Changing the state registration number (GRP) is a standard administrative procedure that every vehicle owner sooner or later faces. The need for this can arise for various reasons: from the banal desire to change the “unsuccessful” combination of numbers and letters to the requirement of the law when moving to another region. Unlike many other countries, license plates in the Russian Federation are tied to the car, not to the owner, but the legislation provides for flexible mechanisms for their change.
The process of obtaining new “railways”, as they are often called by drivers, is strictly regulated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. State registration mark It is the main identifier of the vehicle on public roads. Any manipulations with it, including replacement, require official registration in the traffic police. It is important to understand that just buy beautiful numbers from private individuals and pin them on the bumper is impossible – it will be considered the installation of false numbers, which entails serious liability up to deprivation of rights.
In this article, we will analyze in detail all the nuances of the procedure: when it is really necessary, how much the state duty costs, what documents will be required and whether it is possible to save the old number when selling a car. Administrative rulesThe corporation that regulates these issues is updated periodically, so the updated materials are critical to avoid bureaucratic delays.
Reasons for replacing license plates
There are many reasons that encourage car owners to contact the traffic police for new rooms. The most common and legally justified reason is the change of the region of registration of the owner. According to the current rules, if you are registered in one subject of the Federation, and the car is registered in another, under certain conditions (for example, when resale or deregistration) may require bringing the region code in accordance with the registration of the owner. Although there is no direct requirement to change numbers when selling domestically from 2020, many drivers are looking to have their actual residence code in their area of residence.
The second common cause is physical damage or wear of old signs. If the paint has worn off so much that the symbols are difficult to read, or the metal plate is deformed, the traffic police inspector has every right to write a fine for unreadable numbers. In this case, state-number It is not a whim, but a necessity to avoid problems with the law. Also, the signs are changed in case of loss or theft, although in the latter case, a statement to the police is first written.
The third group of causes is psychological or superstitious. Many drivers believe that certain combinations of numbers bring good luck, while others, on the contrary, provoke accidents or breakdowns. Someone wants to get rid of a number that was inherited from a previous owner who may have been involved in a nasty story. Regardless of the motivation, the procedure remains the same, although in the case of superstitions, it becomes a paid service at the owner's request, rather than a requirement of law.
⚠️ Attention: Attempt to self-correct the erased figures with a marker or paint is regarded as making changes to the design of the GRP and is equated to the use of false numbers. This threatens deprivation of rights for a period of 6 months to 1 year.
Required documents for registration
The collection of documents is the first and most important stage. Errors at this stage can lead to refusal to accept the application and loss of time. For individuals, the list of papers is standard, but requires care when filling in. The main document is a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, which should bear a mark on registration at the place of residence (or temporary registration). If the registration address and residence permit of the car differ, this may require additional explanation, but is not an obstacle.
The second key document is PTS (Vehicle Passport). If you have a paper PTS on hand, it will be changed. If the PTS is electronic (EPTS), the data will be updated in the database, and the owner will be issued an extract. It is also necessary to have an existing CTC (Certificates of registration of CU) - a pink plastic card. Old license plates that you plan to replace also need to be provided to the inspector for disposal, even if they are damaged.
Don’t forget to prepare a valid OSAGO policy. Although it is often not required to make changes to the policy itself when changing numbers (information is updated in the database automatically), the availability of insurance is checked necessarily. You will also need to fill out the application form. It can be filled by hand in the traffic police department or formed electronically through the portal of public services, which significantly speeds up the process.
- 📄 Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (original and copy).
- 🚗 PTS (paper original or extract from EPP).
- 🆔 CTS (Certificate of registration of the vehicle).
- 🛡️ The current OSAGO policy.
- 📝 Application for registration plates (form available in traffic police).
- 💰 Receipt for payment of state duties.
☑️ Collection of documents for the traffic police
Cost and procedure for payment of state duty
The financial side of the issue is one of the main factors influencing the decision of the owner. Replacing license plates is a paid public service. The amount of duty is fixed and established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. At the moment, the cost of issuing a new set of state registration plates (two metal plates) is 2000 rubles. This is the base rate for standard car numbers.
However, often, along with new "hardware" requires replacement and STS, as the certificate is registered license plate. Making changes to the CTC costs 500 rubles (for paper format) or 1500 rubles if you need to issue a new plastic CTC (which happens when you change the owner, but with a simple change of numbers usually make changes to the existing or give a new one when lost). Thus, the minimum amount that needs to be prepared is made up of the cost of the numbers themselves and the cost of making changes to the documents.
Pay the state duty in several ways: through terminals in the traffic police building, in the bank branch or online through the banking application. When paying through the portal of the State Service (if the service is available in your region in electronic form), a 30% discount was previously in effect, but in recent years its use has been suspended, so you should not count on it. It is important to keep the check or its electronic version, as payment data should be displayed in the database, but it is better to have a paper confirmation with you.
When paying the state duty through the banking application, carefully check the details of the recipient. For different departments of the traffic police (even within the same city), the CBC and OKTMO may differ. Use the details of the unit where you plan to submit documents.
Step-by-step instructions for replacement in the traffic police
The procedure for replacing license plates does not require a mandatory inspection of the car on the observation deck, if it is simply a matter of changing the signs at the request of the owner or if they are damaged, without changing the owner. It simplifies the process. However, the reconciliation of number units (engine, body, VIN-code) can be carried out selectively or if there are doubts from the inspector. The algorithm of actions is as follows.
