The issue of acquiring the desired combination of numbers and letters on license plates worries many drivers who strive for individuality or want to get a “beautiful” region code. For a long time, there was a myth that state registration plates (SRP) are issued exclusively on a first-come, first-served basis, and it is impossible to influence this process. However, the legislation of the Russian Federation provides completely legal mechanisms for those who want to assign a specific number to their vehicle.
The selection procedure is not chaotic and is regulated by clear administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. State duty for issuing numbers with the desired designations differs from the standard one, and the service itself requires compliance with certain time intervals. It is important to understand that the possibility of choice exists, but it is limited by the availability of free combinations in a particular division and the willingness of the car owner to pay additional costs.
In this article we will look in detail at how exactly the reservation system works, how much it costs and what restrictions exist. You will learn about the difference between the usual receipt of marks and the procedure for maintaining a GRZ, as well as what region codes are available for installation in your subject of the Federation. Legal literacy in this matter will help to avoid overpayments and misunderstandings when communicating with inspectors.
Legislative framework and the concept of the desired number
The main document regulating the process of issuing registration plates is the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. It is in it that the applicant’s right to receive a state license with desired notations. The law does not guarantee the receipt of any arbitrary combination, since the set of characters is strictly standardized, but it allows you to reserve a free number from the available pool. The key point here is the concept of “reservation”.
Many drivers confuse the concepts of “selecting a number” and “saving a number”. The first involves obtaining a new sign during initial registration or replacement, and the second involves transferring an existing code from one car to another or retaining it with the owner for up to one year. Administrative regulations clearly separates these procedures, although the mechanism for paying state fees in both cases is similar. It is important to note that the law does not allow the sale of numbers by private individuals; all transactions are carried out exclusively through government agencies.
Regional specifics should also be taken into account. In large cities, such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, the number of free combinations with the desired area code may be limited. At the same time, in less populated areas the choice may be much wider. Legislation of the Russian Federation is uniform for the entire country, but practical implementation depends on the workload of a particular MREO.
⚠️ Attention: Buying license plates secondhand through intermediaries is an illegal scheme that can lead to the cancellation of a vehicle's registration and criminal prosecution for forgery of documents.
Cost of service and amount of state duty
The financial side of the issue is one of the main factors influencing the driver’s decision. The standard state fee for issuing ordinary metal registration plates is 2,000 rubles. However, if you want to select a specific combination of symbols, a higher rate comes into play. For issuing a state license with desired notations you need to pay 10,000 rubles.
This amount is fixed and is established by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation. It does not depend on the type of vehicle, be it a car, motorcycle or trailer. It is important to understand that payment is made directly to the state budget, and not to a private individual or commercial organization. The payment receipt is a mandatory document to be submitted to the registration department.
There is also the possibility of keeping the number for the owner when selling the car. In this case, a fee is also charged, but it concerns the issuance of new plates for the car being sold and the issuance of a retained number for the new car. Financial costs If saved, the numbers can be summed up if new plates are required.
Below is a table showing the difference in cost of services depending on the type of operation:
| Service type | State duty amount | Regulatory act |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of regular license plates (cars) | 2,000 rub. | Tax Code of the Russian Federation Art. 333.33 |
| Issuance of numbers with the desired designations | 10,000 rub. | Tax Code of the Russian Federation Art. 333.33 |
| Making changes to the PTS (paper) | 350 rub. | Tax Code of the Russian Federation Art. 333.33 |
| Issuance of a new STS | 500 rub. | Tax Code of the Russian Federation Art. 333.33 |
When paying state fees through the State Services portal, there is often a 30% discount, however, for the service “issuance of numbers with the desired designations”, the possibility of online payment with a discount may be limited by the technical regulations of a particular region.
Room reservation procedure
The process of obtaining the desired number begins with submitting an application to the registration department of the traffic police. You cannot reserve a room by phone or email. The personal presence of the owner of the vehicle or his legal representative with a notarized power of attorney is required. Statement filled out according to the established pattern, which indicates the desired combination of characters.
After submitting the application, the inspector checks the availability of available rooms with the specified designations in the database. If the desired combination is free, it is reserved for the applicant. The validity period of such a reserve is 30 days. During this time you must complete all registration activities. If you do not show up to receive your numbers within 30 days, the reservation will be canceled and the number will again become available to other citizens.
It is important to consider that reservation is possible only at the stage of submitting documents. You cannot come to the traffic police, ask to see a database of all available license plates, choose the one you like and only then write a statement. The algorithm of actions is strictly regulated: submission of an application with a specific number -> verification -> payment -> issuance.
