Last year November I bought a nice car, an underused 2 year old, already had number plate. Being unfamiliar with "how things work", but having heard about smoke test requirements, I went to a smoke test center soon after, only to be told "Sir you are way too early, come back next year September, look your plate number ends in a 9, that's the month for testing." Had gotten the same story earlier at the insurance company: "Sir, in this country a car is insured automatically for 3 years when sold new, you only need to get an insurance policy after that. Ok, message understood, and, not wanting to be late, I took the car to the test center again this week. Got tested, paid fee, got paper, and was told to proceed to get insurance and then LTO for re-registration. Armed with paperwork from the testcenter and the insurance company I proceeded to get the car reregistered at LTO. Already slightly amused/irritated after two and a half hour waiting, having counted no less than ten LTO employees taking their (ample) time to each inspect my paperwork, only to send us on to a next window, up to and including the chief officer / manager present. Having finally received a sticker (don't have a clue yet what to do with that) I inspected the receipt given and discovered I had been charged with a 1,000 Php fine/penalty. At my bewildered question about the reason for the fine, I was told that LTO Dumaguete didn't have my car's numberplate in "their system", they still had the provisional number which ended in a 3, so I was 5 months late ??????!!!!!!! As a rule I donot easily lose my temper, but I got pretty close right there and then. An agency (LTO) issued new final plates for my car three years ago and then that same agency charges me a fine because "other region Sir"???!!!! "it hasn't been registered in our computer system Sir"???!!!! "no communication between regions Sir"????!!!! Aaarrrrgggghhhh! To be fair, they offered to "undo the transaction" and repay my money, if I would just wait in line at this or that window, but I was past considering more waiting at that point. Besides, I figured I would probably loose the sticker and my smoketest papers if I agreed to "undo the transaction" and possibly be driving around uninsured, so in the end I thanked the lady for her offer and left.
Not sure Dave, I suppose that if LTO gets their system updated things may change again, but for now I will assume that is very unlikely unless I will go and pursue the matter (and pay some more fees in all likelihood). So for now I will assume that as silly as it is, I will need to go for another smoketest/renewal in March next year.
I was told by the insurance agent (that helped me register the used car I bought) that the sticker goes in the upper right corner of the windshield (inside). My car had stickers from several years that obscured the passengers view. The old stickers were attached to the dark strip of tint on the top/inside of the windshield. I had a hard time getting the stickers off, without also removing the tint, so I had the tint replaced. I attached the new sticker directly to the windshield, underneath the tint.
The Smoke test (Emissions) opposite Cangs, has close down permanently. Went to the one near the pier, was there 3 hours.
i have followed "ernie" for more than five years. he is at the smoke test north of city mall on the north highway, perhaps two blocks or so, same side, across from the call center. he has always been able to explain everything and will do all your paperwork on request. i give a small tip. he was also the referral for me to the best mechanic i have ever had in the phils, "toto", across from the entrance to the airport. he has also become a friend. i would not go anywhere else
Don't go to the LTO for this stuff. I never checked the exact numbers but it can't be more than a few hundred pesos that one pays more for the emissions guys to take care of this if they also sell the insurance. Peace of mind for little money...