Vehicle registration plates of the Philippines

Vehicle registration plates in the Philippines, commonly known as license plates (Filipino: plaka), are issued and regulated by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), a government agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Country	Philippines
Country code	RP (some sources state PI as still being the country's code)
Current series
Size	390 mm × 140 mm 15.4 in × 5.5 in
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC 1234
Introduced	July 2018 (7 years ago) (2018-07)
Availability
Issued by	Land Transportation Office
History
First issued	1912 (1912)

History

In 2016, the LTO began issuing "virtual plates" as a temporary measure to address the backlog of physical license plates. New vehicles were given a virtual identifier consisting of a combination of alphanumeric symbols, which facilitated the release of permanent plates once they became available. In August 2017, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) selected the winning bidder under the government's "Moving Forward Program" to address the backlog of 3.4 million plates covering July 2016 to December 2017.

In January 2018, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ordered the release of license plates that had been held due to restraining orders affecting the modernization program. Full-scale distribution of the new plates was expected by mid-February 2018. The LTO received the plate-making machines that month and installed them in a new production facility. The new plates were released nationwide beginning in July 2018. Under this series, the first letter of the license plate indicates the place of registration, following the same designation system used in the 1981 series.

Current plate design specifications

Under the current system, plates for four-wheeled vehicles follow the format ABC 1234 (three letters followed by four digits). Motorcycle plates initially used the format 123 ABC, but as these combinations were exhausted, the LTO introduced new formats such as A 123 BC, AB 123 C, 1 ABC 23, A 1234 C, A 1C 234, and A 12C 34. It is unclear whether this expansion of formats was part of the agency's original plan or a response to an unexpectedly rapid depletion of available combinations. In all cases, the first letter, regardless of its position, indicates the region where the motorcycle was registered. The LTO has not stated that the current set of formats is final, and additional combinations may be introduced as needed.

The replacement plates registered in the National Capital Region with two letters followed by four digits (and vice-versa) may be also required by the LTO for motorcycle plates, replacing the older white-green plates with white-black plates (e.g. 1234 AB and AB 1234). Also, this action is to address the backlog plates of motorcycle riders in several regional offices nationwide. However, for motorcycle owners who have registered their plates with the format of two letters followed by five digits (e.g. AB 12345) between 2014 and 2016, the newer system shall be generated by the office.

Plate number dimensions and typefaces

The current license plates for four-wheeled vehicles measure 390 mm wide and 140 mm high, while motorcycle plates released since 2020 measure 235 mm wide and 135 mm high. The characters are stamped on an aluminum plate and coated with reflective paint. In 2018, the Land Transportation Office adopted FE-Schrift as the official typeface for license plates because its characters are designed to be difficult to alter. Plates issued since 2018 no longer display a separate region code.

Before 1981, the Philippines used the North American standard measuring 300 mm × 150 mm (11.8 in × 5.9 in) for cars and trucks.

Registration area prefixes

When the new plate design was introduced in 2018, all virtual and temporary plates issued from July 2016 to December 2017 under the 2014 series were updated to use the new alphabetical designation. In the current system, the first letter of the plate number indicates the region of registration. The letter S is reserved for government-owned vehicles.

Automobile and motorcycle plate number prefixes since 2018

Prefix	Region	Prefix	Region
A	none	N	Metro Manila
B	Cagayan Valley	O	Calabarzon
C	Central Luzon	P	Metro Manila
D	Calabarzon	Q	Metro Manila
E	Bicol Region	R	Central Luzon
F	Western Visayas Negros Island Region	S	none
G	Central Visayas Negros Island Region	T	Metro Manila
H	Eastern Visayas	U	Metro Manila
I	Ilocos Region	V	Mimaropa
J	Zamboanga Peninsula Bangsamoro	W	Central Luzon
K	Northern Mindanao	X	Metro Manila
L	Davao Region	Y	Cordillera Administrative Region
M	Soccsksargen	Z	Caraga

