Motorcycle registration in the Philippines
Motor vehicles are required to register with the LTO or Land Transportation Office every year. The glitch to the program is that you have to do it at the original office where the first registration was issued.
This may seem to be a non-issue but keep in mind that if you buy a vehicle in Cebu and move to another island, you will still have to return to Cebu with your vehicle every year to get the sticker and up to date paperwork.
A foreigner attracts a bit of attention pulling into the LTO with a habal-habal and they were most helpful. The whole process only took me 45 minutes but I have to return tomorrow morning to pick up the completed registration.
Most habal-habal motorcycles (5 – seater) are used in the outback and the owners do not bother with registration.
In my case, it was necessary to go to Lapu Lapu on Mactan Island to get emissions, bike inspection, insurance and new papers .
The emissions inspection fee was 400 pesos. A photo of the inspector doing the check is stapled to your application.
Note the web cam on the stand.
Carbon paper is rubbed on the serial number on the frame and the engine and then clear tape is applied and lifted. This way there is a copy of the actual number and it leaves less room for corruption and back room tricks to happen.
The tape is put directly on the application form along with a picture of the guy doing the emissions testing. I was happy that they didn’t give me grief about the 5-seater because technically it might not be allowed in the city.
My registration costs were around 1,500 pesos, which kind of surprised me:
400 pesos emissions
550 pesos misc charges for registration
500 pesos insurance
Its always best to try to have your paper work in order, especially if you travel a lot away from your home territory.
Happy trails!
Motorcycle Registration
Climbing Mount Apo
General Santos
Growing Orchids
Judy's Resto Bar
Logging with Motorcycles
Mount Mayon
Balabac Island
Biri Island
Calbiga Cave
Capul Island
Mangrove Swamp Palawan
Mikes's Resort
Wood Boat to Manila Philippines
So that’s replecement for a bike number3??? Anyway im doing motor driving licence. Did I mention Kasia is in Timor? She’ll be happy to meet you
Hi Mateusz!
Wow, surprised to hear from you!
I hear that Kasia is working at Wayne and Ann’s dive shop in Dili. Very cool!
For sure – good old #3 Henry’s old ag bike – I took that machine all over Oecussi and let me say that was some remote backcountry.
You ever hear from the good doctor Kilian?
Keep in touch, you are one cool guy!
dp
Hi DP and great recent up dates.
I have had some experience with the registering motor cycles. If you tell the smoke emission testers at your new address that you wish to have the papers forwarded to them they will do so. Took me about 15 minutes as they did via e mail. Same goes for the LTO, had absolutely no problem at all.
Brought two bikes in Cebu and now relicence them in Siquijor without a problem.
Yes when traveling I always have at least 2 copies of the OR as one never knows when one is stopped for checking. We just completed a 2500km trip here and were stopped just one time. Also I carry a copy of my license.
Keep up the good work and happy trip.
Hi Bruce!
Thanks for the helpful info. I might transfer the paperwork to Leyte, but now I have an excuse to go to Cebu:)
Went through 6 army checkpoints driving through Cotobato in Mindanao today.
I cruise all wrapped up like the local boys, and the soldiers were a bit taken aback when they saw a white guy driving around out there with a habble-habble loaded with dive gear!
Thanks again for all the tips you post on the site!
cheers
dp
great site but do you have any info on a foreigner buying a new bike, what doc’s are needed and how long does it take to get the numberplate and reg docs
Hello frank,
Foreigners can buy motorbikes no worries.
The registration can take anywhere between 2 to 6 months but you can operate with a temporary.
The actual license plate takes a while too and the registration sticker must be applied for every year as well.
It is always a good idea to carry a photocopy of the registration with you at all times so you can prove ownership when you get stopped at checkpoints.
dp