How to Request for Re-Stamping of Chassis Number in LTO

Re-stamping of chassis number is a service offered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO). Though it is usually done on motor vehicles whose chassis numbers have been defaced, it isn’t something you can do on your own. Instead, you make a request for authorization from the LTO to have the procedures done at an LTO-accredited manufacturer or rebuilder.

Making such a service request means the motor vehicle owners are trying to seek authorization to have the chassis number re-stamped for vehicles of which the chassis number is unreadable due to corrosion or has been imported from a region which does not require the vehicle identification number (VIN) being stamped in the chassis/frame. It’s a simple process, too. All you need is to prepare the documentary requirements and get started with the procedures at your preferred LTO office.

Table of Contents

What is Chassis Number Re-Stamping?

Chassis re-stamping refers to the process of stamping the chassis number of motor vehicles with defaced chassis numbers. It ensures that the chassis number, also known as the vehicle identification number (VIN) or frame number, is visible and readable. After all, the LTO, as the regulatory body, needs to confirm that the vehicle and its parts are the MV’s original components by matching it with the unique identifiers embedded in the VIN which also includes serial numbers.

Other than being an identifier for original motor vehicle components, ensuring that the chassis number is visible is a particularly important item in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Report (MVIR). The stencil or macro-etching procedure for chassis numbers may no longer be mandatory for renewing MV registrations under the same owner but if you intend to sell, the new owner will need the chassis numbers to at least be visible and to match the one on record. As such, it is an important step that can’t be done just anywhere. It has to be at an LTO-accredited manufacturer or rebuilder and it requires authorization from the LTO itself.

Benefits of Chassis Number Re-stamping

Re-stamping of chassis number actually comes with certain benefits like:

Easier renewal of vehicle registration for second-hand car owners
Clear and visible VIN for easier MV verification
Visible chassis number for checking for apprehensions and alarm
Clean MVIR
Better chassis readability for when needed by verification of public authorities

Qualifications for Chassis Number Re-stamping

Requests for re-stamping of chassis numbers are usually made by the following:

Motor Vehicle Owners

Requirements for Chassis Number Re-stamping

When requesting for the re-stamping of chassis number in motor vehicles, applicants will need to prepare the following documentary requirements:

Original Certificate of Registration (CR)
Affidavit of Owner stating the reason/s or need for re-stamping

Procedures for Chassis Number Re-stamping

To request for a re-stamping of the chassis number from the LTO, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Visit your preferred LTO Regional Offices Operations Division or LTO District Offices near you.

Step 2: Proceed to the Customer Service Counter and have your documents checked for authenticity and completeness.

Step 3: Secure a Conductor’s License Application Form.

Step 4: Secure a queue number and wait for your turn.

Step 5: When your number is called, proceed to the transaction counters.

Step 6: Submit the application form for re-stamping with all your documentary requirements to the Evaluator.

Step 7: Wait for the CR to be confirmed and the endorsement to the concerned LTO District Office.

If the issuing LTO DO is within the region, they will inspect and retrieve the record upon submission of requirements.
If the issuing LTO DO is elsewhere, then you will get an endorsement to the issuing DO for endorsement.

Step 8: Once the records are retrieved and verified, you will be issued an endorsement and instruction to go to the Philippine National Police – Traffic Management Group (PNP-TMG) for the Laboratory examination of the motor vehicle.

Step 9: Proceed to the PNP-TMG for the Laboratory Examination of the motor vehicle.

Step 10: After receiving the PNP/TMG Crime Laboratory Report, proceed to the transacting DO and submit it along with the other requirements for evaluation and approval of re-stamping request.

Step 11: Proceed to the LTO accredited manufacturer/ rebuilder to effect re-stamping of motor vehicles.

Step 12: Submit the stencils of the re-stamped engine/chassis and pay for the re-stamping fee.

Step 13: Wait for the certificate of re-stamping to be released along with the official receipt (OR).

Fees for Chassis Number Re-stamping

Requesting for chassis number re-stamping generally only entails paying the LTO the amount of P 90.00 for re-stamping purposes. However, it may require the payment of other LTO fees depending on the requirements you need to secure.

Where to Get it Done

Requesting for chassis number re-stamping can be done at any of the following LTO offices in the Philippines:

Regional Offices Operations Division
District Offices

Important Reminders

If you are requesting for chassis number re-stamping, then you can keep these things in mind to make the transaction easier.

Chassis modification is something the LTO doesn’t usually allow except for certain circumstances.
Re-stamping is usually done for a defaced chassis number. In cases of chassis modification, a request for changing chassis number is required.
The car’s chassis, or frame, refers to the very foundation where every other component that the motor vehicle carries is built on. As such, it is an important part that needs strict monitoring, which is something that the LTO does.
Note that chassis re-stamping requires clearance from the PNP-TMG, so requests for such are subject to laboratory examination which checks for signs of tampering.
You may only request for chassis number re-stamping at LTO Regional Offices Operations Division or LTO District Offices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For your reference, here are some common questions and answers regarding re-stamping of chassis numbers in LTO.

1. Are engine numbers and chassis numbers the same?

No. Both the numbers are stamped in the motor vehicle to provide different identification of the car’s model and the engine number. While the Chassis Number or VIN provides details such as the manufacturing date, car model, engine type, fuel type, etc., the engine number is exclusive to the engine block.

2. Should engine and chassis numbers match?

Not necessarily. Engines have serial numbers specific to the production run of that engine. The VIN number has identifiers specific to the car frame and its components and will always be different from the engine number, except in certain cases. Aftermarket reman engines often have heat tabs on the freeze plugs while collector cars will always have the engine and chassis numbers matching.

3. Is the engine information included in the VIN?

Yes. The VIN number, or vehicle identification number, has information on the size of the engine. In the series of numbers and letters in the VIN, the tenth from the left denotes the model year and the eighth is the engine code.

4. Where can I find the chassis number and engine number?

Usually, the Engine Number of a motor vehicle is printed on the outer covering or engine casing of the vehicle’s engine. On the other hand, the car’s chassis number is usually found in the engine bay or beneath the plastic trim around the driver or passenger door opening. Both are used for identification purposes, but they are not the same. They are two different and unique numbers that are equally important identifiers of a motor vehicle.

5. Is it possible to change the VIN or chassis number?

No. VINs, or Vehicle Identification Numbers or chassis numbers, are like the fingerprints of a vehicle and are unique to every car despite similarities in the make and model.

6. Can I punch the chassis number on my vehicle by myself, like when I get it repaired after being broken?

No. These things need to be declared with the LTO and only after an LTO authorization or approval can you get the chassis number stenciled and stamped. However, you can’t do it by yourself either, as it needs to be done by LTO-accredited manufacturers or rebuilders.

7. Where can I get more information about re-stamping chassis numbers?

For more information, you may check with the LTO, via the LTO via the LTO Regional Offices Operations Division or LTO District Offices which handle approval of re-stamping chassis number requests.

Summary

Re-stamping of chassis number is a service offered by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for those who own motor vehicles whose chassis numbers have been defaced. With this service, the agency ensures that the chassis numbers match the original document as registered and that no tampering has been done on it. As such, the motor vehicle is usually subjected to a laboratory examination and only after being cleared will it be approved for re-stamping at LTO-accredited manufacturers or rebuilder in the country.