After successfully paying the state fee and receiving a notification about the “Application Accepted” status, the “Download Application” button appears on the screen, however, many drivers find that the document either does not open or is printed in the wrong format, which makes it unsuitable for submission to the traffic police. The problem often lies not in a system failure, but in how the browser processes PDF files or which printer is selected by default in the operating system settings. Print the vehicle registration application it is necessary strictly in two copies, and one of them is often required with the original signature made with a blue pen, which cannot be done if the file is damaged or opened in preview mode without the possibility of editing.
To correctly complete the registration procedure with the MREO, you will need to not only save the file, but also make sure that all the fields filled in automatically by the system are readable and have not “flown” off the page margins when printed. Users often encounter situations where electronic signature or the barcode on the document turns out to be blurry, which leads to the inspector refusing to accept the documents. Below we will analyze the technical nuances of preparing a file for printing in order to eliminate the need to repeatedly visit the branch or wait in line due to incorrectly filled out papers.
It is important to understand that the document generated by the system is legally significant, and any distortion of data can lead to a discrepancy between the information in the traffic police database and the real data of the owner. So before you send your file to the printer, it's worth checking your scaling settings and making sure you're using an up-to-date version of your browser that supports built-in PDF viewers.
Preparing a document for printing: technical requirements
Before you begin physically reproducing a document, you must ensure that the file is saved in the correct format and is ready for reproduction. After clicking the download button on the portal Public services the system generates a PDF file that contains protected fields and special markers for reading by police officers. If you try to open it in a word processor or convert it to an image, the structure of the document may be broken and it will become invalid for submission.
For quality printing, we recommend using a laser printer that provides crisp text and graphics such as QR codes and barcodes. Inkjet printers are only acceptable if you use high-quality photo paper or thick office paper so that the ink does not smear and make the text unreadable. It is critical to keep the original file intact, since any editing of the content, even shifting the fields by a millimeter, can lead to automatic refusal of registration.
Make sure you have white A4 paper at your disposal. Colored, lined, or reduced-size paper is not acceptable. The inspector should see clear, high-contrast text printed on both sides or on separate sheets of paper, depending on the department's requirements, although standard practice is to print each copy on a separate sheet.
Use Draft mode only to check the placement of text, but print the final version in High Quality or Standard mode to ensure the barcode is read the first time.
Step-by-step instructions: how to download and open a file
The process of obtaining a document begins in the user’s personal account. After the service status has changed to “Accepted”, a corresponding message appears in the notification feed. Go to the “Application History” section or click on the link in the notification to get to the service card. Here you will find the “Download Application” button, which is activated only after successful payment of the state fee.
When you click the download button, the browser may offer to save the file or immediately open it in the built-in viewer. To ensure data integrity, it is better to select the “Save As” option and place the file in a folder with a clear name, for example, “Registration_Auto_2026”. This will prevent you from losing your document when clearing your browser cache or accidentally closing a tab.
The file should be opened using specialized PDF viewing programs, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader or tools built into the operating system that support PDF/A standards. Avoid opening a document in online editors or cloud storage services in edit mode, as they may automatically change fonts or indents, which will break the layout.
What to do if the “Download” button is not active?
If the button is inactive, check the state duty payment status. Sometimes the system takes up to 30 minutes to update transaction data. If the payment was successful, but the button does not appear, try logging into your personal account from another browser or device.
Setting print options to avoiding errors
The most important step is setting up the print dialog box. When you press a key combination Ctrl+P or select the “Print” item in the program menu, the printer driver settings window opens. Here you need to carefully check several parameters on which the suitability of the document depends.
First of all, pay attention to the page size. Format must be selected A4. If “Fit to page” or “Fit to page” is selected, the program may try to fit the document into the printer’s margins, cutting off important parts or leaving huge margins. Select the Real Size or 100% option to have no scaling applied.
- 🖨️ Page Orientation: Make sure that “Portrait” is selected, as the application is generated in this format.
- 📄 Duplex printing: if your printer supports duplex, you can print on both sides, but official applications to the traffic police often require separate sheets, so it is better to select “Single-sided printing.”
- 🎨 Color reproduction: choose black and white printing if the printer does not provide ideal color reproduction, the main thing is text contrast and code clarity.
- 📏 Margins: Set minimal margins or Borderless mode if the printer allows it, so that text is not cut off by the edges of the device.
⚠️ Warning: Do not try to scale your document down to fit it on fewer sheets. Applications printed in small print or out of scale will not be accepted by registration department staff.
Number of copies and signature requirements
The question of how many copies of the application you need to have on hand often causes confusion. The standard procedure for registering a vehicle requires providing two copies statements. One copy remains in the archives of the traffic police, and the second, with an acceptance mark, is returned to the applicant or used for further stages, for example, for insurance or leaving the country.
