DOTr: Visual inspections are still required for registration renewal

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) reminds the public that visual inspections are still needed for vehicle registration renewal. While going to a  Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) is no longer a requirement, motorists will still have to visit a Land Transportation Office (LTO) MVIS facility or an LTO satellite office in order to have their vehicle manually/visually inspected. The DOTr clarifies that the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) and the PMVIC are two separate entities and should not be confused with each other. The MVIS pertains to the system itself, while the PMVIC refers to a privately owned testing center. It is important to remember that the LTO does have its own testing centers also referred to as MVIS facilities.

Motorists also have the option of going straight to an LTO MVIS facility for both the visual/ manual inspection along with the emissions testing. This goes in line with the government agency’s Memorandum Circular (MC) 2021-01, Section 2.b., which states that “Visual Inspection of roadworthiness/safety features of a motor vehicle shall be mandatory.” The DOTr, however, did not mention if there would be any changes to the inspection procedure that is currently in place. The government agency has also yet to specify which parts of the vehicle will be visually inspected and how the procedure will go. 

Given that the Philippine government has chosen to keep the MVIS, we suspect that the testing procedures will be updated soon and will be similar to those being used in PMVICs. This could mean that vehicles undergoing visual/manual inspections at LTO facilities could be scrutinized for their body components as well as under chassis parts. If there are updates that will be done to the current system of inspection, possible parts that could be inspected are the headlights, taillights, signal lights, reverse lights, and license plate lights as well. For the body of a vehicle, LTO MVIS facilities will look out for rust and will check to see if other parts are intact. 

While the MVIS and PMVIC came as a shock to many, the government is taking steps to gradually change the system in which vehicle registration can be renewed for the sake of safer vehicles on the road.