Using a fake or unauthorized license plate? Doble Plaka Law could mean jail time
Motorists using fake or unauthorized license plates could soon find themselves dealing with stricter enforcement as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) prepares to launch a nationwide crackdown starting September 1, 2026.
LTO Chief, Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, said the agency has been seeing a growing number of motorists obtaining improvised plates from online sellers. Many of these sellers advertise their services openly on social media and produce plates designed to resemble those officially issued by the government.
“Nagiging rampant ngayon na yung mga kababayan natin na nagpapagawa ng mga improvised plates online… Paulit-ulit ko pong sinasabi na pinagbabawal po iyan ng LTO,” said Lacanilao.
(This is becoming rampant now, with some of our fellow Filipinos having improvised plates made online. I keep saying that these are prohibited by the LTO.)
Lacanilao stressed that these sellers do not have the authority to manufacture plates that copy the appearance of official LTO plates.
“Wala po kami binibigyan ng authorization na gumawa po ng mga improvised na plaka, ginagaya ang plaka ng LTO, o nang issue po ng gobyerno,” he added.
(We do not authorize anyone to make improvised plates, copy LTO plates, or produce plates issued by the government.)
As part of the new enforcement drive, Lacanilao said he has issued a memorandum instructing law enforcement personnel to confiscate illegal license plates. The order will be implemented nationwide.
The LTO is also working with other government law enforcement agencies and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to identify and go after individuals and businesses producing or selling unauthorized plates.
The agency plans to pursue the appropriate legal action against those found involved in the manufacture and sale of these plates.
Anti-NCAP
The crackdown also comes as the LTO sees fake and improvised plates being used to get around the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP). Since traffic cameras rely on a vehicle or motorcycle’s plate number to identify the registered owner, using a plate that cannot be traced to the actual vehicle can give violators a way to avoid being issued an automated traffic citation.
Worse, the legitimate vehicle owner could end up shouldering the hassle of proving that they were not the one who committed the NCAP violation.
Legit temporary plates
The LTO also wants to make it clear that not every temporary plate is automatically illegal.
Motorists who were given authorization to use a temporary plate, such as those waiting for a replacement after losing their original plate (e.g.: lost plate), can continue using it as long as the authorization remains valid.
If the authorization is about to, or is already expired, motorists should visit the nearest LTO office to have it extended.
Those who have already paid for a replacement plate should also check with the LTO if it has already been stamped and is available for release. Lacanilao also assured motorists that LTO personnel are available to assist with these transactions and help speed up the process.
Heavier penalty due to Doble Plaka Law
For motorcycle riders, the crackdown carries added weight because Republic Act No. 11235, dubbed by riders simply as Doble Plaka law, specifically penalizes the use, sale, purchase, forging, altering or imitation of motorcycle plates.
That means riders who turn to online sellers for plates that mimic official LTO-issued plates could face more than having the plate confiscated. Doble Plaka law provides penalties of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to PHP 10,000, or both, for offenses involving fake, forged, altered or tampered motorcycle plates.