- 📝 Submit an application to the MREO indicating the desired code.
- 💰 Pay the state fee of 10,000 rubles.
- ⏳ Wait for the inspector to check the availability of the number.
- 📅 Receive your numbers within 30 days from the date of reservation.
If the desired number is busy, you will be asked to choose another one or get a number on a first-come, first-served basis. The refusal to issue a specific number may also be motivated by the fact that the combination of characters does not comply with GOST or is reserved for special services.
☑️ Checklist for reserving a room
Saving the number when selling a car
A situation that deserves special attention is when the owner wants to keep his current number when selling a car in order to install it on a new car. This procedure has become much easier in recent years. Now, to save the number, it is not necessary to hand over old plates for storage to the traffic police if they are in good condition and comply GOST.
The procedure is as follows: the owner submits an application to retain the registration plates. He is given new license plates for the car being sold (since the old ones remain with the owner), and he GRZ code assigned to the owner in the database for up to 1 year. During this year, a person can buy a new car or motorcycle and install a saved “beautiful” number on it.
If you are planning a sale, check the condition of your license plates in advance. If they have abrasions, creases or unreadable symbols, the inspector has the right to demand that duplicates be made before the preservation procedure. These are additional costs, but they are necessary for the legitimacy of further use of the mark.
⚠️ Attention: The storage period for the owner is exactly 1 year. If during this time you do not register a new vehicle and do not “attach” the saved number to it, the right to it will expire without the possibility of restoration.
What to do if the number is stolen or lost while saving?
If you lose a saved number (for example, plates that you had in your hands), you must immediately contact the police to report the theft or loss. After receiving the notification coupon, the procedure for restoring rights to the number will be possible through the traffic police, but will require additional explanatory notes and, possibly, the production of new plates at your own expense, since the old ones will be put on the wanted list as invalid.
Limitations and requirements for symbol combinations
Not every driver's fantasy can be translated into metal. There is a strict standard GOST R 50577-2018, which regulates the appearance and structure of license plates. The combination consists of letters and numbers, and the set of letters is limited only to those that have graphic analogues in the Latin alphabet (A, B, E, K, M, N, O, R, S, T, U, X).
Another important aspect is the region code. You can select a number with a region code only if you are registered in this subject of the Russian Federation or are the owner of a vehicle registered there. An attempt to obtain a number with the code “777” for a resident registered in the region with the code “13” will be illegal and will result in refusal. Territorial reference strictly controlled.
In addition, there are “prohibited” combinations that are reserved for official vehicles of law enforcement agencies (for example, certain series with the letters AM, EKH, which are historically associated with special vehicles, although formally they may be on free sale, in practice their receipt by a civilian is extremely difficult or impossible in a number of regions).
- 🚫 You cannot use letters that are not in the Latin alphabet (for example, E, J, CH, Sh).
- 📍 The region code must correspond to the registration of the owner or the region of registration of the vehicle.
- 🛑 Combinations that imitate special signals or intelligence documents are prohibited.
- 📏 The font and size of characters must strictly comply with GOST.
The main limitation is territorial. You cannot legally obtain a number in another region without permanent registration or property there, which makes “beautiful” Moscow or St. Petersburg numbers inaccessible to residents of other regions without registration.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to buy a criminal number officially?
There is no official sale of “thieves” numbers. All numbers are issued in the order of priority or reservation of free combinations. Any offers to sell specific numbers (for example, 777, 001) abroad by MREO are illegal schemes, often associated with fictitious re-registration of donor cars, which carries risks for the buyer.
How long is a reservation number valid?
The term for reserving the desired license plate is 30 calendar days from the date of filing the application and paying the state fee. If during this period the owner does not complete registration actions, the reserve expires and the number is returned to the general pool of free characters.
Is it possible to keep the number if the car is stolen?
No, if the vehicle is listed as stolen or is wanted, any registration actions with it, including saving license plates, are impossible until the circumstances are clarified and restrictions are lifted.
Do I need to change the STS while keeping the number?
Yes, for any operation related to changing registration data (including saving the number and issuing new plates to replace old ones), the owner must be issued a new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) with up-to-date data.
What to do if the inspector refuses to choose a room?
The refusal must be motivated in writing. If the number is free, complies with GOST and you have paid the fee, you can appeal the inspector’s actions through the higher management of the traffic police or the prosecutor’s office. Often the refusal is due to the technical inaccessibility of the database or the “busy” number in the system.