Vehicle classification by color scheme

Pattern	Color	Class	Description	Image
NBC 1234 123NBC N123BC NB123C N1234C	Black text on white background	Private vehicles	Private vehicles, typically not for commercial use. However, as of December 2025, public utility vehicles such as those licensed to be a Transport Network Vehicles Service (TNVS) and some government vehicles are also using this plate design. There doesn't seem to be an initiative to issue distinct plates for the earlier, any time soon.
NBV 1234 123NVB N123VB NV123B	Green text on white background	Electric/hybrid vehicles	Private electric and/or hybrid vehicles, not for commercial use. However, some public utility vehicles are seen using this plate design.
NBC 1234 123NBC N123BC NB123C	Black text on yellow background	Public utility vehicles	Public utility vehicles and other for-hire vehicles (e.g. commercial trucks, public transport buses, taxis, tricycles and jeepneys.)
SNA 1234 123SNA S123NA	Red text on white background	Government vehicles	Vehicles for official government use (e.g.: government-owned cars, police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks).
001 1234	Blue text on white background	Diplomatic vehicles	Vehicles in diplomatic use 7 digit new diplomatic license plate with blue numbers on a white background. The first 3 digits of the plate will indicate the assigned number of the country, diplomatic missions, consular missions, and international organization.

Vehicle classification by second and third letter

The second letter on the number plate classifies special types of vehicles, such as trailers, electric, hybrid, and vintage vehicles.

Vehicles

Classification	Position of letter assignment	Example	Color	Image
Private Trailers	Second letter is U	NUA 1234	Black text on white background
Electric vehicle	Second letter may be from A to M Third letter may be the following: V, W, X, Y, Z	NHV 1234 NIV 5678 NJV 9012	Green text on white background
Hybrid vehicle	Second letter may be from N to Z Third letter may be the following: V, W, X, Y, Z	JNW 4321 CRW 8765 NNV 2109	Green text on white background
Vintage vehicle	Last two letters are the following: TX, TY, TZ	NTX 9876 BTY 5432 GTZ 1098	Black text on white background with byline. (e.g. vintage vehicle 1960)

Motorcycles

Classification	Position of letter assignment	Example
Electric vehicle	Second letter may be from V, W, X, Y, Z Third letter may be the following: A to M	D123VB J209XK N124YM
Hybrid vehicle	Second letter may be from V, W, X, Y, Z Third letter may be the following: N to Z	N583ZZ C789WO G897VQ
Vintage vehicle	Last two letters are the following: TX, TY, TZ	P123TX N921TY K388TZ

Motorcycle classification by color strip and position

Motorcycle registration plates released since 2020 feature color-coded strips indicating the region of registration, in addition to the registration area prefix.

Strip color	Strip position	Region	Image
None	-	National Capital Region
Pink	Top	Cordillera Administrative Region Alternatively used by: Central Visayas
	Bottom	Caraga
Green	Top	Ilocos Region
	Bottom	Eastern Visayas Alternatively used by: Calabarzon Western Visayas
Gray	Top	Bicol Region
	Bottom	Northern Mindanao Alternatively used by: Central Luzon
Blue	Top	Central Luzon
	Bottom	Davao Region
Purple	Top	Calabarzon
	Bottom	Western Visayas
Orange	Top	Mimaropa Alternatively used by: Central Luzon Bicol Region
	Bottom	Central Visayas
Red	Top	Cagayan Valley
	Bottom	Zamboanga Peninsula Alternatively used by: Calabarzon Western Visayas
Brown	Bottom	Soccsksargen

Special plate number designs

High-ranking government plates

Known officially as low-numbered (protocol) license plates, these are reserved for the highest-ranking government officials of the Philippines and share the same paint scheme as plates issued to private vehicles.

