Selling a vehicle is always a stressful process involving paperwork, finding a buyer, and financial settlements. However, for many car owners, the question of the fate of the state registration plate that is assigned to their car is no less important. Often the number has a “beautiful” combination of numbers, a regional code that matches the owner’s place of residence, or is simply “lucky”. In such situations, there is a natural desire to keep this sign for yourself in order to later install it on a new car.
The legislation of the Russian Federation provides such an opportunity, and this procedure has been worked out quite clearly. You have every right to leave state number for yourself when selling a car, but for this you need to perform a number of administrative actions before the transaction is concluded. Ignoring these steps will result in the number automatically going along with the car to the new owner, and getting it back will be almost impossible without complex legal procedures. Therefore, you need to plan your actions in advance.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the nuances of the process, the validity period of the reservation, the cost of traffic police services and typical mistakes that sellers make. Understanding these rules will allow you to avoid losing the desired combination of symbols and calmly conduct a purchase and sale transaction, preserving your automobile “attributes”.
Legislative framework and owner rights
The main regulatory act regulating the registration of vehicles in Russia is Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 399. It is this document that secures the right of the car owner to maintain the state registration plate. Previously, there were restrictions on the period of car ownership (at least 180 days), but at the moment legislation simplified the procedure: you can deposit the number at any time, even if you have owned the car for only a few days.
It is important to understand that the license plate is not the property of the car, but an identifier that can be assigned to a specific owner. When selling a car, by default the registration plates remain on the vehicle unless the owner states otherwise. If you want to keep the number, you must initiate the procedure for storing it before signing the Sales and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with the buyer. Once the ownership rights are transferred to the new owner, this will no longer be possible.
⚠️ Attention: If you sold the car along with the license plates without declaring your desire to keep them, and the new owner registered the car in his name, you will only be able to return this plate number to yourself in the general manner if it accidentally ends up on the list of those available for issue, which is unlikely for “beautiful” combinations.
The procedure for maintaining a number is paid, but the cost of the state duty is fixed and regulated by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. This is not a negotiated market price, but a set fee for the administrative service of issuing a new registration document and assigning a new mark. The owner must be aware that by storing the number, he is actually changing the identification of the vehicle being sold for a future buyer.
Preparing for the procedure: verification and requirements
Before you go to the traffic police registration department, you need to make sure that your license plates are in perfect condition. According to the rules, only those signs that comply with GOST R 50577-2018. If the metal has deep scratches, abrasions, paint peeling or deformation, the inspection officer has the right to refuse to accept the license plate for storage.
In such a situation, you will have to make a duplicate license plate in a specialized organization that has the appropriate license. Only after receiving a new, perfectly legible sign can you apply to retain it. Trying to return a damaged license plate will only result in wasted time and the need to re-register with the traffic police.
- 🚗 Check the readability of all symbols: numbers and letters must be clearly visible from a distance of 20 meters.
- 🛠 Make sure there is no corrosion or blistering of the paint, especially around the edges of the plate.
- 📏 Evaluate the geometry of the sign: it should not be bent or twisted, the fastenings must be intact.
It is also critically important to check the legal cleanliness of the car before visiting the traffic police. The car must not have unpaid fines, registration restrictions or transport tax arrears. Availability of any restrictions blocks the possibility of carrying out any registration actions, including depositing numbers for storage.
☑️ Check before handing over the number
Step-by-step instructions: how to deposit a number
The procedure for saving the number requires the personal presence of the vehicle owner at any registration department of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, regardless of the place of registration of the car. You do not have to go to the exact department where the car was registered. The algorithm of actions is strictly regulated and consists of several successive stages, violation of which can lead to failure.
The first step is to submit an application. You can do this in person at the branch or through the portal Public services, which often saves time in queues. The application indicates a request to assign new state registration plates to the car and retain the existing ones for the owner. After submitting the application, the car must be presented to the inspector for inspection.
The inspection is carried out at a special site. The inspector checks VIN code, engine and body number with data in documents, and also checks installed license plates. If all the data matches and the numbers are in good condition, an inspection report is drawn up. From this moment the process of replacing numbers begins.
1. Submitting an application (online or in person)2. Payment of state duty
3. Inspection of the car by an inspector
4. Returning old numbers to the reception window
5. Obtaining new numbers and documents
After successfully passing the inspection and handing over the old metal plates to the recycling fund (in fact, they remain in the archives of the traffic police), you will be given new license plates and an updated STS. The old numbers will remain in your database for a specified period.
Do I need to wash my car before inspection?
Dirt on the body can make it difficult to verify the VIN code or unit numbers. Although formally the requirement “the car must be clean” is often interpreted as having legible license plates, it is recommended to clean the areas where identification markings are applied in advance so as not to be refused inspection due to the impossibility of a visual check.
Storage periods and cost of service
One of the most important issues for the owner is the period for which you can “mothball” your number. According to current rules, the shelf life of a state registration plate is 360 days (previously this period was 180 days). During this period, the number is reserved exclusively for you and cannot be issued to another person.
