How to change license plates from one car to another: a complete guide

The procedure for transferring a state registration plate (SRP) from one vehicle to another is possible only if both vehicles are owned by the same person. The owner must personally appear at the registration department of the traffic police with both vehicles for verification of unit numbers and a visual inspection. Without the presence of both cars at the inspection site, it is impossible to carry out the legally significant action of changing the “registration” of the license plate, since the inspector must make sure that the VIN codes match and there are no signs of forgery or alteration of the markings.

There is a strict time limit: from the moment the sign is removed from the first car until it is installed on the second, no more than 180 days should pass. If you plan to first remove the plate from a car that is being sold or scrapped, and then put it on a new one, you must meet this time period, otherwise the plate will be transferred to the reserve and its reuse will become impossible. It is important to consider that the procedure requires a double contact with the traffic police: first to remove the sign from one car, and then to register it for another, or to carry out both operations simultaneously during one visit, which significantly saves time.

Owners should prepare a financial cushion in advance, since the operation is not free and requires the payment of several government fees. The total costs consist of the cost of making changes to the registration documents, issuing a new certificate of registration (CRC) and, if necessary, new license plates if the old ones are found to be unreadable or damaged. Below we will analyze in detail all the stages, necessary documents and legal nuances that will help this procedure without unnecessary queues and fines.

Legislative framework and conditions for the transfer of signs

⚠️ Attention: Transfer of license plates is only possible between vehicles owned by the same individual or legal entity. Transferring the mark to another owner through the purchase and sale procedure is prohibited.

The basis for the procedure is the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which regulates the procedure for registering vehicles. According to current regulations, the owner has the right to retain state registration plate when selling a car, but only for subsequent installation on another vehicle. The legislation clearly separates the concepts of “number retention” and “number transfer”. In the first case, the sign is removed and stored in the traffic police database for up to 180 days; in the second, the signs are actually replaced within the framework of one visit or subsequent actions of the owner.

The key condition is compliance with vehicle categories. You cannot transfer a license plate from a car to a motorcycle or from a truck to a car if the categories of rights and type of vehicle in the documents do not meet the requirements for this type of plate. There are also restrictions for diplomatic and police license plates - they cannot be transferred to civilian vehicles. Registration actions are carried out exclusively at the request of the owner, which is submitted through the State Services portal or directly in the document acceptance window at the MREO.

The owner receives only the right to use it for a certain time. If in the traffic police database there is a mark on the number that registration actions are prohibited due to the owner’s debts or other legal problems, it will not be possible to transfer it until the reasons for the ban are eliminated.

Necessary documents for the procedureCollecting a complete package of documents is a critically important step, since the absence of even one certificate can lead to refusal to accept the application. To successfully complete the procedure, you will need to prepare originals and copies of the following documents. Pay special attention to filling out the application correctly, where the details of both vehicles must be indicated.

• 📄 Passport of a Russian citizen of the owner of a vehicle (original and copy).
• 🚗 Vehicle passports (PTS) for both cars: the one from which we remove the license plate, and the one on which we put it.
• 📑 Vehicle registration certificates (STS) for both cars.
• 📝 MTPL policies for both cars (valid at the time of application).
• 💰 Receipts for payment of state duties.

If the procedure is represented by a trusted person, a notarized power of attorney with a clearly stated right to perform registration actions and dispose of license plates will be required. However, practice shows that when transferring license plates between cars of the same owner, the presence of the owner himself significantly speeds up the process and reduces the risk of bureaucratic delays. Documents must be current: an expired passport or MTPL policy will be grounds for refusal of service.

💡

Before going to the traffic police, make photocopies of all documents in duplicate. This will save time if the branch does not have a working copy machine or the line to get in is too long.

Step-by-step instructions: removing a license plate from a carThe process begins with preparing the vehicle from which the license plate will be removed. The car must be clean so that the inspector can easily check the VIN code, engine number and body number. Dirt, glass tinting (if it exceeds the norm) or non-standard equipment may cause inspection to be denied.

The first step is to submit an application to deregister the number or make changes to the registration data. The statement indicates the reason - “preservation of the state reserve.” After paying the state fee for issuing new license plates (since a new, random plate must be issued in place of the old one) and issuing a new STS, you receive “clean” documents and a new license plate. The old, “beautiful” or familiar number is returned to your hands in a sealed envelope with accompanying documents.

