July 8, 2011

Top 12 tips in buying a second hand car in the Philippines

All this time, you’ve been aiming to cruise the town or go to and fro your office with your very own wheels but you just can’t have the right amount of money to buy that brand new black sedan seducing you every time you pass the nearby showroom on your way to work.  Most people say it is always better to be the one who gets to put the first miles on a car and buying a second hand car is like buying a huge problem.   For some reason these are true but if you can’t afford a new one then don’t because buying a used one is not as bad - if you know what to consider.  You will have to invest not just money but time, patience and attention to details.  Here are few tips that will guide you in buying the perfect used car for you.   
1.       Documents.  No matter how good that car is, if the papers aren’t clean, you will never be able to drive that car with peace of mind.  Do not waste your time on any car deals that don’t have these papers cleaned up.
Documents you need to check:
1.)    Original copy of Certificate of registration
                Now just because you were able to see it and hold it doesn’t mean it’s clean.  You will still need to read what is written.  Check if the word “ENCUMBERED” is written, normally at the upper right section.  If you can’t see this word, it means the car is clean and you may go proceed with the next steps.  But if you can see this word, you may forget about it and start looking for another.  An “ENCUMBERED” word written on the Certificate of registration, in simple terms, would mean that the vehicle is not yet cleared from its credit with the bank or any financial institutions that paid for the car.  Unless the seller has been downright honest to tell you at the beginning about this and hands you over the details and provides you a noble settlement deal, refuse and turn it down.
2.)    Original Receipt – Current year
3.)    Original LTO Plate number with the latest registration sticker.
If the plate number attached to the front and at the back is not the original sheet metal license plate from LTO, you will have to ask for the AUTHORITY TO USE CUSTOMIZED PLATE officially issued by the Land Transportation Office from the seller.  If he can’t provide any then turn it down.  Using customized license plate is prohibited unless you have the letter mentioned in hand every time you are out driving.  It may not be of a big issue but once you are randomly pulled over by an officer on a check point or apprehended for a traffic violation, they will ask for that piece of paper and you wouldn’t like the hassle it will cause you for not having it.
If the seller can’t show these important documents to you onset, never hesitate to leave the car.

2.       Motor and Body number.  Check the motor and body number engraved on the block and on the chassis firewall if it matches the motor number and body number written on the certificate of registration.  If you can’t find it ask the seller to locate it for you and make sure you will be able to see it for yourself.  A motor number that doesn’t match with what is written on the papers is a big trouble.  Again, never hesitate to leave.

3.       Engine leaks.  Make sure the engine bay is dry in all localities.  A trace of oil in the engine would mean a leakage is present elsewhere and would mean you shelling out another butt load of money ripping off the engine block, replacing all seals and gaskets later on.

4.       Mileage.  The number of kilometers the car travelled determines its freshness.  Take a used car with a low mileage reading.  You can always assume that a car with a relatively high mileage reading has its internal engine parts worn out which will later translate to be a huge liability in the end.

5.       Engine condition.  Do not be deceived by looks.  A beautiful car with a busted engine is useless.  The engine is normally what most un-experienced used car buyers fail to give more attention to.  If you buy a used car with poor engine condition, chances are, you might have to spend again at least half of the amount you spend in buying the whole car just to bring it back to its old glorious performance.  If you want to get the car that will give you the best value for your hard earned money, you will need to spend time on this one.
What you need to check:
                Starting – You will need to check this one in two different conditions. An engine behaves differently in its hot condition as oppose to its cold condition.  Start the engine when it’s hot and start it when it’s cold.  A cold start would mean starting the engine from several hours it has been off.  This would require you to spend hours waiting for the engine to cool down and try starting again.  If the engine starts just fine on a single try, it means engine is still in top condition.  Otherwise, engine has to be checked or cleaned. 
                Idle – Check the condition of the engine at idle.  If the idling is erratic, something is wrong with the engine.  If it idles steadily, this indicates that the engine is in condition.  You can check this by looking at the tachometer in the instrument panel.  Ideally, the engine idle reading should stay between 900 and 1000 rpm.
                Throttle response – You need to check this to see how the engine responds every time you step on the gas pedal.  If the engine revs up without delay when you step on the gas, this means that the engine responds properly as expected.  Otherwise, you can expect an untimely engine revamp few months after.

6.       Clutch & Transmission.  If this thing has not been checked properly, this could be a huge burden for you later on.  Replacing transmission parts are no joke.  They will cost a lot so you should pay sizable attention to this as well.  You can check this by rolling out for a test drive.  Feel the engine as to how the car responds as you shift gears.  Feel the shifter if it shifts from one gear to another without any trouble.  Feel the engine power at first gear as it runs from full stop.  If you feel less power, this indicates that the transmission system already needs serious attention and serious amount of cash.

7.       Wheels & Suspension.  The wheels share the same importance as to the engine.  It plays a huge role in your safety while driving.  Check the tires if it wear unevenly on one side.  If it is, this means that the tires camber alignment is not properly set and should be corrected as soon as possible.  Check the tire thread of each tire as well if it has reached its thread life and is due for replacement.  You can exploit this flaw to your advantage by asking for a price cut.
You can check the suspensions by taking it on a rough and wild ride.  Wiggles, squeaks, noise, metal on metal blares and excessive throb indicate a poor suspension system and will be costly in the long run.  Again do not hesitate to find another prospect.

8.       Brakes.  The braking system, for the most part, is important in a car for your safety, so you should pay full attention in checking this one.  Bend over to check underneath each of the 4 tires if the inside of rims and the hubs are dry.  If you see spots drenched in fluid, its break lines are leaking and needs immediate repair otherwise you will have to refill your brake fluid reservoir once in a while.  Check the brake master cylinder under the hood as well for any signs of leaks.  A leaking brake system is a huge expense later on. Don’t forget to check your e-brake as well if it holds fine.  Try to drive and set the car on an inclined road and pull the hand brake.  If the car sits still then it should be okay.

9.       Air Conditioning System.  Forget a car deal with a busted air conditioning system if you don’t want to burn your pocket for a major air-con repair.  Don’t even put a faith on sellers that will tell you “the air-con is fine, it just needs Freon charge”.  An air-con Freon, if the air-con system is sealed, does not run out or disperse even when not in use.  In fact it could last and stay inside the system for a long period of time as long as the system is locked up.  An air-con system that needs Freon charging has leaks somewhere in its route and it will never be termed as fine.  Otherwise check the air-con system performance of the car by driving it under the heat of the sun preferably at noon time.  If the air-con can’t cool the car enough then the system needs to be checked and would possibly require parts replacement soon.  The best thing is to find yourself another car deal.

10.   Electricals and Accessories.  Don’t treat these as plain car cosmetics because these hold your safety especially at night.  Check all the lights.
Head lights both high beam and low beam
Signal lights both front and rear
Fender lights
Tail lights
Brake lights
Reverse lights
Cabin lights
Trunk lights
Fog lights
Check the wiper.  Most often, this thing is neglected and not given that much importance until it rains so hard and you have to pull over because your wiper is busted and you didn’t know.
Check the windows if you can pull all of them down in case you want to cruise on open air.
Check the door locks if they are all functional.

11.   Thorough test drive.  Drive it and feel it because you will know by plain impulse if that car is for you after you have checked all of the items mentioned above.  Drive it fast and slow.  Examine its performance by driving it out in the freeway.  If you have to, spend a sufficient amount of money to load it with fuel and drive it around to your satisfaction.  Take it to hilly places so you could see its performance climbing inclined courses.  Try how the engine responds on a sudden full stop.  Drive real fast and step on the brake.  If the car is in shape, this should not be a problem.

12.   Lastly, if you already feel comfortable with it and you are all satisfied, it’s time to close the deal.  The seller will provide you with the DEED OF SALE together with all the documents of the unit.  Make sure you read everything stipulated on the document including the vehicles description.  If you have to, ask for an acknowledgement receipt with the seller’s signature when you hand over the cash.  This will prove that you have paid a sum of money as payment for the car.  Also, ask at least a photocopy of the seller’s identification for your reference with a picture and signature.  This will prevent any future hassles on your part.


Though these steps are somewhat tedious, these will save you and set you apart from people who have been hasty in buying used car that have already spent double for unforeseen repairs and replacements on things they failed to check onset. 

291 comments:

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ricB16B said...

Hi, the second hand car that I just bought has a custom made plastic plate number. I am not aware that this is prohibited when i bought this and the seller did not give me any authorization letter. But so far traffic enforcers and LTO don't flag me down. Is there a way to secure that incase I can no longer get that letter from the seller? tnx

admin_TOL said...

hi ricB16B

Most often, traffic enforcers don't put too much attention on custom plates since using them are not entirely illegal as long as you have that document with you. You are less likely to be pulled over by a traffic enforcer just by plain usage of a custom plate. But then it is always good to be prepared all the time incase. If the seller can't provide the document to you, you can secure that at any LTO branch. It will require you to bring the vehicle's documents for that matter plus other required documents. You may visit www.lto.gov.ph for the requirements and procedures. Good day

Anonymous said...

This is a very useful and informative article !!!
I will definitely share this to fellow car owners and future car buyers.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this info. I'm about to buy a second hand car and it's good I was able to read through this first. Very very helpful.

Anonymous said...

very informative... thanks!

allan said...

Hi. What if the seller is not the original owner? ty

admin_TOL said...

Hi Allan,

The seller has to provide another deed of sale stating the name of the owner written on the C.R. as the vendor/seller and your seller as the vendee/buyer in addition to the deed of sale to be provided to you stating your seller as the vendor and you as the buyer. This happens if the car was acquired by your seller from another individual and the ownership has not been transferred to your seller's name. Or it could be that your seller is an agent/middleman selling cars on commission. For as long as the registered owner's name is chained down to you on a notarized deed of sale or two, then it should be fine.

Anonymous said...

hello good day,my friend cannot afford to pay his credit car loan.he wants me to continue to pay his remaining balance.and i will be the new owner of his car.what documents do i need to ask from him,do i need to tell in the bank that im the one who will continue the monthl amortization if my friend car?please help me

gemini

admin_TOL said...

