Tips

Conduction stickers are something that every new car is required to have. For those who are unaware, you might be wondering why this particular sticker is important. Here’s your short answer: Since the Land Transportation Office (LTO) cannot supply registration plates and stickers immediately, conductions stickers are used as temporary plates to allow new car owners to use their vehicles legally. 

The act of getting a new car entails a lot of responsibilities, from registration to regular renewal of registration as well as compliance to numerous rules and regulations imposed by the LTO. Getting a conduction sticker and ensuring that it stays visible while you wait for your number plate to be released is just another one of these rules. If you’re wondering how the conduction stickers work or how it is even acquired, this article will answer them for you.

What is a Motor Vehicle Conduction Sticker

A motor vehicle conduction sticker is proof that a vehicle is legally acquired or bought from a recognized assembler, importer, or distributor in the Philippines. It serves as the temporary plate while the LTO processes the registration plates and stickers for new vehicle registrations. 

However, do note that the LTO does not issue conduction stickers to individuals. The LTO is not involved with the distribution. Instead, it assigns and controls the series of numbers and letters issued to the car makers and it is the car makers who negotiate for the printing and issuance of the conduction sticker. This is so because while it is now being used as a temporary number plate, the original purpose of conduction stickers is to allow the vehicle to be legally transported from the production site to the showroom.

Benefits

Some of the benefits associated with having a motor vehicle conduction sticker, not that it’s optional, includes:

• The conduction sticker legalizes the use of a vehicle before its initial registration.
• A conduction sticker’s number can be used as a temporary plate number. 
• It is considered proof that a vehicle is adequately procured in the Philippines from a recognized assembler, importer, or distributor.
• It is proof enough that the vehicle is allowed to travel legally. 
• It serves as the identification of a motor vehicle so it includes the motor vehicle details including the ownership, allowing it to be traceable by authorities.

Who May Avail

All car owners, especially the new ones, are expected to have conduction stickers stuck to their newly-bought motor vehicle. However, conduction stickers are only requested by and issued to accredited and legally recognized vehicle manufacturers, importers, assemblers, dealers, etc. It’s not something an individual can request from the LTO as the LTO also doesn’t have anything to do with it except assigns the series of numbers to the carmakers and check for conduction stickers or number plates on the road. 

Requirements

If you decide that you do not wish to be held liable for driving a new car without LTO registration, then you may want to ensure that you do have a conduction sticker stuck to your vehicle. If you don’t have one, you will need to go to the car manufacturer or dealer to get it. 

If, however, you are either a manufacturer, importer, assembler, dealer, or distributor, then you will need to present the following documents to get a conduction number issued to the vehicles under your possession.

• Estimate of annual production including the current inventory of unsold motor vehicles as of 31 December of the immediately preceding year and estimate of annual importation
• Certificate of Payment
• List of dealers and sub-dealers with their complete address and the name of 
• the chief operating officer
• SEC Certificate of Registration for Corporation or DTI Certification of 
• Registration for Sole Proprietorship
• Latest Income Tax Return
• Application Form under oath

How to Apply for LTO Motor Vehicle Conduction Sticker

The actual process to request for the issuance of motor vehicle conduction stickers to manufacturers, importers, assemblers, dealers, or distributors, is simple. 

If you are one of them, here’s what you need to do:

Step 1: Visit your preferred LTO Operations Division Office in the region where you’re at.

Step 2: Proceed to the LTO transaction counter and have your requirements checked for completeness and authenticity.

Step 3: Secure an Application Form for issuance of motor vehicle conduction stickers.

Step 4: Wait for the LTO officer to assign a conduction sticker (CS) series and forward the signed letter of approval to the Office of the Executive Director for final approval 

Step 5: Once approved, the documents will be sent back to the Office of the Operations Division.

Step 6: You will then be issued a Payment Order Slip (POS).

Step 7: Once you get the POS, proceed to the cashier for payment of fees.

Step 8: Wait for the official receipt (OR) to be released.

Step 9: Once paid, present your OR and wait for the Letter of Approval to be released.

Fees

Some of the fees associated with the issuance of motor vehicle conduction stickers include the following:

Application Fee – P500.00

Legal Research Fee – P10.00 

Total: P510.00 

Where to Get

The application for issuance of conduction stickers is usually processed at either the LTO Central Office in Diliman, Quezon City or through the Operations Divisions of the various LTO Regional Offices nationwide. These stickers are only issued to accredited and legally recognized vehicle manufacturers, importers, assemblers, dealers, etc. They are then responsible for supervising the distribution of the vehicle conduction sticker to their buyers. The buyers are provided with conduction stickers so that you can get your car plated with a vehicle conduction number at these places.

