Selling your car in the Philippines: the documents you need
OR/CR, deed of sale and the LTO transfer checklist — everything a private seller needs before handing over the keys.
Selling a car privately gets you a better price than trading in, but only if the paperwork is clean. Buyers walk away from missing documents faster than from high mileage. Prepare these before you post your ad.
The core documents
- Original Receipt (OR) and Certificate of Registration (CR) — the CR must be in your name, or you need the chain of deeds of sale proving ownership.
- Deed of Absolute Sale — notarized, signed by you and the buyer, with the engine and chassis numbers written exactly as stamped.
- Valid government ID of both parties, matching the names on the deed.
- If the car was ever under financing: a bank release of chattel mortgage, or buyers will assume it is still encumbered.
At the meetup
Meet at the bank or in daylight and let the buyer verify the engine and chassis numbers on the car against the CR. Serious buyers bring a mechanic — welcome it; it builds trust and closes faster.
After the sale
The buyer handles the LTO transfer of ownership, but protect yourself: keep a photocopy of the signed and notarized deed, and file a notice of sale at the LTO district office where the car is registered. Until the transfer is recorded, any traffic violations and penalties still point to your name.