List of low-numbered plates and corresponding officials

Plate	Officials
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
9	Associate Justices of the Supreme Court
10	Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and the Solicitor General
11	Chairperson of Constitutional Commissions and Ombudsman
14	Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Chief of the Philippine National Police

Until 2024, plate 16 was assigned to Regional Trial Court justices, while plate 17 was issued to first-level courts, including Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, and the Sharia Circuit Court, for use by assistant city prosecutors, district prosecutors, and chief city prosecutors.

Associate justices of the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, and Sandiganbayan may also be authorized to use protocol plates upon the recommendation of the LTO and the approval of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

Diplomatic plates

The new diplomatic license plates consist of seven numeric characters in blue on a white background. These plates are issued to foreign diplomats, members of diplomatic missions, and international organizations based in the Philippines. In October 2022, the LTO and DFA launched the new plates, replacing the older designs. The previous diplomatic plates and other exempted vehicle (OEV) plates remained valid until September 2023.

The first three digits of the plate indicate the country or organization code, assigned based on the establishment of diplomatic relations. For example, 003 0045 is assigned to Australia. The remaining four or five digits are somewhat randomized registration numbers assigned by the LTO and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), with 1000 always reserved for ambassadors.

List of country codes for diplomatic plates
Number	Country	Number	Country	Number	Country	Number	Country
001	Vatican City/Holy See	021	Turkey	041	European Union	061	United Arab Emirates
002	Egypt	022	Thailand	042	Sovereign Military Order of Malta	062	Oman
003	Australia	023	Pakistan	043	Malaysia	063	Qatar
004	Belgium	024	Iran	044	New Zealand	064	Brunei
005	Brazil	025	Canada	045	Venezuela	065	Ireland
006	Chile	026	India	046	Singapore	066	Palestine
007	Switzerland	027	Greece	047	Saudi Arabia	067	Palau
008	United Kingdom	028	Netherlands	048	Bangladesh	068	Angola
009	United States	029	Mexico	049	Romania	069	Timor-Leste
010	Colombia	030	Germany	050	Panama	070	Bahrain
011	Denmark	031	Laos	051	Hungary
012	Austria	032	Finland	052	Czech Republic
013	Sweden	033	Japan	053	Iraq
014	Spain	034	Myanmar	054	China
015	France	035	Israel	055	Morocco
016	Italy	036	Cambodia	056	Papua New Guinea
017	Argentina	037	South Africa	057	Russia
018	Norway	038	Sri Lanka	058	Vietnam
019	Indonesia	039	Nigeria	059	Libya
020	South Korea	040	Poland	060	Kuwait

List of international organization codes
Number	Organization	Number	Organization	Number	Organization
200	Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines	210	United Nations Information Centres	220	United Nations Development Programme
201	United Nations	211	United States Agency for International Development	221	International Organization for Migration
202	World Bank	212	International Monetary Fund	222	Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
203	International Labour Organization	213	United Nations Population Fund	223	United Nations Industrial Development Organization
204	Food and Agriculture Organization	214	United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees	224	Japan Bank for International Cooperation
205	Asian Development Bank	215	International Committee of the Red Cross	225	Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency
206	Australian Aid	216	International Organization for Migration	300	–
207	World Food Programme	217	International Finance Corporation
208	World Health Organization	218	Canadian International Development Agency
209	UNICEF	219	Japan International Cooperation Agency

Former head of state

Vehicles of former presidents bear the number 100 in blue characters.

Personalized plates

Motorists may apply for personalized plates under the Optional Motor Vehicle Special Plate (OMVSP) program, subject to the following conditions:

1. The combination must be unique, i.e., no duplicate plate is registered anywhere in the Philippines.
2. The combination must not duplicate government protocol plates.
3. The motorist must pay a minimum fee of ₱5,000, depending on the chosen combination.
4. OMVSP plates are only available for private cars, SUVs, AUVs, sports pick-ups, and commuter vans.

