Just like how the Certificate of No Alarm (CNA) proves that a vehicle is free of any alarm tags or bad records at the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Lifting of Alarm Certificate proves that whatever alarm tag was on the vehicle is effectively banished or removed. Usually, this is usually requested after a vehicle is cleared or retrieved after being involved in circumstances like accidents, theft, or other situation that calls for an investigation. It is also of particular importance as a vehicle with an alarm tag cannot be registered or renewed since payments of fines won’t be accepted either. Hence, the need for a Lifting of Alarm Certificate.
You might think that no sane owner or buyer will ever buy or want a motor vehicle (MV) with such history, but whether you believe it or not, there is actually a significant number of motor vehicle owners and buyers whose vehicles were tagged and placed under an alarm with the LTO. It doesn’t necessarily mean that these vehicles are stolen or were in an accident, but it does happen. That said, such alarms affect the renewal of their registrations, consequently causing trouble for the car owners, so it’s best to learn about getting them out of the way.
What is Lifting of Alarm Certificate
A Lifting of Alarm Certificate or Certificate of Lifting of Alarm is a document issued to the registered owner or his/her authorized representative or any applicant requesting for the lifting of alarm on a motor vehicle. This certification document is issued after the requesting party submits or complies with the required documents needed in filing of alarm and after such request is granted the approval of both the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee (MVCC) and the Director of the HPG himself.
A Lifting of Alarm Certificate needs to be requested from the PNP-HPG Motor Vehicle and Concerns Section (MVCS) before it can be issued. It is issued only after the registered owner or his authorized representative successfully requests the cancellation or lifting of alarm on the subject MV. There are also specific requirements that the requesting party needs to provide, before such a certificate can be issued. The certificate document itself is free of charge, but the same cannot be said of the requirements needed before you can acquire one.
What does Lifting of Alarm mean
Lifting of Alarm means that a recovered motor vehicle can be released to the owner or party entitled to the possession of the subject MV upon submission of the required documents coupled with an application for the lifting of alarm as approved by the Director, HPG, upon endorsement by the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee.
Different Recovery Cases that Require Lifting of Alarm
- In case of self-recovery, the owner of the vehicle shall be required to execute an affidavit about the circumstances leading to the retrieval of the vehicle.
- In case of recovery by a police unit, other than HPG, the appropriate spot report or recovery report shall be submitted as a requirement for lifting of alarm. In case of recovery by the Regional Highway Patrol Units (RHPUs) or other HPG Units, the HPG recovering unit shall inform the registered owner or the party-in-interest of such recovery, in writing, within fifteen (15) days from recovery thereof.
Upon the release of the recovered vehicle, the HPG recovering unit will need to photograph the actual turn over of the vehicle to the owner (or the party-in-interest) and such photos along with a report must be submitted to the Director, HPG, copy furnished the Intelligence Division, Operations Division and Investigation and Detection Management Division of the HPG.
Lifting of Alarm/ Cancellation from the Watchlist
The process of requesting the lifting of alarm is usually done by the owner of the motor vehicle or his successor-in-interest or duly authorized representative may apply for the vehicle’s cancellation from the HPG watchlist as soon as the basis for its inclusion in the watchlist ceases to exist
Who Needs a Certificate of Lifting of Alarm
The following people are the only ones who are eligible to or may need to request for and acquire a Certificate of Lifting of Alarm:
- Registered owner
- Authorized representative of motor vehicle owner
Requirements For Cancellation or Lifting Of Alarm Certificate
Listed below are the complete documentary requirements that one must prepare prior to making a request for Cancellation or Lifting of Alarm for the subject MV.
General Requirements
- One (1) original copy of Request form for Lifting of alarm
- One (1) original copy of Original OR/CR or sales invoice of the Subject MV
- One (1) original copy of the Police report from the local PNP unit who has territorial jurisdiction on the area where the incident occurred.
- One (1) original copy of the lifting endorsement from concerned recovering RHPUs.
