Where to quickly and legally get license plates for a car in St. Petersburg: step-by-step instructions

Why is it important to choose the right place to make numbers?

Production of state registration plates (GRP) is a mandatory procedure when purchasing a new car, replacing old license plates or restoring lost ones. B St. Petersburg in 2026, there are more than 20 official points where you can legally issue license plates, but not all of them work equally quickly and efficiently. A mistake in choosing a location can cost you extra hours in queues, overpayments or even problems with the law if the number turns out to be fake.

On January 1, 2026, new rules for issuing state licenses came into force: now all private companies are required to transfer data on manufactured license plates to UAISTO (Unified Automated Information System for Technical Inspection) within 24 hours. This means that even if you make numbers in a commercial center, information about them will be available to the traffic police. However, the risks of running into scammers remain - especially when ordering online.

In this guide we will cover:

• 🔹 Official points of production of license plates (traffic police, MFC) - the pros and cons of each option
• 🔹 Private companies with a license: how to check legality and avoid counterfeits
• 🔹 Timing and cost in 2026 - where is it cheaper and where is it faster?
• 🔹 Documentsthat will be required for registration (list for individuals and legal entities)
• 🔹 Common mistakes when making numbers and how to avoid them

Official points: traffic police and MFC in St. Petersburg

The most reliable way to get numbers is to contact government agencies. In St. Petersburg this can be done in traffic police departments or multifunctional centers (MFC). The main advantage: you are guaranteed to receive legal numbers that will be entered into the database without delay.

However, there are also disadvantages: queues (especially in the city center) and limited opening hours. For example, in Traffic police on the street. Krasnogo Tekstilshchik, 10-12 Registration for production of numbers opens in advance and is often booked a week in advance. At the MFC, the procedure may take 2-3 visits due to the need to transfer documents between departments.

point	Address	Production time	Cost (2026)	Need an appointment?
Traffic police (Central point)	st. Krasnogo Tekstilshchik, 10-12	1 day	2,000 ₽ (plastic) 3,500 ₽ (metal)	Yes
MFC "My Documents"	Engels Ave., 112	3-5 days	2 000 ₽	Yes
Traffic police (Primorsky district)	st. Savushkina, 141	1-2 days	2 000 ₽	Desirable
MFC "Kupchino"	Balkanskaya sq., 5	5-7 days	2 000 ₽	Yes

Important: The traffic police can make license plates only if available STS (vehicle registration certificate) or PTS with a note about registration. If you buy a car secondhand and have not yet managed to register it, you first need to go through the procedure at the traffic police, and only then order license plates.

Private companies: how not to run into a fake

In St. Petersburg it works about 15 private companies, which have the right to produce license plates. They are often advertised as "fast" and "no queues", but there are pitfalls. According to State Traffic Safety Inspectorate for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region, in 2023, more than 300 fake license plates manufactured by illegal workshops were identified. To avoid becoming a victim of scammers, check:

• 🔍 Availability of a license on the company’s website (the series and number of the issuing authority must be indicated - Rosakkreditatsiya)
• 📄 Agreement to provide services (it’s better to leave without it - this is a sign of a “gray” company)
• 💳 Check indicating OKVED 45.20 ("Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles")
• 📡 Checking against the EAISTO database (ask to see confirmation of sending data to the system)

Among the verified companies in St. Petersburg:

• 🏢 "AutoRegion" (Marshala Govorova St., 35) - has been operating since 2010, produces numbers in 1 day, price 2,200 ₽
• 🏢 "Number.ru" (Kosygina Ave., 27) - offers express production in 3 hours, but the cost is higher (2,800 ₽)
• 🏢 "State number" (Tipanova St., 27) - specializes in metal plates (price from 3,500 ₽)

Warning: Be careful with offers like “rooms for 1,000 ₽ without documents.” This is 100% fake, which will result in a fine when checked by the traffic police from 2,500 to 5,000 ₽ (Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) or even deprivation of rights for 1-3 months upon repeated violation.

How much does it cost to make rooms in St. Petersburg in 2026

The cost of producing license plates in St. Petersburg is regulated Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 1764 dated 12/21/2019, but private companies can set their own prices. In 2026, current prices:

Room type	State Traffic Safety Inspectorate/MFC	Private companies	Production time
Standard plastic (front + rear)	2 000 ₽	2 000 — 2 500 ₽	1 day
Metal (front + rear)	3 500 ₽	3 500 — 4 200 ₽	2-3 days
Replacing one number (loss, damage)	1 000 ₽	1 200 — 1 500 ₽	1 day
Motorcycle license plates	1 500 ₽	1 500 — 1 800 ₽	1 day
Numbers for trailers	1 500 ₽	1 600 — 2 000 ₽	1-2 days

Prices in private companies may vary depending on:

• 📍 District (more expensive in the center, cheaper on the outskirts)
• ⏱️ Urgency (express production in 3 hours will cost 30-50% more)
• 🎨 Design (for example, numbers with a regional logo cost 200-300 RUR more)

Why is the traffic police office cheaper than private companies?

Government agencies are not focused on profit, so they only charge production costs. Private companies include premises rental, employee salaries and tax deductions in the price.