Hi gemini,

You will need to take hold of the car's bank loan contract and all documents and complete the amortization payment. You can then change the ownership of the car under your name subsequently. good day

Anonymous said...

Hi! I just bought a used car today. On my way home, my front plate got dislodged and I only noticed it was lost after I parked at home. I tried to retrace my route but I was not able to find it. The ownership of the vehicle has not yet been changed to my name. But I have the deed of sale and the OR/CR. Can I apply for the replacement plate in LTO using my name? Thanks.

-mike

admin_TOL said...

Hi Mike,

Yes you can apply for a replacement even if the the ownership has not yet been transferred to you. Just take the OR/CR and Deed of Sale with you. You will just need to secure an affidavit of Lost and pay for the replacement. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Thanks for the quick reply. Can I do this at any LTO office? Or do I have to go to the LTO district office where the plate was released? Thanks.

admin_TOL said...

Yes. You may visit any LTO office near you and apply for replacement. Thanks and good day.

darwin said...

Very helpful article. Now I know what to check. Thank you!

Anonymous said...

i recently bought a second hand car and the plate number is starting with letter R, they said that it is a right handed vehicle that came from subic, is it all true

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Not entirely true. Philippine plates that start with R would mean the car's registration is geographically designated in Region III(Central Luzon) yet it won't always mean they are converted from RHD. Majority of vehicles with "R" plates come from Pampanga. The best way is to check your car, you can try spotting the firewall and look for weld spots/conversion blots on the passenger side. Normally, you can also make an assumption that a particular car is subic converted if that model was not sold locally in Philippines. But if it was, i doubt. Good day

Anonymous said...

Hi! Good pm!

I am planning to buy a car in Cebu. I'm from Bohol.
Is it ok to renew the vehicle registration/change ownership to be filed in LTO at my province? Or do I need to go back to Cebu everytime I renew the vehicle registration.

Thanks.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Yes you can renew the registration in Bohol. No need to go back to Cebu every year for renewal. Good day

Unknown said...

Sir, is there any hotline number of LTO to check the history of the car i am going to buy?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Marc,

Yes. You can address any of your car matters to these LTO hotline numbers: Hotline: 8525325 or 8516939 or you can visit www.lto.gov.ph. Good day

Anonymous said...

sir, is it okay f i'll buy a second hand hyundai starex van surplus? or second hand local??

what are the common problems encountered by the users who bought this kind of cars??

thanks!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I would recommend local instead of surplus units. You can put more faith on a local unit as its history is more imaginable than a surplus. Some surplus units are shipped here diced in pieces and just reassembled back together by dealers. You can expect poor overall performance quality and doubtful chassis reliability with these units in a few years. Nver rush, take your time to get the best car deal for you. Good day.

seismicfield said...

thanks for these valuable tips!!

chie_120404 said...

due to financial constraints, i can no longer pay the monthly amortizations of my car loan.a friend of a friend offers to pay me some money and continue to pay the remaining balance in the bank.what documents must i prepare to be assured that everything will be ok?is it possible for him to take the car and run away if he can no longer pay?

admin_TOL said...

Hi chie_120404,

The documents you need to prepare depend on your agreement with the one who takes over the car and continues the monthly payment. There are couple of ways, you could either go to the bank and inform them that another individual assumes the remainder of the loan, they will tell you what specific legal documents they will need for you to carry out the transfer and totally get you off the hook. Or, you can avoid the hassles of preparing the docs they need and just make a gentleman's agreement with the person who wants to take over, that you will give him the car and he gives you the monthly payment. But this I don't really recommend unless you know the person well, or even then.

Is it possible for him to take the car and run away if he can no longer pay? - If he signs the legal docs and everything else that defines his accountability to the car, I doubt he can run away unless he wants to ruin his life and be hunted down to death for a car.

Good day.

chie_120404 said...

thank you so much,admin. your reply meant a lot.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sir...Thank you so much for this informative and helpful thread of yours. I just would like to ask if the AC unit is making some noise when its on its high level, would it be costly to repair? We are planning to buy a 1996 matic Honda Civic. Thanks...


Slade

admin_TOL said...

Hi Slade,

The amount of money you will spend for aircon repair depends on the weight of the damage. Normally, what cost much is an AC compressor repair/replacement, but the other aircon parts, it should not be as costly. I could honestly not give an accurate judgement of the problem without personally hearing the noise you hear when the AC is on at high level but I could at least say it is coming from the fan blower underneath the dash (if you only hear it whenever you switch it on high). If the noise you hear is just that plain fan motor air turbulence noise at high speed, that should be normal. But if you are hearing some sort of unsual squeal, that is not normal and get your fan blower motor checked including the whole system. It should not cost you that much but find a reputable aircon shop that will do this for you. Good day!

Anonymous said...

Thank you sir for the advise. Will do.


Slade

Anonymous said...

Hi! I bought a second hand van last june. I had it transferred to my name just this month since its plate ends in 9. When i got hold of my transferred OR and CR, i noticed that in the space that says "encumbered to", there is an entry of a series of numbers 280-963-597-000 to be exact. I cheked in its previous owners photocopied CR and the entry was 000-000-000-000. I also checked on my motorcycles CR and it is also series of zeroes. What do these numbers in my van mean?


Thanks,
Mike

admin_TOL said...

Hi Mike,

You might want to confirm with the person who sold you the van if it was previously placed as collateral for a loan or if the mortgage had been fully paid. The seller has to provide you all the supporting documents that say the unit is clear from any financial duties. Otherwise, You might also want to check back with LTO and let them clear those figures for you. Good day

Anonymous said...

HI...
Thank God I found this site....Thank you so much for the infos as I've learned so much and some of my questions has been answered.

I just want to ask for an advice because I am now negotiating on buying a 2nd hand Car. But the OR-CR of the car is named to the Company but then sold it to my current seller. They have Deed of Sale saying that the company is selling the car to this person (my seller) and have it notarized. Will there be a problem if I ever I change the registration to my name later on? or can I just show the 2 deed of sale? Please Please advice. Thank you so much in advance

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Just make sure have the original notarized copy of the 2 D.O.S. and it should be fine. You will need those 2 docs when you transfer the unit under your name. Don't forget to keep a copy of those for your own record too. Just double check the documents that I mentioned in my post, make sure there are no tampers, encumbrances, etc. before the hand off. Double check the vehicle condition as well. Thanks for reading. Good day!

Anonymous said...

hi there,

this is my first time buying a 2nd hand car w/o a certificate of registration, as you can see, i'll be buying the car because its absolutely rare, and i'm an enthusiast of that specific car brand.
the previous owner can still register it though, and they had that car for years, i can say the papers may be clean, but it doesn't have the certificate of registration.

so i have quite a few questions;

1. do you think that it will be ok for me to buy the car? (granted that it is for keeps, and not really eager to transfer under my name, just want the car to use every sunday after the restoration.)

2. is it still possible to get at least a copy from LTO, the certificate of registration?

3. how high should my risk be? and what's my worst case scenario? (given that i tried the LTO TXT 2600, and results show that it has no LTO apprehension, no LTO alarm, car's registered, has the right maker, model, year, and body color. whatsoever).

i really hope you can answer my questions.
i'm willing to take risks for the car, i just want to know how bad can it be, worse comes to worst.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, and I will surely appreciate it and so as to other people who suffers from the same problem, hehe.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Q1. I would have to say yes, go and take it because its rare and you are a car enthusiast. My coleague took a shattered, lifeless, rusted 86 Mini from a junk yard and spent an amount nearly equivalent to a decent brand new car to roll it back.

Q2. Yes you can definitely get a copy of the C.R. from LTO.

Q3. Given the fact that the car is "clean", as you have checked on it via LTO's SMS hotline, then there should not be any risk.

You will need to go the LTO branch where the car has been originally registered. What I could tell you is that securing a lost C.R. is going to be a tedious task, and will require tons of paperworks, time, and money.

Good day.

Anonymous said...

Hi - I am buying a used car - but the last registration was in 2009. What will I have to pay for penalty fees to register for the current year?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

As far as I know, LTO charges PHP 3,000 penalty fee for late registrations above 1 year. You can visit any LTO branch to confirm if this is still the figure. I would suggest to do the transaction directly and not through fixers as they might charge you way more than what you should pay. Good day

Anonymous said...

I would like to ask sir regarding newly purchased car with only OR/CR (still waiting for the license plate) if its ok to travel. Thanks.......

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Definitely yes. You may just use "For Registration" temporary plates until the official plate number is turned over to you. Just always bring the copy of the OR/CR everytime you roll. Good day

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the quick reply, now my doubts and worries are gone. So, "no plate, no travel" policy for newly purchased car is exempted.

sherr25 said...

Hello.We just had a deal from a dealer of a second hand car. WE saw the orig CR and OR with the owners name and an open deed of sale already signed by the owner..We deposited 10taw for the dealer to make all the paper works so that the CR will be on my name before paying the rest.Do you think this is fair?and do you think there will be a chance that they gonna fool us?What more documents should i ask?i will be the second owner.
Thanks a lot! Very helpful site.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Sherr25,

Thank you for reading. Car dealers normally put in significant percentage over the true value of the cars they sell and they do this to cover
everything that makes up the deal as a whole like transfer of ownership, registration, and of course their profit.. And for that matter, without any perception of the vehicle, it is really difficult to gauge if it is a fair deal or not. Just make sure you put everything in black & white. Make them sign an agreement that says you payed xx,xxx amount as deposit and it will cover the following.. i.e. transfer of ownership, etc. and the balance is xxx,xxx, and that they will provide you warranty for x years. Ask dealer's identification as well. These documents will protect you from fraud car dealers. Good day

Anonymous said...

Hi. Do you think it's safe to buy a used car with a new engine? Everything seems to be ok...interior is fresh, a/c is cool but I'm a bit skeptical about the idea that the original engine was replaced. It's a 96 Honda civic model and is A/T. Hope u can give me tips.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

There is no issue in buying cars with transplanted engine for as long as the new engine number is reflected on the Cert. of Registration. If it's not, better find another deal. Honda Civics are very common and I bet it isn't hard to find another prospect if you have doubts on your current one. I suggest do not buy on impulse, take time, collect multiple prospects and then decide which one is worthy of your money. Good day.

funcdesigns said...

