Changing the state registration plate (SRP) is a procedure that many car owners face, but not everyone knows the intricacies of this process. Drivers often confuse keeping old license plates when selling a car with the desire to get completely new symbols on their car. The legislation of the Russian Federation clearly regulates when and under what conditions such an operation is possible, turning it from a simple whim into a legally significant action.
The need to change the combination of numbers and letters on the plate may arise for various reasons: from superstition and the desire to get rid of the “unlucky” set to physical damage to the plate. It is important to understand that simply going to the traffic police and asking for “other numbers” without a good reason or corresponding statement will not work. The procedure requires preparing a package of documents, paying government fees and following a strict algorithm of actions, which we will describe in detail below.
In this article we will look at all the legal ways to change the license plate, including cases of buying a new car or changing the place of registration of the owner. You will find out what documents are required, how much you will have to pay and whether the process can be expedited through the portal Public services. We will also touch on the topic of storing old numbers and the nuances associated with region codes, which is especially important in light of recent changes in legislation.
Legitimate reasons for changing state numbers
Many car owners wonder whether it is possible to change numbers simply because the current ones are not visually pleasing. Unfortunately, Russian legislation does not provide for such an “optional” option. State registration plate assigned to the vehicle upon initial registration or change of ownership, and arbitrary replacement without changing the owner or registration data is impossible.
However, there are situations when the replacement of the GRZ occurs automatically or at the request of the owner as part of standard procedures. For example, if you change your place of registration to another region, you are required to receive numbers with a new code of the subject of the Russian Federation. Also, replacement is inevitable when buying a used car if the previous owner did not keep the numbers for himself and you have not expressed a desire to keep them.
Another common cause is physical damage to the sign. If the license plate has lost readability, has worn out, has dents or corrosion, the traffic police inspector has the right to issue an order to replace it. In this case, you not only have the right, but the obligation to replace the damaged element in order to avoid a fine for unreadable numbers.
⚠️ Attention: An attempt to independently “improve” the appearance of the numbers using paint, markers or stickers is regarded as making changes to the design and is equivalent to a fake. This threatens not only a fine, but also deprivation of your driver's license.
Thus, a legal change is possible in three main cases: a change of owner (buying a car), a change in the place of registration of the owner (moving to another region) or damage to the sign itself. Any other scenarios, such as superstitions or aesthetic preferences, can only be realized through a formal purchase and sale transaction, for example, with a close relative, which will entail the issuance of new GRZs.
Required documents for the replacement procedure
Collecting the correct package of documents is the first and most important stage on which the success of the entire operation depends. If you plan to change plates due to the purchase of a car or move, you will need a standard set of papers, which is submitted to the registration and examination department of the traffic police. The absence of even one certificate may result in refusal to accept the application.
First of all, you need to prepare passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation owner of the vehicle. If the procedure is carried out by a representative under a power of attorney, you will also need the original power of attorney certified by a notary and the representative’s passport. For legal entities, the package of documents will be wider and will include an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities and an order for the appointment of a manager.
The basis for issuing new license plates are vehicle documents. This includes PTS (vehicle passport) or EPTS (electronic passport), as well as a valid vehicle registration certificate (VRC). If the car is new, then instead of the STS, a purchase and sale agreement and transit numbers (if issued) are provided. It is also necessary to have a valid MTPL policy, the data from which must be correctly entered into the database.
- 📄 Car owner’s passport (original).
- 🚗 Certificate of registration of vehicle (STS) and PTS (paper or extract from EPTS).
- 💰 Receipts for payment of state duties.
- 📝 Application for vehicle registration (filled out on site or through State Services).
- 🛡️ Current MTPL policy.
Special attention should be paid to the application. It is filled out according to the established template, where in the “Action” column you must select the item “Get new registration plates” or “Get new documents”, which automatically implies the issuance of new license plates. Errors in filling out may result in you being given documents with new data, but the old numbers will remain in your possession unless you explicitly indicate this.
Step-by-step instructions: how to get new numbers
The process of obtaining new state numbers is strictly regulated by the administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. To avoid queues and confusion, it is recommended to proceed sequentially. First you need to prepare the car for inspection, then pay the fees, submit documents and finally get new plates and documents.
The first step is always to check the technical condition of the car. If you are changing plates due to damage or as part of registering a new car, the vehicle must be clean and the plates (if they are still on the car) must be legible. The inspector at the inspection site verifies VIN code, engine and chassis numbers with data in documents. Failure to comply with the markings will result in refusal of registration.
☑️ Checklist before going to the traffic police
After a successful inspection and submission of a package of documents to the reception window, traffic police officers will check the car using databases for prohibitions and restrictions. If everything is clean, you will be given new license plates and a new STS. A corresponding entry about the change of state license will be made in the PTS. It is important to immediately check that all data in new documents is written correctly, without leaving the cash register.
The next stage is installing new numbers. According to the rules, they must be secured in regular places using standard fasteners. The use of frames that cover letters or numbers, as well as any decorative elements that make reading difficult, is prohibited.
⚠️ Attention: After receiving new numbers and STS, you have 10 days to make changes to the MTPL policy. Although the traffic police database is updated automatically, the insurance company must have up-to-date data on the registration status of your car in order to correctly process cases.
Replacement cost and government fees
The financial side of the issue is one of the key points that worries car owners. The cost of the procedure consists of several mandatory payments, the amount of which is established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. Prices are fixed throughout the country, but payment methods may affect the final amount when using discount programs (although discounts through State Services have now been abolished).