OMVSP plate formats and fees

Combination	Fee	Image
Three-letter, two-number plates (except 00) (No longer issued as of 2024)	₱25,000
Three-letter, three-number plates (except 000) (No longer issued as of 2024)	₱15,000
Three-letter, four-number plates (except 0000)	₱35,000

Temporary plate numbers

Conduction stickers

Conduction stickers are temporary identifiers issued to vehicles in lieu of license plates while the official plates are still in production. The system was implemented in 1983 and first used in 1984. Several formats with different letter–number arrangements have been produced over time.

Years	Conduction sticker format	Examples	Background color
1984–1994	ABC 12	855SH 235SF	White (1984–1993) Yellow (1993–1994)
1994–2003	12 ABC	30SNK 22SRW	Red
2003–2018	AB 1234	BX8032 (Mitsubishi) OW5192 (Nissan) VH2637 (Toyota)	White (2003–2012) Yellow (2012–2018)
2017–2023	A1 B234	Y1L350 (Mitsubishi) F6A350 (Nissan) A6J238 (Toyota)	Yellow
2023–present	AB 123 C	GD776A DH705A	Yellow

Motor vehicle file number

Each vehicle is assigned a 15-digit motor vehicle (MV) file number that reflects the location where it was first registered (e.g., 1301-00000012345 for vehicles registered in Metro Manila). These numbers are sometimes used as temporary plate numbers, particularly for public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Region	MV file number	Temporary plate number (PUVs)
Metro Manila	13**-*********** 18**-***********	13**** 18****
Cordillera Administrative Region	14**-***********	14****
Ilocos Region	01**-***********	01****
Cagayan Valley	02**-***********	02****
Central Luzon	03**-***********	03****
Calabarzon and Mimaropa	04**-***********	04****
Bicol Region	05**-***********	05****
Western Visayas	06**-***********	06****
central Visayas	07**-***********	07****
Eastern Visayas	08**-***********	08****
Zamboanga Peninsula	09**-***********	09****
Northern Mindanao	10**-***********	10****
Davao Region	11**-***********	11****
Soccsksargen	12**-***********	12****
Caraga	15**-***********	15****
Bangsamoro	17**-***********	17****

LTO-authorized six-digit temporary plate number

To address the extensive backlog in license plate production between 2016 and 2019, the LTO introduced a six-digit temporary plate number system. These numbers are based on the LTO agency code (indicating the region where the vehicle was registered) and the month of registration (e.g. 130108 for Metro Manila, 040103 for Calabarzon). This system became the most common form of temporary identification during this period.

Public utility vehicles (including buses, jeepneys, and UV Express vans) registered from July 1, 2016, onward have used white private plates, MV file numbers, or six-digit temporary plate numbers while waiting for the release of permanent yellow plates.

Government vehicles registered from 2020 onward were also initially issued white private plates. In November 2021, the LTO began releasing new red plates for government vehicles registered from 2016 to 2019. In 2024, a new series of red plates was introduced, with the second letter indicating the region of registration (e.g. SNA for Metro Manila, SDA for Calabarzon).

In 2023, the LTO released green plates for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as white plates with identifying marks for vintage vehicles. Trailer plates were introduced in 2025 for trailers registered from 2016 onward.

Former plate number designs still in use

2014 series

Plate number design

The 2014 design, introduced in 2014, used the numbering format ABC 1234 for automobiles and AB 12345 for motorcycles. In this design, the region where the vehicle was registered was printed at the bottom of the plate, eliminating the need for registration area prefixes (except for motorcycles).

The new plate format series and design was originally scheduled for release in September or October 2013, but its release was delayed several times primarily due to concerns about funding for the license plate project and the increasing number of vehicles using temporary plates bearing the conduction sticker number. The first batch of plates was eventually issued in May 2014. By January 2015, vehicle owners using 1981 series plates were required to pay ₱450 to replace them with the modern series plates.

In 2018, the LTO introduced an updated plate design that retained the same serial format but featured a new layout, the use of the FE-Schrift typeface, and the removal of the printed region code for automobiles. Production and issuance of plates with the 2018 design continues as of 2025, alongside efforts to clear the plate backlog. In 2025, the LTO also began replacing the AB 12345 (seven-character) motorcycle plates with a six-character format to comply with the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.