Very helpful article as I'm about to get a 2nd hand car on Friday, a lady driven car. I don't have a great knowledge on the technical aspect and other process so here are my queries:

1. How to know if the car is first owned by the seller?
2. How to know if he really is the owner?
3. Can I ask a scanned copy of the COR and OR and print it and go to the nearest LTO to verify(aside from SMS verification?
4. Is it good to ask for a picture of the motor & body number (I'm coming from the province and they are in Manila. Will that be easy to look for, I want to double check it)?

admin_TOL said...

Hi funcdesigns,

1. You can check this on the CR, if the year model of the car matches the year the CR was printed and issued and the owner'name printed is the same as your seller then he is more likely to be the first and soul owner of that car. If the CR was issued many years later than the model of the car, then you can assume that the car was already sold and transfered to a new owner's name with a new CR.
2. Ask for any identification(government id's) and photocopy it for your record. You can also check this at an LTO office near you.
3. Yes you may do that and the seller must not refuse to it.
4. Yes you may also do that as well.

my recommendation is not to get too excited, spend time checking on the unit before closing the deal. If you have to, spend an entire day or two doing the tips I wrote above. Do not rely too much on what the seller will have to say about the car. I know it is inconvenient as you are from far away but always put in mind that decision to buy the perfect 2nd hand car for you is crucial and will take a lot of patience and time to avoid mistakes and get the best value for your money. Good day.

funcdesigns said...

Hi,

Thanks very much for the info. Yup I'll definitely do the following and control my excitement. I want a good running car with no problems and hassles on the way.

My cousins and a neighbor of ours who's good at cars especially engines went around the city looking for the car I want to buy. We also meetup with sellers with the specific car and tested them and looked for the thins on this list. So far out of 2, we found one. We are still waiting for the other 2 and well be out again tomorrow.

Thank you very much for the helpful tips?

funcdesigns said...

Hi again?

I just want to ask about the "macro" stuff. What is it all about?

May be you should right about transferring the car to the buyer or processes to undertake with certain conditions like paper problems or transferring problems.

Thanks a bunch!

admin_TOL said...

Hi funcdesigns,

"macro" or macro etching is another way of verifying the authenticity and legitimacy of the 2nd hand car that you are looking to buy. For most transactions, this is no longer done as acquiring this document is quite tedious and will take more time and money. But no one will stop you if you still opt to go to this process for added security.

I will sure write an article about that later on re: transfer of ownership. Thank you for your suggestion and comment, I appreciate it. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Im planning to get a 2nd car next month, specifically ford lynx ghia. May i just ask, is it a gas guzzler? im plannig to get an A/T. im just a 23y/o single, working and this wud be my frst car if ever. Do u have any tips of what car shud i be getting?any specific brands or units in mind? thanks :) - JACE

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jace,

What really makes a gas guzzler car depends on many things, not just by engine size. If a 1.3L engine car is not regularly maintained, has oil leaks, incorrect ignition timing, worn out bearings, etc.. a well maintained 2L turbo engine car can be more economical on a 1 km run.
Always keep in mind, that buying a car, brand new or 2nd hand is a liability, so always think long term, never buy something that will make you spend money on repairs and maintenance from time to time. be smart, don't get excited, collect as many options and then decide.
I'm really a big fan of Japanese brand cars so I will not put a faith on any other. Base from experience, Japanese brands are more reliable, longer life and best of all, spare parts are available everywhere. I would recommend Toyota corolla lovelife gli 1.6L 16valve, Mitsubishi lancer glxi 1.6L 16valve, or Honda civic 1.6L vtec vti. I personally would prefer any of the 3 I mentioned than a lynx ghia. Just post your questions, if you still have any, and I'll be glad to help. Good day

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the information :) how about the 2002 opel astra? - JACE :-)

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jace,

Unless you are a real big fan of that particular model, better find another. car parts wear and break in time and the next part of it is searching for a good replacement. I don't think it would be easy for me and you to find replacement valves, bearings, gaskets, filters, etc.. of that model. Mostly, those 2nd hand car brands are sold at really low prices because it will eventually cost more on maintenance, parts, and repairs. Good day. :)

funcdesigns said...

Hi again!

I just got me a 1994 Honda Hatchback EG. I hope you'll be able to write on how to transfer and register a 2nd hand car soon. Thank you very much again!

admin_TOL said...

Hi funcdesigns,

Decent choice. eg and ek hatchbacks still look as terrific and I love it. As you may be aware, your "new" 2nd hand car is almost 20 years old, so it would need extra TLC and regular maintenance to ensure it is in top shape all the time. Congratz to your new car and I'm glad to be of help. You can always leave a message if you have questions. Thanks and more power.

Anonymous said...

Hi I really was blessed by your article.
I do have a question, Im from Iloilo and its hard to get a good variety of cars for sale here comoared to Manila. Ive seen in Manila there are more choices and alot cheaper.
Hiw do I go about bringing a car from Manila to Iloilo and what kind of papereork must I have prepared.
Also are their any good reputable car dealers in Manila were they sell cars with complete clean papers.
Thank you
God bless you
Joe.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Joe,

Thank you. You can ship your car via cargo from Manila to Iloilo. You will need to prepare photocopies of the C.R, O.R, and deed of sale. That's it. You may choose from several shipping companies but I would recommend Aboitiz or Southern Gotong. Aboitiz is a lot more expensive though. Shipping cost would go around 15k - 16K for a 4 door sedan and price is dependent on the size of the vehicle as they will measure the volume the car will consume. You just need to bring the car in the Pier, North Harbor for Southern Gotong and South Harbor for Aboitiz together with the docs I mentioned. I suggest you go there early morning so they can process your transaction quickly. I also suggest to take any valuable stuff from the car as you will leave the car key's to them and they will just surrender it to you as soon as the car gets to its destination after a day or two. That's it. I hope I have explained it clearly but just ask if there is anything unclear with the process. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Sir
for your detailed answer.
I do have 2 more questions

Firstly is there a boat that can take me and the car together at the same time?

Secondly what does it mean when they say complete papers and open deed of sale? Is this the same as ready for transfer, or clean papers?

Thank you so much for your time
God bless you
Joe

admin_TOL said...

Hi Joe,

Yes there is a ship you can take together with the car, try Aboitiz Shipping Co.

"complete papers" would comprise of latest O.R. and C.R. and TPL insurance. Open deed of sale means, they will not specify your name as the buyer in the D.O.S and they would leave it blank for you to decide if you fill that up or leave it blank in case you would have plans of selling the car in the future so that you don't have to prepare another D.O.S.

No worries, I'm glad to be of help. Leave a message if you still have questions and I'll try my best to provide you answers. Good day!

Anonymous said...

Hi sir...

What mileage usage should i consider in buying a 2nd hand car?

Thank you so much...
God bless you

Julius

Anonymous said...

Thank you again so much
I am from Australia and been living in Philippines for over 15yrs and I wanted to make sure I did all the legal side right concerning the purchase of a car.
You have really simplified in detail what is needed and I appreciate it alot.
Thank you again for your detailed responce
The Lord bless you
Joe.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Julius,

The lower the mileage the better. Mileage below 100k km is still okay. But mileage is just one thing. There are a lot more to consider. It should not only be the basis of your pick. High mileage cars that are regularly maintained, like mine, run better than low mileage cars that are not. So you need to be smart. Good luck.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Joe,

I'm glad to be of help. Just be smart, get as many options, do not be impulsive, do not be deceived, do your research, follow the list and you'll get the best car deal for you. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Hi sir,

Thanks for the advise regarding mileage..


Julius

Anonymous said...

Hi sir,

Can I ask if the 2nd hand used cars posted online hiding plate number will be safe to buy?

Anonymous said...

Hi sir,

Can I ask, if safe to buy a 2nd hand used cars posted online if hiding the plate number.

Thank you!

Arvie

admin_TOL said...

Hi Arvie,

Absolutely safe. Sellers hide the plate numbers when they post pictures of their cars online for security reasons. It's a good practice of protecting your car's identity from cyber criminals.

Thanks

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Browse quality used and brand new cars. You can find low and high-end cars at www.bayancars.com.ph

junribac.jr said...

hi..
i just bought a van. im planning to get a franchise but i hvae a problem about the OR date of the car..

the original or first CR presented to me by the seller,the OR DATE was 2004.

when i manage to transfer my name,the new release CR, the OR DATE now is 1994.

in order to get a franchise OR DATE MUST BE 2000 AND UP.and that's my problem.

lto region 3 will verify and result will be by next week.

is it true that the year model is the SAME AS THE OR DATE?(I NEVER DO MY RESEARCH REGARDING THIS MATTER)

its my first time to buy a car btw.although 1 always bring a mechanic with me when im looking for a car,i message the lto about the cr plate #, i photocopy documents of the car of the seller and check with the lto. but i can't imagine i've incurred with this problem.

lto are telling me maybe a typographical error..

tia for your response..please send me a copy to my eamil: sunkendreams2000@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Hello sir
im planning to buy 2ndhand imported car a bmw.is it safe and what are the documents bo be asked.thanks so much in advance.

Korn

Anonymous said...

Good am sir. I had checked the authenticity of the car OR and CR at LTO. next thing i want is the macro etching-Motor vehicle for a clearance certificate from PNP. I would like to ask if , i will be the one to request from the seller as i analyze it, they should provide me. Am i correct? thAnk you.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Yes you can do request from your seller though most of the time, macro etching is no longer required if the authenticity of the car's registration is already verified since securing macro etching takes more time, and money. But still, if you have to, ask for that document. Good day.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Korn,

It is safe to buy imported cars as long as you verify the legitimacy and authenticity of its registration and importation. Check the C.R., O.R., Import docs and Macro etching. Good day

admin_TOL said...

Hi junribac.jr,

As I see it, it could be a typo error and you should take it back to LTO for correction.

