According to a memorandum released by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the required “stencil” of a vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers has been dropped from the motor vehicle renewal registration process.
The taking of "stencil" is no longer needed for renewing your vehicle's registration
Known as LTO Join Memorandum Circular No. 2023-2399, it seeks to provide more convenience for the agency’s clients. According to the LTO, it likewise aligns with the agency’s measures to streamline its processes and make them more efficient. The move is also in accordance with Republic Act 11032, which is also known as the “Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act.”
There are, however, some caveats to the new ruling. For starters, a vehicle that’s due for registration renewal should still undergo and pass a physical inspection. This is to ensure that it is safe and road worthy.
It wasn’t detailed in the memorandum, but the latter implies that car owners will need to get pass emissions testing or have their rides examined by a motor vehicle inspection center (MVIC). In this regard, motorists may still choose one or the other as private motor vehicle inspections are not yet mandatory.
LTO officials will also double-check the car so its relevant details like its plate number, make, and year model, matches the ones indicated on the Certificate of Registration (CR).
You still need your car to get inspected by an emissions testing center or a PMVIC
Note that this measure was spearheaded by former LTO chief Jayart Tugade who recently stepped down from his post. It follows his efforts in capping the fee for the medical exam required for driver’s license renewals, the standardization of driving school tuition fees, as well as the rollout of the digital LTO driver licenses.
Back in February 2023, the LTO also launched its online vehicle registration service. So together with the fact that “stencils” are no longer required, one can say that this process has gotten a whole lot easier.
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