Important Reminders

If you are either a vehicle manufacturer, importer, assembler, or dealer, and you are looking to process an application for the issuance of conduction stickers, you need to keep the following tips in mind:

• As of January 2018, conduction stickers and conduction numbers are used as temporary plates.
• The series of alphanumeric characters in the conduction stickers may be used to check for the availability of the vehicle’s number plate.
• Cars with conduction stickers only are still subject to Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding.
• There are two types of conduction stickers: The newest is the yellow conduction sticker, while the white-colored conduction stickers were released before 2012.
• The conduction sticker of a motor vehicle is important as it allows the legal use of the vehicle before and while acquiring a plate number.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For your reference, here are some common questions and answers regarding motor vehicle conduction stickers:

1. Can I check the availability of my LTO plate if my car is still using a conduction sticker?

Yes. If you are a car user and you are still using your car’s conduction number as temporary plates, then you can check the availability of your proper registration plates online, via the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal, using the 15-digit MV number on the Motor Vehicle 7-Character Plate Backlog Inquiry page.

2. Is a car’s conduction sticker subject to the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (Coding) Scheme?

Yes. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a car despite still using its conduction sticker is still subject to the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding. That said, the last digit on your car’s conduction sticker number will still determine the day where it is subject to the UVVRP.

3. Is the car’s conduction sticker the same as the plate number?

No. The conduction sticker is different from an LTO number plate. However, as of January 2018, the LTO has announced that conduction numbers can be used as a temporary plate—a temporary measure while the LTO catches up with its backlog of number plates.

4. What is the difference between the white and yellow conduction stickers?

Nothing, really, except that the yellow-colored conduction sticker is the newer one, while the conduction stickers with white color were issued prior to 2012.

5. Can I remove my car’s conduction sticker?

As the conduction sticker’s serve to provide a means of identifying the car while it doesn’t have a proper number plate yet, it is something that cannot be removed legally. Once you get your license plates, however, the conduction sticker loses its value, so you can then legally remove the sticker. However, it’s best to just leave it on as conduction stickers left for a long time can get broken apart or leave unsightly adhesive gunks on your car’s rear and front windows.

Summary

A motor vehicle conduction sticker is an all-important sticker issued to new cars to serve as a temporary license plate and for the legal use of acquiring an LTO number plate. As such, a car that already has an LTO license plate issued to it no longer needs the use of a conduction sticker. By then, the conduction sticker would have served its purpose, both as a permit to travel from the production site to the showroom as well as a temporary plate. It is, after all, a sticker issued to car owners so they can use their new car while their registration and license plates are being processed. It also serves as the temporary basis to trace a motor vehicle to its registration.

Verifying conduction stickers is yet another Land Transportation Office (LTO) service that motor vehicle owners, particularly the aspiring and the new ones, may avail of. It is a particularly important service, as conduction stickers are important in the verification of whether a motor vehicle has been legally purchased from recognized car makers or not. It also serves as a legal permit to transport the vehicle, and just recently, it was declared to be of use as a temporary plate. 

Conduction stickers are issued by car makers upon the release of a new car to a buyer. It reflects alphanumeric character series assigned by the LTO to the accredited manufacturer. The conduction sticker serves as the car’s identifier and much like a fingerprint, it is unique to  each car. Though the LTO believes that there is no reason to create fake conduction stickers as it loses its use once a number plate is released, it isn’t impossible. That said, the LTO has made it possible to verify conduction stickers and put new car owners at ease. 

Verification of Conduction Stickers

Verification of conduction stickers refers to the provision of authenticated information of motor vehicles using the conduction sticker. By checking the series of letters and numbers on the sticker, one may be able to check if the conduction sticker is authentic and legally acquired. It may also be used to check if the car’s license plate is already available for pickup at the designated LTO office. 

Though the LTO doesn’t provide the sticker to individuals, it does have the ability to verify its authenticity. After all, the series of letters and numbers appearing on the conduction sticker is assigned by the LTO and issued to the car makers for printing and distribution. Each set of alphanumeric series follows an LTO-prescribed template for uniformity. There’s a part of that temporary plate where the MV File Number is also indicated. The alphanumeric series in the conduction sticker is also unique to one car, so it is easily identifiable and verifiable via the verification of conduction sticker service offered by the LTO. 

Benefits

Some of the benefits of having an authenticated motor vehicle conduction sticker includes:

• Knowing and having the document to prove that the use of a vehicle is legal even before its initial registration.
• Having a legal and authentic temporary number plate. 
• Having a valid proof that a vehicle is adequately procured in the Philippines from a recognized assembler, importer, or distributor.
• It is proof that the vehicle is allowed to travel legally. 
• It serves as the motor vehicle temporary ID which includes details of the motor vehicle including the ownership, allowing it to be traceable to the authorities.

Who May Avail

All car owners, especially the new and the aspiring ones, are expected to have conduction stickers stuck to their newly-bought motor vehicle. That said, they are also able to verify it, if they wish to. Along with the car owners, some government offices may also request for verification, as needed.

