Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines

The new plate format series and design was originally scheduled for release on September or October 2013.[1][2][3][4] However, it has been delayed several times primarily due to concerns about the release of funds for the license plate project, as well as the increase in purchases of new cars using temporary license plates bearing the conduction sticker number.[5] Eventually, in May 2014, the first batch of new license plates was released.[6] By January 2015, vehicle owners were required to pay PhP 450 to change their old plates into a modern series plate.

In 2016, the LTO issued "virtual plates" as a temporary measure to address the backlog in physical license plates. New vehicles will be issued a virtual identification consisting of a combination of alphanumeric symbols, which will make it easier for the LTO to release the permanent license plates once they are available.[7]

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

Alphanumeric symbols for 2014 private car plates will be black on a white background. Motorcycle plates will also follow the black on white scheme, as will those for three-wheel vehicles used for personal purposes. The seven digit personal plates also contain a bar code for verification and LTO hot stamp.

The number format of the 2018 series plate is the same as that of the 2014 series. It also comes with a LTO watermark and a QR code. Vehicles registered from July 2016 – December 2017 using the temporary plate ABV-AEE will updated to the latest designations. For example, ACD-1234 registered in NCR will updated to NCD-1234.

Registration plates for public utility vehicles (PUVs) continue to be black on a yellow background, with the authorized route for the vehicle indicated on the plate. Three-wheel vehicles used as PUVs will also continue to be issued plates with the black on yellow scheme. In the 2014 series, beside the region of registration, the type of PUV is also indicated (e.g. NCR TAXI, R4A JEEPNEY, R8 PROV BUS).

In the 2018 series, PUVs will use private style plates since yellow plates have not been released to production.

Government plates, meanwhile, will sport red symbols on a white background, with the name of the agency/office indicated on the plate. However, since red plates are not yet available in 2018, new government plates are printed in black and white. 2014 series government plates follow the SLL-DDDD pattern.

Private Philippine motorcycle plate.

Private motorcycles are issued plates with green characters (1981 series) or black characters (2014 series) on a white background with the letters "MC" (for motorcycle) stamped on the upper left-hand corner next to the registration sticker. Plate numbers are usually in the format LL-DDDD (e.g. NK 9081), LL-DDDDD (e.g. NA 25953) or LLL-DDDDD (e.g. FTU 23789), 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.

Rear plates are made out of aluminum and are 235 mm wide and 135 mm tall. Front plates are 135 mm wide by 85 mm tall, and also contain reflective material.

Public utility motorcycle plates feature yellow characters on a black background. They have the same numbering format as private motorcycles. PUV motorcycle plates are very rarely seen.

Diplomatic motorcycles use all-number plates featuring the same physical dimensions and the "MC" stamp as other motorcycle plates. Numeric patterns include DDDD–DDDD, and DDD-DDD (100-000 for ambassadors).

Diplomatic plates will continue to carry blue symbols on a white background, and will follow the DDDDD pattern for diplomats, embassy and consulate officials, country ambassadors, and some expatriates such as scientists and researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Diplomatic plates will follow the DDDD pattern for officials such as ambassadors, whose plates are always numbered "1000" and used to have the country they represent at the bottom of the plate (not specified anymore). These plates have a small decal on the bottom left part with a "CM" (e.g. 3478, 24589)

Plates with decal numbers between 1001 – 9999 contain another small decal on the bottom left, that displays the text "DC", for "diplomatic corps". Plates with decal numbers between 10000 – 99999, such as embassy vehicles, also have a small decal on the bottom left displaying the text "OEV", which stands for "other exempt vehicle".

Orange plates with white characters are used on electric vehicles.

Plates for non-Diplomatic Other Exempt Vehicles (OEV) feature black symbols on a light blue background.

Old series private vehicle plates contained green symbols on a white background (or reverse – white symbols on green background, used from 1989 to 1995) with the alphanumeric format LLL-DDD. In 2009, it had used the increment letters I, O, and Q in the middle, right or both for NCR.

Public utility plate bearing Pilipinas inscription (1981–2014).

