Buying a new car is always accompanied by excitement and a lot of organizational issues. One of the most common questions is: is it possible to keep the usual license plates from an old car, instead of getting new ones? In 2026, the procedure for transferring license plates has been simplified, but there are still nuances that are important to know in advance. In this article we will analyze all the legal methods, step-by-step actions, costs and possible pitfalls.
According to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 399 of June 26, 2018 (with the latest changes in 2023), the car owner has the right to retain state registration plates when changing the vehicle. However, this is not possible in all cases - there are restrictions on the type of license plates, the status of the car, and even the region of registration. For example, "TRANSIT" or temporary numbers cannot be transferred on a permanent basis, and in some regions of the Russian Federation there are local restrictions on “beautiful” combinations.
Next, you will find out what documents will be required, how long the procedure will take, and why in some cases the traffic police may refuse to keep old license plates - even if they fully comply with the law.
1. In what cases can you keep old license plates on a new car?
Transferring license plates from an old car to a new one is allowed only if three key conditions are met:
- 📜 The numbers must be permanent (not temporary, not transit, not diplomatic).
- 🚗 New car is registered on same owner, as the old one (or for a close relative if there is a notarized power of attorney).
- 🏛️ The procedure is carried out in the same traffic police department, where the original numbers were issued (or in any other place, if the signs are not tied to the region).
Important: if you buy a car at a car dealership, the dealer has no right insist on issuing new numbers. It is your legal right to keep old ones or get new ones. However, some salons offer “package” registration services, where number transfer may cost more than the standard procedure.
There are exceptions when saving numbers prohibited:
- ⚠️ Numbers were stolen or lost (even if you recovered duplicates).
- ⚠️ Signs have damage that does not correspond to
GOST R 50577-93(for example, worn paint, chips). - ⚠️ The new car belongs to the category special equipment, taxi or commercial vehicles (separate numbering rules apply for them).
2. Step-by-step instructions: how to transfer license plates to a new car
The procedure takes from 1 to 3 days (depending on the workload of the traffic police) and consists of 5 main stages. Let's look at each in detail.
Stage 1: Preparation of documents
You will need:
- 📄 Owner’s passport (original + copy).
- 📄 PTS of a new car (if the car is new, with a dealer’s mark).
- 📄 Certificate of registration of the old car (if the license plates have not yet been removed).
- 📄 Purchase and sale agreement (or other document confirming ownership).
- 💰 Receipt for payment of the state duty (850 rubles for maintaining license plates + 2000 rubles for registering a new vehicle).
☑️ Documents for number porting
If the old car has already been sold and the license plates have been deregistered, you will need certificate from the traffic police that the signs are not registered with another vehicle. It can be obtained through Public services or during a personal visit.
Step 2: Submitting an application
An application to save numbers can be submitted:
- 🖥️ Via Public services (section "Vehicle registration" → "Saving license plates").
- 🏢 In any MFC (if this service is available in your region).
- 🚔 Directly to traffic police (by appointment).
When submitting online, you will be given a date and time to visit the traffic police to complete the procedure. If you submit documents through the MFC, the processing time may increase by 1–2 days.
Stage 3: Vehicle Inspection
A new car must pass inspection at the traffic police to verify the body and engine numbers with the data in the vehicle title. If the car is new (from the showroom), the inspection is often carried out according to a simplified scheme - without a full check.
⚠️ Attention: If the car is equipped non-standard bumpers or tuning elements, the inspector may require the presentation of certificates of conformity. Otherwise, registration will be denied.
Step 4: Payment of duties
Cost of the procedure in 2026:
| Service | Cost (RUB) | Discount when paying through State Services |
|---|---|---|
| Preservation of state registration plates | 850 | 30% (595 rub.) |
| New vehicle registration | 2000 | 30% (1400 rub.) |
| Issuance of a new STS (registration certificate) | 500 | 30% (350 rub.) |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | 30% (245 rub.) |
Total: minimum cost when paying through State Services - 2580 rubles (instead of 3700 when paying at a bank).
Stage 5: Receiving documents
After checking the documents you will be given:
- 📋 New registration certificate (STS) indicating old numbers.
- 📋 PTS with registration mark.
- 🔑 License plates (the same ones that were on the old car).
If you removed the plates from the old car in advance, they will be returned to you for installation yourself. If not, the inspector will transfer them to a new car right on the spot.
Transferring license plates is only possible during a personal visit to the traffic police; this service is not provided remotely (without inspecting the car).
3. Deadlines and possible delays
According to the law, the registration procedure with saving numbers must take no more than 1 working day when submitting documents through State Services. However, in practice, the time frame may increase:
- 🕒 Queue at the traffic police station — in large cities, registration may be 1–2 weeks in advance.
- 🔍 Document verification — if the inspector suspects inconsistencies (for example, in the PTS), the procedure is delayed by 3–5 days.
- 🚗 Vehicle inspection — if the car is under warranty, the dealer may insist on an inspection (additional +1 day).
The most common reason for delays is incomplete package of documents. For example, if you forgot to attach a receipt for payment of the duty or did not provide a certificate of removal of license plates from an old car. In this case, the inspector gives 30 days for further registration, otherwise you will have to start the procedure again.
⚠️ Attention: If you did not manage to re-register your car within 10 days after purchase, you may be fined 1500–2000 rubles (Article 19.22 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).
