What each LTO plate status means
The official inquiry pages show a status word and nothing else. Here is what each one actually tells you, and what to do about it.
Updated 17 August 2026
In Process
In progressYour registration has been recorded and the plate is queued or being manufactured. This is the normal starting state and it can last for weeks. Nothing is wrong.
What to do: Nothing to do yet. Check again in two to three weeks.
Full “In Process” guide →Locating
In progressThe plate exists and the system is finding and sorting it for release to your region or district office. This is a warehouse and logistics step, not a manufacturing one.
What to do: Nothing to do. If it stays here beyond about six weeks, follow up with the office that processed your registration.
Full “Locating” guide →Dispatched
In progressThe plate has left the central facility and is on its way to your LTO district office, your dealer, or an accredited courier.
What to do: Delivery usually takes 3 to 10 working days, and up to about 21 days for remote areas.
Full “Dispatched” guide →Ready for Release
Good newsThe plate has arrived at the releasing office and is waiting to be claimed.
What to do: Claim it. Bring your OR/CR and a valid ID. If someone else is claiming for you, bring an authorisation letter and a copy of your ID.
Full “Ready for Release” guide →Released
Good newsThe plate has been handed over — often to the dealer that registered the vehicle for you, not directly to you. A great many owners see "Released" while still having no plate in hand.
What to do: Contact the dealer or office that processed your registration and ask who signed for it and when.
Full “Released” guide →Not found
Needs a fixThe inquiry could not match your number. This is usually a formatting problem rather than a missing plate — most often the leading zeros in an MV file number.
What to do: Reformat your MV file number using our tracker, then try the official inquiry again.
Full “Not found” guide →Common questions
Why did my plate status go back to Locating?
A status moving backwards is common and usually harmless. It generally means the plate was re-batched or re-sorted for a different release schedule, or that a record was updated after a transfer between facilities. It does not mean your plate was lost or cancelled.
My status says Released but I never got my plate.
"Released" means the plate left LTO custody, which very often means it went to the dealer that handled your registration rather than to you. Ask the dealer to check their release records, including who signed for it and on what date.
How long should each status take?
There is no guaranteed timeline. LTO targets 72 hours for a brand-new vehicle to receive its plate or CR, but real waits of weeks to months are common. LTO declared the plate production backlog cleared in June 2025, while distribution backlogs continue in several regions.