Vehicle classification by color scheme

Pattern	Color	Class	Description	Image
ABC 1234 AB 12345	Black text on white background	Private Vehicles	Private vehicles, typically not for commercial use. However, for years on and as of December 2025, it is quite common to see properly-licensed delivery four-wheeled and up vehicles, for-hire motorcycles such as Angkas and regular tricycles with this kind of plate.
ABC 1234 AB 12345	Black text on yellow background	Public utility vehicles	Public utility vehicles and other for-hire vehicles (e.g. commercial trucks, public transport buses, taxis and jeepneys)
SBC 1234 SA 12345	Red text on white background	Government vehicles	Vehicles for official government use (e.g. police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks)
00000	Blue text on white background	Diplomatic vehicles	Vehicles in diplomatic use 4 digit diplomatic license plates with blue numbers on a white background are for members of the Diplomatic Corps (DC) 5 digit diplomatic license plates with black numbers on a blue background are for general use (termed "Other Exempt Vehicles" (OEV) by the government) of Embassies, Consulates & International Non-government Organizations (INGOs).

1981 series

Plate number design

The font used in this series was never released electronically to the public. It was a modified version of the Charles Wright font with influences from the lettering of New South Wales vehicle registration plates. The 1981 series, along with its later variants, remained in production until it was discontinued and replaced by the 2014 series under the Plate Standardization Program.

The 1981 design became the most widely used plate number design, produced from 1981 to 2014. The LTO issued the numbering format ABC 123 for automobiles and AB 1234 and 1234 AB for motorcycles. Color-coded year and classification stickers were introduced in 1982. The typeface featured a curved, bold design on the glyphs; early plates had thinner strokes and no curves. Motorcycle plates used DIN 1451 or D-DIN font. The design was based on Charles Wright (with modifications), the 1951–1980 New South Wales plates, and older Philippine plates with color coding per vehicle, with all glyphs made blocky.

Early 1981 plates were borderless and semi-bold with a diamond separator. By 1988, plates have borders and a bolder typeface. In 1994, the "PILIPINAS" slogan was replaced by "PHILIPPINES 2000" in a derivative DIN 1451 font, though 1988 plates continued to be produced into the 2000s. The 2003 "Rizal Monument" series used smaller characters and returned to a semi-bold typeface. Production of this series ended in 2014, giving way to the 2014 series plates. The 2010 yellow plates were also discontinued, though some shops continued to sell reproductions that were not exact copies. However, the 1981 series are now in limited production for duplicate plates.

In 2025, the LTO began replacing the old, smaller AB 1234 and 1234 AB motorcycle plates with a larger six-character format to comply with the Motorcycle Crime Prevention Act.

Update changes issued by region

Plates starting with W and Z that were originally issued for Metro Manila were later reassigned to Central Luzon (motorcycles with a blue strip) and Caraga (for both motorcycles and motor vehicles), respectively. The letter I was redesigned with serifs and used in the middle or end of the letter block. Plates starting with A, originally used nationwide, were later assigned to motorcycles registered in the Ilocos Region.

Registration area prefix

The first letter in the 1981 series denoted the region where the vehicle was registered. The letter S indicated a government-owned vehicle.

Prefix	Region
A	Ilocos Region and Cordillera Administrative Region
B	Cagayan Valley
C	Central Luzon
D	Calabarzon and Mimaropa
E	Bicol Region
F	Western Visayas
G	Central Visayas
H	Eastern Visayas
J	Zamboanga Peninsula and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
K	Northern Mindanao
L	Davao Region and Caraga
M	Soccsksargen
N	Metro Manila
P
R	Central Luzon
T	Metro Manila
U
V	Calabarzon and Mimaropa
W	Metro Manila
X
Y	Central Visayas
Z	Metro Manila

The letters I and O were not used as the first letter of plates to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. By 2009, they were allowed as middle or last letters, exclusively for private vehicles. The letter Q was used in regular motorcycle plate circulation for public-use motorcycles. By 2009, it appeared as a middle or last letter on NCR plates and as a last letter on Central Visayas plates.

