The procedure for selecting a state registration mark (GRP) begins with an application to the traffic police or through the portal of public services, where the system automatically assigns a region code corresponding to the place of registration of the owner. Unlike in the past, when drivers could get a sign with any code of the subject of the Russian Federation, now region-bound This is a prerequisite for issuing numbers, which excludes the receipt of “beautiful” capital codes by residents of other regions without a residence permit in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Direct selection of a particular combination of numbers and letters is made either by waiting for your turn at the registration office or by ordering a specific number from official operators, if the desired combination is free in the database.
There are two main ways to get the desired combination of characters: free, but risky, based on luck when visiting the IREO, and paid, guaranteeing a specific number through specialized organizations. When applying GABD You are directly dependent on what plates are available at the moment, while buying from the operator allows you to reserve a specific set of characters in advance. It is important to understand that even when buying a room from a private company, the final procedure for issuing a certificate of registration of the vehicle (CTC) and the plates themselves still passes through a state institution where the data is reconciled.
The choice of the number directly affects the further operation of the car, as an incorrectly selected or damaged sign can cause fines and problems when selling the vehicle. Owners need to consider not only the aesthetic appeal of the combination, but also compliance with modern readability standards, as well as the absence of damage to the coating, which traffic police officers may consider as an attempt to hide information. Properly designed and selected license plate is not only a matter of status, but also the legal purity of the vehicle.
Rules for assigning a region code during registration
From January 1, 2020, changes in the legislation came into force, which strictly regulate the compliance of the region code on the license plate with the place of registration of the car owner. This means that the owner of the vehicle can no longer choose a number with the code 777, 99 or 78, if his passport data indicates registration in another constituent entity of the Russian Federation. Region code The plate now strictly corresponds to the digital designation of the region, region or republic where the citizen is registered, regardless of where the car was actually purchased or where it will be used.
For residents of large metropolitan areas such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, this rule is of particular importance, since within these regions there is a division into districts with different codes. When registering a car, the system will automatically determine the available codes based on the residence address in the passport. If you live in one area, but registered in another, you will not be able to choose the desired region code - the one that is assigned to your registration address in the Interior Ministry database will be assigned.
⚠️ Attention: An attempt to register temporarily in another region solely for the purpose of obtaining the desired number code may be regarded as a violation of the registration rules. In addition, the change of residence permit will require the mandatory replacement of license plates within 10 days, which will entail additional costs for the state duty and the manufacture of new plates.
If the car is owned by a legal entity, the region code is assigned at the location of the organization. In case of change of residence of the owner of the car, replacement of license plates with new ones with the current region code is not required if the signs themselves are in good condition and readable. However, when selling a car, the new owner will receive numbers of his region at the initial registration, which makes “beautiful” rooms with other codes less liquid in the secondary market.
Free choice of room in the department of traffic police
The most common way to obtain a license plate is to contact the registration and examination department (MREO) in the order of live or electronic queue. In this case, the driver does not choose a specific combination of numbers and letters in advance, but receives the number that will fall to him when submitting documents to the inspector. The process is probabilistic: the inspector has a certain set of plates in his possession, and the choice of a particular instance often depends on the subjective opinion of the employee or the random order of issuance.
Many drivers try different strategies to get a more “beautiful” room in the compartment, such as coming in early on the day when they bring in new sets of signs, or politely asking the inspector to show you a few options to choose from. Although the law does not provide for the right to choose a specific combination for free registration, in practice, employees often meet if there are several available numbers. Electronic queue Through the public services does not give priority in choosing a room, but saves time on waiting in the corridors.
It should be borne in mind that in different units of the traffic police, the load and turnover of license plates differ. In larger cities, where many new cars are registered, the chance of getting a “fresh” number is higher, but the competition for beautiful combinations is much greater. In small district centers, the choice may be limited, and the probability of getting a number with repeating numbers or letters ("blatant" number) tends to zero without the intervention of intermediaries.
⚠️ Attention: It is strictly forbidden to offer traffic police money for choosing a specific number. Such actions are qualified as bribery and entail criminal liability. All financial transactions should be conducted only through official channels of payment of state duties or contracts with operators.
Paid reservation through number operators
The official and legal way to obtain the desired combination of symbols is to contact specialized operators authorized to issue state registration marks. These organizations purchase numbers from the traffic police and sell them to end users along with documents confirming ownership of a particular combination. The cost of such signs can range from a few thousand rubles for simple "mirror" numbers to millions for rare combinations, such as 001, 777 or letters forming abbreviations.
The purchase process is as follows: you choose a number in the operator’s catalog, conclude a contract of sale and get a set of documents and the plates themselves. With this package of documents you apply to the traffic police for registration of the car, where you will be assigned exactly the purchased number. It is important to distinguish official operators from dealers who can offer numbers according to the scheme of "resale" of the car, which is a gray scheme and carries risks for the buyer.
How to check the legality of the operator
Ask the seller for a certificate of compliance with the requirements of GOST and the contract. The official operator always issues the act of acceptance and transfer and the cashier's check. You can check the company in the register of accredited manufacturers of plates, which is maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
The advantage of this method is to ensure that you get exactly the combination you want without having to wait for luck in line. In addition, the purchased number can be saved when selling the car, transferring it to a new car. However, the cost of the service can be significant, and it does not include the state fee for the issuance of numbers and certificates, which will still have to pay in the budget.