Particular attention should be paid to the signature column. In an electronic application generated on the portal, the signature and date fields are often left blank or contain dashes. This is done on purpose: the vehicle owner must supply live signature blue ballpoint pen immediately at the time of submitting documents or before. It is not recommended to print out an application with the date already entered, since the submission date may differ from the date the document was generated.
If you represent the interests of the owner by power of attorney, the signature is affixed by the authorized person, but the appropriate fields about the representative must be filled out in the application. Make sure both copies have identical signatures and dates. The use of red, green, or ink colors other than blue and black is not permitted for official documentation.
☑️ Checklist before going to the traffic police
Typical printing problems and their solutions
Even if all instructions are followed, users may encounter technical difficulties. One common problem is the appearance of printing artifacts, such as black bars, missing lines, or blurry areas. This often indicates that the printer cartridge is faulty or needs to be calibrated. It is recommended that you print a test page before printing an important document.
Another common mistake is incorrect font encoding, when “crackers” or question marks appear instead of letters. This happens if the necessary fonts are not installed on the system or the file was damaged during download. In this case, you need to download the document again, preferably using a different browser or Incognito mode to eliminate the influence of extensions.
If the printer jams paper or only prints half a page, check your driver settings. Sometimes older printer drivers do not process complex PDF files with graphical elements correctly. In this case, you can try saving the document as an image (at a high resolution) or use another printer, for example, at a copy center.
| Problem | Probable Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Unreadable barcode | Low print resolution or ink smearing | Replace the cartridge, select the “High Quality” mode |
| Trimmed text around the edges | Incorrect scale or large printer margins | Select scale 100%, check margin settings |
| Empty fields instead of data | Error rendering PDF in browser | Download the file and open in Adobe Reader |
| The document is printed small | “Fit to page” option enabled | Disable scaling, select "Real size" |
Alternative ways to receive an application
If technical possibility print the application is not at home, don’t despair. The State Services portal allows you to save a file to any medium, for example, a flash card or smartphone, in order to subsequently reproduce it in another location. Many drivers successfully use this option when turning to commercial copying and printing services (copiers).
When contacting the copy center, be sure to bring the PDF file with you on a secure medium. Do not rely on the ability to download a document directly from a website in a public place, as this requires entering a login and password from the State Services, which is not safe to do on other people’s computers. A copy center employee will help you set up your printer to get the perfect result.
It is also possible to contact specialized windows or terminals directly in the MREO traffic police building, if such a service is provided in your region. However, practice shows that technical devices in government agencies are often unstable or busy, so it is better to have a paper version with you. This will save time and stress on registration day.
Having a correctly printed application in hand before visiting the traffic police reduces the time for completing documents by an average of 20-30 minutes.
What to do if your application is lost or damaged
In a situation where the paper version of the application was lost, damaged (for example, flooded with water or torn) or accepted by the inspector with errors, the restoration procedure can be completed quickly. You do not need to fill out all the data on the portal again. All you need to do is log in to your personal account, find your application history and download the file again.
The system allows you to generate an application (repeatedly) before the actual submission of documents. However, it is worth considering that if a lot of time has passed since the document was generated, data about the owner or car may have been updated in the databases. In this case, the system may prompt you to update the information before regenerating the PDF file.
If you find an error in the data already filled out (for example, the VIN code or model is incorrect), you are prohibited from manually correcting the document. You need to return to the portal, make adjustments to the electronic application form and generate a new file. Any edits made by hand or in an editor may result in denial of service.
⚠️ Attention: Do not use proofreaders (putty) to correct errors in the printed application. A document with corrections is considered invalid. Better print out a new copy.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to fill out an application by hand if you can’t download it from the State Services?
Technically, the application form can be obtained from the traffic police department and filled out by hand. However, the use of an electronic application from State Services is a priority and often a prerequisite for registration through the portal. Manual completion may take longer and require a separate queue.
Do I need to print the application in color?
No, the vehicle registration application does not require color printing. All data, including barcodes, is perfectly readable in black and white. The main thing is contrast and clarity of lines.
Is the application downloaded from the State Services valid within a certain period?
The file itself does not have an expiration date, but the data in it (for example, an MTPL policy or a diagnostic card) may be relevant for a limited time. It is recommended to print the application immediately before visiting the traffic police to eliminate the risk of changes in regulatory requirements or details.
What to do if there is no electronic signature stamp on the application?
An application generated through State Services does not require an enhanced qualified electronic signature (ECES) for printing. The fact of submitting an application through an authorized account is already confirmation of the expression of will. The absence of a visual digital signature on paper is normal, since the verification follows an electronic track.
Is it possible to show a statement to the inspector from the phone screen?
No, the traffic police archive requires paper media. The inspector must file one copy in the file. Showing a document from a smartphone screen is only possible for visual verification, but not for the official registration procedure.