THE Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered all accredited vehicle dealers to use a conduction sticker number as a temporary plate number in the release or delivery of vehicles to buyers.

This means that even though the vehicle is new, it has been registered with the LTO but the plate number is not yet available, and the dealer cannot just release or deliver the vehicle to the buyer without a conduction sticker as temporary plate number.

The order of Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, the LTO chief, took effect last Feb. 15 yet, said LTO 7 Director Alita Pulga.

Galvante based his order on Republic Act 4136, also known as the Land Transportation and Traffic Code as amended by Batas Pambansa Bilang 74.

Galvante said the order is to ensure that only registered motor vehicles are used and operated on or upon any public highway.

However, for motorcycles, and used imported and rebuilt motor vehicles, the file number can be used as a temporary license plate number, Galvante said.