SICT Issues Provisional Permits for Vehicle Circulation Amid License Plate Shortage

SICT Introduces Provisional Permits Amid License Plate Shortage

In a significant move to address the ongoing metallic license plate shortage, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications, and Transport (SICT) has authorized the use of Provisional Permits to Circulate Without Plates or Stickers on federal roads and bridges. This decision, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF), aims to ensure the continuity of federal transport operations, which include freight, passenger, auxiliary, and private transport.

Temporary Measure to Ensure Operational Continuity

The SICT’s new measure is designed to prevent disruptions in logistics and passenger mobility while the ministry works to resolve the delays in the distribution of metallic license plates. The provisional permit will be valid for up to 180 calendar days and will serve the same legal function as traditional plates during that time.

Each permit must be clearly visible and include the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) along with a QR code linked to the Federal Transport Institutional System (SIAF). This QR code will store essential information about the vehicle’s registration and circulation card, ensuring administrative traceability and legal certainty. To further enhance security, the SICT may incorporate additional elements such as seals and official graphics to prevent forgery.

Industry Voices Raise Concerns

Despite the intention behind the provisional permits, industry stakeholders have expressed strong concerns. The National Commission for Regulatory Improvement (CONAMER) has received feedback warning that the SICT is issuing permits without enforcing necessary physical-mechanical or emissions verifications, potentially compromising road safety.

Critics argue that the lack of verification leaves both operators and users vulnerable. “They are granting permits without verifications or plates, leaving both operators and users unprotected,” one comment submitted to CONAMER stated.

Moreover, stakeholders have raised issues regarding the regulatory burden, particularly for vehicles carrying hazardous materials, which may end up displaying multiple QR codes from different authorizations.

Mounting Pressure Over Delays

The authorization of provisional permits highlights the growing backlog in plate issuance. SICT data reveals that in April 2025, only 14,041 federal freight permits were processed, marking a 21% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. The shortage is particularly acute in Mexico City, Nuevo Leon, and Jalisco, where demand for renewals and new permits has surged due to logistics growth driven by nearshoring.

Eucario Reyes, President of the National Association of Representation in Motor Transport (ANRA), warned that by October, “no metallic plates will remain available” at the General Directorate of Federal Motor Transport (DGAF). He noted that while the sector proposed an alternative financing mechanism to expedite plate production, the initiative was rejected, leaving companies reliant on short-term permits that do not meet the industry’s long-term operational needs.

Conclusion

As the SICT navigates the complexities of transport regulation amid a license plate crisis, the introduction of provisional permits aims to provide a temporary solution. However, the concerns raised by industry stakeholders underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to ensure safety and regulatory compliance in the transport sector. The ministry has assured that the provisional permits are temporary and will not replace the permanent plate registration process, with further notifications on metallic plate delivery to follow.