Motorists can check license plate availability on LTO site

Years after paying for the official registration of their vehicles, motorists can now check if their license plates are already available through the Land Transportation Office (LTO) website.

Aside from scheduling an online appointment online, people whose cars still run on conduction stickers can check the site if they can obtain, once and for all, their 7-character motor vehicle (MV) license plates.

After choosing the MV license plate option on the website (right option), LTO will require car owners to enter the 15-digit file number of their plate. After searching, a user will be given instructions on when and where to claim the plates.

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante previously said that they have started releasing plates to vehicle manufacturers and regional offices since the start of July 2018.

According to Galvante, more than 230,000 license plates have been produced since the agency’s plate-making plant was opened in April 2018. Production will be enough to cover the backlog from July to December 2016.

READ: LTO to address license plate backlog as machines arrive

He also pleaded to motorists to be patient with the agency, and wait to be notified if their plates are already available.  “We do not want the owners to rush to the District Offices only to find out that their plates are not yet there,” Galvante said.

However, only plates of cars registered from July 2016 will be available, as the past plates were made by a different contractor commissioned by the previous administration.

The contract is still subject to a Commission on Audit disallowance.

“Motorists who registered their vehicles before 01 July 2016 (2013 to June 2016) will not receive their license plates yet, as these are under a different contract from another supplier,” LTO said in a statement on its website.

To check, car owners can visit this site: https://www.lto.net.ph/ /ee