☑️ Checklist before renting a number

Payment of all traffic police fines: Checking the validity periods of compulsory motor liability insurance: Availability of both cars on site: Preparation of applications in duplicate

Done: 0 / 1

A technical aspect should be taken into account: if you rent a room yourself before visiting the traffic police (which is sometimes practiced, but risky), make sure that the fastenings are intact. However, according to the regulations, replacement is carried out by the inspector or under his supervision. After receiving a package of documents for the “exempt” number, you have 180 days to install it on another machine. During this period, the number is listed as yours in the database, but is not installed on any vehicle.

Registration of a license plate on a new vehicleThe second stage of the procedure is to install the saved number on another car. To do this, you need to contact the traffic police again, having already driven the target vehicle. The procedure is reminiscent of the standard registration of a purchased car, but with the nuance of assigning a specific saved sign.

In the application for registration actions, you must indicate that you want to use the saved GRZ. The inspector will accept the documents, check the car at the inspection site and issue new registration documents (STS) with a new old number. A corresponding entry will also be made in the PTS. It is important that at the time of registration the car has the numbers that are listed on it in the database (either transit or new, issued when removed from the previous car).

Action type	Required duty (RUB)	Comment
Issuance of new license plates (metal)	2000	Paid when the number is removed if new plates are issued
Making changes to the STS	500	Paid every time data is changed
Making an entry in the PTS	350	If there is free space in the PTS
Issuance of a new PTS	800	If the space in the old one is over

Nuances for legal entities

If the owner of the cars is an organization, you will need an extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, an order for the appointment of a director, and a power of attorney for the representative if the car is not driven by the manager.

Cost of service and payment of state dutiesThe financial side of the issue often comes as a surprise to car owners. Many people mistakenly believe that number porting is one cheap operation. In practice, this is a complex of services, each of which is charged separately. The total amount may vary depending on the region and the need to replace the metal signs themselves.

The main costs come from producing new license plates for the first car (from which the retained number is removed) and making changes to the documents for the second. If you swap numbers at the same time (which is theoretically possible with the ideal organization of the process in a particular MREO, but in practice is rarely feasible), the costs double. State duty for issuing numbers is 2000 rubles, for STS - 500 rubles, for recording in PTS - 350 rubles.

📊 How do you plan to carry out the procedure?

Through State Services with an appointment: First come, first served: Through a commercial intermediary: I won’t change it, I’ll leave it as it is

It is worth noting that when paying fees through the State Services portal (before the introduction of new tariffs and changes in the legislation on discounts), there was often a 30% discount, but conditions may change, so it is better to check the current cost directly at the time of generating the payment document in the bank’s application or on the traffic police website.

Expiration dates and restrictions on useAs mentioned earlier, a “stored” number is valid for 180 days. This period begins from the day the sign is removed from the vehicle. If during this time the owner does not apply to install the license plate on another car, the right to use it expires and the sign returns to the general pool of available traffic police license plates.

There are also restrictions on the number of transfers. Theoretically, you can transfer your number as many times as you like, following the procedure for removing and installing. However, frequent requests may attract the attention of traffic police officers to your activities, especially if it concerns commercial use (driving cars). Also

⚠️ Attention: Trying to sell a car with a “saved” number without deregistering it will result in the new owner receiving a car with your number, but legally the number will remain assigned to you, which will create problems with taxes and fines.

Common mistakes and ways to solve themOne of the most common mistakes is trying to transfer a license plate to a car that is not yet registered to the new owner. First, you must completely complete the purchase and sale procedure and register ownership, and only then initiate the process of changing license plates. Violation of the sequence of actions will result in refusal of registration.

Another mistake is damage to the license plate when dismantling it yourself. If you decide to rent license plates yourself and bring them to the traffic police, proceed with extreme caution. A bent or scratched plate will not be accepted by the inspector and you will have to pay for a duplicate or new sign. Integrity of the GRZ is a mandatory requirement for its reuse.

💡

Main conclusion: Always start the procedure by checking the legal cleanliness of both cars and the presence of valid MTPL policies, since registration actions are not carried out without insurance.

Also, car owners often forget about the need to replace the STS. It is prohibited to drive with a saved number, but with an old registration certificate, where a different number is entered. This is equivalent to driving without registration documents and entails a fine and towing of the car to the impound lot.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions