How to Register a Car

"Matthew, you're in charge of getting this car registered. No excuses."

Matthew blinked at her intensity but nodded. "Understood. We'll get it done."

Samantha's gaze flicked to Leo and Saimon. "You two, assist him. I don't care how long it takes—just make sure it gets done."

"Yes, Sergeant," Leo muttered, trying to lighten the mood but failing to elicit a smile from Samantha.

Samantha drove the car back to the storage space and parked it with deliberate care. Once the team exited the vehicle, she handed the key fob to Matthew and crossed her arms. "I don't want a repeat of today. No registration, no more public test drives. Clear?"

"Crystal," Matthew said, already mentally forming a plan.

"I will wait for you guys here." 

The team reconvened at the storage space early the next morning. The first step was transporting the EV to the nearest LTO office, as driving it again without proper registration was out of the question.

Matthew stood near the car, phone in hand, arranging for a tow truck. "It's going to take about an hour for the truck to get here," he informed the group. "We should prepare all the paperwork we might need."

"Do we even have any paperwork?" Leo asked, frowning. "It's a prototype, not something we bought off a dealership."

"That's part of the problem," Matthew admitted. "We'll need to explain everything to the LTO and see what they require."

When the tow truck arrived, the team carefully loaded the EV onto the flatbed, ensuring the car was securely fastened. Samantha watched silently, arms crossed, while Saimon and Leo double-checked the straps.

The ride to the LTO office was tense, the team seated in the tow truck's cabin, running through possible scenarios in their heads.

The tow truck pulled into the LTO compound, drawing curious glances from employees and visitors alike. The sleek, modern design of the EV stood out, a sharp contrast to the standard vehicles lined up for registration.

The team approached the front desk, where a clerk looked up, raising an eyebrow at the group. 

"Good morning. How can I help you?"

Matthew stepped forward, clearing his throat. "Good morning. We're students working on a capstone project, and we've built an electric vehicle prototype. We're here to inquire about the process of registering and certifying it."

The clerk's skeptical gaze flicked to the tow truck and the EV on its flatbed. "A prototype, you say? That's not a common request. Let me get someone from the technical department to assist you."

After a few minutes, a middle-aged man with glasses and a clipboard joined them. "I'm Engineer Santos from the technical division. You built this vehicle yourselves?"

"Yes, sir," Matthew replied. "It's for our capstone project. We're hoping to get it certified and registered."

Engineer Santos adjusted his glasses and walked toward the EV, inspecting it closely. "This is impressive work for students. But you should know that registering a custom-built vehicle, especially a prototype, is a lengthy process. It involves inspections, testing, and compliance with national safety and environmental standards."

Matthew nodded. "We understand. Can you walk us through the process?"

"First, you'll need detailed technical documents. This includes the blueprints for the vehicle, specifications for all its components, and a comprehensive overview of the manufacturing process. The LTO needs to understand exactly how this car was built."

Matthew nodded, taking notes on his clipboard. "Blueprints and specs, got it. What's next?"

"Second," Santos continued, "the vehicle must meet safety compliance standards. This means it'll need to undergo crash tests, brake tests, and a full assessment to ensure it's safe to drive. We're talking about ensuring the structural integrity of the chassis, the effectiveness of the braking system, and even the proper functioning of the airbags—if you have any."

Saimon furrowed his brow. "Crash tests? Isn't that… destructive?"

"Yes, it is," Santos confirmed, raising an eyebrow. "It's why most prototypes don't make it to production without significant investment. You might be able to get a waiver for a full crash test, given that this is an academic project, but you'll still need to prove the vehicle is structurally sound and meets basic safety criteria."

Matthew remained quiet but attentive, his arms crossed as Santos continued.

"Third, there's environmental compliance. Even though this is an electric vehicle, it still needs to pass emissions standards and environmental assessments. The LTO will work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on this. They'll be looking at things like battery disposal plans and ensuring the vehicle doesn't pose any ecological risks."

Leo raised his hand. "Wait, emissions testing for an EV? Isn't that redundant?"

Santos shrugged. "You'd think so, but it's more about making sure the manufacturing process and materials meet environmental regulations. EVs still have environmental impacts, especially when it comes to batteries."

He checked his clipboard and sighed. "Next, there are the inspection fees. These cover the costs of the LTO's evaluations, including the safety and environmental tests. Depending on the results, you might also need to pay for re-inspections if something doesn't meet the standards."

Matthew grimaced. "How much are we talking about here?"

"It varies," Santos said. "But for a prototype, you're looking at a significant amount. Tens of thousands, at least."

The group exchanged uneasy glances, but Santos pressed on. "Finally, because this is a prototype, you'll need approval from multiple agencies. Aside from the LTO, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will need to evaluate the vehicle for compliance with industry standards. The DENR, as I mentioned earlier, will also need to sign off. This process can take months, sometimes even longer, depending on how quickly you can fulfill the requirements."

Leo frowned. "Months? We don't have months."

Santos gave him a sympathetic look. "That's just the reality of the process. Building the car was only the first step. Getting it legally certified and registered is a whole other challenge."

Matthew took a deep breath. "Thank you for the explanation, Engineer Santos. We'll get started on the documents and requirements immediately."

Santos nodded. "Good luck. It's not an easy road, but from what I've seen of your work, you have a solid start. Just be prepared for a lot of back and forth."

With that, he handed them a printed checklist of the requirements and left them to figure out their next steps.