UPDATE: Effective September 1, 2024, the format of temporary and improvised license plates shall follow the guidelines prescribed by Memorandum Circular No. VDM-2024-2721 of the Land Transportation Office. For the new guide, click here.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has released new guidelines for the use of temporary and improvised plates via Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2400. The measure supersedes all previous guidelines, and aims to standardize the size, appearance, and format of these plates, which many vehicle owners will have to use for a while: In April, the LTO said that its stock of blank plates could run out by July.
This explainer will cover the difference between temporary and improvised license plates, the conditions for their use, and the correct specs depending on vehicle type and available information.
What are temporary license plates?
Temporary plates are either: 1) issued by dealerships pending the release of the actual physical license plates of newly registered vehicles; 2) made by vehicle owners whose vehicles still do not have assigned license plates, but were registered prior to the release of the memorandum circular; or, 3) used by vintage vehicle owners whose vehicles have been officially registered under the Vintage Vehicles Regulation Act.
If there is no assigned plate number, either the conduction number or the MV file number is used. Temporary license plates do not need an authorization to use; just take note that primary responsibility for them falls upon the dealership for newly purchased brand-new vehicles, and the vehicle owner for previously registered vehicles.
What are improvised license plates?
Improvised plates are used by vehicle owners waiting for the replacement of their lost or mutilated license plates. The main difference to temporary plates is that improvised plates require an authority or permit to use from the LTO.
Primary responsibility falls upon the vehicle owner, who will have to report the loss or damage to the LTO and secure an authorization to use improvised plates while waiting for the replacement plates.
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Dimensions of temporary and improvised plates
For motor vehicles
Temporary and improvised plates for motor vehicles must measure 390mm long and 140mm wide, or roughly 15.4 inches by 5.5 inches. JMT-2023-2400 uses height in millimeters to specify font size instead of points; we’ll provide the details for this below. Text elements are in Arial Black and Arial Bold.
For motorcycles
Temporary and improvised plates for motorcycles must measure 230mm long and 127mm wide, or roughly 9.2 inches by 5 inches. Text elements are in Arial Narrow Black.
Colors of temporary and improvised license plates
The latest LTO guidelines now specify colors for temporary and improvised plates: black font for private vehicles, red font for government vehicles, blue font for diplomatic vehicles, and green font for hybrid and electric vehicles.
The document simply assigns yellow for vehicles for hire; to ensure visibility, actual license plates for these vehicles use black font against yellow material.
Temporary and improvised license plates for motor vehicles
As mentioned, the format and appearance of temporary and improvised plates depend on vehicle type and available information. You can zoom in on the images with white background for the spacing between elements.
1) New registration with assigned plate number
Plate number: Arial Black, 39mm height
Dealer info: Arial Black, 11mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
2) New registration without assigned plate number
‘Registered’ label: Arial Bold, 18mm height
Conduction number: Arial Black, 39mm height
Dealer info: Arial Black, 11mm height
Place of registration and MV file number: Arial Black, 13mm height
3) Previously registered without assigned plate number
‘Registered’ label: Arial Bold, 18mm height
MV file number: Arial Black, 39mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ and ‘Rebuilt’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
4) Electric vehicle with assigned plate number
Plate number: Arial Black, 50mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ and ‘Electric’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
5) Hybrid vehicle with assigned plate number
Plate number: Arial Black, 50mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ and ‘Hybrid’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
6) Vintage vehicle with assigned plate number
Plate number: Arial Black, 50mm height
‘Temporary Plate,’ year, ‘Vintage’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
7) Improvised plate for lost or mutilated plate
Plate number: Arial Black, 50mm height
‘Improvised Plate’ label: Arial Black, 13mm height
Temporary and improvised plates for motorcycles
1) New registration with assigned plate number
‘Registered’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 15mm height
Plate number: Arial Narrow Bold, 40mm height
Place of registration, dealer, and ‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
2) New registration without assigned plate number
‘Registered’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 15mm height
MV file number: Arial Narrow Bold, 25mm height
Place of registration, dealer, and ‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
3) Previously registered without assigned plate number
‘Registered’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 15mm height
MV file number: Arial Narrow Bold, 25mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
4) Electric motorcycle/three-wheeled vehicle with assigned plate number
‘Electric’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 15mm height
Plate number: Arial Narrow Bold, 40mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
5) Vintage motorcycle with assigned plate number
Year and ‘Vintage’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 15mm height
Plate number: Arial Narrow Bold, 40mm height
‘Temporary Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
6) Improvised plate for lost or mutilated plate
Plate number: Arial Narrow Bold, 40mm height
‘Improvised Plate’ label: Arial Narrow Bold, 13mm height
