Vehicle registration for new cars, motorcycles to be extended to 5 years

MANILA: The validity of registration for new vehicles will be extended to five years, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) executive, the proposal to prolong the vehicle registration for newly-released units from three years to five has received a green light from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Per Lopez, the said move is eyed to improve car or motorcycle ownership in the country — noting that there is a need for a longer vehicle registration period on new vehicles as dealerships are already offering extended warranty periods. 

“Kumbaga nag-level up itong mga casa, magle-level up din tayo sa mga polisiya natin. But more than that, dahil sa extension ng validity maiiwasan natin ‘yung mahabang pila sa LTO sa mga magre-renew na naman, tapos may issue rin ng fixers at corruption, at again, priority natin ‘yung convenience ng public ("Since these dealerships have leveled up, we will also level up our policies. But more than that, because of the extension of validity, we will be able to avoid the long queues at the LTO for those who are renewing, then there is also the issue of fixers and corruption, and again, our priority is the convenience of the public," Lopez said.

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Aside from that, the government expressed firm belief that such a move would resolve the issue of vehicle owners not renewing their registration after three years.

Meanwhile, Lopez clarified that only those brand new cars and motorcycles will be covered by the new policy. After the prescribed period, owners need to renew their vehicle registration annually and a road-worthiness check must be completed in the fourth year.

“On the sixth year, kailangan nang i-renew ‘yan and every year thereafter. Ang rason po dyan, habang tumatagal o tumatanda ang ating sasakyan, it becomes less reliable because of depreciation or wear and tear. Mas kailangan ang LTO na magkaroon pa rin ng comprehensive roadworthiness check (On the sixth year, it needs to be renewed and every year thereafter. The reason for that is, as our vehicle ages, it becomes less reliable because of depreciation or wear and tear. The LTO needs to continue to have a comprehensive roadworthiness check),” Lopez explained.

Relatedly, the transportation secretary appealed to vehicle dealers as well as the members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Incorporated (CAMPI) to give to buyers the five-year registration for free.

“I think 80-90 percent ng car dealers, nagbibigay sila ng free registration as come-on. Makikiusap ako sa CAMPI na baka pwede pa rin nilang gawin, free registration pa rin para at least makakatipid ‘yung ating mga kababayan (I think 80-90 percent of car dealers, they give free registration as come-on. I will ask CAMPI to maybe they can still do it, still free registration so that at least our countrymen can save money),” Lopez shared.

The corresponding department order and memorandum circular (from the DOTr and the Land Transportation Office, respectively) regarding the policy is expected to be released soon — as the target implementation is set on February 15.

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