LTO Motor Vehicle Registration Renewal

It's that time of the year again: the dreaded annual motor vehicle registration renewal of our beloved cars. Please remember that you cannot renew your vehicle registration in malls or DLRC. You have to go to an LTO branch near you. Bear in mind that we have different dates of deadlines for our cars depending on the plate numbers. Here's a guide to know when you're scheduled to register.

Ending Plate Number (Month Scheduled to Renew Registration)
1 - January
2 - February
3 - March
4 - April
5 - May
6 - June
7 - July
8 - August
9 - September
0 - October

Second to the Last Number (Scheduled Day of the Month to Register)
1, 2, 3 - 1st to 7th of the month
4, 5, 6 - 8th to 14th of the month
7, 8 - 15th to 21st of the month
9, 0 - 22nd to end of the month

If your plate number is XYZ-456, your ending plate number is 6 and that falls under June while your second to the last number is 5 which falls under the 8th to the 14th days of the month, so your scheduled date of registration should be within June 8th to the 14th. If you're unable to register within this period, there is a weekly fine of P200 and a 5% charge of the MVUC (Motor Vehicle User's Charge) every month. The MVUC can be seen in your OR as seen in the photo below.

Now that we know when you're supposed to renew your vehicle registration, let's get to the more important details. What do you need when registering your cars? There are only three things that you need:
1. OR/CR
2. Smoke Emissions Testing
3. Car Insurance

Yup. Those three are the only things you need to register. I understand that an early warning device (reflectorized triangle) was a requirement before but they no longer ask for that now, but just make sure that you have an EWD in your trunk like I did as it is an important tool for a vehicle in case of emergencies. I went to the Manila South District Office of the LTO beside Philippine Postal Corporation in Liwasang Bonifacio.

                              
Let's get to the step by step guide in renewing your motor vehicle registration.
1. A guide will welcome you upon entrance of your car and will advise you on what to do. He will ask for your vehicle insurance. If you don't have one he will ask you to get one from the insurance company inside the compound. My insurance cost 1,189 pesos.

2. Get a smoke emissions certificate from an accredited testing center. The fee for my sedan was 500 pesos. The testing takes 10 minutes for gas engines and 15 minutes for diesel engines. This LTO branch has an emissions testing center inside the compound.

Emissions testing area

3. After completing the insurance and emissions requirement, the guide will take the stencil of your VIN where you're parked and then complete filling up the forms. He will then submit the forms inside the office.

Parking lot in front of the office.

Motorcycle parking lot beside the office.

4. Wait inside as your renewal is being processed.

 

5. The cashier will call the name on your OR (be mindful of the name when called if it's not your name written) and proceed to pay the appropriate amount.

Waiting area

6. After paying, proceed immediately to the releasing window for your OR and new sticker, and you're done.

Everything was finished in about two hours. It took a bit longer than I expected. Total fees amounted to 3,289.06 pesos including the insurance and emissions testing for a regular-sized sedan. Please note that fees differ from other cars.

I hope this will help you in your next renewal of your motor vehicle registration.