Every LTO Fee for Car Registration, Driver’s License, and Violations

Published on: February 16, 2021 . Last updated: February 17, 2021 Category: Car Insurance

Each transaction with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) comes with a fee—whether it’s for vehicle registration, driver’s license application or renewal, or settling a traffic rule violation. Learning about every LTO fee is an inescapable reality every car owner in the Philippines must deal with.

What’s worse than parting away with your money is getting shocked at the amount you’ll have to pay at the LTO office. Unpleasant surprises like that can be avoided if you know the exact fees that you’ll be charged beforehand. That, or bring extra cash to avoid the inconvenience of running to the nearest ATM.

Before you head out to the LTO office, take note of these LTO fees to expect for each kind of transaction you’ll have with the government agency.

Table of Contents

LTO Car Registration Fees
LTO Fees for Driver’s License Application and Renewal
LTO Violation Fees
Final Thoughts
Get a Free Car Insurance Quote!

LTO Car Registration Fees

In August 2018, reports surfaced about the Department of Finance’s proposal to increase the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC). This is the MVUC meaning and it is part of the LTO fees you pay when you register your vehicle.

As of this writing, no executive order has been released yet by the Malacañang, so the present rates on the LTO website are the same.

MUVC Rates for Car Registration

Here are the MVUC rates for private cars in the Philippines based on vehicle type and gross weight. For starters, registering your motorcycle will cost you PHP 240 and PHP 300 if it has a sidecar.

Vehicle Type	Gross Weight	MVUC
Light passenger cars	Up to 1,600 kg	PHP 1,600
Medium passenger cars	1,601 kg to 2,300 kg	PHP 3,600
Heavy passenger cars	2,301 kg and above	PHP 8,000
Utility vehicles	Up to 2,700 kg	PHP 2,000
Utility vehicles	2,701 kg to 4,500 kg	PHP 2,000 + 0.40 x gross weight in excess of 2,700 kg
SUVs (1991 models and above)	Up to 2,700 kg	PHP 2,300
SUVs (1991 models and above)	2,701 kg to 4,500 kg	PHP 2,300 + 0.46 x gross weight in excess of 2,700 kg
Motorcycles without sidecar	N/A	PHP 240
Motorcycles with sidecar	N/A	PHP 300
Trucks	4,501 kg and above	0.24 x gross weight

LTO charges a different set of MVUC rates for aged private cars (model year 2000 and older):

Vehicle Type	Gross Weight	MVUC
Light passenger cars (1995-2000 models)	Up to 1,600 kg	PHP 2,000
Light passenger cars (1994 and older models)	Up to 1,600 kg	PHP 1,400
Medium passenger cars (1997-2000 models)	1,601 kg to 2,300 kg	PHP 6,000
Medium passenger cars (1995 and 1996 models)	1,601 kg to 2,300 kg	PHP 4,800
Medium passenger cars (1994 and older models)	1,601 kg to 2,300 kg	PHP 2,400
Heavy passenger cars (1995-2000 models)	2,301 kg and above	PHP 12,000
Heavy passenger cars (1994 and older models)	2,301 kg and above	PHP 5,600

Other LTO Fees for Car Registration

In addition to the MVUC, other LTO fees can raise the total fee for your car registration.

For example, there’s a separate fee for the license plate. Even changing certain parts of your vehicle and the location of your vehicle registration can incur an LTO fee.

Recently, the LTO released a memo that orders charging of a PHP 1,800 inspection fee for vehicles weighing 4,500 kg or lower. If the vehicle fails the inspection, a PHP 900 re-inspection fee will be charged. Vehicle inspection is one of the requirements for registration with the LTO.

LTO Fee	Amount
Private motor vehicle inspection center (MVIC) fee	Vehicles with gross weight equal to or less than 4,500 kg: PHP 1,800 Motorcycles: PHP 600
Re-inspection fee	Vehicles with gross weight equal to or less than 4,500 kg: PHP 900 Motorcycles: PHP 300
Legal research fund	PHP 10
Computer fee	PHP 169.05
Regular vehicle license plate	PHP 450
Motorcycle license plate	PHP 120
Cost of sticker	PHP 50
License plate duplication/replacement	PHP 450
Vanity plate	Select Edition: PHP 10,000 Premium Edition: PHP 15,000
Change classification/chassis/color/engine/tire size	PHP 30
Change body design	PHP 100
Change of venue of vehicle registration	PHP 100
Revision of gross vehicle weight	PHP 30
Transfer of vehicle ownership	PHP 50 per transfer

LTO Penalty for Late Registration

You’ll be paying more if you register your vehicle past the LTO’s deadline. Here is a list of LTO late registration penalties:

Delinquent Vehicle Registration	Penalty Fee
Beyond the registration week (based on the middle digit of plate number)	Vehicles: PHP 200 Motorcycles: PHP 100
Beyond the registration month but not more than 12 months (based on the last digit of plate number)	50% of the MVUC rate
Beyond 12 months without apprehension for LTO violations	50% of the MVUC rate plus renewal
Beyond 12 months with apprehension for LTO violations	50% of the MVUC rate plus renewal for every year of delinquency

Check the LTO website^[1] for more information about vehicle car registration and renewal-related fees.

LTO Fees for Driver’s License Application and Renewal

Applying for a new driver’s license? Or renewing your existing license? Make sure you bring the correct amount to pay the appropriate LTO fee.

Transaction	Total Fee
Student permit application	PHP 317.63
Driver's license application (professional/non-professional)	PHP 820.26
Driver's license renewal (professional/non-professional	Valid license: PHP 652.63 PHP 727.63 for license expired for one day to one year PHP 802.63 for license expired for one to two years PHP 1,045.26 for license expired for over two years
Dormant license renewal (professional/non-professional)	PHP 1,045.26
License classification change request	Valid non-professional to professional (and vice versa): PHP 560.26 Expired non-professional to professional (and vice versa): PHP 920.26 + penalty

Check the LTO website ^[2] for more information about driver’s license-related fees.

LTO Violation Fees

Break a traffic rule, and you’ll be slapped with a fine. Here is a list of every LTO fee for common traffic violations in the Philippines:

Violation	Fine
Driving without a valid driver's license	PHP 3,000
Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or dangerous drugs	Not resulting in injuries or death: PHP 20,000 to PHP 80,000 Resulted in injuries: PHP 100,000 to PHP 200,000 Resulted in death: PHP 300,000 to PHP 500,000
Reckless driving	First offense: PHP 2,000 Second offense: PHP 3,000 Subsequent offense: PHP 10,000
Submission of fake documents in driver's license application or renewal	PHP 3,000
No seat belt (including having a child passenger six years old and below on the front passenger seat)	First offense: PHP 1,000 Second offense: PHP 2,000 Third offense: PHP 5,000
No motorcycle helmet	First offense: PHP 1,000 Second offense: PHP 3,000 Third offense: PHP 5,000 Fourth and succeeding offenses: PHP 10,000
No driver's license, certificate of registration, or official receipt while driving	PHP 1,000
Traffic violations such as parking violation, disregarding traffic signs, illegal turn, illegal overtaking, and others listed under the Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01	PHP 1,000
Driving an unregistered vehicle	PHP 10,000
Unauthorized vehicle modification	PHP 5,000
Vehicle without or with defective/improper/unauthorized devices, accessories, parts, and equipment	PHP 5,000
License plate not attached or improperly attached	PHP 5,000
Smoke belching	First offense: PHP 2,000 Second offense: PHP 4,000 Third offense: PHP 6,000
Vehicle registration/renewal fraud	PHP 3,000

Visit the LTO website^[3] for more information about the fines and penalties for violations of traffic laws and regulations.

Read more:

Final Thoughts

Many LTO penalties leave motorists scratching their heads in confusion and frustration. But nothing much can be done, except to pay what’s due.

You can avoid or at least minimize the costs, though. Obey traffic rules and practice safe and defensive driving so that you won’t be penalized with a fine. Also, renew your car registration on time, so you won’t be paying an LTO fee for late registration. Lastly, renew your driver’s license while it’s still valid, as renewing an expired license can cost you more.

Get a Free Car Insurance Quote!

Looking for car insurance? Below is a list of top car insurance companies and their features. Compare your options and get a free insurance quote from Moneymax!

Car Insurance Company	Features
MAPFRE Insular	10 years of casa eligibility 366 accredited repair shops PHP 5,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 3,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 5,000 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 10,000
Malayan Insurance	3 years of casa eligibility 58 casa repair shops PHP 7,500,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 1,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 4,000 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 8,000
New India Assurance	10 years of casa eligibility 30 accredited repair shops PHP 3,500,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 1,500 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 4,000 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 10,000
Prudential Guarantee	10 years of casa eligibility PHP 3,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 5,500 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 15,000
SGI Philippines	5 years of casa eligibility 36 accredited repair shops PHP 5,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing amount - Yes, up to PHP 5,000 Vehicle removal crane services - PHP 10,000
Stronghold Insurance	10 years of casa eligibility 167 accredited repair shops PHP 3,000,000 maximum total sum insured
The Mercantile Insurance Corporation	10 years of casa eligibility 77 accredited repair shops PHP 5,000,000 maximum total sum insured Overnight accommodation - Yes, up to PHP 2,000 Towing - Yes, up to PHP 5,000 Vehicle removal crane services - Yes, up to PHP 10,000

Sources:

^[1] Schedule of Motor Vehicle Fees and Charges (LTO Official Website)
^[2] Driver’s License and Permit Fee and Charges (LTO Official Website)
^[3] Revised Schedule of Fines and Penalties for Violations of Laws

Venus Zoleta

Venus is the Head of Content at Moneymax, with over 15 years of combined experience in digital marketing, corporate communications, PR, and journalism. She invests in stocks, mutual funds, VUL, and Pag-IBIG MP2. Outside of work, she’s crazy about cats and Korean dramas. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.

Written By:

Venus Zoleta

Venus is the Head of Content at Moneymax, with over 15 years of combined experience in digital marketing, corporate communications, PR, and journalism. She invests in stocks, mutual funds, VUL, and Pag-IBIG MP2. Outside of work, she's crazy about cats and Korean dramas. Follow Venus on LinkedIn.