Philippines to become major car market by 2020

That's a pretty bleak picture you're painting there Mark

I'd better think again

I hear the upper middle class are buying a second car as a way to get around number plate restrictions.
Edit..Oops..Someone already mentioned this..

Every year we have to do an emissions test...Never failed even when my back muffler was not attached to the exhaust.. Just pay the 500.00 fee and its a guaranteed pass..
If they bring in the M.O.T..same thing.
Thats why we have such fun here in the R.P.. They are sooooo easy going.

We have had a Mitsubitshi Adventure for 9 years..Always been able to get parts no problem..
BIL has a Starex..Cant get parts..Needs to improvise.

Not in Davao! Very strict here on privately-owned vehicles especially.

A bit like in the UK when I started driving............50years ago

I made an enquiry with LTO here in Davao
They told me I would just need to register the car at the next registration period and update the records.

I'll make a personal vist soon when the holiday period is well and truly over and discuss the details on all the issues you mentioned.

I surely can't be the only person who wants to bring a car from Quezon City to Davao City
can I?

Yes, that's the normal procedure here: LTO Davao will only record a change of ownership when you do the annual registration. Other LTOs have different rules - in Cebu, you have to register a change of ownership as soon as it takes place.

But that's only part of the issue for you: you have to get the car from QC to Davao and I doubt you'll be sticking it in a container and shipping it (costs around 40~50,000); you'll drive it here. That means having to take ferries which are part of the nautical highway and the operators may/will/are supposed to check your CR and OR (Certificate of Registration and Official Receipt for the payment of the CR$'s fees) against your ID.

Indeed not but many other shipments would be without their owners' permission or knowledge!

Yep, as I mentioned before, we would bring the car home as part of a 'road trip' holiday. Sounds fun.

I'm just concerned about the issues you've raised.
LTO tell me no problem.
The car was purchased by the owner as new and is perfect all round including the paperwork which is all available. So nothing wrong on the part of the car.
On my part I have all needed ID's etc
So what are the issues I have to face ?

Thing is, LTO told us exactly what they told you when we asked about bringing our Pajero from Cebu (and with Cebu plates). However when we came to pay the annual registration fee, we were told that we would have to go to another LTO as Davao LTO was only handling vehicles originally registered there. We had to pay a guy to take it to Cotobato for the registration thingie and my wife's brother drove it back to Cebu a year later and sold it. Incidentally, he got a call a day later from a rather upset buyer who bleated about the fact that the engine had "blown-up" from which I inferred that the timing chain had broken.

So the advice I have passed on to you, Peter, is largely based on my own experiences and knowledge having owned a Pajero here and both Shoguns and Shogun Sports in the UK. I am not trying to put you off either the purchase or the journey, merely acting as a Devil's Advocate.

As for the proposed trip down from Manila, I take it you do know that - for the most part - the highway is little better than an English B class road and you will not average much more than 40 or 50 kph - or less. I would plan on allowing (at least) four full days to complete the journey.

I would certainly invest in a GPS system but don't go to the bother of buying a dedicated unit, eg: Garmin (and certainly not the locally-produced ones). I take it you have an Android-powered smart phone, go to the Google Play Store and purchase a license for "Co-Pilot" (around $25). In my opinion, whilst I have always rated TomTom to be the best in Europe, I've found Co-Pilot to be the best system for outside Europe - it also does Europe very well indeed, incidentally. You will need a 2A cigarette lighter USB charging plug and windscreen mount for the phone both of which you can buy in the motor accessories shop on the 2nd level, SM City. The Nokia and Samsung shops in SM's annexe may have these its also (and of better quality). (If you don't have a suitable smartphone - ie one running Android KitKat or Lollipop and with a 5-inch screen - then it'd be worth going to one of the phone shops in Victoria Plaza or G Mall and buying the year-before-last's Samsung model.)

Thanks again for the valuable information Mark.

If (and still a big if just yet) we go ahead with the car and the roadtrip, we are considering a tour of around a month
We'll be including some family to help with driving.

Personally I don't own a cell phone of any kind. My wife has plenty. Three at last count after she gave a couple away over the holiday period.

We have a long standing invitation to visit family who live very close to Lake Holon in South Cotabato so we'd have a good reason to make that trip. I've always put my wife off for months now as I have still some concerns whether it's a wise decision for me. Especially election year.
What do you think Mark ?

No way of knowing whether your engine blow-out assumption was right or not. But you are right in that vehicles fitted with a timing belt should strictly follow a specified maintenance and get the belt changed at specified intervals. Those timing belts should be made of high-quality rubber and normally could be expected to give some warning signs if getting over worn etc. Unlucky if one gets broken without any prior warning and double unlucky if the engine gets severe damage.
Before relocating here I was driving a Mercedes S320. Those cars have a proper timing chain made of steel and while they certainly are't immune to mechanical failure they are not designed for replacement or indeed expected to fail.
I did well over 200k miles without any attention needed at all.

I'd be cautious about travelling to western Mindanao at any time - even more so close to an election - although the southern end near General Santos is reportedly a bit safer. But I'd only go if all the vehicle's windows have very dark tint and I'd let a relative drive - using the Filipino interpretation of the word "let"! I'm sure you're aware that Mount Parker, locally known as Melibengoy, the volcano wherein the lake is situated, is a sacred place to the local T'boli tribe. It's probably a 5 - 6 hour drive from here and I'm told the highway isn't that good south of Digos.

Hmmm, my thoughts too. Our family tells us it's a fantastic place not be missed.
I'll give it deeper thought if and when the time comes.

I'd hate to miss this chance for him to fulfil his 'obligations' and virtually give up his car for me.

The coding days are the same throughout Manila. The only difference is some areas have window hours between 10am and 3pm and banned cars can drive during these hours.