LTO suspends guidelines on transfer of ownership of vehicles

The Land Transportation Office has suspended the implementation of its administrative order requiring sellers of used motor vehicles to report the transactions to the LTO within five days.

In a memorandum dated Oct. 23, 2024, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza said AO No. VDM 2024-046 or the "Guidelines in the immediate transfer of ownership of motor vehicles with existing registration" had been held in abeyance until further notice.

"In the best interest of service and to clarify certain provisions for better implementation, as well as to lengthen the compliance period and allow more time to widen the information dissemination, the effectivity of AO No. VDM 2024-046... is held in abeyance until further notice," Mendoza's memo read.

Mendoza said the memo was to take effect immediately. He said failure to abide would be dealt with "accordingly."

The executive director was ordered to draft and submit an amended AO while considering the inputs of other stakeholders. 

The AO, which also covered the donation or transfer of motor vehicles, was released on Aug. 30, 2024.

It also required the motor vehicle's new owner to process the registration and transfer of ownership with the LTO within 20 days after the transaction.

Failure to comply with the reporting and registration requirements would cause the LTO to apply the appropriate alarm tag on the vehicle. —NB, GMA Integrated News