of issuance, and pay the associated fees. A letter-request for transfer addressed to the LTO chairman of the Bids and Awards Committee is necessary to begin the process.

Q: In the event of loss, can I replace my vanity plate?

A: In case of loss, you will have to file the following requirements to get a replacement:

• Sworn Affidavit of Loss
• Law Enforcement and Traffic Adjudication System (LETAS) Alarm Report
• Police report
• Original Official Receipt (OR) 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

You must then submit these requirements to your local LTO office, and upon approval, pay the corresponding fees and charges. The LTO allows vanity plates to be replaced only once. A second loss means you will have to re-apply for a new vanity license plate.