LTO Car Registration Ultimate Guide: Requirements, Fee, Schedule & More

Car registration here in the Philippines can be quite a challenge as many who have gone through it would usually say. But with a little patience and knowledge however, you can handle this process like a champ.

As you should already know, the registration of a motor vehicle is one of the most important aspects of owning a vehicle. If you bought new, a dealership will tend to include car registration along with your purchase and some might even offer it as a free extra.

After a while, the responsibility of registering your car will fall unto you. This is where the supposedly daunting part takes place. But as we’ve said, if you actually prepare and know the process beforehand, it will be a breeze.

As such, we will provide you, our readers with the knowledge on car registration in the Philippines, LTO requirements for car registration, and of course the LTO registration fee.

1. Land Transportation Office Car Registration: Important things to know

First off, car registration in the Philippines is done in the Land Transportation Office Vehicle Registration office. While some LTO offices are small and you can where to register your car easily, some in major cities like here in Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao are quite huge and you might actually get lost. Some LTO offices do not even have vehicle registration lto departments so take note.

The typical processing area in an LTO office. Almost everything is clad in blue.

Asking first is the best way to avoid that because LTO offices actually have helpful front desk staff willing to point you in the right direction. Fixers should be avoided, nevertheless, as it is against the law to pay them for their services.

Most of these fixers hang around the area where you typically get a medical certificate for your driver’s license or around the gates of the LTO office itself.

Here are some contact details of some LTO offices here in Metro Manila:

As we’ve mentioned before, most dealers will offer to register your car for free or for a fee. Either way, knowing the actual process of how to register a new car will be invaluable for you especially if that dealership service is unavailable or if you actually want to save money by doing it yourself.

It is also worth noting that the LTO car registration validity is initially good for three years so you will have a lot of time to prepare the requirements and fees.

 In order to avoid being hassled further in the process and to save time, there are several things you need to know about your vehicle.

• Is it produced locally?
• What type of car is that?
• What type of fuel is it?
• What brand or make is the car?
• What is the weight of it?
• The shape of the vehicle
• The vehicle's model year
• The displacement and number of cylinders in the car

These are important details to be listed of the LTO certificate of registration. If you’re in doubt, contact your vehicle’s dealership or one of the LTO hotlines above for further clarification.

2. LTO Registration Requirements

Even before going to the nearest LTO office, you must prepare some documents before-hand. Here are the LTO registration forms and requirements for initial registration (brand-new) and renewal for both import cars and locally manufactured cars.

LTO registration requirements for locally manufactured motor vehicles

• Original Sales Invoice of Motor Vehicle
• Certificate of Quality Control
• Certificate of Stock Report or CSR
• A valid PNP-Highway Patrol Group Motor Vehicle Clearance Certificate
• Duly accomplished and approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Report or MVIR
• Insurance Certificate of Cover or COC
• For public transport, MV’s a valid Certificate of Public Convenience from the LTFRB
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number or TIN

LTO requirements for car registration

• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Stock Reporter or CSR
• Bureau of Customs Certificate of Payment
• Sales Invoice of the motor vehicle
• MVIR
• Insurance Certificate of Cover
• For public transport MV’s a valid Certificate of Public Convenience from the LTFRB
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number or TIN

LTO registration renewal requirements for motor vehicles

• Photocopy of Certificate of Registration or CR and the Official Receipt of payment from your car’s previous registration.
• Insurance Certificate of Cover or COC
• MVIR form
• Certificate of Emission Compliance of CEC
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number or TIN
• Confirmation of Franchise from the LTFRB, in case of for hire only

If you want to check for your car’s current registration status, you can do an online LTO registration check on lto.net.ph. From there you can also check your LTO plate number on their motor vehicle backlog inquiry. This will allow you to view if your car’s license plate is already available or not.

>>> Worth to note: How to verify plate number in LTO online in the Philippines

You can now check the status of LTO plate number registration online via lto.net.ph

However, there are instances when you may truly have lost your Certificate of Registration, in which case you may require an affidavit of loss.

The LTO themselves follows the format of an affidavit of loss for your Certification of Registration and this can be easily found on the Internet. After that, you need an attorney to notarize it so you have to prepare a fee of more or less Php 150.

3. LTO Registration Fee

Of course, one thing to prepare is money for your LTO car registration fee and other miscellaneous stuff like stickers, the LTO plate number, etc. So here is a helpful list and breakdown of the amount that you might need to prepare for your car’s registration.

As for the LTO penalty for late registration, here is a table of the corresponding fees you have to pay depending on the length of delinquency:

4. LTO car registration schedule

It would be wise to educate yourself on the plate number-based LTO registration schedule in order to prevent having to pay the LTO penalty for late registration.

The current design of the Philippine plates. Always remember the digits on these for your registration renewal schedule

As for the middle digit, it actually corresponds to the weekly deadline of a renewal schedule of car registration lto.

So let’s say your plate’s numbers are 123, you will then have to renew your vehicle’s registration on the 1^st to the 7^th working day of the month of March. You can also renew your car’s registration ahead of schedule.

5. LTO Car Registration Process

Step #1

When prompted, proceed to one of the counters and present the necessary paperwork. You can also get the calculation of the fees you must pay from this location.

Step #2

An LTO officer will inspect your car. Follow all of his/her instructions when asked to do so.

Step #3

Submit duly accomplished MVIR

Step #4

Receive your official receipt after paying the fees.

Step #5

Receive your certificate of registration, plates, tags, and stickers from the releasing officer.

If you're just renewing a car's registration, you'll only receive the official receipt and a registration sticker  

6. Additional Tips

• Bring a lot of loose change for Photocopy services
• Double check your documents
• Bring drinking water and a fan. It would also be wise to bring a spare shirt
• Go to your nearest LTO early in the day.
• Avoid fixers.
• Double check your vehicle if it needs to be inspected. Make sure you have your early warning device in your trunk.
• If renewing your car’s registration, do the emissions testing a day before going to the LTO. It will save you a lot of time and energy.

Read More: Emission Testing Centers: Everything you need to know

It's also a good idea to withdraw all the money you need beforehand to avoid going back and forth to the nearest ATM

This wall of text and all those information might be a lot to take in. But in due time, as with many things in life, anyone can know the requirements for LTO processes by heart. Also, you’re new to this, patience is key for a seamless and stress-free registration or renewal process.

Visit Philkotse.com for more tips and advice.