The 1981 series PUVs used yellow plates (black characters on a yellow background) in the form LLL-DDD and usually begin with the letters "N", "P", "T", or "U" in NCR. They always have either "V", "W", "X", "Y" (trailers only), "Z" (trailers only) 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", "Z" (Trailer) letters are also present from NVA-101 in 1981 to NYZ-999 in early 1995.

The current version of the Philippine registration plate measures 390 mm long by 140 mm wide. The characters are stamped on an aluminum plate, which is then painted with reflective paint. Previously, 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 reflective colored sticker of the José Rizal monument. As of 2008, all plates issued by the LTO are produced by a sole, privately funded manufacturer in Manila.

There also used to be a slogan on the bottom of the license plate usually reflecting the campaign goals 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; in 2003, the word was replaced with the Arroyo government's slogan "Matatag Na Republika" ("Strong Republic"), which was still used on the plate instead of the new government's "Daang Matuwid" ("Straight Path") slogan when Benigno Aquino III became President in 2010. The introduction of the 2014 design plate replaced the presidential slogan with region names, and with the introduction of its 2016 revision, the slogan feature has been removed.

• PILIPINAS (the most common inscription, in use 1981–1995, 2001–2003 for private and government vehicles, 2001–2014 for commercial and public utility vehicles)
• PHILIPPINES 2000 (1995–2000)
• ANGAT PINOY 2004 ("Raise Pinoy 2004", in use 2000–2001)
• PERLAS NG SILANGAN ("Pearl of the Orient", in use 2002–2003; starting in 2003, it was concurrently produced with the PILIPINAS license plates with the Rizal Monument in the background, and continued to be used even after the introduction of the MATATAG NA REPUBLIKA slogan)
• MATATAG NA REPUBLIKA (in use 2003 – April 12, 2014 for private, tourist and government vehicles; it alternated with the PILIPINAS license plates in 2003 for other Public Utility Vehicles.)
• REGIONAL DESIGNATIONS (in use April 13, 2014 – June 30, 2016; this slogan was inscribed on the new regional license plates in 2014)
• None (July 1, 2016 - current; it is currently produced with the geographical designations with alphabetical letters based on the 1981 series, and has a QR code security feature on the side. The region name on the bottom side has been removed.)

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 were switched to FE-Schrift,[8] which has been used since at least 2010 for personalized plates.[9] FE Schrift was chosen to be used on license plates because the style of the font makes it difficult to modify the letters.

These plates are green D or DD plates reserved for 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 (e.g. 16*NCR
• 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 for assistant city prosecutors, district prosecutors and chief city prosecutors. Stamped with initials of 17*ACP (court branch number).

Government plate

Protocol plate 7 for Senators

Temporary diplomatic plate, perhaps unofficial

A Toyota Corolla Altis with diplomatic-OEV plates side-by-side a green-plated (private), Toyota Fortuner. Notice the difference in the placement of the Rizal monument.

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

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. They also share the same first letter as current public utility vehicle plates. These vehicles must also have special stickers placed on the rear windows indicating that they are DOT-accredited.

In the 2014 series, the DOT now uses a yellow plate with black characters, the same as PUVs. The word TOURIST is indicated on the plate (e.g. NCR TOURIST).

• "A" – Region I (Ilocos Region) and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• "B" – Region II (Cagayan Valley Region) 1981–2014
• "C" – Region III (Central Luzon Region 1981–2003, Superseded by "R" in September 2003 to April 2014
• "D" – Region IV-A (Calabarzon) 1981–2000, Superseded by "V" in May 2000 – April 2014
• "E" – Region V (Bicol Region) 1981–2014
• "F" – Region VI (Western Visayas Region) 1981–2014
• "G" – Region VII (Central Visayas Region), 1981–2004, Superseded by "Y" in August 2004 – April 2014,
• "H" – Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region), 1981–2014
• "J" – Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) and ARMM, 1981–2014
• "K" – Region X (Northern Mindanao), 1981–2014
• "L" – Regions XI (Davao Region) 1981-2014/ Region XIII (Caraga)
• "M" – Region XII (Soccsksargen), 1981–2014
• "N" – National Capital Region, July 1, 1981 – September 1982, June 2009 – May 2010 (with increments of "I", "O", and "Q")
• "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 / Region IV-B (Mimaropa)
• "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
• "Z" – National Capital Region, June 2005 – June 2009

Between April 13, 2014 to June 30, 2016, plate letter combinations were standardized throughout the Philippines and the region where the vehicle is registered was printed at the bottom of the new license plates.