- One (1) original copy of authenticated copies of MV records from LTO
- One (1) original copy of Complaint Sheet/ filed Carnapping Case/Alarm Sheet
- One (1) original copy of HPG Alarm and or Complaints Sheet/Endorsement from RHPUs.
- One (1) original copy of Spot Recovery Report or Affidavit of Self Recovery
- One (1) original copy of Macro Etching Result (Original Copy);
- One (1) photocopy of MV inspection report (authenticated by the LTO and clearly showing the stencil of the engine and chassis numbers)
- One (1) original copy of turnover release of MV
- One (1) original copy of notarized Certificate of No Claims from Insurance or Affidavit of No Claims (Notarized) – ( 1 original copy);
- One (1) original copy of picture of Motor Vehicle (rear/front)
Additional Requirements
- One (1) original copy of 2×3 Pictures of Applicant/representative /registered owner
- One (1) original copy and one photocopy of two (2) pcs. of Valid ID’s of applicant/registered owner with three (3) specimen signatures
- Two (2) pcs of 2×3 picture of the person who had control of the motor vehicle when it was seized.
- If the MV is encumbered: One (1) original copy of Certificate of Encumbrance and Statement of Account and a photocopy of OR/CR authenticated by the financing company);
- If the registered owner of the rightful owner is a private individual: One (1) original copy of Special Power of Attorney
- If the subject MV is owned by a corporation: One (1) original copy of Corporate Secretary with Board Resolution
- If the rightful owner of the vehicle has not yet processed the transfer of ownership with LTO: One (1) original copy of Deed of sale
- If the previous owner has already claimed insurance proceeds from the insurance company: One (1) original copy of Release of Claims and One (1) original copy of Deed of Sale
- For surviving spouse: One (1) original copy of Death Certificate and Marriage Certificate
- For surviving heirs: One (1) original copy of Extrajudicial Settlement
- For authorized representatives: One (1) original copy of Special Power of Attorney (SPA) and One (1) original copy and one (1) photocopy of Valid ID
Procedures for Requests of Cancellation or Lifting of Alarms
For the complete procedures for securing a Lifting of Alarm Certificate, please see the steps below:
Step 1. Visit the nearest office of the PNP-HPG which is usually in close proximity to the nearest branch of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Step 2. Head on to the Office of the Motor Vehicle Complaint Section and secure an Application Form for Lifting of Alarm from the MVCS /RHPU’s Duty Investigator.
Step 3. Fill up Application Form for Lifting of Alarm MVCS /RHPU’s and have the duty investigator check the form.
Step 4. Secure a copy of the Notary of Lifting request form from the Duty Investigator.
Step 5. Have the Lifting request form notarized.
Step 6. After getting the Application form for Lifting of Alarm notarized, submit it, along with the other photocopies of the requirements to the duty investigator for review and evaluation of completeness.
Step 7. Upon approval, head on to the Duty PI Examiner of the PNP Crime Laboratory for the Macro-Etching Examination.
Step 8. Secure the order of payment from the Duty PI Examiner of the PNP Crime Laboratory.
Step 9. Settle the fees for the Macro-Etching examination at Landbank.
Step 10. Once paid, bring the motor vehicle in for the Macro-Etching examination and wait for the release of the Macro-Etching results.
Step 11. Submit the original requirements to the Duty Investigator and wait for the completeness evaluation of the documentary requirements.
Step 12. Wait while the duty investigator prepares the Investigation Report (IR) or Memorandum (SOD-MVCS/RHPU’s) and get it approved by the Chief of MVCS.
Step 13. Once approved, wait until the IR is signed by the signatories for endorsement of the lifting request to HPG MVCC and Director of HPG for approval.
Step 14. Once signed, take the document to the Encoding window of the Vehicle Information Management System (VIMS) (MVCD) for the Duty MVCD Encoder to encode in the system.
Step 15. After encoding is done, wait for the lifting of Alarm certification to be issued by the Record Section of the DDO Office.
