LTO car registration renewal 2022: Everything you need to know

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is the one responsible for making sure that all vehicles in the country are registered and roadworthy. As a general rule, the government agency is requiring all motorists to renew their registration every year, after the initial three-year registration validity on brand-new cars.

If you fail to register your car depending on the guidelines set out by LTO, you will be charged with hefty fines that can reach as much as Php 10,000. However, renewing your car’s registration is not as simple as ABC considering that the process comes with strict guidelines every motorist should follow including the different designated renewal dates. 

With that being said, we have listed down four things you need to keep in mind on LTO car registration renewal 2021. Renewing your car on its designated registration date will not only save you from hefty fines, but can also ensure that your car is always in tip-top shape. Of note, due to the threats of COVID-19, LTO has made vehicle registration extensions for the convenience of car owners.

1. When to renew car registration in the Philippines

LTO car registration renewal is decided by the car’s license plate number. So the question here is how to read a car plate number in the Philippines. The last digit of the plate number tells you your month of vehicle renewal. So for example, if your car’s license plate number ends in 1, then it is due for January. You may see the full list of monthly schedules below.

When to renew car registration in the Philippines?

As for the weekly deadline of registration, you may also follow this number scheme but using the 2nd to the last digit (the mid digit) of the plate number instead. Numbers 1, 2, and 3 should be registered on working days from the first to 7th of the month (the 1st week of the month); alternately, 4, 5, and 6 on the 2nd week; 7 and 8 on 3rd week; then lastly, 9 and 0 on the last week of the month.

Let’s take the license plate ABC 5678 as a particular instance. 

For monthly schedule, the last digit is 8 signifying your vehicle should be registered in August. Meanwhile, 7 is the 2nd to the last digit of your plate number, so you should visit the LTO on the working days of the 3rd week of August (from 15 to 21). If you have to renew this vehicle this year, it will be on August 15, 16, 17, 20, and 21.

Please note that you can definitely register your car one month in advance

All Pinoy motorists must stick to this schedule or LTO car registration renewal will cost you some of your hard-earned money. There are penalties that will be imposed once you don't attend to your mandated schedule. If you decide to drive with expired car registration, the LTO will fine you as much as Php 10,000 and impound your vehicle.

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

2. LTO requirements for car registration renewal

There are plenty of LTO requirements for the renewal of car registration that you should strictly comply with. A few of the reasons why the government agency has strict guidelines include preventing any illegal car ownership in the country and ensuring that all vehicles on Philippine roads are roadworthy to reduce road accidents. If you get your car from a seller, make sure to ask him about the transfer of ownership.

To answer your question on how to renew car registration, you must present the following in any of your preferred LTO branches:

• Appropriate Insurance Certificate of Cover (COC)
• Certificate of Emission Compliance (CEC)
• Photocopy of Certificate of Registration (CR) and Official Receipt of payment
• Duly accomplished and approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Report (MVIR)
• Taxpayer’s Identification Number

Meanwhile, here are the documents you need to present to LTO if you decide to register a new imported car:

• Bill of lading
• Certificate of Stock Reporter (CSR)
• Bureau of Customs Certificate of Payment
• Sales Invoice of the motor vehicle
• MVIR
• Insurance Certificate of Cover
• Certificate of Public Convenience from the LTRFB for public transport MVs
• Taxpayer's Identification Number of TIN

3. LTO car registration renewal fee 2022

The initial fee for registering your car in the Philippines is 1,000. There are still other costs that can be imposed on you by an LTO evaluator depending on what your car needs to meet the government agency's standards. Some of the other costs include stickers priced at Php 50 and a new plate priced at Php 450. If you are going to renew your car registration, it will only cost Php 400.

LTO car registration renewal fee in the Philippines in 2021 is P400/category

4. Tips for car registration renewal in the Philippines

• Be on time. It is suggested that you arrive to the LTO before 8 a.m. to prevent huge waits.
• Don't forget to prepare loose change for the photocopying and store your early-warning equipment in the trunk.
• A government agency may have announced an extension of the LTO registration period due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Make sure your vehicle is in excellent working order before the inspection.
• Never pay LTO officials or fixers to expedite the renewal of an LTO vehicle registration. Avoid paying LTO fixers as much as you can because doing so constitutes corruption.
• Always keep your receipts and paperwork with you to prevent delays.
• The LTO is charging a Php 200 weekly LTO penalty for late registration. If you drive an expired vehicle on the road, you will already be fined Php 10,000. As a result, arrive early to register.
• You must wear a face mask and face shield inside LTO's building, so bring these with you.

To avoid long lines, it is advised that you should show up at the LTO before 8 a.m

We hope that you now know how to renew car registration in the Philippines. Yes, car ownership does come with plenty of requirements for it to be legally driven on the road. Plus, the COVID-19 even made LTO registration more inconvenient. As such, you should prepare for it and renew your car registration if it is about to expire to avoid inconvenience, as well as hefty amounts of fines from LTO. 

At the moment, the process for LTO car registration renewal hasn't changed. We will update the 2022 regulations as soon as they come out. Read more helpful driving tips at Philkoste.com

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