You make an appointment first. This can be done through the terminal in the office, but more reliably - through the website of the State Services or by phone to avoid queues. At the appointed time, you arrive at the traffic police unit with a full package of documents and the car itself. The car is better washed so that the inspector can easily check the VIN code under the hood or on the windshield.
After submitting the documents and checking them, you will be given new license plates. Old signs (if they were handed over) are disposed of. Next, you need to enter new data into the PTS (if it is paper) and get a new CTS. At this point, it is important to check the spelling of all the characters in the documents, as a mistake in even one letter will create problems in the future.
| Phase | Action. | Where it's done | Time (orient). |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Recording and payment of fees | Online/Bank | 15-30 minutes |
| 2 | Filing of documents | The DIBD reception window | 20-40 minutes. |
| 3 | Inspection of vehicle (if necessary) | Observation deck | 10-20 minutes |
| 4 | Obtaining signs and ITS | Issuance window | 15 minutes |
What to do if the car is not on the move?
If the car cannot move independently (for example, after an accident), its delivery to the traffic police for reconciliation of units is carried out on a tow truck. In this case, the inspector can go to the parking lot of the vehicle for inspection, but this requires separate approval and call the district or forensic expert.
Retaining a number when selling a car
Special attention should be paid to the situation when the owner sells the car, but wants to keep a “beautiful” or just a familiar room. The legislation allows for retain the state registration mark for the owner for a period of up to 1 year. This gives you time to buy a new car and hang on it old "iron", or just keep the number in reserve.
To do this, when applying for registration of a purchase and sale transaction (or deregistration), you must indicate the desire to keep the number. Old signs remain with the owner, and new, random ones are issued on the sold car. If during this time you do not have time to register a new car with the assignment of a saved number, the "iron" will burn and go to the general pool.
There is a nuance with the region. You can save only the number whose region code coincides with the region of your current residence. If you sold the car in Moscow (code 777), and registered in Tver (code 69), to keep the Moscow number will not work – it must be canceled, and you will be given Tver. This is done to ensure that the numbers “go” within their regions.
Frequent questions and possible difficulties
In the process of replacing rooms, owners often face bureaucratic nuances. What to do if an old number is stolen? In this case, a simple replacement will not work. It is necessary to first contact the police, get a coupon notification of the initiation of a criminal case (or refusal to do so, but with the fixation of theft), and only with this document go to the traffic police. Otherwise, there is a risk that the stolen number will be lit up on the camera fixing violations on another car, and the fines will come to you.
Another difficulty is damage to the mounting. If, when replacing numbers, it appears that the anchorages on the body have become rusted or deformed and do not allow the new plate to be securely secured, the inspector may request that the fault be corrected. Problems can also occur if the VIN number on the body is not readable due to corrosion. In this case, an examination is appointed, which delays the process for several weeks.
We should not forget about legal purity. If the car hangs restrictions on registration actions (for example, due to debts to bailiffs), you will not be able to change the numbers. First, you will have to solve financial issues and lift the arrest. Any attempts to circumvent these restrictions through “their people” in the traffic police are now almost impossible due to the digitalization of processes and video control.
⚠️ Attention: Riding with new numbers immediately after receiving them is permissible only after making changes to the CTC. If the inspector stops you 5 minutes after leaving the traffic police, and the database has not yet been updated (or the old number in the CTC), this will be considered a violation. Wait for the documents to come out!
Concluding recommendations
Replacing the state number is a simple procedure, but requires attention to detail. The main rule: do not pull until the last moment if you see that the paint on the rooms has begun to climb. It is better to replace them routinely than to pay fines and waste time on proceedings with traffic police inspectors. Also, always check the relevance of the requirements on the official website of the traffic police, as the regulations may change.
Remember that a license plate is not just metal, it is your identifier in the legal field of roads. Clearness of documents and correspondence of reality numbers is the key to a calm ride. If you are planning to buy a car, be sure to check the number history through open databases so as not to buy a car with a "past" one.
Timely replacement of damaged or outdated numbers eliminates fines and problems when selling a car. Always carry relevant documents that correspond to the current state of the vehicle.
Can I change the numbers in any city in Russia?
Yes, since 2020, the binding to the region of registration of the owner has become softer. You can put the car on the account and get the numbers of any region where there is a free code, but at the same time in the database of traffic police for you will be assigned to your region of residence. However, to replace it is the "hardware" it is better to contact the office corresponding to your address to avoid questions about the regional code.
How long is the reserved number kept?
The retention period of the reserved state registration mark is exactly 1 year (365 days) from the date of filing an application for its preservation. It is impossible to extend this period. If you have not purchased a new car in a year and have not assigned it this number, it goes to the general database of available rooms.
Do I need to change the CASE after changing the numbers?
It is not necessary to change a paper policy or its electronic version physically, since since 2020 in Russia there is a system where the policy is tied to the VIN-Cola of the car, not to the number. However, it is recommended to notify the insurance company so that the data in their database and in the database of the RCA (Russian Union of Auto Insurers) are updated. This will help to avoid problems in the registration of the Europrotocol in the event of an accident.
What to do if there is a typo in the new rooms?
If you find an error in the symbols on the new "railways" or in the documents (STS, PTS) immediately upon receipt, in no case do not leave the traffic police department. Go back to the box and point out the error. On-site corrections will take minutes, whereas a trip with an erroneous number equates to no registration or the use of false signs, leading to hefty fines and vehicle arrest.