The electronic vehicle passport (EPTS) has finally replaced the paper counterpart, becoming a digital twin of the car stored in a single database. For the owner, this means that there is no need to carry a paper form, but the question arises: how to access information or find a document number for sale, registration of a CTP policy or checking the legal purity of the machine? Search for EPPs The procedure is simple if you know which registers to look for data and which identifiers to use.
The main source of information is the system EPAs (Electronic passport system), the operator of which is JSC "Electronic passport". However, direct access to the database is limited. Portal is used to interact with the document Public services and the official traffic police website. It is important to understand that you can find not only your valid passport, but also check the history of the car bought with your hands, or find out the status of the document if you just bought a car.
In this article, we will discuss all available ways to obtain information about EPS, including searching by VIN code, chassis number and through personal accounts of owners. You'll know where it's stored. Unique 24-digit EPP numberThe system is required by insurance companies and what to do if the system issues an error or an “Incomplete” status. We will also look at the nuances of working with archival records and paper copies that can still be found in older cars.
Where information is stored: database structure
The information about the car in electronic form does not lie in one folder on your computer, but is distributed among several related systems. The central repository is the operator's database. JSC "Electronic passport". It is there that accredited points (dealers, customs, traffic police, testing laboratories) make primary data. However, for the average citizen, direct access to this database is closed to avoid fraud.
The second level of interaction is the portal. Public services. Through it, the owner can receive an extract from the EPP, which is legally equivalent to a paper copy of the passport. This statement is often required when registering or selling. The third level is the traffic police database, where information from the EPPTS is transmitted automatically when registering a vehicle. If the car is already registered, it is easiest to find data about it through the services of the State Traffic Inspectorate.
It is important to distinguish between the concepts of “EPTS number” and “EPTS status”. A number is a unique identifier of a document consisting of 24 characters (digits and Latin letters). The status also shows the relevance of the document: “Acting”, “Uncompleted” or “Archived”. Searching the database It can be conducted by the number of the passport itself, and by the VIN code of the car, which is a more common practice, since the owners often forget or do not know where to look it.
Synchronization between databases is not instantaneous. After issuing the EPPTS by the dealer, the data can go to the traffic police for several days. Therefore, if you just bought a car and try to find the EPP on the traffic police website, the system may not see it. In this case, you should focus on the data provided by the seller in the contract of sale or in the extract from the system.
Search for EPS through the portal of public services
The most reliable and official way to find your EPS is to use the portal. Public services. This method is available only to the owner of the vehicle, whose data has already been entered into the system and confirmed. If you have just bought a car, you must first register the ownership through the same portal or contact the traffic police to make changes to the registration data.
To start, you will need a confirmed account. After authorization, you must go to the section "Transport and driving" and choose the service "Electronic passport of the vehicle (EPTS)". The system will offer two options: “Prepare a statement” or “check status”. If the car is already registered to you, a vehicle card may be displayed in your personal account, where the EPP number will be indicated.
The process of obtaining a statement takes from a few minutes to one working day. The extract is formed in PDF format and signed by a reinforced qualified electronic signature of the system operator. This document is a full-fledged analogue of a paper copy of the PTS. In the upper right corner of the statement is the same 24-digit number that is required for registration. OSAGO Or Casco.
☑️ Verification of access to EPPs
There is a nuance with access for persons who are not owners, but have a power of attorney. Previously, access was limited to the owner, but the functionality is gradually expanding. However, for the sale of the machine or to check the purity of the transaction (if you are a buyer), this method is not suitable, as it requires ownership rights. In such cases, other verification methods are used, as described below.
Verification by VIN-code on the traffic police website
If your goal is not to get a legally significant statement, but simply to find out the number of the EPPTS, check the history of the car or make sure that there is an electronic passport, traffic police services are ideal. They do not require authorization and are available to anyone who knows the VIN code of the car. This makes them an ideal tool for used car buyers.
Go to the official website of the traffic police (gibdd.rf) in the section "Services" -> "Check of the car". Enter the 17-digit VIN code specified in the registration certificate (CTC) or on the body of the car. After entering the captcha, the system will give summary information. You are interested in the block "Wanted" and "Limitations", but the main thing is the presence of a registration record. If the car was registered after the introduction of the EPP system (approximately from the end of 2017), then the traffic police database already has a link to an electronic passport.
Unfortunately, the EPP number itself in the open part of the check on the traffic police website is often hidden or not fully displayed for security purposes. However, the presence of a registration record confirms that the EPP exists and is active. If the system writes “Information not found”, this may mean that the car has not yet been registered by the new owner, and the EPP is in the status of “Uncompleted” with the previous owner or dealer.
- 🚗 Enter the VIN code without errors, checking the symbols I, O, Q (they are not used in the VIN, they are replaced by the numbers 1 and 0).
- 🔍 Use only the official website gibdd.ru, third-party resources can request money for free information.
- 📄 If the car is customs clearance recently, the data in the traffic police database can be updated within 3-5 working days.
When buying a car, be sure to check the VIN code on the body (under the windshield and on the rack) with the data in the EPP. The discrepancy of even one figure makes the transaction impossible.
