A. M. 
With 57 votes, the Legislative Assembly approved reforms to the Transitional Provisions related to vehicle replacement, permit renewals, changes in concessionaires and permit holders, and the extension of public transportation concession contracts, with the goal of ensuring the continuity and improvement of service nationwide.
The modifications establish an 18-month period for concessionaires and permit holders to replace vehicles that reached 20 years of age during 2024, 2025, and 2026, in accordance with the Land Transportation, Transit, and Road Safety Law. Previously, this measure only applied to vehicles that reached that age limit between 2019 and 2023 and were not renewed during the corresponding period.
While the replacement process is underway, vehicles that reach 20 years of age during the decree’s validity period may operate provisionally for one year, provided the owners demonstrate that they are in the process of financing or purchasing a new vehicle. To this end, the Dirección General de Transporte Terrestre (DGTT) must authorize the operation, upon presentation of the vehicle’s technical inspection certificate and documentation supporting the acquisition or financing, in compliance with the General Land Transportation Regulations.
The reforms also allow for the renewal of vehicle registration or route permits in cases where, even though the vehicle is within its useful life, the renewal process could not be completed during the specified years for various administrative or technical reasons.
Regarding changes in concessionaires or permit holders, an 18-month period is granted from the date the decree enters into force for individuals or legal entities that have received vehicles linked to a concession to inform the DGTT of this situation and request a modification of the authorized conditions. The transfer will only be permitted when the new holder is already an authorized operator and provides service on the same route.
These changes must be authorized by the Viceministerio de Transporte (VMT) through a resolution and the corresponding contractual modification, with the possibility of incorporating several routes into a single contract, applying the term most favorable to the applicant.
To complete the process, interested parties must submit the documentation established in the Law of Administrative Procedures, including tax identification, legal documents of the representative, current permits, and, in the case of replacement, proof of legal ownership of the new vehicle.
Likewise, the VMT may grant an additional 18-month extension to concession contracts that expired in 2024 and 2025, or that will expire in 2026, provided there is a technical report verifying compliance with operating requirements. Those with authorized transfer requests pending contract signing may also benefit from this extension.
The reforms stipulate that vehicle acquisition and service provision may be carried out directly or through third parties, and establish the temporary suspension of civil and commercial legal proceedings related to the seizure of public transportation vehicles, for the duration of the decree and only for the concessionaires and permit holders who benefit from it. With these measures, the legislature seeks to facilitate the gradual modernization of the vehicle fleet, guarantee service provision, and provide operational stability to the transportation sector.
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