Changing the body of a motor vehicle is just one of the many types of car modifications allowed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Not many people want to do it, but it isn’t unusual at all. Some who do it do so to improve the vehicle’s performance while others do so to showcase their individuality through a unique car or for just plain old fun. Whatever your reason is, know that there are certain standards and parameters regarding changing vehicle design in the interest of road safety, environmental protection, and more.
The LTO standards for changing the body of the motor vehicle are lifted off of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) standard for motor vehicles—a standard adopted by many countries in the ASEAN region, including the Philippines who used it as the concrete basis for the guidelines to car modification in the country. To learn more about the standards, requirements and procedures in changing the body of your motor vehicle safely at the LTO, we created this simple, easy-to-follow guide for you.
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There are different types of car or vehicle modifications. However, for our purposes, we are only discussing the body change for motor vehicles in the country. Just like other types though, change in the body of a motor vehicle changes the factory original look and exchanges it for a unique-looking customized car through the use of body kits.
Changing the body of your vehicle naturally involves the car or the vehicle body. If you are an enthusiast, you know what the car body refers to. If you aren’t, then it refers to those parts meant to ensure the highest level of safety for the driver, passengers, and other road users. These parts are mostly attached to the metal shell (unibody) and usually include shock-absorbing components and radiator grilles as well as the vehicle’s roof, hood, fenders, trunk lid, doors, and windows.
Being able to change your vehicle’s body at will means enjoying the following benefits:
Anyone who owns a registered motor vehicle and who intends to change his vehicle body is welcome to do so, provided that he can present all the requirements and pay all the relevant LTO fees.
Car modifications resulting in changes in the car body requires re-registration at the LTO to inform the relevant authorities of the changes. This procedure requires the following list of documents from the applicants.
The basic requirements include the following:
The need for additional documents may vary depending on the type of change the car owner wishes to apply for. For changes in the car body, here’s a list of the additional requirements
Changing your vehicle classification from one class to another is a simple process. It does require submission of a certain set of documentary requirements, depending on the type of change you wish to make, but the procedures for doing so remain the same.
To apply for a change in classification for your vehicle, you may follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the LTO Office closest to you.
Step 2: Secure a queue number at the LTO officer-in-charge and wait for your turn.
Step 3: Once your number is called, proceed to the transaction counters.
Step 4: Submit all the required documents to the Evaluator for evaluation and computation of fees.
Step 5: Once the evaluation is completed, get the actual inspection of motor vehicles with duly accomplished Motor Vehicle Inspection Report (MVIR) done.
Step 6: Once the MVIR is ready, proceed to the queue for the cashier window and wait for your turn.
Step 7: Once your name is called, pay for the necessary fees and secure an Official Receipt (OR).
Step 8: Once done, proceed to the Releasing Counter.
Step 9: Present the OR to get the new Certificate of Registration (CR), plates, stickers, and other requested documents.
Step 10: Once you have received the CR and other relevant documents, signs in the CR log book.
Filing for a change in the body of your motor vehicle shall be done in any LTO Office, district or extension offices, whichever is more convenient.
The change in body of motor vehicles will require applicants to pay a total of one hundred pesos (P100.00) in addition to the other regular charges.
For your reference, here are some things you need to remember when applying for a change in vehicle body:
Learn more about the requirements and procedures on how to change vehicle body in LTO by watching this video from MamiZang Vlog.