Cost of government duties and costs of receipt
The financial side of the issue of registration of a car and obtaining numbers consists of several mandatory payments, the size of which is established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. The main expense is the state fee for the issuance of state registration plates, which currently amounts to 2,000 rubles for a set of two plates. If you receive only a certificate of registration (while maintaining old numbers), the fee is 500 rubles (or 1500 rubles for a new plastic ITS).
When buying a room through an operator, the price of the sign itself is added to the cost of the state duty, which is formed by market mechanisms. Additionally, you may need to pay for duplicates if the standard plates are not suitable in size (for example, for motorcycles or retro cars), although now most operators provide a full range of sizes.
| Type of service | State duty (ruble) | Note |
|:--- |:--- |:--- |
| Issuance of GRZ (metal) | 2000 | Standard kit for cars |
| Issuance of GRO (metal) motor vehicles | 1,500 | For motorcycles and trailers |
| Registration certificate (paper) | 500 | If there is an old sample |
| Registration Certificate (plastic) | 1,500 | New document format |
| Modification of PTS | 350 | If there is room for recording |
| Issuance of new PTS | 800 | If the place in the old | is over
Pay the state duty through the portal of the state service before visiting the department. This will not only save time to fill out receipts, but will also allow you to get a discount if it is valid in your region at the time of payment.
Technical requirements for license plates
When choosing or accepting a license plate, you must make sure that it complies with the current GOST R 50577-2018. The plate must be made of metal with a retro-reflective coating, have clear, not blurred symbols and the correct font. Any scuffs, scratches, deformations or corrosion marks may be grounds for refusal to register or a requirement to replace the mark, as they make it difficult for automatic cameras and traffic police to identify the vehicle.
Particular attention should be paid to the background and color of the symbols. For most passenger cars in Russia, a white background with black symbols and a black frame with the region code is provided. There are also blue-backed rooms (for taxis) or yellow (for public transport), but these are only issued if the vehicle is in the appropriate status and licensed. Trying to set a non-standard number, such as one with an American flag or a changed font, is illegal.
Shelf life metal plates are not limited, but they must remain legible throughout their lifetime. If the paint on the symbols began to peel or the metal rusted so that the numbers are difficult to distinguish, the inspector has the right to write a fine and oblige the owner to replace the plates. When you receive a new number in the traffic police or the operator carefully examine it with the employee to avoid claims in the future.☑️ Checking the number before installation
Retaining a number when selling a car
One of the important possibilities associated with the choice of a number is the right of the owner to retain the state registration plate when selling a vehicle. To do this, you need to apply to the traffic police to save the number for the owner. The term of the reserved number is 365 daysYou can install it on another car that you own. If the number is not used within a year, it is canceled and returned to the general pool of free signs.
The procedure of preservation requires that the car has passed the state technical inspection, and the license plate was in perfect condition, corresponding to GOST. If the plates are damaged, the traffic police will refuse to save the number, and you will have to make duplicates before applying. This is an important point that is often missed when preparing to sell a car with a “beautiful” number.
⚠️ Attention: You can only save the number on the car you own. Transfer of the "saved" number to another person is possible only through the procedure of donation or sale of a car, for which this number is already installed. Direct sale of the “number right” without a car is legally impossible.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
In the process of selecting and obtaining numbers, drivers often face technical and bureaucratic difficulties. One of the common problems is the discrepancy between the traffic police database and documents, which can lead to a refusal to register. There are also situations when the number selected through the operator is “in limbo” due to errors in the system of interdepartmental interaction. In such cases, consistent assertion of their rights through written requests is required.
Another problem is the physical impossibility of setting a standard number on some models of cars, especially from the American market, where seats are narrower or wider than Russian standards. In this case, the law allows the installation of a non-standard size number, but only if it is made according to GOST and has the appropriate marking. Self-flexion or trimming of the license plate is prohibited and entails a fine.
The main conclusion: The choice of a room is a combination of legal restrictions on the region of residence and financial capabilities. The most reliable way to get the desired combination is an official purchase from an accredited operator, and the most budgetary one is the hope of luck in the traffic police department.
Can I select a number through public services?
Directly select a specific combination of numbers and letters through the portal of public services is impossible. The portal allows you only to make an appointment with the traffic police, choose a convenient time and pay the state duty with a discount (if available). The actual assignment of the number takes place in the office when submitting documents.
What if the number is stolen?
In case of theft of license plates, you must immediately contact the police for a certificate of initiation of a criminal case. With this certificate and documents for the car you need to go to the traffic police to write an application for the issuance of new numbers. The old number will be put on the wanted list and you will be given new signs with the same numbers and letters, but possibly with a new expiration date or minor changes depending on the regulations.
How long does the procedure for obtaining a number take?
In the presence of an entry through the State Services and the absence of queues, the procedure for submitting documents and obtaining numbers takes from 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you buy a number from the operator, the time depends on the speed of registration of the contract and the manufacture of plates, which usually takes 15-20 minutes directly at the point of issue.
Can I get a number with three identical numbers?
Getting a free number is almost impossible due to the low circulation of such combinations. The only real way is to buy from an official operator, where the value of such signs will be significantly higher than the average market price due to their rarity and high demand.
Do I need to change numbers when changing my registration within the same region?
No, when changing the place of residence within one subject of the Russian Federation (for example, moving inside the Moscow region), the replacement of license plates is not required. The region code on the number will remain the same and this will not be a violation, as the area code has not changed. Change the numbers only when moving to another region or when changing the owner of the car, if the new owner wants to get the numbers of his region.