The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is automating its motor vehicle inspection system to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles.

Unsafe vehicles on the road can kill, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade underscored.

in 2019 alone, Metro Manila had a total of 121, 771 road crashes, averaging 334 daily.

These resulted in 372 deaths while 20,466 victims suffered from non-fatal injuries and 100,933 caused property damage.

“We want to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives and property along our roads, because we can all fall victims to this road crash epidemic on wheels," he reiterated.

Now, every vehicle for renewal of registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) should pass a series of automated tests for roadworthiness to be conducted by Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (MVICs).

Vehicles to be registered must pass a 73-point inspection system in three stages, using state-of-the-art equipment that sends the results to the LTO’s IT system automatically, in real-time.

They will be tested using minimal human intervention.

In the old LTO system, the roadworthiness test is done through visual and manual inspection.

In the first stage, the vehicle will be inspected in 66 points (inside, outside and on top of the vehicle are inspected). Tests using automated equipment is 6 points.

The vehicle will also be tested for smoke emission using a state-of-the-art equipment.

Prior to the operation of MVICs, vehicles to be registered with the LTO need only to pass a smoke emission test given by a Private Emission Testing Center (PETC).

In the second stage of the automated system, the vehicle will be tested for tire alignment, suspension, and brakes. The reaction of the speedometer will also be inspected.

In the third stage, the vehicle’s sound level and headlights will be tested.

All vehicles, including those “for hire,” private, and those being used by government agencies and by diplomats, will be tested at the new MVICs.

Motorcycles and jeepneys will also be subject to inspection.

Although the cost of having a vehicle inspected at a MVIC may seem expensive as compared to that of a PETC’s, the cost is justified as it covers 68 inspection points.

It is a more comprehensive, thorough, and corrupt-free inspection of the vehicle, compared to the usual emission test.

MVIC inspection cost for a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 4,500 kilograms is between P1,500 to P1,800 with a re-inspection fee set at P750 should the vehicle fail the first tests.

Inspection fee for motorcycle and tricycles are set at P600 with the re-inspection fee at P300. The inspection fee meanwhile for jeepneys is set at P300 with the re-inspection fee at P150.

The inspection fees for the new MVIC are based on the reasonable return of investment (ROI) considering that the authority to operate is 5 years, and the fees are relatively lower compared to other Asian countries.

Previously, the government operated a 12-lane MVIC in 1992 at the LTO East Avenue office in Quezon City in cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This pilot MVIC was used to evaluate taxi units but fell into disrepair. Its testing equipment suffered from a lack of budget for maintenance and calibration, and needed spare parts.

In 2007, MVIS North, located along East Avenue, was rehabilitated with government funds but became obsolete by 2012.

Realizing the need to continue the operation of MVICs, the government tapped the private sector to participate in the project.

Todate, authorized private MVICs are being set up in various parts of the country, according to the DOTr.