President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a proposal to extend the validity of new vehicle registrations from three years to five years.

A memorandum is expected to be released in the coming days, with the policy targeted for implementation as early as February 15th, 2026.

The measure will apply to brand-new vehicles whose registrations are processed by authorised dealers at the time of purchase. It will also cover motorcycles with engine displacements of 200 cc and above.

According to Department of Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez, the move is intended to reduce administrative requirements associated with vehicle ownership. He cited the longer standard warranties now offered by car manufacturers and distributors as one of the reasons the department reviewed the existing policy.

"Since these houses have leveled up, we will also level up our policies. But more than that, [because of the extension of validity] we will avoid the long queues at the LTO for those who are renewing, then there is also the issue of fixers and corruption, and again, [our priority] is the convenience of the public," Lopez said.

Lopez clarified that after the initial five-year validity period, renewals will revert to an annual basis starting from the sixth year. Roadworthiness checks will also be required beginning in the fourth year of ownership.

The Department of Transportation has urged car manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to support the policy by covering registration costs. Lopez called on members of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines to continue offering free registration for newly sold vehicles.

"I think 80-90% of car dealers, they provide free registration as a come-on. I will ask CAMPI to maybe they can still do it, still free registration so that at least our countrymen can save money," he said.

Meanwhile, the Automobile Association of the Philippines expressed opposition to the proposal, stating that it could create additional concerns.

AAP President Augustus "Joe" Ferreria said that a five-year registration period could result in higher accumulated penalties, as the No Contact Apprehension Policy records violations against vehicles rather than individual drivers.

Ferreria urged the department to improve the Land Transportation Office's system, noting that completing a registration renewal currently takes several hours.