Why do owners want to keep the license plates when selling their cars?
Selling a car is a process that requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to... state numbers. Many car owners become attached to their license plates: they can be “beautiful”, memorable, or simply long associated with the car. Besides, number replacement after purchasing a new car, this means additional waste of time and money on making new signs.
Since 2020, Russia has had a simplified procedure for saving numbers when selling through the portal Public services. However, not everyone knows that for this you need to select a special service “Save registration plates when deregistering a vehicle”, rather than standard deregistration. If you skip this step, the numbers are automatically canceled and cannot be returned.
In this article, we will look at how to properly register the preservation of numbers, what documents will be needed, how much it costs and what pitfalls may arise. Also, what to do if you have already sold the car, but forgot to save the license plates.
Which service should I choose on State Services to save numbers?
On the portal Public services There are two key services related to deregistration of a car:
- 🔹 "Removal of a vehicle from registration due to sale" - standard procedure in which numbers are canceled automatically.
- 🔹 "Saving registration plates when deregistering a vehicle" - it is this service that allows leave the numbers behind.
If you want to save numbers, select second service. It will appear in the list only after you begin the deregistration process. Important: the service is available only for individuals (legal entities cannot save numbers).
After selecting a service, the system will prompt you to indicate which numbers you want to save (if the car had several sets). You will also need to pay a state fee - 2,000 rubles (for 2026). Without payment, the application will not be processed.
Step-by-step instructions: how to save numbers through State Services
To avoid losing numbers when selling, follow this algorithm:
- Log in on the portal Public services under a verified account.
- Go to section
Transport and driving → Vehicle registration → Deregistration. - Select the reason for withdrawal: "Sale or other transfer of ownership".
- Find in the list of services "Save registration plates" and mark it with a tick.
- Enter your car details (they will be shown automatically if the car is registered to you).
- Pay the state fee 2,000 rubles (you can get a 30% discount when paying online).
- Choose a convenient traffic police department to receive license plate retention certificates.
- Sign the application with an electronic signature and submit for processing.
After the application is approved (usually 1–3 business days) you will receive a notification about the need to visit the traffic police. You need to bring there:
- 📄 Passport;
- 📄 PTS (if it is paper);
- 📄 Purchase and sale agreement (if the car has already been sold);
- 📄 Receipt for payment of the duty.
☑️ What to check before applying
The traffic police will give you certificate of preservation of registration plates (valid 180 days). During this period you can:
- 🔄 Put license plates on a new car;
- 📦 Store them (but do not use them on another machine);
- 🗑️ Recycle (if you change your mind about saving).
How much does it cost to save numbers and what are the nuances?
The main expense when storing numbers is state duty. For 2026 its size is:
| Service | Cost (RUB) | Discount when paying on State Services |
|---|---|---|
| Saving registration plates | 2 000 | 30% (RUB 1,400) |
| Making new numbers (if you don’t keep the old ones) | 2 000 | 30% (RUB 1,400) |
| Registering a new car with saved license plates | 850 | 30% (595 rub.) |
Important details:
⚠️ Attention: If you sold your car without deregistration (by proxy or simply did not formalize the transaction), it will be impossible to save the numbers. First you need to restore your registration to yourself, and then submit your application.
- 🕒 Certificate of conservation is valid 6 months. If during this time you have not assigned license plates to your new car, they will be cancelled.
- 🚗 Saved numbers can be set only for a vehicle of the same category (for example, from a car to a car, but not to a motorcycle).
- 🔍 If the numbers were lost or damaged, they will have to be restored separately (this is a different procedure).
Another important point: if you are selling a car with transit numbers, you cannot save them - they are automatically canceled after sale.
If you plan to buy a new car within six months, keeping the plates is more profitable than making new ones. The savings will be up to 2,000 rubles (taking into account the discount on State Services).
What to do if the numbers have already been cancelled?
If you sold the car and did not have time to save the numbers, return them it's impossible — they Forever go into the archives of the traffic police. However, there are several options:
- Buying "beautiful" numbers at auction (for example, on traffic police website). The cost can reach tens of thousands of rubles, but this is a legal way to get the combination you want.
