A change of state registration plate (SRP) is required in case of physical damage to the plate, loss of readability of the symbols, or the owner’s desire to keep the “beautiful” number when selling the vehicle. Unlike previous years, modern rules allow the procedure to be carried out without changing the entry in the PTS, if the owner or region of registration does not change. The car owner must clearly understand the difference between replacing signs due to their loss and the procedure for assigning new combinations at personal request, since the algorithm of actions and package of documents in these cases will be different.
The registration process takes minimal time if you prepare in advance and sign up through the State Services portal. State Traffic Inspectorate requires the personal presence of the owner or his official representative with a power of attorney. It is important to note that it is now impossible to simply “change the numbers” without a good reason, such as selling the car to another person or changing the owner’s registration - the numbers are tied to the region of registration of the owner. However, legal ways to obtain new plates exist, and they are regulated by the administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Grounds for replacing the state registration plateh2>
The legislation clearly defines situations when replacing license plates is mandatory or possible at the initiative of the owner. The most common case is physical wear and tear plates: if the paint has worn off, the metal is dented or corrosion has made the symbols unreadable, the traffic police inspector has the right to issue a fine and demand replacement. In such a situation, you cannot hesitate, since operating a car with unreadable license plates is equivalent to their absence.
Another important reason is change of owner. When selling a car, the new owner can keep the old license plates, if they correspond to the region of his registration, or immediately receive new ones. If the buyer lives in another subject of the Russian Federation, replacing the signs with the regional codes of his place of residence becomes mandatory. Replacement is also necessary when stolen or lost one of the elements of the number plate - leaving the car with one number or without them is prohibited.
⚠️ Attention: Operating a car with damaged or missing license plates is subject to a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months according to Art. 12.2 Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
Owners are often interested in the possibility of changing the number simply for the sake of changing the combination of numbers. This is where the “number retention” rule comes into force. You can deposit old signs with the traffic police (the storage period has now been increased to 365 days), and receive new, random ones for your car. Later, after selling the car or at any convenient time, you can return the saved combination back. This is relevant for those who want to sell a “criminal” license plate separately from the body or are simply afraid of the evil eye.
Required documents for submitting an application to the traffic police
Collecting the right package of documents is the first step to successful registration. Errors in the paperwork can lead to refusal to accept the application and loss of time in queues. To complete the procedure you will need the original Vehicle Passports (PVC). If the document is paper, changes will be made to it, if electronic, the data will be updated in the database. It is also necessary to have a valid Vehicle Registration Certificates (CTC), which must be replaced when changing numbers.
The owner must provide his passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation. If a representative is undergoing the procedure, a notarized power of attorney and his passport are required. The key document is the policy OSAGO. Although formally the car number in the policy itself does not change (the STS changes), the insurance company must be notified of the new STS in order to make changes to its database so that there are no problems with payments or checks on the road.
- 📄 Vehicle owner’s passport (original).
- 📘 PTS (paper original or extract from EPTS).
- 📄 Current MTPL policy.
- 💰 Receipt for payment of state duty.
- 🚗 Car (for VIN code verification and inspection).
Separately, it is worth mentioning cases when a diagnostic card is required. If the number plates are replaced as part of a complete re-registration when purchasing a used car, and more than a year has passed since the last inspection (or the car is older than 4 years and is being purchased for the first time), an inspection card may be required. However, when simply replacing signs due to wear or desire of the owner, a valid diagnostic card is usually not requested, since design changes are not made to the car.
Step-by-step procedure for replacing license plates
The process of changing numbers is standardized and takes place in several stages. You should start by preparing the car: clean the body in the area of the VIN code, numbered units and places where plates are attached. Dirt and foreign objects can make it difficult for the inspector to perform an inspection, causing additional delays. Next, you need to pay government fees. This can be done through a bank, terminals in the traffic police building, or online on the State Services portal, where there is often a discount (although its availability must be checked to be current at the time of payment).
After payment and registration (if required in your department), you arrive at the department traffic police. First, the car goes to the observation deck. The inspector checks the VIN number, engine number and body number with the data in the documents, and also checks the presence and readability of old numbers if replacement is made due to their damage. If everything is clean, you receive an inspection report.
☑️ Checklist before going to the traffic police
With the inspection report, you are directed to the document acceptance window. The employee checks the package of papers, removes the old license plates (if they are surrendered) and accepts the application. After checking the databases for the absence of restrictions (arrests, search), you will be given new documents: STS with new numbers and an updated PTS (or entry in the EPTS). The final stage is obtaining the metal signs themselves. In some traffic police departments they are issued free of charge from those available, but most often, after receiving the documents, you need to contact a specialized organization for the production of signs located nearby.