Search for buyers: checking the purity of the transaction
For the buyer of the car, the question “how to find the EPP” is transformed into “how to check the seller’s EPP”. When buying a car with your hands, you need to make sure the seller is the rightful owner and the car is not in pledge or theft. The e-passport contains the entire history of ownership, making it a transparent verification tool.
Ask the seller to show an extract from the EPP, formed on the portal of public services. This document not only lists the passport number, but also all previous owners. Compare the number of records with what the seller says. If the EPP has 5 owners, and the seller claims that he is the second one, this is a reason to be wary. Also, please note the “customs restrictions” section. If there are marks, customs clearance could be carried out with violations.
Pay special attention to the status of the EPP. It has to be "Acting." If the status is “Uncompleted”, it means that the previous owner (or dealer) has not completed the registration procedure. It is not possible to sell such a car officially, you must first complete the data entry. Often this is engaged in overbought, which formalize the car, but do not bring the process to the end to save on taxes or hide the real owner.
| Status of EPTS | Meaning | Can I buy it? |
|---|---|---|
| Acting | The document is active, the owner is determined | Yeah, that's normal status. |
| Unfinished | The registration process is not finished | No, it needs completion. |
| Archived | Replaced with a new one (for example, during recycling) | No, the document is invalid. |
| Lost. | Request for Reconstruction submitted | Only after recovery |
What if the seller refuses to show the EPS?
Refusal to show the extract from the EPP or to name its number is a red flag. This could mean that the car is in pledge, stolen or has hidden restrictions. Insist on verification through official services or refuse the deal.
What to do if the EPS is not found in the database
The situation when you can not find the EPP by VIN code or number, is not uncommon. This is most often due to human factors or delays in data transfer between departments. If you are the owner and do not see your passport on the Public Services, first of all check whether your data is correctly entered into the system. Perhaps during registration, an error was made in the SNILS number or passport.
If the car is new, from the cabin, and the EPP is not located, contact the dealer. They have access to the system and can check what stage the document is in. It often happens that the EPP is issued, but not "tied" to your account on the State Services. In this case, the dealer must issue you an EPP number, and you can add the vehicle to your profile manually through the function "Add the vehicle by the EPP number".
⚠️ Attention! If you bought a car, and the traffic police and EPP are listed not you, but the previous owner or dealer, legally the car does not belong to you. Do not delay registration, otherwise, in case of an accident or theft, serious problems with the law will arise.
When buying a car from hand, the situation is more complicated. If the seller claims that the EPP is, but it is impossible to find it, require a paper statement. If it is not, and in the database of traffic police car is listed for another person - the deal can not be carried out. It is possible that the EPP has been cancelled or blocked by a court or customs decision.
Access restoration and duplicates
Loss of access to the EPP does not mean loss of ownership, since ownership is confirmed by a contract of sale and an entry in the registry, and not a file on a computer. However, for any actions (sale, travel abroad, change of design) access is necessary. Restoring access actually means getting a new extract or updating the data.
If you have changed your passport data or surname, the information in the EPP needs to be updated. This is done through accredited points (MFC, traffic police, specialized centers). The operator will make changes to the system, and your statement will show up-to-date data. The EPP number remains the same, only the content changes. It is important to keep all documents confirming the change of data in order to prove your identity in case of a dispute.
In case of technical errors of the system, when the data is “lost” or is displayed incorrectly, an application is submitted to the system operator. JSC "Electronic passport". You can use the feedback form on their official website or contact for support through public services. The review process can take up to 30 days, so it is best to check the status of the EPP in advance, before the planned sale.
- 📞 To contact the support of EPPTS, use the official phone or form on the site.
- 📝 Prepare scans of the passport of the owner and the STS to confirm the identity.
- ⏳ The time limit for eliminating technical errors is regulated and usually 5-10 working days.
The number of the EPP is perpetual and does not change when the owner changes, only the data about the owner inside the record changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I find the EPP by car number (state sign)?
Directly find the number of the EPPTS only by state number is impossible. The state number may change, but the VIN and EPP remain constant. However, knowing the state number, you can through some paid services or hijack.ru find out the VIN-code, and already on it to search for EPPTS on the traffic police website.
Do I need to print an EPP to sell a car?
Legally, no, all the information is in the database. But buyers often want to see the paper. It is better to form an extract on the State Services in advance and have it in electronic or printed form for the convenience of the transaction.
What to do if an error in the VIN code is in the EPS?
With this mistake, you can not sell or register a car. It is necessary to contact the operator who issued the EPP (dealer or laboratory) for corrections. You cannot correct an error in the EPS by yourself.
Where to see the number of EPS for insurance OSAGO?
The number of the EPPTS (24 characters) can be found in the extract from the portal of the State Service, in the contract of sale (if the car is new) or in the previous policy of the OSAGO. Also, the number can be specified in the CTC in the column "Special marks", but not always.
How much does it cost to get an extract from the EPP?
Formation of an extract by the owner through the portal of public services free of charge. Payment can be the services of intermediaries or accredited points, if you contact them for help in registration or restoration of access.