Transit plates are a temporary solution for cars that have not yet been registered with the traffic police, but already need to be moved on public roads. Without them, moving a car from seller to buyer, transportation after purchase at auction, or moving between regions becomes impossible. In 2026, the rules for issuing transit license plates underwent changes, and now the procedure has become stricter, but at the same time more transparent for law-abiding car owners.

In this article we will look at how to get transit numbers taking into account the latest amendments to the legislation, what documents will be required for individuals and legal entities, how much it will cost and for how long such numbers are issued. We will pay special attention to typical mistakes that lead to refusal of issuance, as well as legal ways to extend the validity period of transits. If you are planning to buy a used car, participate in car auctions or are engaged in car transportation, this information will save you time and nerves.

What are transit numbers and why are they needed?

Transit numbers (transits) are temporary registration plates that are issued to a vehicle for its legal movement on the roads until it is permanently registered. They are red numbers with white symbols and have a limited validity period. The main difference from regular rooms is that they not tied to a specific owner, but are issued for the car as an object of movement.

The main cases when transit numbers are required:

  • 🚗 Driving a car from seller to buyer (especially relevant for interregional transactions).
  • 📦 Transporting the machine after purchasing at auction (for example, with Copart or IAAI).
  • 🔄 Car re-registration in another region (if it is not possible to register immediately).
  • 🏗️ Moving the car to a service station for repairs before registration.
  • 📑 Car registration for leasing or rent (before concluding the main contract).

It is important to understand that transit numbers do not give a license to operate a car - they are intended exclusively for movement. For example, you cannot drive your car to and from work or use it for commercial purposes. Such violations are subject to fines of up to 5,000 rubles (Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

⚠️ Attention: From January 1, 2026, transit license plates will no longer be issued for vehicles that have already been in use in the Russian Federation and have been deregistered. An exception is cars exported outside of Russia and imported back (with documentary evidence).

Types of transit numbers in 2026

Depending on the situation and type of vehicle, different types of transit numbers are issued. They can be divided into three main categories:

Type of transit numbers Who are they for? Validity period Features
Transit "A" Individuals Up to 20 days Issued when buying/selling a car or driving to another region. Cannot be extended.
Transit "B" Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs Up to 1 year (with extension) For car dealerships, leasing companies, car dealers. Can be extended up to 3 years.
Transit "B" For exporting cars outside the Russian Federation Up to 30 days Used when exporting cars. Requires customs clearance.
Transit for motorcycles Individuals and legal entities Up to 20 days Similar to “A” transits, but smaller in size. Issued for motorcycles, mopeds, ATVs.

The most popular among private individuals are type “A” transits. They are issued on maximum period 20 days (previously it was 10 days) and cannot be extended. For legal entities, type B transits are more flexible - they can be extended up to three years, but this requires reporting on the movement of vehicles.

📊 Why do you need transit numbers?
Driving a purchased car
Transportation after the auction
Re-registration in another region
Car export
Other

Documents for obtaining transit numbers

The list of documents depends on who the applicant is - an individual or a legal entity. Let's consider both cases in detail.

For individuals

If you are buying a car and need transit plates to transport it, prepare the following package:

  • 📄 Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (original + copy).
  • 🚘 Vehicle Passport (PVC) with a mark on deregistration (if the car was in use) or without marks (for a new car).
  • 📝 Sales and purchase agreement (PSA) or another document confirming ownership (for example, a gift agreement).
  • 💰 Receipt for payment of state duty (see next section for size).
  • 📋 Application for issuance of transit numbers (filled out on site at the traffic police department or through Public services).

If the car is purchased from a legal entity (for example, at a car dealership), you may additionally need power of attorney for a representative (if the owner is not the one doing the registration).

For legal entities and individual entrepreneurs

Companies and individual entrepreneurs involved in the transportation or sale of cars will require a more extensive package of documents:

  • 📄 Certificate of registration of a legal entity (OGRN) or extract from the Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs for individual entrepreneurs.
  • 🏢 Company Charter (for LLC and JSC).
  • 👔 Passport of the manager or authorized representative (if the registration is handled by a representative).
  • 🚘 PTS for a car (can be electronic).
  • 📑 Agreement confirming the basis for issuing transits (for example, leasing agreement, purchase and sale agreement on behalf of the company).
  • 💼 Power of attorney for a representative (if it is not prepared by the manager).
  • 💰 Receipt for payment of state duty (the size depends on the duration of the transits).

Legal entities must also provide organization seal (if there is one) and vehicle registration card (if the car was already on the company’s balance sheet).