• "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" – National Capital Region
• "AAA-ABV; ABA-ATA, AVA-AXA"– Public Utility Vehicles (All regions with indicating the type of service, ex. tourist vehicles from 2014 to 2016)
• "AUA, BUA" – 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)
• "AAA, AAR, AAS, AAU, ABA, ALA, AVA, ABI" – Region I (Ilocos Region)
• "AAA, AAU, ABA, AEA, ALA, ABI" – Region II (Cagayan Valley)
• "AAK, AAU, ADA, ABN" – (Cordillera Administrative Region)
• "AAB, AAQ, AAR, AAT, AAU, AAV, AFA, ALA, AMA, AVA, AWA, ABB, ABI, ABJ, ABK" – Region III (Central Luzon)
• "AAB, AAC, AAD, AAV, AAW, AEA, AWA, AXA, ABB, ABL" – Region IV-A (Calabarzon)
• "AAD, ABK" – Region IV-B (Mimaropa)
• "AAD, ABA, AFA, AGA, AMA, AXA, ABL" – Region V (Bicol Region)
• "AAD, AAR, ABA, AGA, AMA, ANA, AXA" – Region VI (Western Visayas)
• "AAD, AAE, AAF, AAZ, AFA, AXA, ABM, ABN" – Region VII (Central Visayas)
• "AAF, AAW, ABA, AFA, ABN" – Region VIII (Eastern Visayas)
• "AAF, AAR, AAT, AFA, ANA, AXA, ABU" – Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
• "AAF, AAR, AAS, AAU, AFA, ANA, ABB, ABC" – Region X (Northern Mindanao)
• "AAF, AAG, AAH" – Region XI (Davao Region)
• "AAH, AAS, AAT, AAU, ABA, AGA, ANA, AOA, ABU, ABV" – Region XII (Soccsksargen)
• "AAL, AAU, ADA, AFA, ABB" – Region XIII (Caraga)

In August 2017, the Department of Transportation selected the winning bidder under the government's "Moving Forward Program" to reduce the backlog of 3.4 million plates spanning from July 2016 to December 2017. The machines were delivered to the LTO in February 2018 and were installed in their new plate making facility. The new license plates were released in July 2018 throughout the country. Under this new plate series, the first letter of the license plate will determine where the vehicle is registered. This is the same designation that was implemented during the 1981 series. Subsequently, all virtual plates that were issued from July 2016 to December 2017 using the previous design (e.g. Virtual plate ABV 1001-AEE 9999) will be updated to the latest alphabetical designation (e.g. ACD 1234, registered under NCR, will be updated to NCD 1234, the designation for vehicles registered in NCR).[10][11]

