FAQs: LTO Penalties for Expired Motorcycle Registrations

Motorcycles that are unregistered pose a high level of risk to the rider. The chances of you getting caught are slim. However, if you get apprehended by an officer, you should prepare to have your vehicle impounded or be forced to pay hefty fines. 

Taking the time to renew your Land Transportation Office (LTO) registration is much cheaper and easier than dealing with all the fees and penalties imposed when your registration has expired. 

It is also worth mentioning that if you renew your motorcycle registration, you will no longer have to worry about riding an unregistered vehicle and being in trouble with the law as you would if it was non-registered. 

READ ALSO: LTO’s Online Portal: List of Traffic Violations Penalties and Sanctions

Is There a Penalty for Riding an Unregistered Motorcycle?

There is a one-year validity period on your LTO motorcycle registration. To comply with the rules and regulations of the LTO, you must renew your registration every year to stay compliant. 

Penalties for Late LTO Registrations

You will have to pay a fine when caught driving an unregistered vehicle on the streets. The fees can be extremely high. 

If your registration is still valid, you can get out of this penalty by presenting a copy of your LTO registration and your certificate of registration (such as a Certificate of Registration or an Official Receipt).

A fine of Php10,000 will be imposed on you if you are caught by an LTO officer violating the registration law if your registration is invalid or expired.  

Additionally, if you do not register your motorcycle within a month of becoming illegal, you will lose your license, and your vehicle will be impounded. On the other hand, once you have paid all the fines and penalties related to your motorcycle and driver’s license, both will be released to you once your bike has been appropriately registered.

LTO Registrations That Are Late Are Subject to Penalties.

There are still penalties at the LTO branch even if you weren’t caught riding an unregistered motorbike, so make sure that you don’t miss the opportunity to renew your vehicle’s license if you are late in renewing your registration. LTO penalties are listed below based on how long it has been since registration.

During the registration week (but no more than one month)
Penalty: ₱100
After registration (but not longer than 12 months)
Penalty: ₱120
Over a year without LTO apprehension
Penalty: ₱120 (Renewal Fee excluded)
Over 12 months with LTO apprehension
Penalty: ₱120 (Delinquency Fee for every year excluded)

₱120 represents 50% of the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge for motorcycles ₱240.

How often should I renew the registration of my motorcycle?

In most cases, people neglect to keep track of the date when they registered their vehicles. This is why so many fail to get their registrations on time. There is a way to determine when it is time for you to re-registered your vehicle. 

In the case of a motorcycle plate number, it is possible to determine the month and week you should go to LTO and renew your motorcycle. 

You will need to look at the last number of your plate number, which corresponds to the month of the year. To determine the week, look at the second to the last digit of your plate number. 

For example:
1 = January
2 = February
3 = March
4 = April
5 – May 
6 = June
7 = July
8 = August 
9 – September 
0 = October

1 / 2 / 3 = the first week (1st day to 7th day)
4 / 5 / 6 = 2nd week (8th day to 14th day)
7 / 8 = 3rd week (15th day to 21st day)
9 / 0 = 4th week (22nd to last day of the month)

For example, let’s assume the plate number of your motorcycle is NA 14259, just like the plate number in the example above. Since the last digit on your license is 9, you have to renew your license in September. In this case, the second to the last digit is 5, meaning you have to renew your license in the second week of September. 

It is essential to keep in mind that you should only visit the LTO branch within your prescribed week and on a working day.

Please be advised that you can renew your motorcycle registration at the LTO one month before your prescribed renewal date if you wish. If you cannot register in time, you will be penalized correspondingly if you go beyond this deadline.  

How Much Will It Cost to Renew a Motorcycle Registration?

The fact that you have to pay the massive penalty fees as a consequence of riding an unregistered vehicle is an inconvenience. To prepare you for your renewal, a list below explains what is usually charged when you renew your registration.

Initial Fee: ₱1000
Renewal Fee: ₱400
Motorcycle License Plate: ₱120
Sticker and Tag: ₱50 per piece
Motor Vehicle User Charge (MVUC): ₱240 (motorcycles)
CTPL Insurance: ₱650
Emission Test: ₱450
Change LTO Branch: ₱100 (only applicable if you renew at a different LTO Branch)

RELATED: How to Register an E-Bike in LTO

Important Reminder

Don’t forget to take along an extra amount in case you are late in renewing, as the penalties accumulated due to the late renewal will also have to be paid for.