LTO: No Penalties for Unclaimed Plates

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has assured motorists that there will be no penalties for failing to claim their license plates.

In a statement on August 8, 2025, LTO addressed earlier reports about possible fines for vehicle owners who have yet to claim their plates and are still using improvised ones.

"There is no such order from both the Department of Transportation and the LTO Central Office," the agency said.

The LTO said its personnel are working to release all plates from the backlog within the next three months.

“We encourage all motor vehicle owners with unclaimed original and replacement plates to secure them in the soonest possible time, either through our online platform LTO Tracker, which also provides courier service, or through our offices across the country.”

To speed up the process, the agency is implementing its “Oplan: Stop, Plate and Go” program and collaborating with local government units nationwide. The goal is to distribute all 7.5 million plates by October 31, 2025, with up to 100,000 plates issued daily.

LTO reminded motorists not to panic if stopped by enforcers. They will not issue fines but will only check if the plate is already available.