Vehicle classification by second letter

The second letter on the plate identified whether the vehicle was a trailer or an automobile and whether it was for private or public use. The letter U in the second position indicated a privately used trailer, while Z indicated a publicly used trailer. The letters V, W, X, and Y were used to indicate public utility vehicles. On motorcycle plates, U and Z represented private use for three-wheeled motorcycles, while V, W, X, and Y represented public use for all motorcycle types.

Vehicle classification by paint scheme

• Green on white: The most common type of plate, for privately owned vehicles. The white background was replaced by the Rizal Monument design in 2002 for automobiles.
• Black on yellow: Commercial or public utility vehicles.
• Red on white: Government-owned vehicles; the white background was replaced by the Rizal Monument design in 2003 for automobiles.
• Blue on white: Diplomatic and other exempt vehicles; the white background was replaced by the Rizal Monument design on the left side in 2002 for automobiles.

Inscriptions

• PILIPINAS ("Philippines", used 1981–1995, 2001–2003 for private and government vehicles, and 2001–2014 for commercial and public utility vehicles)
• PHILIPPINES 2000 (1995–2000)
• ANGAT PINOY 2004 ("Rising Filipino 2004", used 2000–2001)
• PILIPINAS – PERLAS NG SILANGAN ("Pearl of the Orient", used 2002)
• MATATAG NA REPUBLIKA ("Strong Republic", used 2003 – April 12, 2014 for private, tourist, and government vehicles)
• MC (used for private motorcycles, placed in the top left)
• TC (used for motorcycles and tricycles for public use or for-hire, placed in the top left)

Vehicle classification by color scheme

Pattern	Color	Class	Description	Image
ABC 123 AB 1234 (motorcycles) 1234 AB (motorcycles)	Green text on white background (1981–2002); White text on green background (rear only from 1988 to 1995); Green text on Rizal monument background (2002–2014)	Private vehicles	Private vehicles, not for commercial use
PVA 123 PV 1234 (motorcycles) 1234 PV (motorcycles)	Black text on yellow background (1981–1992; 1995–2014); Yellow text on black background (1992–1995) Black text on Rizal monument background with yellow hue (tourist vehicles)	Public utility vehicles	Public utility vehicles and other for hire vehicles (e.g. Commercial trucks, public transport buses, taxis and jeepneys)
SBC 123 SB 1234 (Motorcycles) 1234 SB (Motorcycles)	Red text on white background (1981–2003); White text on red background (rear only from 1989 to 1995); Red text on Rizal monument background (2002–2014)	Government vehicles	Vehicles for official government use (e.g. police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks)
101 10000	Blue text on white background (1981–1989; 1995–2003); White text on blue background (1989–1995); Blue text on Rizal Monument background (2003–2014)	Diplomatic vehicles	Vehicles in diplomatic use 3 digit diplomatic license plates with blue numbers [above 100] : so far, only observed to be belonging to US Embassy vehicles, often models of American-manufactured vehicles not commercially sold in the country 4 digit diplomatic license plates with blue numbers on a white background are for members of the Diplomatic Corps (DC) : Ambassador - 1000, Chargé d'affaires, Director-General/Chief Executive/President and immediate deputies/Vice-President-equivalent positions. 5 digit diplomatic license plates with black numbers on a blue background are for "other exempt vehicles" (OEV) - general diplomatic use including those of lower level officers/staff of the International Non-governmental organizations (INGOs) such as ADB, IRRI ,UN agencies
GOB 123	Red text on yellow background (1981–2014); Yellow text on red background (rear only from 1989 to 1995)	Official bus	Buses for official government use

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