LTO extends ‘no plate, no travel policy’ deadline to December 31

National

VEHICLE owners with improvised and temporary license plates can now breathe a sigh of relief as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has extended the deadline for banning such plates until December 31 this year.

Originally scheduled for enforcement on September 1, the new deadline gives motorists more time to claim and install their official license plates.

LTO Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II urged vehicle owners to use this extension to promptly secure their official plates, which are available at car dealerships and LTO offices.

“We ask motorists to claim and install their respective license plates as soon as they are available either in the car dealerships and replacement plates in our offices,” Mendoza said.

The LTO has already cleared the backlog of license plates for four-wheel vehicles but continues to prioritize addressing the backlog for motorcycle plates.

Mendoza emphasized that the agency is focused on eliminating this backlog by June next year, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive.

The LTO issued Memorandum Circular VDM-2024-272 after an investigation revealed that many new vehicle owners were not claiming their official plates, despite reminders from dealerships. Thousands of plates remain unclaimed, underscoring the urgency for vehicle owners to act.

To speed up the distribution of plates, the LTO has partnered with local government units to ensure that plates reach their owners quickly.

Mendoza reassured the public that this extension will not slow down the agency’s efforts to deliver unclaimed plates.

The circular requires temporary plates to clearly display the vehicle’s plate number and the words “Improvised Plate” with these plates only valid until the official plates are obtained.

New car owners can use temporary plates for 15 days after purchase, displaying the vehicle's sticker number.

Motorcycles bought before January 1, 2023, can use their MV File Number as a temporary plate, while newer motorcycles have a 15-day window to use temporary plates after the sales invoice is issued.

The LTO warned that under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, owners who fail to attach authorized plates or tamper with them will face a P5,000 fine. This includes any alteration that obstructs the visibility or reflectivity of the authorized plate.(MyTVCebu)