The year model of the car is not always the same with the date on the C.R. while the O.R. date changes every time you renew the registration which happens every year. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sir,
I'm an OFW planning to buy a used car on my coming vacation. Here in my place, buying a car is an easy process and can be in the name of the buyer within 1 day. In Phils, many process has to be done to transfer the ownership of a car. I want to ask a question regarding an open DOS. What document or proof the seller will hold to confirm the selling of the car if the buyer name in the DOS is left blank. What if the car made an accident after the sale. Since the car is still in the name of the seller, the authorities will go after him. What will be his/her defense in this situation. Thanks, Jess

Anonymous said...

sir gud am. i wanted to buy the second hand car. there is a problem with regards to the CR and OR coz the one who owns now isnt the person who reflected on the CR/OR but they had the deed of sale. the owner said she didnt transfer the Deed of sale coz she wanted it open. Now i said i am interested to buy but u first transfer it to ur name so that i can assure that it is really from her coz she was also the one selling. And she is also willing to transfer. though i found out after verification from LTO and the macro etching from PNP i had checked it well. its been cleared and it is authentic. My question sir is, am i already safe if the name of the seller now appears on the CR/OR???

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Yes it is safe. Or she may no longer need to transfer it to her name anymore before you take the car as long as she will provide you the CR, OR, the deed of sale she had when she bought it from the owner written on the CR and a new deed of sale to you indicating she is the current owner/seller and you are the buyer. Good day.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jess,

For every transaction made involving large amount of money, a signed receipt of payment together with a copy of his identification, apart from the necessary documents you need to provide when you sell cars, is a good and smart practice so if a situation, such as the one you describe, occurs, you wouldn't have to worry about entrapment. Good day!

Anonymous said...

thank you sir for for the reply...at least i know someone who could shed me light coz doesnt have any idea. thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Hello All,

can some advise me regarding our problem. before we bought this van, we tried to text LTO and we got No alarm and no apprehention. as thinking that this van has no problem since we are already the 4rth owner. we didn't notice that there is an encumbered on the cr since we are not much aware of it. we just made aware of it when we are planning to change the owners name. the problem is we don't know who's the 1st owner. the bank febtc is already closed. how can we get this encumbered be cancelled. Thanks Renz

admin_TOL said...

Hi Renz,

That situation could be a little more difficult than it should since the bank has closed. Normally, You will need to hold a document that says the van has been freed up from any financial obligation from the bank to be able to take out that "encumbered" sign. You could be able to ask LTO for the Van's registration history-they should have it. Or ask LTO about your situation. They should be able to provide you ways on how to resolve your issue, what alternative documents you can secure for them to clear your van from encumbrance. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Hi sir,

Good day. Just a shameless OT here. I'd just like to get your opinion, and ultimately your choice over these car comparos. Thanks - K23

GD Jazz vs Hyundai i10 (both MT)

Tribute 2.3 vs X-Trail 2.0 (both 2005)

MZ3 vs Focus Hatchback (both in 2.0 trims)

Anonymous said...

The latter are 05 and 06 respectively. Thanks!

admin_TOL said...

Hi K23

Assuming both are in top shape I would go for Jazz over i10, X-Trail, and MZ3. Good day

Mortgage Advice said...

With the car off, jiggle the steering wheel back and forth. There should be less than one inch of play, and no funny clunking noises. If there are, the car may need a steering rack or steering gearbox.

Anonymous said...

Hi sir..

wanna ask..which is better buying a second hand (local unit) car or a surplus car?

What are the advantages as well as the disadvanatges?

Thanks..

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I would recommend local 2nd hand unit but still, you need to check what's written above. Most, if not all, surplus units are either LHD converted or reassembled so expect a variable trim on safety depending on the quality of conversion/rebuild which will be quite difficult for you to measure. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the speedy reply sir..I will surely use this site as our guide since my family is planning to buy a 2nd hand car.

One more thing, if you are to choose between the two, which would you prefer to buy a Honda CRV or a Toyota RAV 4. I've read some reviews and most of the people would choose RAV 4 over CRV.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Regardless of what the review says, I would prefer a CRV only because I'm more of a Honda fan than a Toyota but that's just me. For you, I would recommend to choose the one with the lower mileage and better overall condition since they are both good brands. Thank you and Good day

Anonymous said...

Hello, i would like to ask regarding an "open deed of sale". We are a private owner and planning to sell our car. What are the risks involved for a seller of an "open deed of sale"?

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the advice sir..Hope we could get a 2nd hand CRV with a better overall condition.

Have a nice day..

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Good luck and have a nice day too. Thank you

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Not too much of a risk but if you want to eliminate your worries completely, apart from the Open D.O.S., secure a transaction receipt stating you sold your car to Mr. X and he payed you XX amount of money on this date with both your signatures. Ask a copy of his identification too. In this way, there is no way you can be denied turning over the unit to your buyer which I think is too unlikely to happen but who knows. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Hi! thanks for the quick reply. What i'm worried about is that if we only have an Open D.O.S, i dont want to be liable if something happens to the car. We will never know, it might be used to something illegal.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I understand your concern. I suggest you create a 1 page transaction receipt that says you, the seller, sold your car to Mr. X, the buyer, in XX amount. Make him sign together with at least one witness and get it notarized. Get a copy of his identification as well for added security. These documents are enough to get you off the hook in case something happens to the car sold with a D.O.S. Good day

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir
I just bought a 2000 nissan sentra all paperworks complete and in order I also ran a full check on cars history direct with LTO evetything is clean and in order, but the problem I have is that the VIN # is only 16digit when it has to be 17digit. I am unable to get a full specification on the car online because all the vin codes should be 17digit only the pre 80models were 16 or 10 digit vin numbers.
So my concern is not the legality of the car but getting the full information of the car by the vin number, is there a way to be able to decode the 16digit vin because online they can only decode the 17digit vin
Hope you can help
God bless you
Joe

Unknown said...

dear sir

my wife have a company car for 3years now under the company name and have recently been change to her name. i have checked the mv-file no, engine no and chasis no are all correct and all the same with the vehicle. when we get the new CR and OR under my wife name,
it so happens that when i tried to register the i have applied for an insurance from a big company which is Philippine first insurance, i notice that the engine no and chasis no have a typo error, in which the engine no has an additional digit no#5, while the chasis no. is missing one digit which is the number 6. thinking that it was an typo error from the insurance i call them up to let them know but later i learned that the information is pulled directly from the LTO database record. so the insurance person told me it is the LTO that have the TYPO error. and i have regitered my car already. and the lto person didn't even tell me.

sir, what procedure should i do inorder to ask them to correct these, i register my car at LTO-tayuman but my Certificate of Registration is filed at LTO-MAKATI.


admin_TOL said...

Hi auspicious man,

You mentioned your new OR/CR under your wife's name indicate the correct motor and chassis number, then it would mean LTO has a correct record and would likely seem that the insurance company had it incorrectly though they claim otherwise. I would suggest to find out who really had it mistaken. Go to LTO and request a printed data record of the vehicle. If everything in that record is correct, specifically the motor and chassis number, you can use that record as your proof and take that to your insurance company and demand correction. They should accommodate your request because you are a paying customer so don't be afraid to demand. But if in case LTO is incorrect, you can request correction from them as well. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I am selling my car soon and could not find the original CR. I do have several photocopies of it. What should I do? Do I secure a new copy from LTO? What will be the requirements and would you know how long it takes?

Thanks so much!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

You can request a duplicate copy of your lost CR from LTO, you just need to provide them requirements like, affidavit of loss, your latest OR, valid IDs and they might ask for the photocopy of your lost CR. You may check this site for the procedure. http://www.lto.gov.ph/index.php/services/mv-registration/104-new-initial-or-1st-time-registered-in-the-philippines. Good day.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your prompt response. Really helpful! Stay safe. :)

Anonymous said...

http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/19917266/TOYOTA+SMALL+BODY+%28ae92%29+RUSH?referralKeywords=toyota+small+body&event=Search+Ranking,Position,1-13,13#advertisementDetails

Hi Sir,

Good Day. I'm planning to buy the car on the link. Would it be the best car for that price?I'm about to see it tomorrow with a mechanic. Do you have any advise for me as a first time car buyer?Thank you very much.

-Jek

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jek,

From the picture the car would seem it is a good deal but pictures are way far from the real thing so I suggest you do take your mechanic and check every thing, specially those that I have mentioned above. In case overall performance is okay, I would suggest go and buy it, but as I always say, specially for 1st time car owners like you, 2nd hand cars would need extra attention, care, and maintenance. Once you get it, I would also suggest to make yourself familiar with your car, every detail of it, particularly on the engine bay. Try to find out what parts are due for replacement and replace them at once-don't wait. Major car repairs almost always come from minor things-trust me. Toyota is a good brand, I personally like corolla AE92s, very solid frame, fast, and reliable. Good luck and enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much sir. You have been a great help for us for 1st time car owners. God Bless!

-Jek

Unknown said...

Good day Sir!
I am just about to visit and check a 2nd hand car I saw on the internet (2008 Avanza J). I will be accompanied by an experienced automechanic, and I understand that I need to ask for the original OR and CR.. Now my questions sir are:
1. What are the things I should be particular to look for in the OR and CR?
2. What should I look for when the seller said that the car is under a personal unsurance?
3. And lastly, I talked to the seller thru phone, and he said that the car's ownership is not under his name because he acquired thru a bank. What document should I ask to make sure that he is really done paying his credits to the bank and that he can now sell the car?

Thanks in advance for your good advise. God bless!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Ersun,

1. You should check Motor number/Chassis number if the OR and the car matches digit per digit. You should also check if there is "Encumbered" indicated in the OR. If it has, it means it's not yet cleared from mortgage.
2. Check the insurance policy and all other insurance documents that the insurance company provided.
3. This statement is ambiguous, I suggest you make this clear before you close the deal. I'm guessing the seller is not the real owner of the car, he could be a buy and sell agent or a middle man. You can always have your name as the owner whether or not you acquire it thru bank financing, cash, trade in, etc. If he's the real owner, the car should be under his name regardless of how he acquired it(cash/financing). Ask the details of the ownership and make it clear. If he can't explain it to you clearly, I suggest you forget about it and go find another one. There are plenty of Avanzas out there.

I recommend don't close the deal if the papers aren't clear.

Good luck.

