LTO Car Registration Tips

Normally when you buy a brand new car it comes with a 3 year LTO registration and like everyone else I had to register the car at LTO after it expires. Before you head on to the nearest LTO in your area make sure that the car is under your name. Although from what I heard you can register the car even if it’s still in the process of Ownership Transfer.

Let’s start with the transfer of ownership. When I got my car from Toyota Otis last 2010, it was on a lease agreement with Toyota Financial Services. This was the easiest and fastest way to get a car that time. When I paid off everything I had to go to their office in Makati to get the documents (OR, CR, Document indicating ownership from the lender) and when I got back I had to start the process of Ownership Transfer. I though it would be that simple. What could be so hard right? When I met up with my original car sales agent I was advised to go and get a Police Vehicle Clearance at a satellite Police Station near Sto. Domingo Church near Quezon Avenue. Tip number 1: Do not waste your time by going to this Police Station. THE PLACE IS FILTHY! THE PEOPLE THERE ARE SO SLOW! YOU WOULDN’T FEEL SAFE AND IT’S SO HARD TO LOCATE! (Specially if you’re not from the area) One more thing that really stressed me out is after waiting for 1 hour I was told that they ran out of theOrder of Payment Slip which you would need to make a payment at Landbank to start the process. So I just wasted gas and my time going there and waiting for nothing. I suggest going directly to Camp Karingal and get your car’s clearance there.

Camp Karingal opens as early as 7AM. Here are the steps…

1. Bring your documents original and photocopies inside and have them check it.
2. Get an Order of Payment
3. Head over to Landbank at the QC City Hall (kinda stupid since you have to go out of the camp to make the payment). Paid around PHP 300 – 350 not sure with the exact amount it’s been a while.
4. Head back to Camp Karingal and handover the payment slip
5. You will be directed to bring the car to the stencil area and have one of the guys there do their job (usual tip is PHP 20 to 50)
6. A policeman will then come to your car and someone will take a photo of you, him, and the car showing the license plate.
7. Wait for your Police Car Clearance

I then gave the clearance to the car sales agent and to transfer the ownership to your name you have to go to the original LTO branch where it was originally registered. For this I just paid 2500 for a liaison to process it for me. Just don’t wanna deal with the hassle.

After almost two weeks (would have been shorter if it wasn’t for the election 2013) I got a confirmation from my agent that the Ownership Transfer is complete and the OR and CR are ready for pickup. Went to pickup the documents and went to LTO Valenzuela to process the registration. Do check this table for your yearly schedule so you don’t get penalized for late registration.

Got to LTO Valenzuela around 3PM. Went straight to the Information Desk and asked for directions. The guy was helpful and asked for the OR and CR and told me to follow a guy to get an emission test. So here’s what happened:

1. Emission test took 5 minutes paid PHP 400
2. Took the car and park at LTO and was directed to get a TPL worth PHP 800. Took around 10 minutes. I know for a fact you can get TPL (Third Party Liability) cheaper. I got a receipt and it says

Plaridel Surety and Insurance Company
Premium PHP 560
Documentary Stamps PHP 56
Fire Service Tax / Premium Tax / E-VAT PHP 70
Local Govt Tax PHP 114
Total PHP 800

3. Someone from LTO had to stencil the engine and the inside of the car again and I gave him PHP 50 as tip. Took around 10 minutes.
4. Got the document back and had it check and signed by a LTO assessor
5. Paid the fee worth PHP 1929.06 Took around 15 minutes.

Change venue fee PHP 100
Cost Sticker PHP 50
Legal Research Fund PHP 10
MVUC PHP 1600
Comp Fee PHP 169.06
Total PHP 1929.06

6. Waited for the sticker. This took me almost 2 hours!!! I don’t know what’s with the stickers and it took forever.

The OR was also returned to me with the stickers. I suggest you guys have it photocopied and put it in your car and keep the original at home.

Over-all the process was very tiring and there’s so many ways to improve the process to eliminate the possibility of corruption but I guess it would take a really good leader within the LTO to make major improvements. Hope this guide help those who will be going through the same thing I had to go through. (Can’t believe I have to do this every year! Grrrr!) If I missed anything feel free to leave a comment.