A total of 1,046 motorcycle and car dealers were summoned by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in 2024 over their alleged failure to register newly-bought motor vehicles within the prescribed period.
The cases of most of the motorcycle and car dealers issued with Show Cause Orders (SCO) are still under investigation but so far, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said 21 of them were already penalized.
He said 14 of the motor vehicle dealers were fined with P20,000; two were fined with P30,000; while five were fined with P100,000.
Mendoza explained that the LTO Citizen’s Charter mandates the registration of newly-bought motor vehicles to be registered within seven days after the transaction is completed in motor vehicle dealerships.
“Unfortunately, there were some motor vehicle dealers which did not comply at the expense of their clients despite our repeated reminders of the need to strictly follow the rule,” said Mendoza.
“The worst part is that some of the motor vehicle dealers, in an attempt to save face from their clients, would point to the LTO as the reason behind the delay of the registration when in fact, it’s actually their fault,” he added.
He then urged owners of newly-bought motor vehicles to file complaints before the LTO in order to identify and penalize those who are not complying with the seven-day rule to register new motorcycles and cars.