Attention! ⚠️ On July 1, 2026, new fines for unreadable or damaged numbers:

• 🚨 500 ₽ — if the room is dirty or partially covered (for example, by snow)
• 🚨 5 000 ₽ — if the number is damaged (cracks, chips, missing elements)
• 🚨 Deprivation of rights for 1-3 months - if the number is fake or changed

What documents are needed to produce license plates?

The list of documents depends on who owns the car (individual or legal entity) and for what reason numbers are produced (initial issue, replacement, restoration). Here is the current list for 2026:

Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation|STS (vehicle registration certificate)|PTS (if the STS has not yet been issued)|Application for the production of a state registration certificate (filled out on the spot)|Receipt for payment of the state duty (if required)-->

For legal entities additionally required:

• 📑 Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (not older than 30 days)
• 📑 Power of attorney for a representative (if the documents are not submitted by the director)
• 📑 Tax registration certificate (TIN)

If you are restoring lost numbers, you must additionally provide:

• 📝 Statement to the police about loss (if numbers were stolen)
• 📝 Vehicle inspection report (if the license plates are damaged in an accident)

Attention! ⚠️ If you buy a car second-hand and have not yet registered it, you first need to get STS at the traffic police department. Without this document, no legitimate company will issue you license plates. Fraudsters may offer “temporary numbers” - this is illegal and can result in a fine of up to 8 000 ₽.

Step-by-step instructions: how to make license plates for a car

The process of making numbers can be divided into 5 Key Stages. If you do everything correctly, you will receive ready-made GRZ in 1-3 days. We will look at the option of contacting private company (the most popular among St. Petersburg residents).

1. Step 1: Check your documents

   Make sure you have:

   • 📄 Passport (for individuals) or documents of a legal entity
   • 📄 STS or PTS with registration mark
   • 💰 Money for payment (cash or card)

2. Step 2. Select a company

   Use our list of verified points or check the company by license register. Pay attention to the reviews in Yandex.Maps or 2GIS - if there are complaints about fakes, go somewhere else.

3. Step 3: Submit your application

   Most companies can sign up online through their website or by phone. When you visit in person, you will be given an application form to fill out on site. It states:

   • 🔢 Vehicle registration number (if you are replacing old ones)
   • 🔢 VIN code (required)
   • 🔢 Vehicle make and model

Step 4. Payment and production

After checking the documents, you will be told the cost and terms. Payment can be made in cash or by card (some places have terminals). Production takes from 1 to 3 hours if there is no queue.

Step 5. Getting numbers

You will be given:

• 🔖 Two license plates (front and rear)
• 📄 Certificate of completed work
• 📄 Payment receipt

Check the numbers for defects (chips, crooked font) - if something is wrong, request a replacement under warranty.

💡

Do not leave the company without checking the numbers for compliance with GOST R 50577-93. Pay special attention to: the quality of the paint (should not wear off due to friction), the evenness of the mounting holes, and the clarity of the font.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even when contacting trusted companies, car owners often encounter problems. Here TOP-5 errorsthat lead to delays or fines:

1. Data mismatch in documents

   If there are different surnames in the PTS and passport (for example, after a wedding), you must first change the data in traffic police. Otherwise, production of numbers will be refused.

2. Paying the wrong state fee

   From 2026, there is a state duty for the production of license plates not charged (it is included in the cost of the service). Don't pay extra 800 ₽ - This is outdated information.

3. Ordering license plates before registering your car

   Without an STS or a mark in the PTS, not a single legal company will produce a gas seal for you. First registration, then numbers!

4. Ignoring number verification

   After receiving, check the numbers via traffic police service. If they are not in the database, ask for rework.

5. Changing numbers yourself

   Even if you don't like the font or color, prohibited paint, bend or otherwise modify the numbers. This is equivalent to counterfeiting (Article 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Attention! ⚠️ If you bought a car in another region and want to receive St. Petersburg numbers, first you need to re-register the vehicle with the St. Petersburg State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Without this, you will be denied production of a gas seal with a code 78 or 178.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to make numbers without a car?

Yes, but only if you have STS or PTS with registration mark. Without these documents, not a single legal company will produce a GRZ. If they offer you “numbers without documents,” they are scammers.

How long does it take to make license plates at the traffic police?

B Traffic police of St. Petersburg numbers are produced within 1 working day. If you submit documents before 12:00, you can pick up the completed GRZ after 16:00. At the MFC the process takes longer - 3-5 days, since documents are transferred between departments.

Is it possible to choose a nice number?

Officially, no. The numbers are issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and the combination of numbers cannot be influenced. However, private companies sometimes offer “beautiful” rooms for an additional fee (from 5 000 ₽). This is a semi-legal scheme: companies reserve “good” combinations and sell them as a “service”. There are no risks if the company is licensed.

What to do if you lost your numbers?

If your numbers have been stolen or you have lost them, you need to:

1. Write a statement to police (if theft).
2. Contact traffic police with passport, STS and loss statement.
3. Pay for the production of new numbers (1 000 ₽ per character).
4. Obtain new state licenses (old ones will be cancelled).

If the numbers are simply damaged (for example, bent), you can contact a private company with the same documents.

Is it possible to drive without license plates if they are in production?

No. According to clause 2 art. 12.2 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, driving without license plates is punishable by a fine 5 000 ₽ or deprivation of rights for 1-3 months. If numbers are in production, use temporary transit numbers (they are issued by the traffic police for up to 20 days).