Cost of services and amounts of state duties in 2026
The financial side of the issue consists of several mandatory payments. The amounts of state duties are fixed by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and are the same for all regions of the country, however, the cost of manufacturing the hardware itself may vary depending on the region and the selected manufacturing company. It is important to distinguish between the fee for a bureaucratic procedure and the fee for producing physical media.
| Type of service | Amount of state duty (RUB) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (metal) | 2000 | Per set (front and rear) |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | If the PTS is paper |
| Issuance of a new STS | 500 | Plastic card |
| Saving a number | 2850 | For storage and re-issuance |
If you decide to make a duplicate number in a private organization without contacting the traffic police (which is only possible if you have valid documents for the old numbers and their physical loss/damage, but without changing the combination), the cost will be from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles per set. However, an official change of the combination of numbers through the traffic police with the issuance of a new STS will cost at least 2850 rubles (2000 + 350 + 500), not counting the cost of the plates themselves, if they are not available at the department.
Keep all receipts for payment of state fees. In rare cases, if there is a failure in the treasury database, they serve as the only proof of payment for a refund or confirmation that a payment was made.
Timing of the procedure and receipt of documents
Time costs are divided into two types: time spent directly at the traffic police department, and the time required for the production of new plates. According to the regulations, the procedure for making changes to the database and issuing documents should not take more than 1 hour from the moment the full package of documents is submitted, unless additional verification is required. However, in practice, the waiting time depends on the workload of a particular department and the availability of an electronic queue.
Manufacturing metal license plates takes from 15 minutes to 1 hour in specialized workshops, which are often located in close proximity to the MREO. If you order a “criminal” number with a specific font or flag of another country (which requires separate approval and may be illegal without the appropriate diplomatic documents), the timing may extend for several days.
⚠️ Attention: Old license plates, if they were handed over to the traffic police due to damage, are disposed of on commission. It is impossible to take them back or receive compensation for the metal.
If you save the number, the procedure takes longer. An application for preservation is submitted together with an application for deregistration or change of ownership. The number “goes” to be stored in the database. To assign it to a new car or return it to the same one, you will need to contact the traffic police again and pay the appropriate fees for issuing signs and making changes. The shelf life is 1 year, after which the combination is burned and returned to the general pool.
Frequent mistakes and nuances when changing numbers
One of the most common mistakes is trying to fix damage to the number yourself. Painting over erased numbers with a marker, welding torn parts, or sealing cracks with tape is regarded as making changes into the design of the GRZ and is equated to a fake. This entails not only a fine, but also the possible confiscation of the car in the impound lot until the circumstances are clarified.
Another nuance concerns the regionality of codes. Since 2021, there has been a rule according to which the region code on the license plate must correspond to the region of registration of the owner, even if the car was purchased in another subject of the federation. For example, a resident of Tuva who bought a car in Moscow will receive numbers with code 17, and not 77, 799 or 97. An attempt to “bypass” this system through the purchase of spacer companies or temporary registration can lead to cancellation of registration.
- 🚫 Independent repair of rooms (painting, gluing).
- 🚫 Installation of frames covering fastening elements or a region.
- 🚫 An attempt to establish a number in a foreign region without legal grounds.
- 🚫 Driving with transit license plates longer than the permitted period (20 days).
You should also be careful when buying a car second-hand. If you are buying a car with “nice” plates, make sure that the seller really owns these plates. Sometimes scammers sell a car, keeping the plates for themselves (under a retention agreement), and the buyer is left without them, or the plates are wanted/stolen. Checking the history of the gas reserves through special services before the transaction will save you from problems.
FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions
Can I change numbers if I just don't like them?
You cannot simply change the license plates to arbitrary ones without selling the car or an official preservation procedure. However, you can sell the car to a close relative (by executing a sales contract), who will immediately sell it back to you. With each registration, the new owner (even if it is you) is assigned new numbers. This is a legal, but costly method in terms of time and state fees.
Do I need to change numbers when moving to another region?
No, you no longer need to change numbers when moving within the country. You can drive with license plates of any region indefinitely. A replacement will only be required if the owner of the car changes or if you yourself want to get numbers with the code of the new region of registration.
What to do if one number is stolen?
You must immediately contact the police and file a report of theft. Having received a notification coupon, you can go to the traffic police to replace the kit. You cannot stay with one number - this is a violation. You will be given new signs, and the old ones will be put on the wanted list.
How long is a reserved number stored?
The storage period for a state registration plate after filing an application for retention is 365 days. If during this time you do not contact us to install it on your car, the number will be lost and returned to the general database of available combinations.
Is it possible to make a duplicate number without the traffic police?
Yes, if your numbers have become unreadable or have been lost, but you do not want to change the combination of numbers (that is, you do not need a new STS), you can contact the organization that produces license plates. You need to have your PTS and STS with you. They will make a duplicate with the same data. But if you want a new combination, only through the traffic police.
Changing numbers is a strictly regulated procedure. Any deviations from the law, such as self-correction of signs, carry serious risks of deprivation of rights. Always act through official traffic police channels.