The question of changing the state registration plate (SRP) arises among car owners for a variety of reasons. Some drivers want to get rid of an “unfortunate” combination of numbers, others strive to get a number with a beautiful region code, and others simply change their place of residence and are faced with the need to re-register. The legislation of the Russian Federation clearly regulates the procedures related to vehicle registration data, but many motorists still do not understand where the line is between a legal replacement and a violation of the rules.
Changing your number is possible, but only through officially established channels traffic police and if there are compelling reasons. Unauthorized replacement of signs, use of magnets, films or other means that hide or change symbols is a gross violation and entails serious liability, including deprivation of rights. In this article, we will look in detail at how to legally get the number you want, what bureaucratic procedures exist, and why trying to “cheat the system” can cost you your driver’s license.
It is worth understanding that you cannot just come to the department and ask for a “nice” number because of personal preferences. There is a strictly defined list of situations when replacement of GRZ carried out at the request of the owner. If you want to change your number for the sake of aesthetics or superstitions, you will have to go through a procedure that is legally equivalent to selling a car to yourself or changing your registration. Let's look at all the nuances of this process.
Legal grounds for changing the state number
The legislation provides for several specific scenarios in which registration plates are replaced legally. The most common case is a change in the place of registration of the owner of the car. If you moved to another region or even to another city within the same region, but want to receive numbers with a new code, the law gives you this right. Since 2020, linking the number to the region of registration of the owner has become mandatory during initial registration, but when changing your registration, you can initiate the procedure for changing the license plate voluntarily.
Another legal basis is loss or theft license plates. If you discover that the plates have been stolen or were lost as a result of an accident or other circumstances, you are obliged to contact the police and subsequently the traffic police to obtain duplicates or new plates. In this case, you will be given new plates that will correspond to your current data in the database. Replacement is also made when the plates are damaged or worn out, when the symbols are no longer readable, which may cause a fine when checking documents.
⚠️ Attention: Trying to imitate the theft or damage of a number for the sake of simply changing the combination of numbers is risky. Traffic police officers may request a certificate from the police, and if the fact of theft is not confirmed or raises doubts, a replacement may be refused, and questions will arise for you.
There is also a procedure that is popularly called “transport” or “transit” through a purchase and sale agreement. This is the only way to change your number at your own request without changing your registration. The owner enters into a purchase and sale agreement (PSA) with a close relative or proxy, the car is deregistered (or the owner is changed in the database), and then returned back to the first owner. Upon new registration, the vehicle is assigned a new license plate. This method is completely legal, but requires financial costs for state fees and time for paperwork.
- 🚗 Change of residence of the owner to another region or city.
- 📄 Loss, theft or theft of state registration plates.
- 🌧️ Physical wear, damage or unreadability of symbols on signs.
- 🔄 Change of car owner (sale, donation, inheritance).
The procedure for changing the number through a purchase and sale agreement
If you are determined to change the number for aesthetic reasons or simply want to update the combination of numbers, the purchase agreement method is the only workable option. The essence of the procedure is that the car formally changes owner. You can make a deal with your spouse, parent, sibling or any other trusted person. It is important that after completing the documents, the car will need to be registered again in your name, which will automatically lead to the issuance of new license plates.
The process begins with drawing up Sales and purchase agreements (DCP). This document can be filled out by hand or printed on a computer. The contract specifies the details of the seller, the buyer, as well as detailed characteristics of the vehicle, including the VIN code, year of manufacture and old license plate data. After signing the contract, the new owner (even if it is your relative) has 10 days to register the car. During this period, he applies to the traffic police, pays state fees and receives new license plates and STS in his name.
At the next stage, the car is sold again or donated back to the original owner. A second DCP is drawn up and the registration process is repeated. As a result, you receive a car in your name, but with new state license plates and a new STS. In this case, the old numbers go into the archive or are disposed of if they were not saved according to a special procedure (which is now possible only when the owner changes while maintaining the number, but not with a complete re-registration with the issuance of new plates).
⚠️ Attention: With each re-registration, you lose the opportunity to keep your old numbers unless you submit a special application to save them within 180 days. If your goal is simply to change the numbers, this nuance is not critical, but it is worth remembering.
It is important to consider that such a “mutual responsibility” scheme has its own financial consequences. You will have to pay government fees twice for issuing new license plates, for issuing a new STS and for making changes to the PTS (if it is paper). In addition, if the car is pledged or registration restrictions are imposed on it, it will not be possible to pull off such a scheme until the legal problems are resolved.
Replacement cost and required government fees
The financial side of the issue plays an important role when deciding whether to change license plates. The cost of the procedure consists of several mandatory payments established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. Prices may vary depending on the region and type of license plate (for example, square plates for Japanese cars or motorcycle ones can cost more than standard ones), but the basic rates are the same throughout the country.
In the standard procedure for replacing numbers (for example, when changing registration or losing them), you pay for the issuance of new signs and a new certificate of registration. If you use a scheme with a purchase and sale agreement, the costs double, since the registration procedure must be completed twice. It is also worth considering the cost of making duplicates in private companies if the old numbers are simply lost, but you do not want to change the combination itself, but want to restore the physical media.