⚠️ Attention: Since 2026, the traffic police has the right to request additional documents if the car was imported from abroad. For example, for machines with Copart or IAAI may be required customs declaration and documents confirming customs clearance. Without them, transit will be refused.

☑️ Documents for registration of transit by an individual

Done: 0 / 5

How much do transit numbers cost in 2026?

The cost of obtaining transit numbers consists of several components: state duty, the cost of producing numbers (if they are not issued locally) and possible additional services (for example, express registration). Let's look at the current tariffs for 2026:

Types of payments Cost for individuals (RUB) Cost for legal entities (RUB)
State duty for issuing transit numbers 1 600 2 850
Production of license plates (if not issued locally) 2 000 – 3 500 2 500 – 4 000
Urgent processing (1-3 days) +1 000 – 1 500 +1 500 – 2 500
Extension of transits (only for legal entities) — 1,600 for each renewal

The total cost for individuals is usually from 3,600 to 5,000 rubles, for legal entities - from 5,000 to 8,000 rubles (depending on the region and the need for urgent registration). You can pay the state fee through Public services (with a 30% discount), bank terminals or cash desks at the traffic police department.

It is important to consider that in some regions (for example, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Territory) increased tariffs for production of numbers due to high demand. Also, the cost may increase if you require duplicate transit numbers (for example, in case of loss or damage).

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If you arrange transit through State Services, select the “Electronic Queue” option - this will save time waiting at the traffic police.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining transit numbers

The process of obtaining transit numbers can be divided into several stages. Let's consider the most common case - the receipt of transit by an individual after purchasing a car.

Step 1. Preparing documents

As we discussed earlier, you will need a passport, a vehicle title, a sales contract and a receipt for payment of the state fee. Make sure that:

  • 🔹B PTS no corrections or erasures (otherwise they may refuse).
  • 🔹 Sales and purchase agreement filled out without errors, indicating the date, data of the seller and buyer, as well as complete information about the car (VIN, make, model, year of manufacture).
  • 🔹 State duty paid no earlier than 30 days before submitting documents (otherwise the receipt will be invalid).

Step 2. Submitting an application

An application for the issuance of transit numbers can be submitted:

  • 🖥️ Through the State Services portal (the most convenient way - it saves time and gives a discount on the state fee).
  • 🏛️ In person at the traffic police department (you must make an appointment in advance).
  • 📱 Through MFC (not in all regions, check locally).

When applying via Public services the algorithm is as follows:

  1. Log in to the portal.
  2. In the search, enter “Issue of transit license plates.”
  3. Fill out the electronic application and attach scans of documents.
  4. Pay the state fee with a 30% discount.
  5. Select a convenient traffic police department and time of visit.

Step 3. Obtaining transit numbers

On the appointed day, visit the traffic police department with the original documents. The employee will check their authenticity, check the data with the application and issue:

  • 📋 Vehicle registration certificate (temporary, marked "transit").
  • 🚗 Transit license plates (two plates for a car or one for a motorcycle).
  • 📄 Vehicle inspection report (if a check was carried out).

The whole process takes from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the workload of the department. If you submitted documents via Public services, waiting time is reduced to 15-40 minutes.

What to do if the traffic police refused to issue transit?

The most common reasons for refusal are discrepancies between the data in the title and the purchase and sale agreement, lack of payment of state duty, forged documents or the presence of restrictions on the car (arrest, theft). If the refusal seems unreasonable, request a written explanation with reference to the regulation. You can appeal the decision through a higher traffic police department or court.

Validity and renewal of transit numbers

The validity period of transit numbers is strictly regulated and depends on the type of numbers:

  • 📅 Transit "A" (for individuals) — maximum 20 days (previously it was 10 days). Cannot be extended.
  • 📅 Transit "B" (for legal entities) — up to 1 year with the possibility of extension up to 3 years.
  • 📅 Transit "B" (for export) - up to 30 days, extension is possible only if there are compelling reasons (for example, delay at customs).

For individuals, extension of transit numbers not provided. If you did not manage to register the car within the allotted time, you will have to register transits again (with payment of the state fee). However, there is a legal way to get around this limitation:

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If 20 days are not enough for you to travel, you can arrange a new transit, but for this you will need to provide evidence of a valid reason (for example, a certificate of illness, travel certificate or report of an accident along the route).

Legal entities can extend type "B" transits for up to 1 year per extension. To do this you need:

  1. Submit an application to the traffic police no later than 5 days before the expiration of the current period.
  2. Pay a state fee in the amount 1,600 rubles.
  3. Provide a report on the movement of the vehicle (if required).