To avoid problems, we recommend:
- 📅 Register with the traffic police in advance (through State Services the queue moves faster).
- 📋 Check documents by official traffic police checklist.
- 💳 Pay duties in advance (through State Services it is cheaper and faster).
4. Is it possible to transfer license plates from a foreign car?
If your old car was registered abroad (for example, in Belarus, Kazakhstan or EU countries), transferring license plates to a new Russian car prohibited. This is due to the fact that foreign state signs are issued according to different standards and are not entered into the database of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Russian Federation.
However, there are two legal workarounds:
- 🔄 Get Russian numbers to an old foreign car, and then transfer them to a new one.
- 🆔 Order duplicate numbers with the same combination, but according to the Russian standard (if it is not occupied).
In the first case, you will have to go through the full procedure of registering a foreign car in Russia (including paying a recycling fee and customs clearance). In the second, you need to check whether the combination is free through traffic police service for checking license plates and pay for the production of duplicates (about 2000 rubles).
What to do if the numbers were lost?
If you have lost your old numbers, but want to keep the combination, you can submit an application to the traffic police to make duplicates. To do this you will need:
- Owner's passport.
- Documents for the old car (if it is still registered to you).
- Receipt for payment of the fee (RUB 2,000 per duplicate).
If the combination is already taken by another owner, you will be denied a duplicate.
5. Risks and pitfalls
Even if you did everything according to the instructions, there are nuances that few people warn about:
- 🔍 Check for restrictions. If the old numbers were seized (for example, for unpaid fines), they will not be able to be transferred until the restriction is lifted.
- 🚨 Contact with the previous owner. If you bought a car secondhand and did not deregister it, the previous owner can “attach” his fines to you through the old license plates.
- 📉 Reducing the cost of a car. Some dealers refuse to accept the car trade-in, if it has old numbers (it is believed that this complicates resale).
Another trap - "beautiful" rooms. If your combination is considered valuable (for example, A001AA 77), scammers may try to “intercept” it. To avoid this:
- 🔒 Do not publish photos of numbers on social networks until registration is completed.
- 📞 Apply for number porting as quickly as possible after buying a new car.
- 🛡️ Use the service "Blocking registration actions" through State Services (free).
If you are selling an old car with the license plates still on, be sure to get a receipt from the buyer stating that he has deregistered it. Otherwise, fines for your old car will be sent to your name.
6. Alternatives: what to do if number porting is not possible
If the traffic police refused to retain the old license plates, you have three options:
- 🆕 Get new numbers. It's free (except for the registration fee), but the combination is chosen randomly by the system.
- 💰 Buy beautiful numbers. On the secondary market, the cost of “premium” combinations reaches 500,000 rubles (for example,
MMM 77 77). - 🔄 Exchange numbers through friends. If someone close to you has unnecessary signs, you can register them in your name (legally, but with a fee of 850 rubles).
The most budgetary way - order personal numbers through State Services. Cost:
- 12,000 rubles for a combination of 3 letters and 3 numbers (for example, ABC 123).
- 24,000 rubles for a combination of 2 letters and 3 numbers (for example, AB 123).
- 36,000 rubles for a combination of 1 letter and 3 numbers (for example, A 123).
The order takes up to 30 days, but you are guaranteed to receive unique numbers without the risk of fraud.
7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The experience of car owners shows that most problems when porting numbers arise due to minor errors in documents or ignorance of the nuances. Here are the most common:
| Error | Consequences | How to avoid |
|---|---|---|
| The old car was not deregistered | Refusal to port numbers | Apply for deregistration in advance |
| The fee was not paid through State Services | Overpayment 1000+ rubles | Use 30% discount when paying online |
| They didn't check the numbers for arrests | Registration delay 1–2 weeks | Check via traffic police service or Autocode |
| We arrived without license plates for inspection | Refusal of registration | Remove license plates from an old car in advance |
Another typical problem is discrepancy between the data in the title and the purchase and sale agreement. For example, if the PTS indicates black color cars, and in the contract - dark gray, the inspector may require corrections. To avoid this, verify all data in advance.
If you buy a car on credit, the bank may require new license plates - this is stipulated in some loan agreements. Check this point in advance!
FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions
Can I transfer license plates to a car purchased in another region?
Yes, but only if the numbers are not tied to a specific subject of the Russian Federation (for example, 77 — Moscow, 78 - St. Petersburg). Universal numbers (for example, 116 RUS) can be transferred to any region.
How many times can you port the same numbers?
The law does not limit the number of transfers. You can save the same license plates for at least 10 cars in a row - the main thing is that they are not lost or seized.
Is it possible to transfer license plates to a car purchased by proxy?
No. Transfer is only possible if the new car is registered on same owner, as the old one. If the car is registered to another person (even by proxy), you will have to get new license plates.
What to do if the traffic police refused to transfer license plates without reason?
Request a written refusal with justification. If the reason is unconvincing (for example, “the numbers are old”), file a complaint addressed to the head of the traffic police or the prosecutor’s office. According to the law, refusal must be motivated.
Is it possible to transfer plates to an electric car?
Yes, the procedure is the same. However, for electric vehicles there are additional requirements: for example, a certificate of compliance may be required Electrical rules (for machines with power over 150 kW).