Buying EKH 78 numbers: myths, reality and law

Purchasing series registration plates EKH 78 in St. Petersburg is a legally impossible procedure, since this code is reserved exclusively for official vehicles of the Federal Security Service and cannot be transferred to private individuals.

Submit any offers online special series on a civilian under the guise of a legal transaction are an attempt to commit fraud or an offer to use forged documents, which entails criminal liability under Article 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

Understanding the real status of these numbers and the mechanisms for their distribution allows car owners to avoid financial losses and serious problems with law enforcement agencies when checking documents on the roads.

Status of the EKH series in the traffic police system

Series EKH historically assigned to vehicles of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, and in St. Petersburg (code 78) these signs are used to ensure the security of objects of national importance.

Unlike ordinary civilian plates, which are issued on a first-come, first-served basis or upon application within standard area codes, special series are strictly controlled and do not participate in the general issuance pool.

When stopping a vehicle with such signs, traffic police officers conduct a thorough check not only of the driver himself, but also of the proper use of a special signal or its imitation.

An attempt to legalize such numbers through “blat” or acquaintances in 2026-2026 is practically impossible due to the digitalization of databases and strict control over the circulation of state registration plates.

Legal risks of purchasing special license plates

The main risk when trying to purchase numbers EKH 78 there is a high chance of encountering fraud, where the seller demands an advance payment for a service that is technically and legally unable to perform.

Even if you are provided with a physical metal plate, installing it on a car without the appropriate documents in the traffic police database is equivalent to driving a vehicle without registration plates or with fake license plates.

⚠️ Attention: Installing EKH series signs on a civilian vehicle without the right to use them will entail confiscation of license plates, a fine and possible criminal prosecution for forgery of documents.

In addition, the use of symbols of government bodies on private transport may be regarded as discrediting authorities or misleading other road users.

• 🚫 There is a high risk of losing money when contacting scammers who promise to “resolve the issue.”
• ⚖️ Possibility of prosecution under Art. 327 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (forgery of documents).
• 🚓Forcible removal of the vehicle to the impound lot upon detection of a violation.
• 📉 Problems with the insurance company when an insured event occurs.

How to distinguish legal special series

Real series numbers EKH are issued only on the basis of official requests from the relevant departments and have a full entry in the traffic police register linked to a specific official vehicle.

When checking through official services or when punched by an inspector on the road, information about the owner of such a number will indicate the balance holder - a government agency, and not a private person.

Individuals can only use those series that are officially authorized for free release in a particular region, and the list of these series is regularly updated depending on the download of codes.

If you are offered to buy a number, claiming that it “falls out” in the usual issuance window, but requires an additional fee for this in addition to the state duty, this is a sign of a corruption scheme that carries risks for both parties.

Alternative options: beautiful rooms

For those who want to stand out on the road or get a license plate with a memorable combination of numbers, there is a legal market for “beautiful” license plates that do not belong to the special series of law enforcement agencies.

Such plates can be purchased from current owners through a car purchase agreement or by retaining the number and then re-registering it for a new car.

The cost of such combinations varies from several tens of thousands to millions of rubles, depending on the “steepness” of the number (for example, 777, 001, 007) and the region of registration.

It is important to understand the difference: when buying beautiful room regular series (for example, A 001 AA 78), you remain in the legal field, unlike attempts to obtain special services signs.

Table: Comparison of room types

Below is a comparison of the characteristics of different types of registration plates to help car owners make the right and safe choice.

Procedure for legally changing your number

If your goal is simply to change the number, perhaps due to superstition or a desire to update signs, you can go through the standard procedure for changing registration data at the traffic police.

To do this, you need to pay the state fee, collect a package of documents and apply for new signs to replace those that have been lost or become unusable, or simply when the owner changes.

In this case, you will receive the standard combination of letters and numbers currently available in your region, without the ability to select a specific series EKH.

The procedure takes from one to several hours, depending on the workload of the department and the availability of the technical ability to produce signs on site.

Consequences of using counterfeit signs

Using fake or foreign serial numbers EKH 78 is regarded by law enforcement agencies as a serious offense threatening public safety.

If such a vehicle is stopped, the inspector has the right to conduct a search and check documents with special care, which often leads to the identification of other violations (alcohol, unregistered weapons, illegal cargo).

⚠️ Attention: Even if the number is “real” (removed from a real FSB car), but installed on your car without legal grounds, this is illegal.

Judicial practice shows that courts take a tough position against citizens trying to appropriate the attributes of power, imposing fines and administrative arrests.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)