Anonymous said...

good day sir , I'm buying a 2nd hand car for the first time from a family relative ,the car is in Cebu it will be here shipped to manila (the car is registered also in Cebu) the owner of the car is not the first owner , what documents do I need from Cebu if I am to transfer the ownership of the car to my name.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

You just need the original O.R., C.R., and D.O.S.(Deed of Sale) from the seller. If the car registration is still under the name of the first owner, the second owner(which is your seller) must provide you the D.O.S. between him and the first owner too for you to be able to transfer the car to your name, regardless of where in the Philippines the car will come from. You will just need to secure clearance from T.M.G. in Manila as an added requirement from LTO for the transfer of ownership transaction. This clearance will prove the car is legitimate, and not stolen. When you have these documents, you can visit any LTO branch and do the transaction. You might need to pay some amount for fees. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

This can be a big help for those who want to buy a car. Because buying a car is not easy, it takes also time and of course you should have an insight about cars. Big thanks for your post..
uk car exporter

Anonymous said...

good day sir i want to ask some question i am a ofw and i buy a secondhand car honda hatchback 92 when we check the OR/CR everything is ok and the seller also is a second owner he a open deed of sale of the original car owner the problem he give only one of photo copy of the original owner is there any problem about that then last month i go to the office and register the car they pound the is white color in the OR but when they check the im asking my self the is black and in to the registration white but it past to the lto office and i got my sticker of 2014.Is there a big problem if someday enforcer ask about this matter, i hope you can help me sit Godbless

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I'm about to migrate in a few months and would like to sell the car that I bought two years ago. The thing is, I didn't transfer the OR/CR under my name. Do I have to transfer the OR/CR under my name to be able to sell the car? Thanks, thanks!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

No need to transfer the registration under your name though you can, if you want to, but not absolutely necessary. If you sell the car, you just need to provide a new deed of sale (stating you as the seller and he/she is the buyer) to your buyer and provide him the deed of sale the previous owner gave you when you bought it. So your future buyer is going to have 2 d.o.s. to keep and he/she could use those to transfer the registration under his/her name later on. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Good evening, sir!

I am currently negotiating to buy a 2004 Honda Civic. It has an automatic transmission. What do you think of such model given its age?

Also, it is being sold at a very low price. Would you have any figure in mind for such a vehicle nowadays? I have no idea what to do and since this is my first time to buy a car, I am a bit paranoid. I would feel better if I know that the price given to me is reasonable. I have nothing but your article to guide me through this and for that, I am very very thankful to you, sir. God bless!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Honda's, civics in particular, are known for its number of strong points and they carry good reputation for ages so I'm not too worried. But, very seldom you and I will see one Honda car will be sold cheap. Now, a 15 year old good condition civic still costs 250-350K, while a 10 year old one costs 300K-450K, depending on the quality and mileage. Generally, Civics are never sold cheap. Now, I really could not tell if it's worth buying that 2k4 matic civic since I don't have an idea how it runs, its mileage, fuel consumption, performance, etc. I would suggest NOT to rush buying it. If it does not make you feel good and right about it, don't buy it yet. Seek some help from someone who can go with you to check the unit's performance and tell you the details of the car's overall condition. This will help you decide and set your expectations. But then again, don't settle just yet. collect as many prospects. There are lots and lots of civics being sold every day. Patience is important. I understand this is your first time and there will be emotions involved so take it easy and don't get too excited. It's financially and emotionally painful if you make a mistake. Thank you, God bless and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi, sir!

Thank you for your response. I just found out today, through searching the internet, that the seller was luring me into a scam. I was already suspicious at the low price and true enough, it was too good to be true. It had some color of legitimacy in the beginning because upon checking the car plate with the LTO, there was no red flag. Glad to have dodged a bullet there. God is good. Thank you for all the advice!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Good catch! Scammers are everywhere so we need to play smart. Keep on looking for more prospects. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Hi,
I am planning to buy a 2nd hand car particularly a toyota bb, do you think this car is a good deal? And also do you know a legit 2nd hand car dealer within the metro that i can buy? thanks

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I'm not quite sure if Toyota BBs were produced and sold here in PH. I'm assuming they are surplus imports from Japan(somebody can correct me now if it's not). My problem on this type of cars is reliability because these cars come diced in a container from Japan or elsewhere, and then rebuilt in PH. Again I might be wrong. You might want to sit back and think for another option. Yes BB is kind of cute and all but does it have most of what you're looking for? Does it fit your needs? If it does then it may be a good deal.
I can not really pin point a legit seller from not, lots and lots of people sell their cars everyday and all of them claim legitimacy as sellers. If I will buy a 2nd hand car, I probably wont go to dealers since they almost always put a fair amount of share on the actual price of the unit. I'd rather go and press my luck on direct sellers. This gives me more buying leverage and opportunity to negotiate fairly or mostly to my advantage. But again, that's just me. Try to check out online sellers from known websites like sulit or ayosdito. Like what I tell to all my readers, collect as many prospects and don't settle as long as you find the right one. Good luck and God bless.

Unknown said...

Hi,
First thing first i just wanted to praise you for all the help that you have given to our kababayans who are purchasing second hand cars.

I do have some questions thou, and I am a first time buyer.

1. I am planning to buy my first suv thru financing. I just wanted to know the process involve in such option? Let's say 3 years to pay with 20 percent D.P.

2.What are the usual charges involve other than stated above?

3. If a bank is to finance the transaction, what would be the term "based on appraisal value" means? Can the bank just follow what the seller and buyer agreed upon?

4. How does financing works?

Pardon me for bombarding you with questions such like these. Your inputs are very much appreciated.
God Bless! - John M.

admin_TOL said...

Hello John,

Thank you. I'm glad to be of help.

Here are my answers to your questions based on what just I know about mortgage and financing so don't take these something as set on stone.

1. The process differs from one financial institution to another. When you go financing, you are talking about interest so you need to play smart. Interests, depending on the financer, can go up as high as 35-40% and you won't be aware of it if you don't pay enough attention. The terms of payment are likely the same as what you've mentioned. Normally they will require a minimum of 20% d.p. and the remaining balance, charged with interest, is payable up to 2 or 3 years for a 2nd hand vehicle. There might be some institutions that offers extended payment terms beyond 3 years but very seldom and with sicker interest rates. Suggest you scout for like 4 or 5 financers and take the one who offers the least interest rate.

2. I would say a huge part of it is interest. That's all. Outside of it would be miscellaneous fees like documentation or transfer fees which are not so much.

3. Remember a bank always means business and it's no charity institution so expect it will take its cut from the car deal.
"based on appraisal value" means the bank dictates how much they will purchase the car for you. It could be higher or lower than the original seller's price, whichever way they will earn from the deal. Worst, they may not even appraise the car if they find it not worthy of an investment. And NO, they can't and won't follow the price the buyer and seller agreed upon. Why? Because their assistance is not for free.

4. As I mentioned, it's all about interest. You pay XX% down payment and the remaining balance will be charged with XX% interest divided by years of payment.

A common example is:

amount of car is 200,000
down payment is 20% of 200,000 = 40,000
remaining balance is 200,000-40,000 = 160,000
interest rate is 30% in 3 years
160,000 x 30% = 48,000
Total payable balance is 160,000 + 48,000 = 208,000
Monthly amortization in 3 years is 208,000/36 months = 5,778

Again this is just an example and this may or may not be how it goes with all financers. My recommendation, pay bigger down payment so you'll get lesser monthly balance. The key is to be smart. Don't rush so you won't commit painful mistakes. Good luck and God bless to you.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

I would like to ask if an open deed of sale has to be notarized?
Im looking at a 2nd hand car with an Open D.O.S. The seller is the 2nd owner of the car and he presented an open D.O.S that is not notarized. He has the photocopy of 2 gov. ID of the original ower. Am I safe buying this car?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

All D.o.S.(open or not) must be notarized. Who will get it notarized depends on the buyer and seller agreement-most of the time, if not all the time, seller does this task. To answer your question, Yes it's safe. You can get it notarized anyway and shoulder the notarization cost. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your reply. I have another question once, I have the car verified from Highway patrol that it is not a hot car, do I still need to verify the authenticity of the documents (CR/OR) from LTO? He has the original OR/CR but as the future 3rd owner of the car do I still need to do this before closing the deal? Thanks

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Not necessary but you may do so for your own peace of mind. Thanks and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your help. I already have the car and the deal went well.

admin_TOL said...

Congratulations and enjoy your new ride. Thanks!

Au said...

Hi! So just to confirm,
If the seller purchased the car from their company(registered name in the or cr) there will be no need for him to register the car under his name before registering it under my name as long as he can provide 2 DOS?

Anonymous said...

The internet is a great research tool. There are forums, classified ads sites, and other references one can use to be able to find what particular car you would like. Try searching car owners of the same model that you intend to purchase and find their clear and honest feedback. This is far better than going making a car investment that you would eventually regret and be stuck to. For those interested, you can find my auto / car ads here: https://www.mybenta.com/philippines/15/autos.html

admin_TOL said...

Hello Au,

Yes that's correct. Thanks

Anonymous said...

ask ko lang kung nabili namin yung car last 2012 and now lang namin ipapatransfer under our name kaya lang wala pala kaming copy ng ID ng last owner at di na sya ma contact ngayon. ang meron lang kami is Or CR, deed of sale na signed nya pero di pa notarized. what would be things to do? salamat.

admin_TOL said...

Hi,

You may transfer the registration to your name, you don't need the 1st owner's id. LTO can track the original registration of your car and see the name of the original owner. You just need the original OR, CR, notarized D.o.S., and other LTO requirements(TMG clearance and MVIR inspection). You need to secure the PNP-TMG clearance at camp Crame or camp Caringal(if from Metro Manila) ahead before filing application at LTO. Afterwards, just go to any LTO branch near you to apply for transfer of ownership. I will recommend to do this together with your car registration renewal to avoid too much hassle. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

hi, gudam!pno b mla2man kng d n encumbered yung sa2kyan?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

You need to call the bank that financed the car to check the mortgage status of the unit. They will tell you if it's cleared or not. Do not rely on the seller telling you it is already cleared. Go check it yourself. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi i really find this article very informative thanks alot! Now i know what i need to look for and what papers i need. im planning to buy my first car (used). Im looking at 2005-2007 or '08 mazda 3. I just to have your feedback about the car. Thankyou in advance. Godbless

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Thanks for reading. I'm not really a Mazda fan but it is Japanese sedan so I'm not worried about you planning to buy one. Once, I have driven a 1st gen 2005 Mazda 3 way back when and I would say it was as good and smooth as driving an Altis, or a Lancer Cedia. Responsive, powerful and good handling. Fuel efficient? it's really hard to tell, honestly, It really depends on your driving style, if you have a heavy foot then expect to visit the gas station once in a while. Overall I'm okay with it.
But again, no matter what car brand, you still need to be vigilant. Don't rely on what the seller says. Rely on your own assessment of the unit based on the things I suggested and you'll be okay. And just like I always say to everyone, don't get to excited. Buying a car, specially if it's your first, is an emotional thing. So don't let emotions decide. Take control, invest time, collect as many prospects, compare, think it over and over and then decide. Good luck. God bless

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the feedback! Last question. Would it be better to loan from a bank or just keep on saving money to buy a car? Thanks again:)

admin_TOL said...

