June 18, 2024 - The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is getting tough on car and motorcycle dealerships, as well as their agents, who fail to release license plates and Certificates of Registration/Official Receipts (OR/CR) on time. Act. Sec. Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, LTO Chief, issued a warning along with the agency's plan to take action against those who violate the prescribed processing timelines.
Mendoza stated that they have identified an initial list of agents and dealerships facing sanctions, which may include fines and suspension of accreditation. This decisive move is backed by President Marcos himself, who directed the LTO and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to address the backlog of license plates and other LTO documents.
A memorandum from Malacañang to the DOTr emphasizes that all vehicle dealers must comply with LTO's guidelines. It also highlights the potential consequence of dealership termination for non-compliance.
Data from LTO shows at least 28 agents from various dealerships are already facing penalties ranging from P20,000 to P500,000 and a one to six-month suspension of accreditation.
"Let this serve as a strong message," Mendoza said, urging agents and dealerships to fulfill their obligations to clients and adhere to LTO regulations regarding timely releases of plates and OR/CRs.
He likewise encouraged owners of newly-acquired motor vehicles to report any delays directly to LTO. Complaints can be submitted through LTO's social media accounts or by calling AksyON THE SPOT hotline (0929 292 0865).
The LTO reiterated that the backlog of license plates for four-wheeled vehicles has already been addressed. Under the leadership of DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista and Assec Mendoza, LTO has been producing one million license plates monthly. For motorcycles, new purchases are prioritized to prevent further backlog.
President Marcos has set a deadline of June 2025 for clearing the backlog, and Mendoza assures the public that they are on track to meet this target.