A situation when a car owner wants to keep his usual and beloved state number When selling a car, it is becoming more and more common. Emotional attachment, “thieves” combinations of numbers, or simply a desire to avoid the hassle of getting new plates on the next car - everyone has their own reasons. However, you cannot simply transfer hardware from one machine to another; there is a clear legal regulations.
The procedure for assigning license plates to a specific person, rather than to a vehicle, has become much simpler after changes in legislation. Now you do not have to be the sole owner of the number for a year, as was previously the case. You can save the combination right at the moment of deregistration or at any other time while the car is being registered. The main thing is to understand the sequence of actions and have the necessary package of documents with you.
In this material we will analyze all the intricacies of the process: from submitting an application to physically receiving the signs in your hands. You will find out how much the service costs, how long you can store the combination and what to do if you do not have time to register a new car within the allotted time. The storage period for the reserved number is exactly 365 days, and violation of this limit will lead to the cancellation of the reserve and the transfer of the combination to the general pool.
Legal framework and new rules
A fundamental change in the field of vehicle registration was the separation of the concepts of “vehicle owner” and “license plate owner”. Previously, the number was strictly tied to the car, and the procedure for saving it was cumbersome. Now combination of characters can be assigned to an individual or legal entity, regardless of whether he currently owns a car.
This allows the car seller not to rush to find a new “iron horse” and immediately put the old numbers on it. You can sell your car, save the number, easily travel by public transport or rented car, and when you buy new equipment, assign it the saved combination. It is only important to adhere to the time frame and correctly format application to the traffic police.
The legislation also clearly regulates the appearance of signs. If you keep the number, but the plates themselves are worn out, have abrasions, scratches or do not correspond to the current one GOST, the inspector has every right to refuse to issue them. In this case, you will have to make duplicates in a specialized organization that has the appropriate accreditation.
⚠️ Attention: Registration rules and administrative regulations may be subject to change. Before visiting a traffic police department, always check the current requirements on the official website of the department or through the government services portal, as the list of required documents may be updated.
Step-by-step instructions: how to apply
The process of storing license plates does not require complex technical knowledge, but it does require care when filling out the paperwork. The entire algorithm can be divided into several logical stages, skipping any of which can lead to a refusal or the need for a second visit to the department. It all starts with preparing the vehicle and documents.
The first step is to visit the traffic police department where the car is registered. You need to drive your car to the observation deck. The inspector must check VIN code, body and chassis numbers with data in documents, as well as visually assess the condition of the license plates themselves. If everything is in order, the paperwork begins.
☑️ Checklist for a visit to the traffic police
Next, fill out a special application. It indicates a request to assign new state registration plates to the car in order to preserve the current ones. In fact, you are changing the license plates on your car right now so that the old ones are “released” and archived in your name. After everyone has paid state duties and after passing the checks, you will be given new license plates for the car and a document confirming the right to keep the old ones.
The received document (often a mark in the application or a separate certificate) must be kept like the apple of your eye. It is he who is the key to your old numbers. Without this paper, it will be almost impossible to restore the combination, since in the databases it will be listed as free or already assigned to another person.
Required documents and state fees
To successfully complete the procedure, you will need a standard package of documents, which is usually required for any registration actions. The absence of even one certificate may be a reason for refusal to accept the application. Therefore, make sure you have all the papers before leaving home.
The package includes: passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation (owner), PTS (vehicle passport, if it is paper) or an extract from the EPTS, STS (certificate of registration), valid policy OSAGO and the license plates themselves. If the owner is a legal entity, a power of attorney for the representative and the statutory documents of the organization will be required.
The financial side of the issue is also important. The state charges a fee for issuing new numbers, making changes to STS and PTS, as well as for issuing a new STS. Saving the number itself is free, you only pay for the accompanying administrative actions. Below is a table with approximate fees.
| Type of service | Cost (RUB) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates | 2000 | Per set (front + rear) |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | If the PTS is paper |
| Issuance of a new STS | 500 | Plastic card |
| Issuance of a new STS (Electronic) | 500 | If there is an EPTS |
Pay state fees through the State Services portal using an individual’s account - this often gives a 30% discount, although recently the discount is not valid for all types of services, check the conditions when paying.