If you're not in dire need to own a car, I'd say just wait till you save enough and pay cash. It's not so smart to put yourself in debt if you can wait for a few more months to save. Keep in mind, having a car(used or brand new) is like having a baby. You will need to put money to it non stop. So you want to stay away from paying monthly amortization plus interest and car maintenance all at the same time. Make your life easier, just wait till you save enough. You won't run out of Mazda 3s, there will always be one out there for you whenever you're ready. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi Sir,

I'm looking to buy a second hand car because I don't think I can afford a new one yet.

I've looked up Facebook and came upon a surplus dealer that constructs a car of your choosing from a pile of shipped pieces from Japan.

Is it a good idea to invest on surplus cars like these knowing that i'm a first time buyer? I was planning to get the mitsubishi colt as it is compact and is convenient for me.

I'm considering your suggestion on looking at 2nd hand direct sellers but what's keeping me from doing it is the lack of financing options that some surplus dealers can offer. What do you think would be a better option for me?

This was the one that I was eyeing, do u think it wud be a good bargain?
https://www.facebook.com/keikylesautoshop/posts/436526496521118

Anonymous said...

A person working in smoke test center earlier run away with our money and also our original papers of both or and cr. we dont have photo copies of both only paper we have is original deed of sale with receipt,
how to get both or and cr without photocopies ?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

My apologies for the late response. If you are not in a hurry to acquire a car, the best way is to save until you get enough. This will save you from huge interest rate charges and will give you enough time to scout on the best one. Most of the time, excitement leads us to make wrong decisions and get us to trouble specially when we buy something we want. If you can't wait, try to consider applying cash loans directly in banks. If your credit status is good, you are definitely eligible. Most of the time, direct bank loan interest rates are way lower than car dealer financing plans.
Remember, having a car will require you to keep maintenance cash so go for the best financial option that will make your life easier. You need to play smart and not let emotions rule over. Most people don't do the homework and they get trapped by this car dealer financing plans and they end up selling the car because it's no linger sustainable.

My problem with surplus cars, particularly the one you were referring to, is safety and performance. For a first timer like you, I don't recommend buying these cars. Trust me, you wouldn't like the feeling of causing road trouble because your car suddenly stalls, no longer starts to your battery's death, and creates a bumper to bumper pile up. There are lots of local 2nd hand sub compact cars out there now so try to expand your options and be patient and follow all the necessary steps above with due diligence. Thank you and Goodluck

Hi Sir,

I'm looking to buy a second hand car because I don't think I can afford a new one yet.

I've looked up Facebook and came upon a surplus dealer that constructs a car of your choosing from a pile of shipped pieces from Japan.

Is it a good idea to invest on surplus cars like these knowing that i'm a first time buyer? I was planning to get the mitsubishi colt as it is compact and is convenient for me.

I'm considering your suggestion on looking at 2nd hand direct sellers but what's keeping me from doing it is the lack of financing options that some surplus dealers can offer. What do you think would be a better option for me?

This was the one that I was eyeing, do u think it wud be a good bargain?
https://www.facebook.com/keikylesautoshop/posts/436526496521118

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

You can request another copy from LTO. It will just require you to secure few documents that you can find in their website - visit www.lto.gov.ph. You will also have to pay some amount of money. Thanks

A person working in smoke test center earlier run away with our money and also our original papers of both or and cr. we dont have photo copies of both only paper we have is original deed of sale with receipt,
how to get both or and cr without photocopies ?

Anonymous said...

Sir,

How will i know if the car i am buying is a 1st or 2nd owner. where to spot it in OR or CR?

Thanks

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

One way to find out is through the CR. If the CR is issued on a much later date than the car year model, you can assume that it was transferred to a new owner and that a new CR was issued. i.e. the car year model is 1998 and the CR issue date is 2007. This means the car was sold to a new owner and ownership was transferred around 2007. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Thanks TOL for the info regarding 1st/2nd owner... are you a Triskelion?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Thanks to you too. No I'm not. Thanks

Anonymous said...

Hi,


I'm planning to buy a second car. The car was company used, the buyer from the company only has one ID (driver's License, Secretary Clearance certificate and D.O.S. I am buying it now from a buyandsell agent.

Question:

1. Is it safe to buy the car and have it transferred to my name.. provided the original buyer has given only one ID. Does LTO have a requirement on the number of IDs given by the seller?

2. Is it alright to buy company cars? 2002 model sedan 80k mileage. For a company used vehicle, isn't the mileage a bit questionable.

TIA

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

1. LTO does not require any number of identification. The important docs you need to see before buying it are O.R., C.R., and D.O.S., that's it. The security clearance, i.d., macro etching, etc are all for your personal security and peace of mind that the car is legit.

2. I'm not really a fan of company cars, my problem with it is that they are not personally owned, meaning a lot of people get to drive it and Lord only knows how these cars were used or abused. No way for us to find that out of course because the company has the money to make it look like nothing bad ever happened to it so it gets disposed asap. But that's just me based on what I know. I suggest you look for more options. Don't get excited and don't rush. There are lots of good 2nd hand cars out there, you just need to be patient and be smart. Thanks and Good luck

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Assuming all the brand below are relatively the same in terms of mileage/maintenance/parts etc.
Which is the better second hand to choose from in terms of gas consumption, reliability, parts availability/cost, cost of repair, durability etc.
Also please specify the which year is better? Thanks.
1. Toyota Corolla 1999/2000/2001 1.3 carb engine
2. Mitsubishi Lancer 1999/2000/2001 1.3 carb engine
3. Honda Civic 1999/2000
4. Or any suggestion please?

Thanks,
RJ

admin_TOL said...

Hi RJ,

In terms of reliability, parts availability/cost, repair, and durability - they are all known Japanese brands so I'd same they are equal. The year model does not really matter, it's the mileage that does. if the 99 model has lower mileage than the '01 I'd go for the older but fresher car. The gas consumption of the Corolla and the Lancer may be similar, around 7~9km/L depending on the engine's condition and carb setting. I would assume the Honda is fuel injected, from the year model I'd guess it's an EK LXi or VTEC Vti 1.6L engines. Either a 2 door hatch or a 4 door sedan. Anyway, among the 3 I'd choose the Honda. Mainly because it's fuel injected. I love Toyota and Mitsu too but not the carb engine variants. yeah they have smaller 1.3L engine but FIs are way more efficient than carbs let alone they are aged.

I'd suggest also consider Toyota GLi '99~'01. 1.6L EFI DOHC 16 valve. Fast, efficient and reliable. spare parts are everywhere and known to almost all mechanics around.
Another is Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi '99~'01 1.6L 16 valve EFI.
As I always say, collect as many options as you can first and don't get too excited. Thanks and Good luck

Anonymous said...

hi..

In buying a second hand car, what documents should
I expect to have. Original ORCR, Deed of Sale from the previous owners, Open deed of sale from the original owner listed in the ORCR,

Do I need a notarized deed of sale from the current owner?

Ty

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Yes those are the documents you need to expect. The notarization of the DOS depends on the agreement of the buyer and seller as to who shoulders notarization cost. Often times this is covered by the seller, but there are also cases that the buyer agrees to cover for notarization based on his negotiation with the buyer. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Hi,


Follow-up question, Can I ask the first original owner to sign an Absolute Deed of sale and another Open Deed of sale for which if ever I decide to sell the car again or if register the car to my name immediately. Is that legally possible?

ty

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Yes you may do that. It's a lot of paperwork but by all means you may do so, for whatever purpose it will serve you best. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

HI,
good pm, Im planning to buy a second hand car for my son but im in singapore. it is possible that the DOS can be on my son's name even he is minor pa 16yrs old.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

On most DOS, what is stated usually is that the seller and buyer are of legal age, however not strictly specified that they should be 18 or above. I wouldn't think that there will be any legal issue if your 16 yr old son signs a deal and owns his first car, I know someone even younger who does. So I say yes go ahead, it's not gonna be an issue, at least not in the Philippines. I assume he gets to secure driver's license before his 18th birthday undisputed, let alone if he secures his own car. Thank you and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

This is the most informative article on buying 2nd hand cars ever. Thanks admin. I just want to ask what are the hints to take note to check if the car is flooded or not? TIA.

Jhomar

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jhomar,

Thank you!

There are actually lots of ways and procedures done by car shops to fix and mask flood scars and not be able to find out. I know someone who restored his ondoy flooded B-13, spent about 100K, and got it back to its old glory(runs way better than a non flooded car today) and not one expert will ever tell the difference. So to answer your question, there are no identifiable hints, it's all honesty. If the seller does not tell the truth then it's going to be a needle in the haystack. The fact is, flood scars can go away, for the right price. A completely restored and maintained flooded car can and will run, look, and smell better than a non flooded so so car. So my recommendation is to get referrals from trusted people in your network if you want to avoid flooded cars. If you're not yet an expert seek help from one. The key is to stay patient and not settle. Collect as many prospects before you finally decide.

Thank you and Good luck.

Anonymous said...

hi,


I'm checking a 2nd hand car, the seller said it is personally owned (not a company car), but it'sOrcr is registered to a local known bank and has no encumbrance.
He aslo said he already have a notarized DOS named after him.

Is it safe to buy this car or is it just a plain used company car? Cars that have Orcr registered under companies are automatically company cars?

