How to register your vehicle in the Philippines

So you got your new vehicle, a car or even a motorcycle- now what? You have to make your ownership formal and official by registering your ride. But how do you register your new vehicle in the Philippines? Carmudi PH has compiled the step-by-step process to register your vehicle in the Philippines.

Ready your papers

Before showing up at any regional branch of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) you should first have the documents which you obtained through a brand new or used car dealership. These are:

Original copies of registration certificate (CR)- when renewing
Latest official receipt from the dealer (OR)
Purchased compulsory third party liability (CTPL) insurance

Carmudi PH has listed some of the more popular car insurance companies in this post. Do note that LTO requires you to have a CPTL of at least P950.

Know your schedule based on the plate number

If you bought a second hand vehicle from a used car or used motorcycle dealership you are not allowed to change its license plate. This rule is under the provisions of the Batas Pambansa Blg. 43: An Act Providing Number Plates to Owners of Motor Vehicles and Trailers.

This basically means that the car’s license plate is meant to stay with it for a lifetime. However, reclassifying your car- from government to private, or from private to “for hire”, etc. is permissible. When renewing or registering a used car under your name, your schedule is based on the license plate number:

Plate Number’s Last Digit	Month
1	January
2	February
3	March
4	April
5	May
6	June
7	July
8	August
9	September
0	October

Plate Number’s Middle Digit	Weekly Deadline (Working Days of the Month)
1,2,3	1st to 7th day
4,5,6	8th to 14th day
7,8	15th to 21st day
9,0	22nd until last day of the month

For example, your car’s plate number is ABC 123, you need to register your car on or before the last working day falling between March 1-7. Do note, however, that practices in the Philippines do not necessarily require re-registration of a used car under your name. Most of the time, a deed of sale will suffice.

Stencils, Emission testing

Going to the LTO requires preparation for the long lines ahead inside their office; bringing snacks is preferable. Then head to the emission testing center (or have it accredited at any emission center) and pay the emission fee of P410.00. Stencilling is also part of the LTO service or of the government affiliated emission firm. It is usually free (unless you give the LTO personnel a tip).

Car testing usually takes around an hour to an hour and a half. Get the results before going to the next stage.

Present your documents

Go to the LTO inspector officer, who upon showing your emission test papers, will show you to the LTO cashier. Give the teller your documents (OR, CR, CTPL, emission result) and let it be processed. Wait for your number to be called and pay P1,974.00.

Remember to always follow the LTO deadline discussed above, as a late registration can cost you a penalty of P200.0o if you have missed your deadline by a week. However, if your payment is delayed by more than a month, the LTO will fine you 50 percent of the user charge.

Do note that you can also renew or register at any LTO District Office in another district, say for convenience sake (i.e. shorter lines). However, you need to pay P100.00 for change of venue of your vehicle registration.

LTO Renewals

In Januray 2015, the LTO issued new standard license plates. Car owners wishing to renew their registrations will have to prepare a fee of P450.00 for the license plates. These new plates can be claimed 45 days after you have renewed your LTO registration.

Motorcycle registration fee

Registering your motorcycle also follows the same procedure. However, their fees can be different, depending on your TPL provider and the LTO office location. One motorcycle registrant in Lucena, for example, posted his payment as follows: