LTO extends license, registration deadlines after storms

By Gerome Dalipe

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Tuesday extended the deadline for motor vehicle registration and driver’s license renewal set for September 30, 2025, waiving late penalties to assist motorists affected by recent storms.

The directive was issued by Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II following instructions from Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to provide relief to storm-hit communities.

“I already issued a memorandum to our regional directors down to the district offices regarding the deadline extension,” Mendoza said.

Under the memo, registrations and licenses expiring on September 30, 2025, are automatically extended, with no penalties collected until October 3, 2025.

The 15-day settlement period for traffic-apprehension cases that began on September 26, 2025, is likewise extended until October 3, 2025.

The move follows cancellations of government work and widespread disruption caused by Typhoon Opong, tropical cyclones Mirasol and Nando, and heavy monsoon rains across Bicol, the Visayas, and southern Luzon.

The LTO said the temporary relief is intended to ease the burden on motorists while communities recover from flooding and storm damage.

Motorists were advised to monitor local LTO offices and official LTO channels for updates and to take advantage of the extension without fear of late fees.

In a separate memorandum, Mendoza ordered regional and assistant regional directors and law enforcement units to prohibit the use of provisional, improvised, and temporary plates starting October 15, citing no backlog in plate production and the nationwide rollout of Same Day Registration and Plate Release at point-of-sale.

The memo allows improvised plates only with written authorization from the LTO office that processed a duplicate plate request, provided the assigned plate number is displayed with the words “Improvised Plate” below it.

The LTO warned that the unauthorized use of provisional, improvised, or temporary plates will result in apprehension under Joint Administrative Order 2014-001 and other applicable laws.