Ty

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Based on how you described it, to me it sounds like a company(bank) car sold to an individual, used as a personal car for some time, and now being sold to you. Yes, if the OR/CR is registered to the company then we can assume that it is a former company car that was bought by that person who now tries to sell it to you. If he says he already has a DOS named after him, then that substantiate the fact that it was a company car even more. If you really want this car, for some reason, check everything I recommend. If the mileage is at its all time high, forget it and find something else. Please don't rush. Sure you'll find more prospects(better ones). Thank you and good luck.

Unknown said...

Hi admin

Im a really big fan of toyota BB speacialy the 2006 model, can i just ask sir what are the common problems of a converted car? Or might say what are the common problem of a toyota BB if you have any idea? Thanks in advance sir

-mikko

admin_TOL said...

Hi Mikko,

I can't really point out detailed issues of BBs as I never had one nor had anyone in my network of friends who had one(my apologies) but I can tell some of the most common issues converted cars have. Most common is safety. It's always a question of how good or bad the conversion process was executed. It's a question that you, as a buyer, will never be able to answer until something in your car fails. The problem with this is that every time you are out in the streets, you will never have peace of mind and you and your passengers safety and convenience are always at risk. Common problems you may have: stirring fails overtime, instrument panel stops working because they were not wired properly/safely so you miss out warnings like temperature, gas, etc.., brake and clutch fail as well, the list goes on. Practically, parts of the car associated to your safety are at risk when you drive converted cars. Though this is not true for all, some are well done. But it's hard to tell by just plain scrutiny or by a single road test. It takes a lot to ensure it's road worthy.

I'm not discouraging you to get a BB. If that's the one you like then go ahead, but do not just go after the style and the looks, treat performance and safety with equal importance. So I suggest tag someone along to help you get a good one. Do not rush and take your time. The price to pay if you make a mistake in buying these kind of cars is huge, even traumatic to most so be smart and be patient. Thanks and good luck.

Unknown said...

Ow thanks sir for a very reliable answer! i highly appreciate it! Thanks

Anonymous said...

hi Admin.

i have a question.
my wife bought a car from her cousin. her cousin was not the registered owner of the car. and the original owner already migrated in US 10 years ago. we don't have their Deed of Sale and a Photocopy of the Owners ID. but we have a photocopy of their Deed of Sale. me and my wife want to transfer the ownership to us. may we know what is the legal process in this scenario?

Thanks in advance.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

One of the primary requirements for Transfer of Ownership is Original Deed of Sale. If you say what you have is only a photocopy, then you need to secure a notarized Affidavit of Lost. This together with the Original OR/CR, TMG clearance, and the 2nd Deed of Sale with your wife as the buyer and her cousin as the seller. Bring some cash for the fees as well. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Hi admin_TOL.
Thanks for the Info. How about the photo copy of the Registered Owners ID? Should I include that in the Affidavit of Lost of the first Deed of Sale.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Not really required since LTO has all the registration information in their database but there's no harm in attaching it along for security. Make sure you put the Affidavit and the photocopy of the D.O.S together. Thank you

Anonymous said...

Hi admin_tol! Your article is really of great help for 2nd hand car buyers out there since it's really informative and well explained, so kudos for you! Anyway, i'm also in need of your help here. Just recently, I bought a 1996 Honda Accord and i just found out today that the engine's serial number is different from what's indicated on its C.R. I tried contacting the previous owner so that i could talk to him about this but to no avail. I'm now then planning to give him a surprise visit to his place of residence just so i could talk to him personally and straighten things out. My problem now is this, what if he denies this and doesn't want to cooperate in fixing the issue? Do you happen to know any legal actions that i could do? Or can i just go directly to LTO and solicit their assistance to clear this out? Your advice will be much appreciated. Thank you!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Sounds like the car got an engine transplant and the documents were not updated and the seller wants to run away. If he does not respond to your call, that already tells he's guilty. What I would do is to return the car along with its crappy documents and get my money back not a cent less, but that's just me.

First verify through LTO if that car is not a "HOT" car. Makes things worst if it is and puts him to more trouble. Yes, try and go make a surprise visit and demand for an explanation. Regardless of what he says, to me it's a clear abuse of confidence and a fraudulent act. Ask him to fix it(update the CR with the new engine number) or better yet just demand for your money and return the car. Forget about it, I swear there are tons of 96 accords out there, you can still get an even better one. If he refuses, then it's time to take legal action. Make sure you take hold of his full identity(picture, id, house, etc) . Now I'm not lawyer but I am certain that you absolutely can file a case against that seller for defrauding you. Get the D.O.S. that he provided you and read it again, he should have put the car's motor and body number(similar to what's written on the CR-but different from what's on the engine) in the description together with his signature. This piece of document, CR, and the car will substantiate the case. Make sure you keep multiple copies of those papers plus a picture of the engraved motor number of the engine.

This is only based on my knowledge so I suggest you still seek an advice from a lawyer. I know this process is not easy and cheap, but this is by far the best you can do if you are relentless to take action.

If you don't do this and go for a settlement instead, I doubt it's gonna be a walk in the park as well. I hope I'm wrong but if that seller does not answer calls, he knows about the trouble he's got you into and wants to run from it. You're not gonna be able to get anything better than headache and misery from that fraud felon.

You can also choose to let it go and fix it on your own. You'll probably spend much less money, effort and time than filing a lawsuit but this means letting that crook walk and continue swindling people.

Up to you brother.

BTW, LTO is not gonna be able to help you on this, as this is already a legal issue, so don't bother.

Thank you for reading and hope you resolve it asap. Good luck.

Unknown said...

Hi Admin_TOL

Thank God i found this site. I am really confused with this issue. I am planning to purchase a car from this person. He is the 2nd owner. The 1st owner purchased the car from a company... What the 2nd owner provided me copies of notarize DOS stating that this company "is duly being represtented by a certain person" to sell the car.. So the DOS vendor who signed it is this certain indivdual. He showed me this papers from the 1st owner orginal DOS, zerox copy of ID w/ signature of the vendor, original ORCR. Again, the orcr is under the name of a company.
My question? I saw the list of requirements from a certain website that if company owned we need to provide a copy of board resolution? Or i think letter or certif coming from general secretary stating that the said person will represent the company or allowing to sell the car? Or the notarize DOS is fine? Bec anyone can state that they were given authorization by the company via DOS right?

i. Original
1. CR
2. OR
3. Notarized Deed of sale
4. Board resolution if car belongs to a company
5. TPL insurance in the name of the new owner (got mine from the pnp camp)
6. PNP clearance and Macro-etching certificate
7. Photocopy of sellers ID with signature for comparison
8. Photocopy of new owner?s ID

I am planning to transfer the ownership under my name and i will be the 3rd owner. Its a lot of documents that i need to gather and check... thank you & more power.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anch,

Based on my knowledge, Yes, The notarized and signed DOS from the 1st seller, representing the "company", will circumvent the other docs you mentioned. That DOS itself is a legal document that substantiates the deal between the company and the 1st seller.
If you still have not closed the deal with the seller, I strongly suggest to hold your money and make an assessment. As I always say to people, buying a car is an emotional thing and in many cases, we make decisions based on emotions. So don't let excitement rule as it will make you justify all ambiguity in the deal and get you into tons of stress, such as this, without you even realizing it. Try to look up for more options and don't settle just yet. Take your confusion as a sign to hold the deal off, specially if it's just a plain jane car. Unless the car is too good of a deal to let go, don't rush it and take your time.
Thank you for reading and Good luck Anch.

Anonymous said...

Good day!

This post is indeed very informative. My husband and I are planning to purchase a second hand car. As per the owner, we still have to assume balance for 20 months. Should we ask for a copy of the statement of loan from the seller and verify with the bank/ financing company if the remaining balance is in fact only for 20 months?

Also, once verified that it is true and correct, what should be the next process? Do we pay the price upfront with the seller then notify the bank where the car was loaned that we will be the ones to continue paying the previous owner's balance?

Pls. enlighten us on this should you have any idea. This will be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

- Newbie Buyer

admin_TOL said...

Hello Newbie Buyer,

I'm very sorry for the late response. Anyway, Yes, you should and must demand copies of all documents, loan statements, payment records, contracts, etc. as in all of them. You could also verify in the bank as to the remaining balance to make sure you are not being swindled. The procedure varies from bank to bank. But sure enough, first step is, you will need, with the presence of the original owner, to coordinate the loan transfer in the bank and talk to the person in charge for loans and mortgages. The bank will make you sign papers and documents for the transfer. The bank will not leave you clueless so no need to worry. They will surely provide set of instructions, what to secure, etc. I recommend to do your homework with due diligence. Don't completely trust what the seller tells you, research is the key to keep away from trouble. Good luck.

Unknown said...

Hi po! I have a newbie question po.

I just bought my 1st car a few days ago, 2nd hand, and its ownership is not yet transferred to my name. Im the 3rd owner, I only have the original OR/CR, deed of sale from the seller whom was the 2nd owner of the car(2nd owner didnt transfer the ownership to his name means title is still on first owner), and the photocopy of ID of the 1st owner. im planning to transfer ownership to my name...
i only have below papers
1. DoS of Original owner - to 2nd owner.Signed by both vendee and vendor
2. ORignal OR CR
3. DoS of 2nd owner to me
Note: Vendor is not the 2nd owner(GF nia daw ung pumirma as vendor)

Please advise po, planning to change the ownership of my car

admin_TOL said...

Hi noobie,

Looks like you got all the important docs you need, 2 DOS, OR/CR. But then you noted "Vendor is not the 2nd owner(GF nia daw ung pumirma as vendor)". This is where the problem comes. With that said, I'm guessing the vendee(buyer of the car from the orig owner) who signed on the 1st DOS is NOT the vendor(seller who sold you the car) who signed on the 2nd DOS, but his gf, is that correct? If that's the case the 2nd DOS will be in question. If you can still contact your seller and provide you with another DOS with him signing it as the vendor and not someone else. I'm not saying you can not do the transaction with what you currently have in hand, of course you can still do, nothing is impossible when you are in the Philippines but I swear ambiguities like that will give you massive headache and make you spend precious time and money. So I suggest you iron out your documents before doing the transaction.

