LTO Accredited CTPL Insurance thru GCash

It's the time of year when I have to renew my car registration. I thought the renewal process would be blissful, but I found out that I would still have the same issue I had last year. I already fixed the LTO Portal seamlessly via their client care after they issued a new LTMS account for my renewal. Only then did I realize that what they claimed to be a quick and online renewal process was not for everyone, even if you already have an LTMS account.

First, I purchased the required CTPL for my car registration renewal through GCash again, but with a different insurance policy from last year. There were two options to avail: one for the first year or new registration and two for the registration renewal. I chose the latter, hoping that I would not have the same issue last year wherein I was advised to get a new policy because the system rejected it or tagged it as a new registration instead of a renewal.

FPG Insurance Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) - Last year, I had at least a week when I purchased the policy. Due to an error in the database, I sent them an email to issue a new policy. Two days later, I received a new policy, but the hassle of confirming it again and waiting a long line at the LTO office was dreadful. I was able to renew my registration after that. 

Standard Insurance Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) - I got CTPL Insurance from a new insurance provider this year. At the GCash app, it has two options to choose from. But then again, I was issued the wrong Insurance Policy. It was a day before my due date of registration so I had no choice but to contact them by all means however, the reply was also late, and had to resort to a new plan. I also try calling their branch located near our area but advised me to call the Manila Hotline since they are the only one who can fix the error made from GCash. She was kind enough to help me sent an email in my behalf for urgency. Afraid that the registration will be due tomorrow and will also have a corresponding fee, I immediately purchased a new policy just to proceed with the same day registration renewal of my car. I tried looking for possible solutions for the existing CTPL from Standard Insurance and look for ways on how I will tell them that I wasn't able to use the insurance policy.

Luckily I was able to find a solution and tried sending them an email about it. They replied after calling them thru another hotline I found at their website. They guarantee that they can refund the payment since I wasn't able to use it and will cancel the policy issued on my behalf. However, the payment refund will no longer be in full since they had to deduct the VAT that was already processed. Still, knowing that I can have my refund was already helpful. So I waited patiently for them to process it and I was able to receive the refund a few days after to my GCash account.

Lesson learned here was next time I will not avail any CTPL via GCash and will just directly avail over the counter to avoid hassle and to ensure that I will get the correct insurance policy for my registration renewal.

Also, if you've been wondering how online renewal registration works, it is only for those who opt for renewal process with LTO Accredited PMVIC or Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center. They will be the one to upload the documents thru LTMS Portal along with your chosen MV Certificate of Coverage from Insurance company. It will be populated in the LTMS portal of the client, payment will be made online and the receipt will then be sent via email registered by the client. Seamless as it sounds but only for those who are near any LTO Accredited PMVIC. Unfortunately, I had to stick to the usual process since the nearest to my area is the LTO branch. I really hope that we can also have the opportunity to process our registration renewal online so we don't have to wait for a long line anymore and had to do it for a whole day worth of job absence.