Motorists about to renew their vehicle registration in the coming months will find a temporary reprieve from the extra Php 450 that needs to be paid for the replacement of old license plates.

The collection of the extra fee for new vehicle license plates, which started in May 2014 as part of the Plate Standardization Program of the Land Transportation Office (LTO), has been disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Those who have paid the fee during their previous vehicle registration will still be issued their new license plates as soon as it becomes available according to the LTO.

Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is still hoping to resolve the issue so that the agency can continue with their standardization program.

“We are currently in the process of resolving the issue with the COA regarding the Plate Standardization Program. We hope issues will be resolved and COA lifts the disallowance so we can provide the public with plates for improved road safety,” Abaya said.

The LTO claims that their new license plates have new safety features that aim to prevent illegal practices such as ‘tanggal-plaka’ or plate removal or switching done by carnappers and drivers of colorum public utility vehicles.