DOTr: PBBM okays 5-year registration validity of new cars, motorcycles
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. (MB File Photo)
President Marcos has approved the proposal to extend the validity of registration of newly-bought cars, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) disclosed on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
From the existing three-year validity, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said vehicle registration will be extended to five years as part of the measures to facilitate and ease motorists’ transactions with the government.
It was Lopez who submitted the proposal to the President following requests from motorists and vehicle owners.
“A number of car dealers have already extended the warrant of newly-bought cars from three years to five years. We in the government should also level up through a policy that will extend the validity of registration of new vehicles,” said Lopez.
He said the newly-approved policy will also cover new motorcycles.
The DOTr and the(Land Transportation Office (LTO) are expected to issue a department order and memorandum circular in relation to the new policy of vehicle registration validity for new cars.
“Through this, we can avoid long queues in the LTO for the renewal of car registration,” said Lopez.
He added that this will also contain the proliferation of fixers and eventually address corruption in the agency.
“But our priority is really the convenience of the public,” said Lopez.
Based on the new policy, all vehicles and motorcycles will undergo the normal process of annual vehicle registration renewal after the five-year validity of car and motorcycle registration.
The reason, he said, is to ensure the road worthiness of motor vehicles since old cars have the tendency to break down, especially those that are not undergoing regular preventive maintenance.
Following the President’s approval, Lopez urged car and motorcycle dealers to also extend the free LTO registration from three to five years.
“I think 80 percent to 90 percent of car dealers are giving free registration as come-on. We will appeal to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) to extend it to five years for the benefit of vehicle owners” said Lopez.