So you’re thinking about buying a second-hand car. You’ve found the car you like and you’re already negotiating with the owner for its sale. But before you finalize the deal, it’s highly recommended to check the vehicle’s LTO plate number to verify that it doesn’t have existing violations or was not reported as stolen.
These days, applying for and renewing your driver’s license can be done online through the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS). The LTO LTMS portal allows you to apply for a driver’s license, renew your expired license, view your past transactions, pay your application fees, take the online validation exam, and many more. Read this article to learn how to register to the LTO LTMS portal.
As of this writing, it’s not possible to check your plate number via the LTO LTMS portal. The LTO used to operate a website (lto.net.ph) where users can check and verify plate numbers online, but it was already shut down. There’s no word yet on when the online checking and verification of LTO plate numbers will resume, but we hope that the feature will be integrated into the LTMS portal in the near future.
Fortunately, you can still check your LTO plate number through other means, such as SMS or text messaging. LTO plate number verification is a really important process that you shouldn’t skip, as it helps you determine the status of a vehicle, and whether it has any violations or if it was stolen or carnapped. It can also give you other important details such as the make and model of the vehicle, as well as the date it was registered with the LTO.
So without further ado, let’s talk about how to check an LTO plate number online. I’ll also teach you how to check the availability of your license plate so that you don’t have to personally visit the LTO office to inquire about it.
How to Check LTO Plate Number via SMS
The quickest and most reliable way to check an LTO plate number is by sending a text message to 2600 in the following format:
LTO VEHICLE Plate Number
For example, if the plate number to be checked is ABC1234, you may type this message: LTO VEHICLE ABC1234 and then send it to 2600.
After a few minutes, you will receive a response with the following information:
- Plate number
- Make
- Model
- Year
- Color
- Registration date
The message will also include the violations, if any, incurred by the license plate’s owner (e.g. “has no LTO apprehension, has no LTO alarm”).
Take note that the LTO plate number SMS verification service is, at the moment, available only to private four-wheeled vehicles. This means that the plate numbers of public utility vehicles (PUVs), buses, trucks and motorcycles cannot be checked this way.
The SMS verification service costs ₱2.50 per text, and is available to Smart and Globe subscribers nationwide.
How to Verify Availability of Your License Plate
Are you waiting for your license plate to be released, but you don’t want to personally visit the LTO office to follow up on its status? There’s a way to check if your plate number or license plate is already available for pickup, and I’ll teach you how in this article.
What you can do is to email the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and inquire about the status of your plate number. You may use the following email template below (don’t forget to edit or add your own information):
Dear LTO,
I would like to check if my plate number is already available. Here are my details:
- MV File Number:
- Full Name:
- Contact Number:
- Email Address:
I have attached a scanned copy of my Certificate of Registration (CR) for your verification. Thank you for your kind assistance.
Sincerely,
(Your name here)
Type “Plate number inquiry” as the subject of your email and attach a photo or scanned copy of your Certificate of Registration (CR). Send the email to [email protected] or [email protected].
After a few days, the LTO will reply with the status of your plate number and if it’s already available for pickup. If you haven’t received a response within five (5) working days, you may check your spam folder or send a follow-up email.
You can use this method to inquire about the status or availability of plate numbers that are not applicable under the SMS verification service, such as those of PUVs and motorcycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the LTO plate number SMS verification service available 24/7?
For best results, we recommend using the SMS verification service on weekdays and during office hours (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM). The text verification service still works after office hours but results are not guaranteed.
Can I check the plate numbers of public vehicles?
Currently, SMS verification is applicable only to private vehicles, excluding motorcycles.
I have a motorcycle. How can I check the availability of my license plate?
If you own a motorcycle, you can check if your license plate is already available by emailing the LTO at [email protected] or [email protected].
I’m from outside the NCR. Can I still email the LTO?
Yes, you can still email the LTO using the email addresses mentioned above.
What happened to the LTO plate number inquiry website?
It was revealed that in November 2020, the LTO plate number inquiry website at lto.net.ph suffered a data breach and the license details of thousands of motorists were stolen by hackers and uploaded to a malicious third-party website. The LTO plate number inquiry website was eventually taken down after the incident.
Key Takeaways
You don’t have to regularly visit the LTO office just to check the status and availability of your plate number, because you can do it using your mobile phone or computer.
It’s a good thing that the LTO has offered a convenient way to verify your plate number, considering that fact that there’s a growing backlog of license plates under the agency. Whether you want to check the status of a second-hand car or know the availability of your license plate, you will get all the information you need.
If you have any questions and concerns about your plate number, driver’s license or anything related to the LTO, you may call (02) 8922-9061 or email [email protected].
