New license plates with security features roll out today

As part of the government’s license plate standardization program, today is the first day that motorists can order new license plates and replace the old ones when renewing their motor vehicles. These plates now come with security features that aim to aid on the road and hopefully avoid illegal practices.

“It’s time to change old license plates with new ones,” Transportation and Communications Secretary Jun Abaya said in a statement on Sunday. “Tomorrow (Monday), we begin phasing out the nine various designs currently in use with modern, standardized, and security feature-packed license plates.”

These features include:

• Tamper-resistant locks and screws to prevent removal and transfer.
• Reflectorized sheets that ensure visibility from afar and from any angle.
• New permanent “third plate” windshield sticker has all the car’s information and will remain on the windshield even when sticker is peeled off.

The new license plates come with black numbers and letters against a white background and will cost Php450USD 8INR 650EUR 7CNY 56 for all four-wheeled vehicles — priced just like before. Motorists need not to surrender their old plates and they can keep it for unofficial use. This standardization that will last until 2017 started back in May of 2014 for those having their license plates registered on brand new vehicles for the first time.

Those ordering new license plates will keep their same alphanumeric combination and not the new 3-letter, 4-number combination.

“These new plates will help improve road safety by curbing illegal practices such as tanggal-plaka, or plate removal and switching. They will help enforcers catch criminals and enhance safety for the public,” remarked Abaya.

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