LTO Rules on Auto-LPG Vehicle Registration

Legal basis and referenced issuances

The authority derives from Section 4(d) par.1 of Republic Act No. 4136, governing inspection/registration-related powers for land transportation.
The circular further derives from Section 1 of B.P. Blg. 74, amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 4136.
The clean-air compliance basis is Republic Act No. 8749 and its implementing regulations, which include DENR Administrative Order No. 51, DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-81, and related procedures annexed therein.
LPG safety and certification references include DTI DAO No. 01: 1997 (Revised Rules and Regulation Concerning the Philippine Standard (PS) Quality and/or Safety Certification Mark Scheme).
LPG code-of-practice references include DTI-BPS PNS 05 (Standard Code of Practice for the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) on internal combustion engine) and future revisions and amendments.

Purpose and regulatory intent

The circular establishes implementing rules that require certified LPG conversion/installation, inspection and maintenance compliance, and emission conformity before LTO registration of auto-LPG vehicles.
The rules require controls ensuring that LPG components and markings comply with the LPG code-of-practice and PS-marked certification scheme.

Installation by certified conversion shops

LPG-fueling devices for any motor vehicle must be installed only by a conversion/installing shop duly certified by the Bureau of Product and Standards (BPS) of the DTI under the Philippine Standards Certification Mark (PS Mark) scheme.
Installers must install the LPG device in accordance with PNS 05: 1983 and its future revisions and amendments.
After conversion, the converted vehicle must undergo annual maintenance and inspection by the BPS certified conversion/installing shop.
The certified shop must issue a Certificate of Inspection and Maintenance Compliance (CIMC) for the vehicle after maintenance and inspection.
The LPG fuel device installed must be guaranteed by the conversion shop, and the conversion documentation must include the warranty against faulty defects, with liability for accidents arising from conversion/installation defects placed on the conversion/installing shop.
LPG conversion/installation documentation must be executed within the certification and labeling requirements tied to the PS Mark scheme and PNS 05 compliance.

Inspection requirements for auto-LPG vehicles

The motor vehicle inspector must verify that the fill valve is located outside the vehicle compartment and is isolated from the auto-LPG container.
The inspector must ensure that an “LPG” sticker is posted:
- on the fill valve cover for each installed unit, and
- on the upper-left corner of the vehicle’s windshield.
The windshield sticker must include, besides the “LPG” marking, a warning message stating “not allowed to park on an enclosed parking space”.
The inspector must verify that the conversion shop has officially affixed the PS Mark consistent with the implementing guidelines of PNS 05: 1983 and its future revisions and amendments.
For first year registration processing, the inspector must require the registrant to present a certified true copy of the Certificate of Conversion/Installation issued by the BPS certified conversion/installing shop.
The inspector must require the owner’s certified true copy of the Certificate of Inspection and Maintenance Compliance (CIMC) issued by the BPS certified conversion/installing shop.
The auto-LPG motor vehicle must pass emission standards under DENR Administrative Order No. 51, using the following limits:
- Spark ignition engine
  - Registered for the first time on or before 31 December 2002 at Idle:
    - CO (% by volume): 4.5
    - HC (PPM as Hexane): 800
  - Registered for the first time on or after 01 January 2003:
    - CO (% by volume): 3.5
    - HC (PPM as Hexane): 600
- Compression ignition engine
  - The opacity (naturally aspirated and turbo charged), measured as light absorption coefficient, must be not more than 2.51/m.
Exhaust emission test procedures for in-use motor vehicles are based on annexes B and C of DENR DAO 2000-81.

Registration conditions and required documents

No auto-LPG motor vehicle may be accepted for registration if the conversion center that issued the Certificate of Conversion/Installation or the Certificate of Inspection and Maintenance Compliance is not included in the list of certified conversion shops provided by DTI-BPS.
For registration presentation, the registrant must submit, in addition to LTO requirements, the following documents:
- For the first year only
  - A Certificate of Conversion/Installation issued by the PS certified LPG conversion/installation shop, and it must include:
    - Name of LPG Conversion/Installation Shop
    - Control number of the Certificate
    - Date issued (actual date of vehicle conversion)
    - Name of the owner of the converted vehicle
    - Description of the converted vehicle (make, model, plate number)
    - Standard warranty statement against faulty defects for a period of one (1) year from the date of conversion/installation
    - Signature of the duly authorized personnel of the LPG conversion/installation shop
- For subsequent years
  - A current Certificate of Inspection and Maintenance Compliance issued by the PS certified conversion/installation shop, and it must include:
    - Name of LPG Conversion/Installation Shop
    - Control number of the Certificate
    - Date issued (actual date of vehicle inspection)
    - Name of the owner of the converted vehicle
    - Description of the vehicle (make, model, plate number)
    - Signature of the duly authorized personnel of the LPG Conversion/installation shop
The registration fees for an auto-LPG motor vehicle must be pursuant to Republic Act No. 8794, known as the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) Law.

Effectivity, publication, and supersession

The circular takes effect after fifteen (15) days from its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
Any rules or regulations inconsistent with the circular are superseded.