LTO warns auto dealers on misinformation about license plate shortage

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has warned motor vehicle dealers against misinforming clients on the real status of their license plate applications, saying the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will soon name delinquent dealers who portray shortage in license plates supply.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya made the warning as the LTO continuously receives reports that car dealers deliberately misinform their customers as to the status of their license plate applications.

“The problem is that the delinquent dealers tell their customers that the LTO does not have new plates, when in fact, they’re the ones who aren’t fulfilling their services. They let months pass despite knowing fully well that the plates are ready – and they even mislead their customers about it,” Abaya explained.

The Transportation chief said the lists of delinquent dealerships will be published in the coming weeks to better inform the public on the dealerships that actually deliver the services they offer to their customers, and which ones are shortchanging their clients.

“The public deserves to know if their car dealerships are shortchanging them. We will release lists of delinquent dealers in the coming weeks to show which ones aren’t fulfilling their prom- ises to their customers,” he added.

For his part, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr. clarified that there is no shortage of plates, specially for brand-new vehicles that will be registered for the first time.

“License plates for first-time motor vehicle registrants are available- on-demand. Yet many of these plates remain unclaimed from LTO offices,” Tan said.

Although vehicle dealerships are regulated by the LTO, Tan declined to answer what prevents the LTO from instilling discipline among delinquent dealers by suspending or revoking their accreditation.

To recall, the LTO has began processing new license plates for public utility vehicles under the agency's Plate Standardization Program. Under the program, motor vehicle and motorcycles will sport dual-tone plate designs that replace nine different license plate editions that are used since 1981.

Private motor vehicles and motorcycles will have plates with black alphanumeric characters on white background while public utility ones will retain the black- on-yellow design. Governmentowned motor vehicles and motorcycles will still use red- on-white plates while diplomatic plates will sport the blue- onwhite design. Protocol plates will use the green- on-white design previously assigned to private motor vehicles and motorcycles while other exempt vehicles will use black- on-blue hue.