If during the year you purchased a new car or returned an old one (for example, after repair), you can contact the traffic police at any time with an application to assign a saved number. If 360 days pass and you do not exercise your right, the number will automatically go to the general pool of free signs and can be issued to any other citizen.
| Service type | Amount of state duty (RUB) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new numbers | 2000 | Paid when returning your old number |
| Making changes to the STS | 500 | Required when changing numbers |
| Making an entry in the PTS | 350 | If the PTS is paper |
| Number storage | 0 | The service is free, pay only for new numbers |
It is worth noting that the legislation does not provide for extending the storage period beyond 360 days. This is a strict time limit. Therefore, when planning to buy a new car, take this factor into account. If you understand that you will not have time to buy a car within a year, perhaps the procedure for saving the number becomes meaningless, since you risk losing your “lucky” combination.
The number reserve period is 360 days. It cannot be extended, so plan to buy a new car in advance.
Installing a saved number on a new car
When you have purchased a new car (or returned an old one for which you want to return the number), the second stage of the procedure begins. You need to contact the traffic police again with a statement, but now the goal will be to install a saved number. Important: at the time of submitting the application, the car must already be registered in your name, but with temporary or new license plates.
The installation procedure is faster than delivery, since vehicle inspection is often not required unless design characteristics or data have changed that require visual inspection. You submit a package of documents, which must indicate your desire to use the saved registration plate. The inspector checks the database, makes sure that the number is registered with you and its storage period has not expired.
- 📝 Prepare a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and documents for a new car (PTS, STS).
- 💰 Pay the state fee for issuing an STS and making changes to the PTS (numbers are issued free of charge, since you already have them in your hands or in the archive).
- 🚙 Take the car to the traffic police (in case you need to check the license plates).
After verification, you will receive a new vehicle registration certificate (VRC), where your saved number will be indicated, and a corresponding entry in the PTS. Metal plates will either be given to you (if you deposited them and collected a certificate), or, in some cases, they may require rehanging if the old ones have become unusable during storage (although they are usually stored in the archive). In most cases, you simply receive documents and hang up your old, but legally updated numbers.
⚠️ Attention: You can install a saved number only on a car that you own. Transferring the right to use the stored number to another person (for example, a spouse or child) is prohibited, even if the car is registered in their name.
Typical mistakes and important nuances
Despite the apparent simplicity of the procedure, car owners often make mistakes that cost them money or the license plate itself. One of the most common mistakes is trying to sell a car “with plates”, agreeing with the buyer that he will then remove them. This is a legal fiction. According to the documents, the buyer becomes the owner of the license plate, and he can return it to you only by selling the car back or through the court, which is extremely difficult.
Another error is related to the condition of the vehicle. If you plan to rent out a room, the car must be running and ready to go to the observation deck. The absence of one of the numbers (for example, if you have lost or stolen it) makes the procedure impossible - first you need to restore the set, which will require contacting the police and making duplicates.
It's also worth remembering the region code. You can only save a number with a region code corresponding to your registration (or registration of a legal entity). If you moved to another region and want to keep your old number with the code “777”, but are now registered in the Moscow region, you may be refused to keep it if the region code does not match the code of the subject of your registration. Although in recent years the rules have softened somewhat, allowing you to save numbers with “foreign” region codes, provided that the owner is registered in the same subject of the Russian Federation, it is better to clarify this point with the local traffic police.
Another nuance concerns motorcycles and trailers. The rules for storing license plates for them are similar to those for automobiles, but the size of the plates and the cost of duplicates may differ. Owners of vintage cars or equipment with non-standard fastenings should also be careful: if the license plate does not meet modern fastening standards, it may not be accepted.
When submitting an application through State Services, choose the “Replacement of registration plates” or “Save registration plates” service carefully. An error in choosing the type of service may result in the system scheduling you for a different time or with a different inspector.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to sell a car with a saved license plate?
No, that's impossible. The number that you deposited is legally “unlinked” from the car and assigned to you as an individual. You can sell a car only with new license plates, which the buyer will receive upon registration. The saved number remains in the traffic police database in your name.
What happens if I don’t have time to use the number within 360 days?
After 360 days, the room reservation is automatically cancelled. It goes into the general database of available traffic police license plates and can be issued to any other citizen when registering a car. You can return it to yourself only through the general queue, if no one gets it, which is almost impossible for “beautiful” rooms.
Do I need to pay a fee to store my number?
There is no separate fee for the “storage” service itself. You pay only standard state fees for issuing new license plates (2000 rubles), a new STS (500 rubles) and recording in the PTS (350 rubles) at the time of handing over the number. Re-payment when installing a license plate on a new car is not required, except for the fee for issuing a new STS.
Is it possible to keep the number if the car is pawned or seized?
No. The presence of restrictions on registration actions (arrest, bail, search) makes any operations with the car in the traffic police impossible, including replacing and maintaining license plates. First you need to remove all restrictions.