Buying a car in the philippines

If I ever retire to the Philippines I don't think I would be looking to buy a car. My disability requires pedal modifications and rules out riding on a motorcycle and would probably make even a jeepney a little difficult. In the UK I have a Motability vehicle but the chances are I will lose that in the re-assessment this government is doing.

So, whether I am in the UK or Philippines I probably will not have a car at all by the age of retirement (less than 3 years away). That will mean local buses in UK or taxis in Philippines for round trips of 5 miles or more.

For shorter trips, I would use an electric trike or mobility scooter. I know these can be easily obtained in the UK, but can you get electric trikes/mobility scooters in Philippines?

To be honest, Howerd, I've not seen any mobility scooters either for sale or in use here. If you want one, you'll probably have to import it but be prepared to pay up to 100% (or more) ad valorem duty. You may also be required to register it as a "motor vehicle". Even if you manage those hurdles, you'd have to choose your home with even greater care than normal because pavements are pretty much a rarity outside Davao and the central business district of Makati - even there they're not universal - and there are no convenient ramps where the pavement meets a road junction. Added to which, the scooter would need to be completely waterproof and not be affected by riding through a deep puddle following a heavy downpour. And you almost certainly won't be allowed to ride it inside a Mall: they'll want you to hire a wheelchair from the Concierge.

Sad to say, the Philippines rather ignores the disabled in every aspect of life. Hotels may have grab rails fitted above the bath tub but the short narrow passageway between the room door and the bed is often too narrow to turn a wheelchair through 90 degrees to get in or out of the bathroom. Not all Malls have lifts to all floors and there are certainly no signs in Braille - apart from on lift buttons in one or two luxury hotels. I'm told that the current building regulations in the UK require all new builds to make special provision for the disabled: no such requirement here - no real building regs either (well there are, but nobody checks so nobody implements them!).

All is not lost, however, a Filipino of my acquaintance, who has lived in the US for most of his life and is widely travelled throughout the US and Europe, is proposing to establish a planned community for retirees and is targeting the US market principally. The entire project is being designed very much with the disabled in mind, so ramps rather steps and wide doorways. The design is more of a resort than a retirement home with residents occupying (mainly) two bedroomed "villas" constructed out of bamboo and Nipa and will be fully-furnished and equipped. I understand that it will cost approximately $2000 a month to live there but that apparently includes 24-hour nursing care on a one-on-one basis. You probably don't need that so could expect to pay considerably less.

Disabled people are very lucky in the UK - a free car and only have to pay for petrol. Filipinos are always surprised at that. I have only been to Philippines once so I know I have not seen the realities of day to day living there. I saw one guy who, like me, had polio but he had no caliper or even crutches, he had to scramble around on all fours.

The Pension House I stayed in did have Braille on the lift buttons though and I think the room was big enough for a wheelchair (my bungalow here is not) In the UK there are regulations requiring ramps and how steep they can be but I don't remember dipped pavements in the Philippines. The pavement near the pension house was atrocious.

No-one would stop for me at the zebra crossing unless there was some pedestrian apparently directing traffic or some westerner happen to be driving. On New Years Eve, someone was shot and killed at that Zebra crossing - I heard the gunfire!

I did see one person on a mobility scooter and they are advertised on-line, but I would only want to live in the provinces and have a friend near Naval.

Dreaming is probably the best idea - reality will be so much harder.

How do you know the vehicle wont be insured?

If you go to the dealership and test drive a brand new car it will be insured. They are not stupid!

'If you are a Kano you don't drive' Eh?

My advice would be if you want a car buy one, especially if you enjoy driving.

Once you get the hang of driving here it actually is no more difficult than other country.

It's funny how you guys come up with all these theories about driving in the Philippines.

Been driving here for over 20 years. Only had 2 accidents. One the other driver payed the damage to my car. Other time was when a tricycle hit me from behind. Only a small dent and the chap admitted it was his fault. Didn't bother to try and get anything from him as i knew it would be more hassle than it was worth.

Only been pulled over twice by plod. Both times in manila my fault. Payed the man and went on my way.

Yes heard that one and something I'd never contemplate, plus there would be a big ugly hole in where the glove should be wouldn't there?!

I've ever understood why 2nd hand prices are so expensive out there. You pay top dollar for obvious crap

Thats what I was afriad of. I looked at prices and when a 8-10 yr old car is only 200,000peso than a brand new whats the point buying second hand. A new you can fainance on.

Nice points and advice. Out of interest do you have the phone numberyou mentioned?

More expenses!!!!

I was seriously thinking along those lines myself. Get the nuimber of a man with a van and use him. We won't be anywhere near Manila (for the start) so I'm thinking man with a van and trics. Wouild be considerably cheaper

That's exactly what I did when I was in the Philippines. Hired a driver and minibus (van) - someone that was well known to my wife's uncle. The alternative was to hire a car from a rental company and drive myself. I am glad I went with the former option. We travelled everywhere we went in Manila and Luzon, this way. Excellent driver too.

The only problem with this is its not very convenient as you'd have to phone the guy up and see if he's free and if he's not try to book him for the future.

How about this? Could i go out there and buy a new toyota on finance over 3 yrs say. Then if we leave the phils to go back to the uk sell the car on. Would it matter if there is still money outstanding on the loan for the car? The loan payments would be coming out of a philippine bank account and from what I can see I'd get about 80-85% of the value of the new car on re-sale.

Know what you mean. It worked in our circumstance but not in all. We used him everyday that we weren't outside of Luzon and normally a full day at that.

One thing I noticed was there was a world of difference driving in Manila and around the Dasmarinas area compared with driving in Tagaytay, Laguna and Batangas.

Text LTO<space>VEHICLE<SPACE>[Plate Number] and send to 2600

Maybe but almost certainly not if you will be coming here on a Tourist Visa/Waiver. Taking out a bank loan would be cheaper than dealer financing but watch out, interest rates are usurious and you may well need to clear the loan before you can sell it.

Have you ever tried this number? Very rarely works.

No problem selling secondhand vehicles. The problem is you may not get as much as you think it is worth.

Markham is correct. If there is a loan on the vehicle you will not hold the proper documents to sell the car.