Are you thinking about the validity of your registration? Worry not because an extended validity of vehicle registration as well as licenses and permits that expired during lockdown has been announced by the Land Transportation Office or more commonly known as the LTO.
Yes – you read that right, there’s an extended validity of vehicle registration for vehicle owners and people with driver’s license.
Read: The NCR ECQ, Discussed by Metro Manila Mayors With a Total of Three (3) Recommendations
As per the Department, the extension will reportedly be under their jurisdiction for sixty (60) days or two (2) months upon the resumption of work upon the lifting of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
That being said, the LTO will not charge penalties for the late renewal of vehicles due to the extended validity of vehicle registration, as per the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said. In addition to that, the agency will also reportedly accept applications after the easing of the enhanced community quarantine according to a statement made on Wednesday, May 6th.
Since the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ)
Since the ECQ, there have been a lot of problems involving the validity and the effectiveness of some registrations. In fact, several companies and conglomerates have been stopped and paused — from different banking institutions, telcos, and even utilities.
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Now, the LTO has mentioned some guidelines about the extension of the registration of motor vehicles.
General guidelines for the General Community Quarantine (GCQ)
Before the discussion of the extended validity of vehicle registration, the Department released on Monday, May 4th, new guidelines that are expected to be effective once operations start again during the General Community Quarantine (GCQ).
Harry Roque, the Presidential spokesperson, in his speech a week ago regarding general community quarantine made an announcement about the confirmation that more government functions including the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be running again soon enough.
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Edgar Galvante, LTO assistant secretary, stated in a public advisory that motor vehicle registration that expired on March 16th until the date of work resumption will observe a 60 day or two month extension and that a grace period will be followed in areas affected either by enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or general community quarantine (GCQ).
The same protocol will be applied to the following:
- Driver’s licenses,
- The accreditation of Manufacturer, Assembler, Importer, Rebuilder, Dealer; and
- Other Entities (MAIRDOES), and other permits issued by the LTO.
There are different guidelines to be followed for motor vehicles with assigned plate numbers. If you're under the same dilemma, reading this would be beneficial for you. In fact, here are some of those guidelines that they have set:
Read: Some of the New LTO Rules Might Revoke Your License After Repeated Violations
- For plate numbers ending in 3 and 4, the registration is still valid up to June 30, 2020 and can be renewed up to the said month without penalty. However, the public should note that for those ending in 3, the weekly late fee shall be charged if 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 is the middle or second to the last digit of the plate number.
- Secondly, for plate numbers ending in 5 and 6, the registration is still valid up to the 31st of August, 2020. Moreover, the Department said that it can be renewed up to the said month without penalty.
Limited operations and personnel
However, the DOTr notes that the LTO will limit its operations as well as the number of its personnel as to counter and observe the national government's health protocols. This, in turn, triggered the fact that the Department is considering opening its counters on Saturdays as to compensate for the anticipated backlog during the period of extended validity of vehicle registration.
Read: LTO Driver’s License Exam Reviewer in Tagalog
In addition to that, the frontliners will be given priority akin to senior citizens; Persons with Disabilities (PWDs); and pregnant women as to recognize their efforts and contribution in the war against the pandemic, COVID-19.
Suspension of any transactions involving advanced renewal will take effect as to give way to the transactions regarding the extended validity of vehicle registration.
Settling with the new normal
Social distancing measures are to be imposed when transacting inside LTO offices due to the “new” normal guidelines upon the continuation of LTO functions after May 15th. Certain matters like the extended validity of vehicle registration or renewal will also be observed.
Read: 15-Hour Seminar For Student Permits, Will be Required by the LTO
Application for license renewal must be followed even before the end of grace period so as to prevent congestion at LTO offices, Galvante added. This act is for the avoidance of overcrowding of the offices when they plan on settling it on their deadlines.
All applicants should process their registration BEFORE the end of the grace period, to avoid overcrowding at the offices on the day of the deadline.”
Luzon was the first to experience the suspension of government work when the extended community quarantine (ECQ) was implemented. Provinces, cities, and municipalities in Visayas and Mindanao followed after. Metro Manila and other high-risk areas will remain under total lockdown from May 1st onwards.
Fixers in the Department
LTO also reminded the public against fixers pretending to handle applications for license renewal and registration of motor vehicles, even going so far as to say that supposedly due to ECQ protocols, all applications have been on hold.
Read: The Updated LTO Student’s Permit Requirements and Procedure 2020
In fact, the LTO gave an official warning to the public about fixers that they will be encountering when they pay a visit to any LTO branch or office.
We strongly caution our clients and the general public that the said services are not authorized by the agency, and are therefore patently illegal.”
During the same time period after work resumption, document requirements for smoke emission tests that have not been submitted will also be accepted by the agency. All documentary requirements that have expired during the same time will also be accepted as the effective implementation of ECQ and its entire duration halted the counting of validity period.
Are there going to be penalties?
So for a quick note, would there be penalties for the late issuance of vehicle plates and registrations? Are there going to be some fees in relation to the inability of renewing or registering your vehicle registration or driver’s license?
Read: Land Transportation Office (LTO): List of Traffic Violations, Fines and Penalties
No penalties will be issued for vehicles purchased from March 5th up to resumption of work in LTO offices if the sale is reported within 15 calendar days upon resumption. In addition to that, the Temporary Operator’s Permits (TOPs) that have expired since March 16 is no longer valid to be used as temporary license.
What do you think of the extended validity of vehicle registration devised by the LTO? Do you think that this can greatly help and aid in the current situation we are in now?
Currently, there are a total of 11,086 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus in the country – so the decision of whether or not the enhanced community quarantine will be lifted or not will depend on the COVID-19 situation.
How about the smoke test result?