• "A" – Is not used in the 2018 series to avoid confusion with vehicles registered under the 2014 series.
• "A" – "AZA-AZD" – Northern Luzon - Electric Vehicle, July 2016-onwards
• "B" – "BAA-BAL, BBV, BBX, BBZ, BCL, BDI" – Region II (Cagayan Valley Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "B" – "BUA-BUC" – Region II Cagayan Valley Region - Private Utility Trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "B" – "BVA-BVH" – Region II Cagayan Valley Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "C" – "CAA-CAV, CAY-CAZ, CBB-CBC, CBF-CBG, CBJ, CBL, CBX, CCL-CCO, CDI-CDL, CDZ" – Region III (Central Luzon Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "C" – "CUA-CUD" – Region III (Central Luzon Region) - Trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "C" – "CVA-CVP" – Region III (Central Luzon Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "D" – "DAA-DAO, DAT, DAZ, DBA-DBE, DBX-DBZ, DCB, DCP-DCR, DDL-DDM, DDZ, DEB" – Region IV-A (Calabarzon) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "D" – "DVA-DVO" – Region IV-A (Calabarzon) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "E" – "EAA-EAH, EBY, ECR, EDM" – Region V (Bicol Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "E" – "EVA-EVI" – Region V (Bicol Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "E" – "EZA-EZC" – Southern Luzon - Electric Vehicle, July 2016-onwards
• "F" – "FAA-FAN, FBY, FCB, FCR-FCS, FDM" – Region VI (Western Visayas Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "F" – "FVA-FVK" – Region VI (Western Visayas) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "G" – "GAA-GAT, GAW-GAZ, GBY-GBZ, GCS-GCT, GCX, GDM-GDN, GEB-GEE" – Region VII (Central Visayas Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "G" – "GVA-GVL" – Region VII (Central Visayas) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "H" – "HAA-HAF, HCT, HEC" – Region VIII (Eastern Visayas Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "H" – "HVA-HVD" – Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "I" – "IAA-IAP, IBX, ICL, IDI, IEE" – Region I (Ilocos Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "I" – "IVA-IVJ" – Region I (Ilocos Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "I" – "IZA-IZE" – National Capital Region - Electric Vehicle, July 2016-onwards
• "J" – "JAA-JAO, JBZ, JCT-JCU, JDN-JDO" – Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "J" – "JVA-JVJ" – Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula and ARMM) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "K" – "KAA-KAN, KBZ, KCB, KCU, KDO" – Region X (Northern Mindanao) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "K" – "KUA-KUC" – Region X (Northern Mindanao) - Trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "K" – "KVA-KVH" – Region X (Northern Mindanao) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "K" – "KZA-KZE" – Region X (Northern Mindanao) - Public Utility trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "L" – "LAA-LAN, LAV-LAX, LBY, LCU-LCV, LDP" – Region XI (Davao Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "L" – "LVA-LVL" – Region XI (Davao Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "M" – "MAA-MAM, MAT, MBA, MBZ, MCB-MCC, MCV-MCX, MDP-MDQ" – Region XII (Soccsksargen) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "M" – "MVA-MVI" – Region XII (Soccsksargen) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "N" – "NAA-NAZ, NBA-NBZ, NCA-NCZ, NDA-NDZ, NEA-NEJ, NEM-NEN, NEU-NEW, NFA-NFZ, NGA-NGP, NHA-NHC" — National Capital Region Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "N" – NVA-NVZ, NWA-NWL" – (National Capital Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "N" – "NUA-NUE" – National Capital Region - Trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "N" – "NZA-NZC" – National Capital Region - Public Utility Trailer, July 2016-onwards
• "O" - "OAA-OAF" - BARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "O" - "OVA-OVD" - BARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "O" – "OZA-OZE" – Visayas - Electric Vehicle, July 2016-onwards
• "U" – "UZA-UZB" – Mindanao - Electric Vehicle, July 2016-onwards
• "V" – "VAA-VAH, VBI, VCR, VDM, VEB" – Region IV-B (Mimaropa) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "V" – "VVA-VVF" – Region IV-B (Mimaropa) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "Y" – "YAA-YAI, YCX" – CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "Y" – "YVA-YVG" – CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "Z" – "ZAA-ZAJ, ZBP, ZCX" – Region XIII (Caraga) Private Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "Z"- "ZVA-ZVE" – Region XIII (Caraga) Public Utility Vehicles, July 2016-onwards
• "Z" – "ZZI, ZZO, ZZQ" – Electric vehicle July 2016-onwards

*Trailer Plates with increments of "I", "O", and "Q" series were commonly used for private vehicles from 2009 to 2014.

• National Capital Region:

• Provincial:

*Trailers registered from 2016 onwards currently use 6-Numbered plates as trailer plates are not yet in production.

Note: AZA-AZD, EZA-EZC, IZA-IZE, OZA-OZE And UZA-UZB are used for Electric Vehicles.

• Private Motorcycle (MC):

• Private Motor Tricycle (TC):

• Public Motor Tricycle (TC):

* Format DDD-LLL (e.g. 123-NAA, 456-NOA & 789-NVA)

** Yellow plates are in production.

• Private Motorcycle (MC):

* Format DDD-LLL (e.g. 123-IAA)

• Private Motor Tricycle (TC)

• Public Motor Tricycle (TC)

Note: Tricycle Plates have O for Private or B for For-Hire in end of the Letter Block.

* Uses MV file numbers or Temporary Plates since Yellow plates are in production.