The Land Transportation Office (LTO) reported on Thursday that it had issued show cause orders (SCOs) against 1,046 dealers in 2024 for their failure to register newly-bought motor vehicles within the prescribed time period.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II disclosed that the agency’s Citizen’s Charter mandates that newly-bought motor vehicles be registered within seven days after the transaction is completed at motor vehicle dealerships.

“Unfortunately, some motor vehicle dealers, despite our repeated reminders of the need to strictly follow the rule, failed to comply, which inconveniences their clients,” Mendoza said.

“Some car dealers, in an attempt to shift the blame to LTO, falsely claim that the agency is at fault. This is unacceptable. We encourage our clients to file complaints with us,” he added.

Mendoza said the intensified monitoring of motor vehicle dealer compliance is part of Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista’s instruction to make all transactions under the Department fast and convenient.

Of the 1,046 SCOs issued in 2024, Mendoza said 21 were already fined after being found negligent during the investigation.

He added that 14 of the motor vehicle dealers were fined P20,000 each; two were fined P30,000 each; while five were fined P100,000 each.

A total of 80 cases were already submitted for resolution, while the rest are still under investigation.