The procedure for storing state registration plates (GRP) in the traffic police database begins with submitting an application to the inspector at the vehicle registration point. The driver must physically provide the vehicle and the license plates themselves for visual verification of the serial numbers with the data in the documents to eliminate the possibility of storing stolen or duplicates. Without the personal presence of the owner of the car and the vehicle itself, it is impossible to arrange the service, since an inspection by a technician is required.
The service is valid for exactly 180 days, after which the signs are automatically deregistered if the owner does not reinstall them. It is important to plan your actions in advance, since extension of the storage period is not provided for by current legislation. If you do not have time to put license plates on a new vehicle within six months, you will have to go through the procedure for obtaining new license plates again and pay state fees.
The decision to keep the old license plates when selling a car allows the owner to keep the familiar combination of symbols for use on a new car. This is especially true for owners of “thieves” or simply memorable series, which are difficult to obtain by chance during standard registration. To exercise this right, it is necessary to complete a number of administrative actions before concluding a purchase and sale agreement (SPA).
The first step is to collect a complete package of documents, including a vehicle passport (PTS), a valid registration certificate (SRC) and your personal passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation. It is also necessary to have a valid MTPL policy, since without it the car will not be allowed to be inspected at the traffic police site. If the car is pledged to the bank, additional consent of the credit institution or the presence of a bank representative will be required, although in practice banks rarely allow changing the numbers on a pledged car.
Next, you need to make an appointment at any registration and examination unit (REO) of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, regardless of your registration or place of registration of the car. Now it is convenient to do this through the “Government Services” portal, selecting the service “Change of registration data” and the reason “Keeping the state license for the owner.” When you visit the department, you will be given an application form, where you need to indicate “No” in the “Obtain new GRZ” column, and “Yes” in the “Save GRZ” column.
Before going to the traffic police, be sure to check the cleanliness of the license plates. If the paint has worn off, there is rust or metal deformation, the inspector will refuse acceptance and will require duplicates to be made.
Technical inspection and license plate check
The key stage of the procedure is a technical inspection, during which a forensic expert or an authorized employee checks the body and engine numbers with the data in the vehicle title. Particular attention is paid to the condition of the license plates themselves, which must comply with GOST R 50577-2018. There should be no extraneous stickers on the surface, no frames covering the edge of the sign, or signs of self-repair.
During the inspection, a vehicle inspection report is filled out, in which data on the signs being preserved is entered. If one of the numbers is damaged but legible, in theory it can be accepted, but in practice inspectors often require it to be in perfect condition to avoid problems during future installation. Wrinkled corners or peeling reflective film are grounds for refusal to preserve the GRZ.
- 🚗 Visual control: The inspector checks for hidden damage and that the font meets government standards.
- 📋 Recording in the act: All data on signs is entered into a special act, which becomes the basis for making changes to the database.
- 🔍 VIN code verification: At the same time, the vehicle identification number is checked to ensure its legal purity.
⚠️ Attention: If license plates have non-standard frames that hide part of the letters or numbers, or the region, you will be required to remove them directly on site before inspection.
After successfully passing the inspection, the documents are transferred to the reception window to make changes to the vehicle register. The employee checks that there are no restrictions on registration actions that could be imposed by bailiffs after issuing an inspection coupon. Only after the final check you will receive a new STS with a mark on the assignment of new (transit) numbers and a PTS with a record of the change of the license plate.
Required documents and cost of service
The financial side of the issue consists of several mandatory payments, which are regulated by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. The main cost item is the issuance of a new vehicle registration certificate (VRC), since the old one is handed over to the traffic police. There is also a fee for making changes to the PTS if it is paper, or issuing a new PTS if the old one runs out of free columns for entries.
The cost of the “storage of license plates” service itself does not exist as a separate line in the receipt; you only pay for the administrative actions of changing the car documents. You receive documents with new temporary numbers in your hands, and the old signs remain in your hands in a sealed envelope or simply in a bag that cannot be opened until installation.
| Type of payment | Cost (RUB) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of a new STS | 1 500 | A must for everyone |
| Making changes to the paper PTS | 850 | If there is room |
| Issuance of a new paper PTS | 1 300 | If you run out of columns |
| State duty for new GRZ | 2 000 | Not paid upon saving |
You can pay state fees through terminals in the traffic police building, through a banking application or on the State Services portal with a 30% discount (if this option is temporarily available). It is important to retain all payment receipts as they may be needed to verify payment if technical problems occur in the database.
☑️ Check before submitting documents
Storage periods and installation rules for a new car
The storage period for license plates is 1 year from the date of filing an application for preservation. This period is counted not from the moment of sale of the old car, but from the date of registration of the application with the traffic police. During this time, you must install the saved signs on the new vehicle, otherwise they will burn out and the right to own them will be lost.
