Recently went to get a smog test for my annual registration and was turned away because of the long lines and was told to come back at 5am for a priority number which would then provide me a time to return for the test; luckily I had a "friend" who got me a slot in the afternoon for a small donation. The long lines are a good/bad thing as it shows the checkpoints are having a positive effect on law enforcement but now makes the process less convenient.
Agree, that the difference in price between a brand new and second hand can be a main reason to opt for second hand.
As far as I remember, the deed of sale need to be notarized. And, when I did the ownership change for my car 5 years ago, I had to go to the exact same LTO office where it had been originally registered (in my case, luckily, I just had to go from quezon city to olongapo). Major inconvenience if you buy a vehicle from another island, not knowing about this. But maybe this has changed by now.
It's still the same rules, I get the seller to do this before I bought a second-hand car, I would get everything I buy notarized if it has any value
Straight off the LTO site .................. 20. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF PRIVATE MVs Requirements ♦ Original copy of the Certificate of Registration (CR) or Certificate of Registration Encumbered (CRE) ♦ Original copy of official receipt of payment of latest MVUC and other fees ♦ Original copy of the Deed of Sale/ Transfer/ Conveyance ♦ Confirmation of CR/OR in case the transacting district office is different from the district office that issued the current certificate of registration ♦ Deed of sale with assumption of mortgage with bank's conformity ♦ Written consent from the financing company in case of CRE ♦ PNP-HPG MV Clearance Certificate ♦ Duly accomplished and approved Motor Vehicle Inspection Report (MVIR) ♦ Appropriate Insurance Certificate of Cover ♦ Taxpayer’s Identification Number (TIN) note fourth bullet point