Below is a table with the current amounts of state duties:
| Type of service | Duty amount (RUB) | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (metal) | 2 000 | Standard size, one sign |
| Issuance of State License "Transit" | 1 600 | To transport cars abroad |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | Subject to free space |
| Issuance of a new STS | 500 | Plastic card |
| Issuance of a new PTS | 800 | If you run out of space in the old one |
Pay state fees through the State Services portal using an electronic signature or the bank’s mobile application - this often allows you to get a discount, although discounts have been canceled recently, check the current conditions at the time of payment.
It is worth noting that if you contact a commercial organization to make duplicates if lost (without changing the combination in the traffic police database), the price may be higher and is regulated by market conditions, and not by the state tariff. However, such duplicates will be legitimate only if the old number is on the wanted list or disposed of in the database, otherwise you will receive two sets of numbers with the same data, which may raise questions from inspectors.
Retaining the old license plate when selling a car
Many drivers wonder: is it possible to keep the old “nice” license plate when selling the car? The legislation provides such an opportunity. If you are selling a car, but want to retain the combination of numbers in order to install it on a new car, you need to submit a corresponding application to the traffic police. This can be done simultaneously with submitting documents to deregister the car or when completing a purchase and sale transaction.
The procedure for preserving the number assumes that new registration plates will be issued for the car being sold, and your old ones will “go” with you to the reserve. The storage period for the number in the traffic police database is 365 days (one year). During this time, you can purchase a new car or motorcycle and request a saved number when registering it. If you do not have time to use this right within a year, the number will be returned to the general pool and may go to someone else.
This service is also paid - you will have to pay for issuing new license plates for the car you are selling and making changes to the documents. This is a great way to grab a good combination if you change cars often.
- 📝 Submit an application to preserve the state license to the traffic police until the transaction is completed.
- 💰 Pay the state fee for issuing new license plates for the car you are selling.
- 🗓️ Remember that the retention period is 1 year from the date of application.
- 🚙 You can only install a saved number on a vehicle that you own.
What to do if the area code on the saved number does not match your new registration?
Since 2020, strict rules have been in force for linking the region code to the owner’s registration. If you have saved a number with the code 777, but are registered in region 50, when registering a new car you may be refused to install this number if the rules of the law are interpreted strictly. However, if you received the number legally before the restrictions were introduced, an exception is often made, but the risk of being refused or required to change the number remains. Always check this point with the MREO inspector.
Risks and liability for illegal shifting
The desire to stand out or hide a car from CCTV cameras sometimes pushes drivers to commit illegal actions. Installing license plates from other cars, using special frames that hide some of the symbols, gluing films or using magnets - all this falls under Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. Punishments for such violations are becoming more severe every year, and it is less and less possible to get away with a simple fine.
The most serious violation is installing license plates of another vehicle. If a traffic police inspector discovers that your car has plates that are registered with another car (or were registered, but were disposed of), this may result in deprivation of your license for a period of time from 6 months to 1 year. In case of repeated violation, the driver may lose his license for 1 year. In addition, the car will be sent to the impound lot until the circumstances are clarified.
Unreadable or altered numbers are also severely punished. Even one missing bolt, dirt obscuring the symbol, or a bent corner can be seen as an attempt to hide the number. In the best case, you will be fined 500 rubles, but if intent is proven (for example, a bent turn signal covering the number), you will face a fine of 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months.
⚠️ Attention: The use of so-called “flashes” or special sprays that make the number invisible to cameras, but visible to the eye, is illegal. The examination easily determines the presence of a chemical coating, which equates to making changes to the design of the vehicle and concealing identification features.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to change the number of a car just like that, without selling or changing registration?
No, you can’t just change your number at the traffic police. There must be a legal basis: loss, damage, change of owner or change of residence of the owner. The only way to change the number “at will” is through a scheme with a purchase and sale agreement (sale to a relative and purchase back).
How long does the number replacement procedure take?
If you submit documents through State Services and arrive at the appointed time, the procedure itself at the traffic police takes from 1 to 3 hours. However, metal plates may take extra time to produce if the branch does not have kits ready with your combination (although numbers are usually printed on site in 15-30 minutes).
What happens if I lost one license plate?
You need to contact the traffic police to report the loss. You will be given two new numbers (set), since one badge is not issued. The old combination will be replaced with a new one. You cannot travel with only one number or temporary papers - this is a violation.
Is it possible to keep the old number when buying a used car?
Yes, if you bought a car with plates, you can keep them, but only if the region code on the plates matches your region of registration. If the codes do not match, you must be issued new numbers with your area code upon registration.
Do I need to change the STS when changing numbers?
Yes, definitely. The Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) contains data on state registration plates. When changing numbers, the old STS is confiscated and a new one is issued with up-to-date information. This happens automatically during the registration process.
A legal change of license plate number is possible only through official traffic police procedures: in case of loss, damage, change of registration, or through the formal sale of a car. Any other methods carry risks of deprivation of rights.