If you get to fix the DOS, other than the OR/CR, you will still need to secure TMG clearance from PNP as an added requirement. Securing this will take half a day if you're lucky.

And then prepare some cash. I'm not sure how much as LTO fees get updated so I suggest bring extra cash with you.

That's it. With all these docs, just go to your nearest LTO and do the transaction.

My statement regarding the DOS issue is based on how I understand the way you described your situation so if I'm wrong, by all means please correct me. Good luck and Thanks.

Unknown said...

thank you sir! Godspeed!

Anonymous said...

Hi sir
We're planning to buy an encumbered vehicle.. after a long backread i learned that i would need to secure several docs before having it transferred under my name.. will it be too much of hassle purchasing an encumbered car? is it a long process? How much would it likely cost us?
Thanks in advance!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I really don't recommend buying encumbered units and yes it will take some time and money doing all the paperwork. More than that, it's peace of mind you can not pay for. The amount of money you will spend will depend on the encumbrance status of the unit. I suggest to hold on to your money and find another one. Stay away from encumbered units, don't get too excited. You have lots of options so just stay patient and keep looking. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

hi admin

I was looking for a 2nd hand car and I found one that I like, I went and check the car, verified body and motor number, cr and or are original copy all was correct so I decided to purchased it, the only thing that I missed was to have it checked with LTO when I had it checked it came out as multiple entry what can I do to fix this? what if I can no longer get a hold of the person who sold it to me.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

I've never had anybody I knew who dealt with that type of problem but it sounds crucial to me. Better way is to return the car and get your money back. That's what I will do and I will not attempt to fix it anymore as it may take some serious amount of money, time, paperwork etc. to get it fixed. Lord knows why it was encoded multiple times, worst is it could be a stolen unit-let's hope it's not. Try to locate your seller. If you can, pay a surprise visit and demand for a return. I'm sure you have the D.O.S. with you with his signature and other personal information so you can use that. If you must, seek legal help if the seller does not cooperate. Return that car asap. That's the only way you will have peace of mind. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi Sir Tol,
ill get to the point sir, is it safe to buy a 2nd hand car with a open dos from the 1st owner? what about if the 1st owner made another dos to someone? and request a replacement of or/cr. then we have 2 original or/cr and 2 dos of diff buyer.who will be the legitimate owner? tia sir.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

Safety actually depends on the seller and not on the DOS. If your seller has every intention of defrauding you, you will be scammed one way or another. He can do all types of fraud and what you mentioned is just one example. Fraud people will always be there to sell cars, houses, gadgets, and all sort of stuff and the last thing you want is to become one of their victims. So I suggest don't even think about who gets to be the legitimate owner if that seller makes a bunch of DOS to a bunch of people, well technically the one who has the car is the legit owner, the others only have documents. But I swear you don't want to be in that situation so don't even think about it. As much as you can, be vigilant when buying anything from anybody.

Going back to your 1st question, the main purpose of open DOS is basically to give you flexibility and allow you to sell the car to another person later on without the need to secure a new one. But if you don't plan on selling it anytime soon, you can simply put your name on it, sign it and move on. So is it safe? Yes but still it's your duty to stay smart and make sure the deal is legit and the seller is trustworthy. Good luck.

lh3n4 said...

Hi,
A very useful article.
Just a question, who should pay for CR, notary, clearance, and other requirements?
Thank you.

admin_TOL said...

Hi lh3n4,

The seller should pay for all necessary documentation but depending on the negotiation. Sometimes when the buyer haggles the price the seller offsets the document fees. God luck.

Happy New Year.

lh3n4 said...

Thanks for the quick reply. Happy new year.

Wacko said...

Good day sir.kudos to you for having such an informative site here.
I would like to ask, since we are planning to buy a car with an assume balance and the arrangement is we ill issue checks for the remaining mortgage on the car, aside from the amount the seller is asking.
Now, how can we be sure that the seller will be paying those checks for the mortgage of the car.
We have requested that we put the bank name as the payee, on the checks - but according to them it the monthly is automatically debited from the sellers account.
Do you think it will be safe for us to continue with the purchase?
Is that really how the banks get the payment for mortgaged cars, thru auto debit?
Thanks a lot sir.

Wacko said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
admin_TOL said...

Hi Wacko,

To answer your question, Yes, auto debit is one method banks employ to collect mortgages. But to me it sounds like the concern is more on trust and commitment. Now a days, it is really difficult to get them from random people you meet so I suggest to drop the deal and find another no-headache/worry free prospect. What car is this that you are aiming to buy anyway? If it's just a regular easy to find unit then you definitely can find another or a better one. I understand there are always emotions involved in buying a car and it's really hard to resist excitement and the I-want-that-car-now feeling. So don't fall into this trap. Get hold of your excitement, throw them out the window so you can think logically and have a clear picture of what you are about to get yourself into. there are lots of cars out there, just be patient and be smart.

I hope this helps and thanks. Good luck

Anonymous said...

Hello Sir,

Good day, I'm planing to buy second hand nissan xtrail model from 2006 to 2008. But i was confused since you did not mentioned nissan in some of your recommended auto brand. can you please give me names of some reliable second hand car dealer. And one more thing, How do i check the the flooded car?

Thank you very much,
Jev.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Jev,

I might have not mentioned Nissan but it is also good. It is a Japanese brand so it should be good. There are tons of 2nd hand car dealers all over, depending on where you're at, and which one is reliable is kind of subjective, one customer to the other, in a sense so it's really hard to identify names. But you need to remember, reliability of the car is something that you as the buyer should never leave in the hands of the seller. You should always do due diligence to verify that what you are about to buy is reliable and road worthy. If you are not a car expert, you must tag somebody along to help check it for you.

There is no definitive way to tell if a car is flooded or not as they can be restored to its very best form, 1 paint job more, not a shinny screw less. Unless the seller will be downright honest to tell you if it's flooded or not, it's really hard to tell. Again it will be good to get an expert along when you look for prospects. Experts can tell if the car that you want will get you to trouble. Sometimes if the car is sold insanely cheap, you can suspect it is flooded or there could be another catch. So you need to be smart. Don't let excitement make you decide. Do your homework. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Good day Sir,

Thanks for your information's and advises.

Thanks a lot,

jev.

Unknown said...

MINI DUMP OR BOOM TRUCK FOR RENTAL SERVICE.
Location: #20 Banlat Road, Tandang Sora Q.c
Mobile: 09258652598
Tell: 455-1621.
FOR MORE DETAILS LOOK FOR MR.RYAN AMORES.

Unknown said...

Hi sir.

Ask ko lang po. plan ko po kase bumili ng sasakyan. mitsubishi adventure for uc express. ask ko lang po kung bakit iba yung nakalagay sa plate no. nung nasa CR comapred sa OR. yung nasa OR na plate number yun po yung tamang unint na binebenta. may mga cases po ba na ganun?

admin_TOL said...

Hi Nahd,

The plate number should match with what's on the CR and the OR. If it does not, then something is not right about that unit and I strongly suggest to forget about it and find another prospect. There are lots of Mitsu adventures out there and I'm certain that you will find a better prospect. Save yourself from the headache and do not spend time on those kind of deals anymore. To answer your question, Yes there are tons of doc discrepancy cases like that, either they were tampered, rigged, forged etc., and they are all but pain and headache. As I said, no matter how good the car is, if docs are "dirty", you will never be able to have peace of mind. Good luck.

Unknown said...

Thank you Sir sa pagsagot.

Pero naibabyahe na din kase Sir. tapos nung verify namen sya sa LTFRB tama naman yung nakalagay sa OR. Ang question ko lang kung bat iba yung plate no. nung nasa CR. iniisip ko baka nagpalit sya ng plate no. since pang uv express gagamitin.

admin_TOL said...

Hi Nahd,

If you have to, verify the history of the unit at your nearest LTO/LTFRB. Who knows, it could be a private turned public transport vehicle and the plate was changed. I suggest if you are really interested with this unit, check everything first. Remember, everything is possible in PH, a 14 yr old minor can get driver's license, a hot/stolen car can be re-registered under a different name and number, a smoke belching-dilapidated jeepney can pass emission test.. and lots of these are freely rolling on PH streets as I write this response. things like these happen for real so we should be prudent. So until you track the real story why the plate no. and OR are the same and the CR says something different, put your hard earned money inside your pocket. Once you confirm it's clean, then by all means, seal the deal. Good luck.

Mac said...

Ano po documents na dapat na ibigay sa akin pag bumili ng surplus truck sa Subic?
Pano verify na safe bilhin yung surplus truck

Anonymous said...

Hi sir TOL, question please, should I be bothered on a second hand car purchase
particularly Mitsubishi Lancer GLXi (Pizza Pie) bearing a description of almost newly replaced/repaired parts? Newly tuned-up, clutch lining, rack and pinion etc. etc. or would I gain benefit from this deal? Thanks sir for all of those useful tips & God bless!

admin_TOL said...

Hi Anonymous,

It really depends on the deal as to how much money the seller asks. These days, Lancer Pizza pies range from 100K-150K depending on the condition. Lancers are good, Glxi variants in particular, but don't solely depend on the sales talk, go and personally affirm everything he says about the car. Make sure to seek assistance from a trusted expert to help you check. And most important thing, be patient and don't get too excited. There are tons of Lancers for sale out there so you have handful of options to choose from. If condition is good but too expensive then forget it and find another deal. Lancer Pizzas are common. They are everywhere and they are practically old(but still good though) so it should not go too far from the price range I mentioned above. So it's really a balance of condition and price to be able to tell if you will gain benefit from it. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Hi Admin,

I recently purchased 2nd Hand Vehicle (Encumbered). All the documents are complete (eg. CR, OR, Cancellation of Mortage, DoS) and is now ready for transfer. I noticed that from the deed of sale, one digit of the chassis number was miswritten as compared to CR and it was already notarized.
Note that the Orig CR and Vehicle Chassis number are the same.
I want to ask is there any problem with the transfer of ownership with the miswritten chassis number. We already processed the transfer and at the moment (almost 2 weeks) we follow-up with LTO and they say with RSU. IS RSU really needed when transferring car ownership.

Thank you and appreciate your feedback.

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