How to Register a Motor Vehicle in the Philippines (for Brand New Vehicles)

There are many good reasons why you should familiarize yourself with the process of registering your motor vehicle in the Philippines as soon as — or even before — you buy your new car or motor. The most significant reason, of course, is because it’s the law, plain and simple.

Here’s a quick, clear, and hassle-free guide to registering your motor vehicle in the Philippines, courtesy of FGen Insurance.

Step 1. Set an appointment.

Thanks to the LTO Online PASS, setting an appointment is easier and more convenient. Just follow these simple steps:

Go to the LTO website and click on the LTO Online PASS button on the left side or visit www.lto.net.ph.
Click on Driver’s License Renewal or Motor Vehicle Renewal.
Read the terms and condition, then tick the small box at the bottom of the page to proceed.
Enter the CAPTCHA code and click Continue.
Fill out the online appointment form and submit.
Choose the LTO branch, date, and time for your renewal. For a license renewal appointment, the system will check your license’s expiry date; it will only take you to the scheduling page if your license is up for renewal.

After you’re done, you’ll get a confirmation email from LTO, which you can show the staff at the LTO branch on your scheduled renewal.

Step 2: Get your CTPL coverage.

Make sure that you’re well-protected by getting compulsory third-party liability insurance (CTPL) from a trusted provider, such as FGen. You can find more information here.

Step 3: Get all other necessary documents

You’ll need to compile the following documents:

Step 4: Have your car undergo emission testing.

Head to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), go to the emission testing center, pay the emission fee, and then wait for your car to be tested. Alternatively, you can have your car tested at any emission center. After you get your results, you can go to the LTO inspector office for the next step.

Step 5: Pay the necessary fees.

Show the officer the results of your emission test. Afterward, you’ll be led to the cashier. Submit your documents and emission test results, wait in line, and pay the registration fee when called.

Remember that fees may vary for cars and motorcycles, so be sure to have enough cash prepared for this. Also, make sure to register on time; otherwise, you’ll incur a PHP 200 penalty (for a week’s delay) or a whopping 50 percent MV User Charge (for a delay longer than a month).

When to renew your car’s registration

To find out, simply check your plate number! Here are the plate number last digits and their corresponding months:

Plate number ending in 1: January
Plate number ending in 2: February
Plate number ending in 3: March
Plate number ending in 4: April
Plate number ending in 5: May
Plate number ending in 6: June
Plate number ending in 7: July
Plate number ending in 8: August
Plate number ending in 9: September
Plate number ending in 0: October

As for the day (working days only), pay attention to the middle digit:

Plate number middle digits 1, 2, and 3: 1st to 7th day of the month
Plate number middle digits 4, 5, and 6: 8th to 14th day of the month
Plate number middle digits 7 and 8: 15th to 21st day of the month
Plate number middle digits 9 and 0: 22nd until last day of the month

Now that you know how to register your car or motorcycle, start making plans for car insurance and other important expenses for your newly bought vehicle before you begin the process. After all, it pays to be prepared. Call us at (+632) 706-3959 or visit https://www.fgeninsurance.com/motor-car-insurancefor more details.

References
● http://www.lto.gov.ph/motor-vehicle-registration.html
● https://grit.ph/car-registration/