The maximum validity period of transits for legal entities is 3 years. After this, the car must either be permanently registered or transported outside the Russian Federation.

⚠️ Attention: If the transit license plates have expired and the vehicle is still not registered, driving with such license plates is equivalent to driving without license plates. The penalty for this violation is 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months (Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even with careful preparation, many encounter refusals or delays when obtaining transit numbers. Let's look at the most common mistakes and ways to prevent them:

1. Inconsistency of data in documents

Most often, problems arise due to discrepancies in:

  • 🔹 VIN number (in the PTS and the purchase and sale agreement).
  • 🔹 Vehicle release date (for example, the PTS indicates 2020, and the contract indicates 2021).
  • 🔹 Owner's name (typos in the passport or contract).

How to avoid: check all documents for data matches before visiting the traffic police. Pay special attention to the VIN number - you can check it with the plate on the car body.

2. Overdue or unpaid state duty

State duty must be paid no earlier than 30 days before submitting documents. If you paid it earlier, the receipt will not be valid. Also make sure that:

  • 🔹 The payment amount corresponds to current tariffs.
  • 🔹 Payment completed (check status on Public services or at a bank).
  • 🔹 The receipt contains the correct details of the recipient (traffic police department of your region).

3. Problems with PTS

Refusal to issue transit may be due to:

  • 🔹 Lack of deregistration mark (if the car was in use).
  • 🔹 Erasures or corrections in PTS.
  • 🔹 Loss of PTS (in this case, you first need to restore the document).

Solution: if the PTS is lost, contact the traffic police for a duplicate. If there are corrections, provide documents confirming their legitimacy (for example, a certificate from the traffic police about initial registration).

4. Violation of deadlines

Many people forget that transit numbers are issued strictly for a limited time. Typical situations:

  • 🔹 The buyer did not have time to move the car to another region in 20 days.
  • 🔹 The legal entity did not extend the transits on time.
  • 🔹 A car with transit is used for other purposes (for example, for personal trips).

How to avoid: plan your route in advance and take into account possible delays. If the deadline expires and the car is not yet there, arrange new transits (for individuals) or extend existing ones (for legal entities).

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If you are buying a car in another region, check in advance whether there is a traffic police department in your city that deals with transit registration. In some cases, it is easier to register the car at the place of purchase and then re-register it in your name.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about transit numbers

Is it possible to travel abroad with transit license plates?

No, transit numbers of types "A" and "B" are valid only on the territory of the Russian Federation. To travel abroad, type “B” transits (for export) or permanent license plates are required. It is also necessary to issue green card (insurance for traveling abroad) and check whether the car is allowed to be imported into the destination country (some countries, for example, prohibit the import of cars with transit license plates).

What happens if you lose your transit numbers?

If you lose transit numbers, you must urgently contact the traffic police with an application for the issuance of duplicates. You will need:

  • Passport.
  • Documents for the car (PTS, purchase and sale agreement).
  • Statement of loss.
  • Receipt for payment of state duty for duplicates (approx. 1,500 rubles).

Driving without license plates (even if they are lost) is punishable by a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights. If your license plates are stolen, it is recommended to file a police report.

Is it possible to sell a car with transit plates?

Yes, but with a number of restrictions. A car with transit plates can be sold, but the new owner will have to either:

  • Issue new transits for yourself (if the current ones have expired or are about to expire).
  • Register the vehicle permanently within 10 days from the moment of purchase.

At the same time The title must be re-registered to the new owner before handing over the car. Otherwise, the transaction may be declared invalid.

Is it necessary to obtain compulsory motor liability insurance for a car with transit license plates?

Yes, OSAGO insurance is required even for cars with transit license plates. You can issue:

  • 📄 Short-term MTPL policy (for 20 days - coincides with the validity period of transits for individuals).
  • 📄 Standard policy (if you plan to register the car in the near future).

Lack of insurance will result in a fine of 800 rubles (Article 12.37 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). You can apply for compulsory motor liability insurance online on the websites of insurance companies or through aggregators (for example, Compare.ru).

Is it possible to register a car before the transit period expires?

Yes, you can register your car permanently at any time, even if the transit license plates have not yet expired. To do this:

  1. Contact the traffic police with a package of documents (passport, PTS, purchase and sale agreement, transit numbers, compulsory motor liability insurance).
  2. Write an application for registration.
  3. Pay the state fee for permanent license plates (2,000 rubles for metal plates or 1,500 rubles for plastic ones).
  4. Hand in your transit numbers (they will be cancelled).

Once registered, you will be issued new permanent license plates and a registration certificate.