The main cost item is the issuance of the metal plates themselves with an alphanumeric code. Also, the issuance of a new registration certificate (SRC) is paid separately, since the data on the state registration certificate changes in it. Making changes to a paper PTS costs less, but if you run out of space in your passport, you will have to pay for the issuance of a new PTS, which is much more expensive.
For clarity, we present the current prices in table form:
| Type of service | Cost (RUB) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (metal signs) | 2 000 | Paid per set (front and rear) |
| Issuance of a new STS | 1 500 | Required when changing numbers |
| Making changes to the paper PTS | 350 | If there is free space |
| Issuance of a new PTS | 800 | If the space in the old one is over |
In total, the minimum cost of the procedure for changing numbers (if there is space in the PTS) will be 3,850 rubles. If a new vehicle title is required, the amount will increase to 4,300 rubles. You can pay fees through terminals at the traffic police department, through a banking application or on the State Services portal (without a discount, but with convenience).
Keep all receipts for payment of state fees until you receive the documents. In the event of a failure in the traffic police database, having a paper or electronic confirmation of payment will speed up the resolution of the problem.
The nuances of preserving old numbers when selling
Often the question “how to change numbers” arises in the context of selling a car, when the owner wants to keep a “beautiful” or familiar combination. Legislation allows the current owner to retain the GRZ for a period of up to 360 days (one year). This gives time to buy a new car and register it with the old plates.
To start this procedure, when selling a car, the owner must submit an application to the traffic police to retain the state license. In this case, when deregistering (or registering a new owner), the old numbers are not issued to the buyer, but are handed over to safekeeping to the traffic police archives. The seller receives a new STS (if he remains the owner of another car) or simply an act of surrendering the license plates, and the buyer receives a car without license plates or with new ones if he pays for their issue.
If within a year you do not register a new car and do not write an application for assignment of the saved license plates, they will be disposed of and it will be impossible to return them. Also, the numbers cannot be transferred to another person or sold - they are assigned exclusively to the owner who applied for preservation.
- 📅 The storage period for license plates in the traffic police is 1 year.
- 👤 Only the current owner of the car can save the license plates.
- 🚫 Transfer of saved numbers to third parties is prohibited by law.
- 📝 The application for preservation is submitted simultaneously with the purchase and sale agreement.
If you plan to sell the car in the future, but keep the license plates, make sure in advance that the license plates are in perfect condition. If the plates are damaged, the traffic police will refuse to place them in storage and will offer to make duplicates at their own expense before storing them in the archives.
What to do if you haven’t had time to use the saved numbers?
If the storage period has expired and you have not submitted an application for renewal (which is only possible in exceptional cases, for example, illness confirmed by a certificate) or have not registered the car, the license plates will be disposed of. It is impossible to restore them; you will have to get new ones the next time you register.
Frequently asked questions and difficult situations when replacing
The process of changing registration plates raises many questions, especially in situations that are not described in standard instructions. For example, what should you do if, when moving to another region, the code on the numbers does not match the new registration? According to the new rules, the linking of the region on the numbers to the place of registration of the owner has been abolished. You can live in Moscow, have a residence permit in Kazan, but drive license plates with code 777, if they were issued earlier. There is no need to force them to change.
Another difficult situation is the loss of one of the numbers. If you have lost a front or rear plate, you cannot simply buy a duplicate from a private company if the second number is intact. You will have to hand over the remaining number to the traffic police, write a statement about the loss, and only after that you will be given two new signs. Driving with one license plate or a homemade duplicate may result in a serious fine and detention of the vehicle.
Also, owners are often interested in the possibility of changing numbers within one region without changing ownership. As already mentioned, you can’t just do this “at will.” The only “gray” but legal way is the formal sale of the car to a close relative with subsequent purchase back. This will entail costs for registration of the contract, new fees and time, but technically it will allow you to change the combination.
⚠️ Attention: Using “outbid” services or drawing up fictitious sales contracts with strangers for the sake of changing numbers carries risks. The car may be seized by the seller and it will be extremely difficult to return it.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that changing numbers is a technically simple procedure, but requires attention to detail. The main thing is to have a legal basis (purchase, relocation, damage) and a complete package of documents. Following the rules will allow you to avoid fines and problems with the law, and your car will receive legal identification.
Replacing plates is only possible if there is a change of owner, a change in registration data or damage to the sign. An arbitrary change “at will” is not provided for by law.
Can I change numbers if I just don't like them?
No, the legislation of the Russian Federation does not provide for the replacement of GRZ for the reason “they don’t like it”. To change, a procedure for changing ownership (sale) or damage to the signs is necessary.
How long are the submitted license plates kept by the traffic police?
The storage period for state registration plates in the traffic police archive is up to 360 days (1 year) from the date of filing an application for their preservation.
Do I need to change numbers when moving to another region?
No, starting from 2021, the linking of the region on the numbers to the place of registration of the owner has been canceled. It is not necessary to change numbers when changing your registration unless you want to do so yourself.
What happens if you drive with an unreadable license plate?
Driving with unreadable license plates (pollution, damage) will result in a fine of 500 rubles (Part 1 of Article 12.2 of the Administrative Code). If the number is hidden intentionally (magnets, film) - a fine of 5,000 rubles. or deprivation of rights for up to 6 months.
Is it possible to recover a lost license plate?
It is impossible to restore exactly the same number (with the same digits) if it is lost. You will be given a new set of signs with a new combination, and the old one will be put on the wanted list/disposed of.