- Registration of duplicates (if the numbers were lost, but not cancelled). To do this, you need to submit an application to the traffic police explaining the reason.
- Getting new numbers when registering your next car (free, but the combination will be random).
If the numbers were canceled by mistake (for example, due to a system failure), you can try to restore them through court. For this you will need:
- 📑 Documents confirming ownership of numbers;
- 📑 Evidence of an error (screenshots from State Services, letters from the traffic police);
- 📑 Receipt for payment of the state fee for the court.
⚠️ Attention: Buying numbers "from hand" (for example, through advertisements) is administrative offense. According to the law, registration plates are not the subject of purchase and sale, and their transfer to third parties is prohibited (Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
How to put saved license plates on a new car?
If you successfully saved the plates and bought a new car, you can transfer them to it. To do this:
- Apply for vehicle registration through State Services.
- In the "Registration marks" section, select the option "Use saved characters".
- Please enter your number conservation certificates (it was issued when the old car was deregistered).
- Pay the state fee 850 rubles (RUB 595 with discount).
- Visit the traffic police with a package of documents (PTS, passport, license plate retention certificate, purchase and sale agreement for a new car).
Important: the numbers must match technical requirements new car. For example, if you saved numbers from cars, they cannot be placed on truck or motorcycle.
Number portability deadline: 1 working day (provided that all documents are in order). If the new car already had license plates, you will have to turn them in to the traffic police (or also save them by paying another fee).
Saved numbers can only be used once. Once installed on a new car, they are tied to it forever (until the next sale).
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Even with the apparent simplicity of the procedure, many car owners make mistakes that cause them to lose their license plates. Here are the most common:
- ❌ Choosing the wrong service on State Services. If you simply deregister the car without marking the storage of the plates, they will be cancelled.
- ❌ Missing the validity period of the certificate. If you don’t have time to put license plates on a new car within 6 months, they will burn out.
- ❌ Payment of the duty in full. There is a 30% discount on State Services, but many people forget to take advantage of it.
- ❌ Trying to save transit numbers. They cannot be saved - they are automatically canceled after sale.
- ❌ Untimely deregistration. If the new owner has already assigned the car to himself, it will be impossible to return the plates.
To avoid problems:
- Check room status on the traffic police website (vehicle history check) before sale.
- Make sure there is no unpaid fines — they can block deregistration.
- Take a photo or scan all documents (PTS, STS, purchase and sale agreement) in case of disputes.
What to do if the new owner has not re-registered the car?
If the buyer does not register the car within 10 days, you can submit an application to the traffic police to terminate registration on your own initiative. This will help you avoid fines for other people's violations.
FAQ: Answers to popular questions
Is it possible to keep the plates if the car has not yet been sold?
Yes, you can apply to keep your numbers before sale. To do this, select the “Save registration plates” service on State Services and indicate that the car will be sold in the future. The numbers will remain yours, and after the sale you can put them on a new car.
How many times can you save the same numbers?
The same numbers can be saved unlimited number of times, but only on condition that you pay the state fee each time (RUB 2,000) and do not exceed the validity period of the certificate (6 months). However, in practice this is not profitable - it is easier to save the numbers once and transfer them to a new car.
Is it possible to keep the license plates if the car is pawned?
No, if the car is pledged to the bank, numbers cannot be saved. First you need to repay the loan and remove the encumbrance, only after that you can apply to retain the registration plates.
What happens if you don’t show up to the traffic police after your application is approved?
If you submitted an application to save your license plates, but did not appear at the traffic police within the appointed time (usually 30 days), the application canceled. Money for the state fee will not be returned, and the procedure will have to start all over again.
Is it possible to save license plates from a motorcycle?
Yes, the procedure for saving license plates is also available for motorcycles. The algorithm is the same as for cars: select the appropriate service at State Services, pay the fee and receive a certificate. However, keep the motorcycle plates and put them on the car (or vice versa) it's impossible — vehicle categories must match.