Requirements

When requesting for verification of conduction stickers, it is a must to first prepare the following documentary requirements:

• Letter Request/Order
• Copy of any of the following valid Identification Card of the requesting party
  • Philippine Identification (PhilID) Card
  • Philippine passport
  • Social Security System (SSS) Card, 
  • UMID Card
  • PhilHealth ID
  • TIN Card
  • Postal ID
  • Voter’s ID
  • Barangay ID
  • Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) ID
  • Senior Citizen ID
  • OFW ID
  • Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) ID
  • National Council of Disabled Affairs (NCDA) ID
  • Solo Parent ID
  • Voter’s Certification
  • Government Services and Insurance System (GSIS) e-Card
  • Seaman’s Book
  • Government Owned and/or Controlled Corporations (GOCC) ID, 
  • Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or Pag-IBIG ID
  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Certification, 
  • Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) ID

How to Verify LTO Motor Vehicle Conduction Sticker

Once the documents are ready, you may proceed with the process of requesting for verification of conduction stickers. 

To make a request to verify conduction stickers at the LTO, simply follow these steps:

Step 1: Visit the Operations Division at the LTO Central Office in East Ave., Diliman, Quezon City.

Step 2: Proceed to the Service Counter and submit the requirements to the designated officer at the Office of the Chief, Operations Division in the LTO Central Office. 

Step 3: Wait for the documents to be evaluated and verified by the designated personnel from Technical Evaluation Section (TES) – Operations Division.

Step 4: Once the documents are verified, wait for the printed copy of the verified conduction sticker to be released. 

With an authenticated copy proving that your car is bearing a legitimate conduction sticker, you may go ahead and conduct whatever other business you needed the document for. 

Fees

The LTO verification of conduction sticker service offered to all motor vehicle owners in the Philippines or to those who seek to check for the authenticity of a conduction sticker is free of charge so there is no need to pay anything at the LTO.

Where to Get It Done

To request for verification of conductions stickers, those who intend to do so must go directly to the Operations Division of the LTO Central Office in East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City.

Important Reminders

For your reference, here are some tips you need to remember:

• As of January 2018, conduction stickers are allowed to be used as temporary plates, according to the LTO.
• The series of alphanumeric characters in the conduction stickers is not necessary to check for the availability of the vehicle’s number plate at the LTO.
• Cars that are still using conduction stickers are also subject to Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding.
• There are two types of conduction stickers: The newer yellow conduction sticker, and the white-colored conduction stickers released before 2012.
• The conduction sticker of a motor vehicle is important as it allows the legal use of the vehicle before and while acquiring a plate number.
• Conduction stickers are not issued by the LTO. 
• The alphanumeric series in the conduction stickers are assigned by the LTO and is unique to every car, much like a fingerprint. 
• Motor vehicles can also be traced and identified via the conduction stickers.

Video: When to Remove your Car’s Conduction Sticker?

For more information on whether you may or may not remove your car’s conduction sticker, you may check out this video from Kuya Shane:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To help make your request for verification of conduction stickers as painless as possible, here are some common questions and answers about it.

1. Is it possible to check your LTO license plate availability if a car is still using a conduction sticker?

No. It is possible to check for the availability of the proper LTO license plates online by typing in your 15-digit MV number on the Motor Vehicle 7-Character Plate Backlog Inquiry page and the Land Transport Management System (LTMS) portal. However, the car’s conduction number is not necessary to do so. Nevertheless, the vehicle’s conduction sticker can be used temporarily in lieu of the license plates if it still isn’t available.

2. Is a car’s conduction sticker the same as the plate number?

No. The car’s conduction sticker is different from the LTO license plate. However, as of January 2018, the LTO has announced that the conduction numbers can be used as a temporary plate. while waiting for the proper LTO plate number to be issued.

3. What’s the difference between the white and yellow conduction stickers?

Aside from the obvious difference in color, the yellow-colored conduction sticker is the newer one, while the conduction stickers with white color were issued prior to 2012.

4. Is the conduction sticker alphanumeric series the same as the MV number?

No. The conduction sticker alphanumeric series is different from the MV file number. The conduction sticker series is issued to the motor vehicle owner by the car makers and was assigned by the LTO, whereas the MV file number is a 15-digit series found on the vehicle’s certificate of registration.

5. Is the car bearing conduction stickers only still subject to the number coding scheme? 

Yes. According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), a car despite still using its conduction sticker is still subject to the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding. That said, the last digit on your car’s conduction sticker number will still determine the day where it is subject to the UVVRP.

6. How do I reach out to the LTO for questions or concerns regarding my car’s conduction sticker?

For inquiries and other concerns, you may reach out to the Operations Division of the LTO Central Office via the following contact information:

Land Transportation Office (LTO) Central Office – Operations Division

Office Address: LTO Compound, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Email: ltomailbox@lto.gov.ph
Head of Office: Danilo J. Encela
Telephone Number: (02) 8921 9075

Summary

As mentioned above, it is crucial to have a legal and valid conduction sticker for legal use before getting an official plate number. In short, until a car already has plates, the car conduction sticker stays. Once the LTO number plate is issued, the car owner may or may not remove the conduction sticker. Though the LTO believes there is no reason to manufacture fake conduction stickers, there is a way to verify the authenticity of the conduction stickers via the Operations Division at the LTO Central Office.