No plate, No travel to be implemented soon
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to re-implement the “No plate, No travel” soon, especially for motorcycles that were purchased between January 1, 2023 to present.
Speaking to the media last Friday, August 2, 2024, LTO chief, Assistant Secretary, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II said that 2023-2024 model motor vehicles (MV), as well as motorcycles, should have no valid reason as to why they still don’t have their license plates, as the LTO has caught up with the production for these models.
“We’re now thinking na yung mga 2023-2024 models - dapat lahat yan may plaka na po talaga yan...Once we implement the 'no plate, no travel, ay nabigyan na po natin ng sapat na panahon yung ating mga motorista at mga dealer na ipamigay ang mga plaka, at least for 2023-2024 [models]. There should be no reason na bakit walang plaka itong mga sasakyan na ito - both motorcycles and motor vehicles,” said Mendoza.
(We’re now thinking that the 2023-2024 models – should already have their license plates…Once we implement the ‘No plate, No travel’, we have already given motorists and dealers enough time to distribute the plates, at least for the 2023-2024 models. There should be no reason why these have no license plates – both motorcycles and motor vehicles.)
New LTO memo in effect
On July 1, 2024, the LTO issued a new memo VDM-2024-2721. Under the new memo, which is already in effect as of August 1, 2024, revokes the previously issued memo JMT-2023-2400.
“Considering the absence of backlog in the production of motor vehicle plates vis-à-vis our continuous improvement and alignment of policies with current standards and practices Memorandum Circular No. JMT-2023-2400 entitled “Use of improvised/temporary motor vehicle plates” dated 22 May 2023 is hereby revoked.”
JMT-2023-2400 basically sets the guidelines on the use of temporary/improvised plates due to their short supply.
For motorcycles, the use of a temporary license plate reflecting the MV File number will only be allowed for motorcycles purchased before January 1, 2023. For new motorcycles purchased on or after January 1, 2023, the use of a temporary plate with an MV File number will only be allowed for a period of 15 days from the issuance of a sales invoice.
The new memo, VDM-2024-2721 also says that “all motor vehicles and motorcycles using non-LTO issued plate number, shall be apprehended and the appropriate legal action and penalties shall be imposed.
June 2025
The LTO also vowed to end all the motorcycle license plate backlog by June 2025 as the agency’s plate-making facility will be in full swing starting October 2024, producing a target of 1 million motorcycle plates a month so that by June 2025, the backlog issue will be finally resolved.
“Starting October [2024], we will be bringing out 1 million plates a month to cover the 9 million backlog. Para (so) exactly by June of next year, tapos na itong (we’re finished with the) 9-million backlog,” said Mendoza.
