DRIVERS still using temporary or improvised plates must claim their license plates this week, or else they will be fined P5,000 once the Land Transportation Office (LTO) begins its crackdown next week.
LTO 7 Director Glen Galario issued the warning as the agency ramps up efforts to clear its license plate backlog, especially for vehicles registered in 2017 and earlier.
Galario, in an interview on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, urged vehicle owners to claim their official plates immediately to avoid penalties.
Violators will face a P5,000 fine through the issuance of a Temporary Operator’s Permit.
“A week from now, once we strictly enforce it, many will be apprehended. The penalty is really steep, P5,000 just for a plate-related violation,” Galario said.
Galario said LTO offices across Central Visayas have seen an increase in motorists claiming their plates as stricter enforcement looms.
So far, around 160,000 license plates have been delivered to Region 7.
The director, however, admitted it is difficult to provide a precise number of how many plates were distributed since some were released through car dealers and LTO district offices.
He said incomplete documentation is a major reason plates remain unclaimed, particularly among secondhand vehicle owners.
Owners need to provide photocopies of the Certificate of Registration, the Official Receipt, valid identification cards (ID) of both the vendor and vendee and a notarized Deed of Sale to claim their plates.
For vehicles registered in 2018 and onwards, plates are available at the LTO Subangdaku office.
For older vehicles, plates can be claimed at designated LTO district offices across Central Visayas, including Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City, Consolacion and Talisay City.
Galario said the enforcement of the “No Plate, No Travel” policy is part of the agency’s directive to clear all plate backlogs before Oct. 31.
He also encouraged the public to check the status of their plates through ltotracker.com to avoid delays and penalties. / CAV