Processing time
The processing of the request for Lifting of Alarm Certificate will take approximately eighteen (18) days and twenty (20) minutes to complete, after the complete documentary requirements have been submitted.
Fees
It’s free, though you may have to spend some for the requirements like the notary fee, macro-etching, and photocopy and certification of certified true copies of required documents.
Where to file the Request
To file the request for cancellation or lifting of the alarm certificate, you will need to go to the PNP-HPG Office of the Motor Vehicle Complaint Section (MVCS).
Downloadable Request Form
The forms for Request For Lifting Of Alarm or Watch List, along with other forms used when making requests involving the PNP-HPG and any of its departments, can be found via this link: http://hpg.pnp.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Request-for-Lifting-of-Alarm.pdf
Important Reminders
If you are among those who need the LTO to lift or cancel the alarm on a particular vehicle to secure a lifting of alarm certificate, then here are some things you’d want to remember:
- An LTO Alarm on the text message indicates if a car is stolen or not.
- If the LTO text message says that the vehicle ‘has no alarm,’ then you have a strong indicator that the used car you are about to buy is completely legal.
- LTO alarms may be caused by apprehended drivers or because the vehicle is a “hot car” that was previously carnapped.
- Owners and/or buyers of used cars with LTO alarm tags may now renew and/or transfer their registration with the LTO after the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) requests that the Stradcom Corporation temporarily lift the tagging and alarm of the affected motor vehicles under the MMDA’s No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).
- The license can be confiscated and revoked by the LTO if you are found to be a perennial violator.
- LTO alarm tags can be applied to both vehicle and driver’s license.
- An alarm tag does not always mean a vehicle was carnapped, stolen, or involved in accidents and crimes.
Video: LTO Lifting of Alarm via the Traffic Adjudication Service (TAS)
To learn more about Lifting of LTO Alarm on a motor vehicle, you may check out this video from Kuyas TV:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
For more information, here are some common questions and answers regarding the processing of requests for Certificate of Lifting of Alarm:
1. What is an LTO Alarm?
LTO alarms refer to alarm tags on vehicles. Having an alarm tag means that the motor vehicle has an active LTO record of existing or pending traffic violations or apprehensions. Having an alarm tag on your vehicle means the vehicle may also be previously involved in an accident or in the commission of a crime or it may be on the watch list of the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP – HPG) for stolen or carnapped vehicles. It may also mean that the vehicle has an active complaint against it or an active case with either the Department of Health (DoH), the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB), or the Internal Investigation Division (IID).
2. What is the Motor Vehicle and Concerns Section (MVCS)?
The Motor Vehicle and Concern Section (MVCS) is a department of the PNP-HPG created to serve as a One-Stop-Shop for providing frontline services concerning different problems arising from motor vehicle related crimes. It was designed to offer services to PNP-HPG clients, especially in cases which require intricate investigations, tactical and strategic interview, and thorough scrutiny of documents. The Motor Vehicle Concern Section does not only serve as the repository of records of carnapping cases nationwide but also serve as a first layer of safeguard in confronting carnapping incidents and handling and investigation of carnapping cases and other modes of losing possession of vehicle/s.
3. What is VIMS?
VIMS refers to Vehicle Information Management System (VIMS), a software used by the PNP-HPG to monitor the vehicles and various aspects of vehicle information entered in the LTO database. It is also a useful tool that helps the PNP-HPG and its MVCS to search and generate reports regarding vehicles in the database based on various parameters.
Summary
The Lifting of Alarm Certificate is an important document issued to the registered owner or his/her authorized representative or any applicant requesting for the lifting of alarm on a motor vehicle. It proves that a recovered motor vehicle can be released to the owner or party entitled to the possession of the subject MV upon submission of the required documents. It is issued after an application for the lifting of alarm is processed and approved by the Director, HPG, upon the endorsement of the HPG Motor Vehicle Clearing Committee.