Storage periods and assignment to a new car
After you have successfully handed over your old license plates to the traffic police “archive”, the countdown begins. The legislator gives the owner exactly one year (365 days) to figure out where to use the saved combination. This period begins to run from the day the application for preservation is submitted.
If you buy a new or used car during this year, you can assign it a saved number right away. To do this, when registering a new car with the traffic police, you submit an application for assignment of previously saved state registration plates and present a document confirming your right to them.
It is important to understand that you can only save the number in your name. You cannot sell, gift or transfer the right to use the stored number to another person. If you sell a car that has a saved number attached to it, the combination will “return” to your archive again, and the period of 365 days will continue to run or start again, depending on the interpretation of the local department, but most often the countdown will not be interrupted.
What happens if you don’t make it in a year?
If you do not submit an application to assign the saved number to a new vehicle within 365 days, the combination is automatically canceled and returned to the general pool of available numbers. It will no longer be possible to restore it.
What to do if license plates are damaged
Often car owners are faced with a situation where there is a desire to keep the number, but the condition of the metal plates themselves leaves much to be desired. Scuffs, chipped enamel, creases or lack of mounting holes are all signs of non-conformity standards.
When inspecting a car, the traffic police inspector is guided by strict rules. If the number is unreadable or deformed, it cannot be accepted for storage in its current form. You will be denied a preservation document until the signs are replaced. This means that you will have to contact an organization that produces duplicate license plates yourself.
Making duplicates is a paid service, the cost of which varies depending on the region and type of number (motorcycle, standard, American format, etc.). After making new plates, you come to the traffic police again, go through verification and hand over the already perfect plates for storage. Don't try to return a crumpled number - it's a waste of time.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to “restore” the numbers yourself with paint or varnish. Such interference renders the mark invalid. Only the official production of a duplicate at an accredited point guarantees the legality of using the number.
Common mistakes and ways to avoid them
Despite its apparent simplicity, the procedure has its pitfalls. One of the most common mistakes is trying to sell a car along with its license plate. Remember that the number is tied to a person. When selling a car, the number either remains with the seller (if he applied for preservation before the transaction), or goes along with the car to the new owner if the seller did not have time to complete the documents.
Another mistake is inattention when checking the data in the issued documents. A typo in one digit of the VIN code or last name may invalidate the license plate retention document. Check all the papers at the window without leaving the cash register. Correcting the error after the fact will be much more difficult and longer.
Also, many people forget about insurance. After receiving new numbers (in the process of replacing to save the old ones), you will have an STS with new data in your hands. This means that your MTPL policy must be updated. Driving with license plates that do not match the data in the policy may result in a fine and problems in the event of an accident. Be sure to make changes to your insurance immediately after receiving the new documents.
It is critical to apply to retain your license plate BEFORE signing the vehicle purchase agreement. Once the car is deregistered due to sale, it will no longer be possible to save the number.
FAQ: Answers to popular questions
Is it possible to keep the number if the car is sold under a general power of attorney?
No, only the owner indicated in the title can save the number. If you are acting under a power of attorney, the document must clearly state the right to perform registration actions and dispose of license plates, but it is best for the owner to be present in person or to issue a specific power of attorney to deregister and retain the license plates.
What happens to the number if I die before I can use it?
The right to a saved number is not automatically inherited. Heirs will not be able to use your reserved number to register their car. After the death of the owner and the expiration of the storage period, the number will return to the general pool.
Do I need to pay a fee for the very fact of maintaining the number?
No, the “save” service is free. You only pay for issuing new license plates for the current car, for making changes to documents (STS, PTS) and for issuing new STS forms. That is, you pay for the replacement procedure, and not for “renting” the number.
Is it possible to save a number through State Services without a visit to the traffic police?
This cannot be done completely remotely. Through State Services you can only make an appointment and pay fees. The physical inspection of the vehicle by the inspector and the surrender of license plates require personal presence at the department.
How many times can you save the same number?
The number of attempts to save the same combination is unlimited. You can deregister a car, keep the number, install a new car, then sell it again and keep the same number again, the main thing is to meet the one-year period between deregistrations.