To install the saved GRZ on a new car, you must again contact the traffic police with an application to register the vehicle or change the data. The application states that you want to use stored license plates. The procedure is similar to regular registration, but instead of receiving new plates, you give your kit to the inspector.
- 📅 Accurate counting: Keep track of the dates, the system will automatically cancel the numbers 365 days after they are saved.
- 🚘 Any vehicle: You can install signs on any vehicle you own, even if it was purchased after filing an application for preservation.
- 📝 New documents: During installation, you will receive a new STS and an entry in the PTS with the data of the old, but now your personal numbers.
It is important to consider that while the plates are “in storage” (in fact, they are in your hands, but are listed as awaiting installation), the car for which they were originally issued must be sold or deregistered. You cannot have two cars with the same set of license plate documents.
What happens if you don’t make it in a year?
If within 1 year you do not submit an application to install the saved signs on a new car, the right to them expires. The combination is returned to the general pool of available traffic police numbers, and you will no longer be able to apply for it. There is no way to restore the deadline.
Selling a car with saved license plates
After the license plates have been deposited and the car has received new (temporary) plates, the owner has the right to sell the car. The buyer registers the car in his name with new numbers that were assigned during the preservation procedure. The old numbers remain with the seller for future use.
In the purchase and sale agreement (SPA), in the “Registration plate” column, new numbers are entered that the car received after passing the procedure at the traffic police. The old numbers do not appear in the DCP in any way, since legally they no longer belong to this particular car. This excludes any claims by the buyer in the future.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to sell a car with old license plates, promising the buyer that he will then deposit them. Legally, the owner of the number is the one who submitted the application. The buyer will not be able to take your numbers for himself upon registration.
The sales process is standard: the contract is signed, the keys and documents are transferred. The new owner is required to register the car within 10 days. If he does not do this, you can stop registering the car in your name by contacting the traffic police with a copy of the DCP to avoid charging vehicle tax and fines from cameras.
Frequent errors and reasons for service refusal
Traffic police officers may refuse to retain license plates for a number of objective reasons. Most often, problems arise due to the technical condition of the plates themselves or errors in documents. To avoid wasting time, you should check all the details in advance.
One of the common mistakes is trying to deposit the numbers after signing the purchase and sale agreement. At this point, you are still formally the owner, but the transaction has already been initiated, and any changes in the registration data may raise questions from inspectors or problems from the buyer during registration. All actions to change license plates must be completed before the car is transferred to the new owner.
- 🚫 Damage to GRZ: Cracks, scuffs, missing reflective film or illegible characters.
- 📄 Errors in the application: Incorrect PTS or VIN code data, corrections in the form.
- 🔒 Limitations: The presence of a ban on registration actions from the FSSP or other authorities.
A refusal is also possible if the car is listed as stolen or is wanted. In such cases, the car will be detained, and the issue of license plates will lose its relevance until the circumstances are clarified. Therefore, before going to the traffic police, it is useful to check the car in open databases for restrictions.
The main rule: Number plates can only be saved until the car is sold. After signing the contract and transferring the money, changing the license plates on the car being sold will be extremely difficult or impossible without terminating the deal.
Legal aspects and changes in legislation
Legislation in the field of vehicle registration is updated periodically, and it is important to monitor the current requirements. At the moment, the procedure for preserving GRZ is regulated by the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. The basic principles remain the same: the number is tied to the owner, not the car, but requires regular confirmation through registration on a new vehicle.
It is worth noting that the rules may differ depending on the region where the car is registered, although federal legislation is the same for the entire country. Some large cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, may have their own features of recording through an electronic queue or requirements for inspection coupons.
In case of loss of documents on the preservation of numbers (for example, an acceptance certificate or a new STS), the information can be restored by contacting the traffic police archive or through a written request. However, it is better to keep paper copies of all applications submitted and documents received in a separate folder until the license plates are installed on a new car.
Is it possible to keep the plates if the car is deregistered?
No, the preservation procedure is only possible for a registered vehicle. If the car is deregistered (for example, for disposal or export abroad), the numbers cannot be saved.
Do I need to go to the traffic police in an old car to return the license plates?
Yes, it is mandatory to provide the vehicle for inspection. The inspector must make sure that the license plates are installed on the car and check them with the documents.
What to do if the storage period for the numbers has passed?
If 1 year has passed since the date of storage, the numbers are canceled automatically. They cannot be returned. When registering a new car, you will be assigned a new random combination, for which you will have to pay a state fee.
Is it possible to save numbers through State Services completely online?
This cannot be done completely online. Through the portal you can only make an appointment and pay state fees. Personal presence at the traffic police office to inspect the car and submit original documents is mandatory.
How much does the number preservation service cost?
There is no separate fee for “storage”. You only pay for issuing a new STS (1,500 rubles) and making changes to the PTS (850 rubles). New numbers are not issued, so 2000 rubles. you don't need to pay for them.