LTO: Paying For Custom Plate Number Ending Digit Is Illegal

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is intensifying its campaign against those who employ underhanded techniques to avoid getting penalized for violating traffic rules and regulations. One such technique is paying an extra PHP5,000 or more so a new car owner can choose the final digit on the license plate and be exempted from the no-window number coding scheme.

The agency recently issued a statement against dealers offering this 'added service' to their customers, and released this stern warning:

"We will not condone this act and put these people where they should be. We may withdraw the accreditation of the erring car dealer and their agents."

LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said that car buyers should only pay the amount written in the official receipts, as the agency does not offer any customized numbering services, nor does it charge anything beyond the prescribed fees.

Galvante did acknowledge that 'special plates' were offered in the past, but the agency has suspended such services as it works to clear years of backlog concerning the distribution of its plates. He clarified that the agency has not accepted any new application for special plates, and will continue to do so until the backlog is completely resolved.