Purchasing a vehicle is always an exciting moment associated with many bureaucratic procedures. One of the first and most frequent questions that arises for a new owner is the fate of state registration plates (GRP). Do you have to get new hardware or can you keep the old ones, especially if the transaction took place within one subject of the Federation? The answers to these questions are governed by Administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which has undergone significant changes in recent years.
The situation with car registration in 2026 has become much more transparent and more convenient for citizens. The legislation clearly distinguishes between cases where replacing license plates is mandatory and situations where this is the right (of the owner). The key factor here is not only the geographical location, but also the technical condition of the plates themselves, as well as the region code indicated on them. Understanding these nuances will help save time and money.
In this article we will examine in detail all aspects of preserving license plates when purchasing a car. We will consider the legal grounds, financial costs and step-by-step algorithm of actions. The subtleties associated with electronic PTS and new rules for assigning region codes that came into force recently.
Legislative framework and rules for assigning codes
The main document regulating the procedure for registering vehicles is the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. According to current regulations, the principle of “one region - one code” was abolished several years ago, but in 2026 it is in full force. This means that the region code on the license plate must correspond to the code of the subject of the Russian Federation where the owner has permanent registration (registration), and not the place where the car was purchased.
If you buy a car in your region and the code on the license plates matches your registration code, then by law you have every right to keep the old plates. In this case, forced replacement is not required. However, if you are a resident of the Moscow region (code 50, 90, 150, 190), and purchased a car with Moscow license plates (77, 799, 977) and are registered in the Moscow region, you will have to get new signs with the code of your region.
It is important to note that the rules apply not only to individuals, but also to legal entities. For organizations, the place of registration is considered to be the address specified in the constituent documents. Traffic police officers When accepting documents, be sure to check the correspondence of the address in the owner’s passport and the code on the license plates. Any discrepancy entails mandatory replacement of the GRZ.
⚠️ Attention: If you bought a car with license plates from a different region, but your registration is in the same region (for example, both regions belong to the same code or you just changed your apartment within the same region), replacing the plates may not be necessary if the code on the signs is relevant for your current place of residence. Check the relevance of the codes in the traffic police directory.
When changing numbers is mandatory: criteria and exceptions
Although it is possible to retain signs, there are a number of situations where obtaining new signs is strictly necessary. First of all, this concerns the technical condition of the license plates themselves. If there is damage on the surface of the GRZ that makes it difficult to read the symbols, or the reflective layer has worn off, the inspector will refuse registration with saving numbers.
The second critical situation is the discrepancy between the region code and the place of registration of the owner. As mentioned earlier, since 2026, the linking of the number to registration has been strictly controlled. Even if you bought a car in a neighboring area of your own city, but the license plates have a code for a region that has been discontinued or is irrelevant for your registration, the signs will have to be scrapped.
Replacement is also required if the previous owner was on the federal wanted list or the car is stolen, although in the latter case we are no longer talking about replacement, but about seizure. But within the framework of a standard purchase and sale, the main trigger becomes precisely administrative regulations code matching.
- 🚫 Damage to the protective coating or deformation of the metal base of the numbers.
- 🏠 Inconsistency between the region code on the numbers and the permanent residence address of the new owner.
- 📜 There is no record of the owner in the database or there is a ban on registration actions.
- 🔢 Unreadable characters due to contamination that cannot be removed without damaging the characters.
Before going to MREO, carefully inspect the rooms in good lighting. Even a slight abrasion on the reflective film can become a formal reason for refusal to preserve the signs, which will force you to pay for the production of duplicates or new numbers.
Financial aspects: state fees and cost of services
The issue of cost is always relevant for car owners. Keeping your license plates can save you a lot of money because you don't have to pay for new metal plates. However, the registration process cannot be called completely free. In any case, you will have to pay for a new one. Vehicle Registration Certificates (CTC) and making changes to the PTS (if it is paper) or issuing a new electronic PTS.
If replacing the plates is necessary or you yourself have made such a decision (for example, you don’t like the old plates aesthetically), then a state fee for issuing a license plate will be added to the cost of registration. In 2026, tariffs were indexed, and the amount became quite significant for the family budget. It is also worth considering the cost of services of commercial organizations if you decide to produce duplicate license plates for third-party organizations, although this is usually not required for initial registration when changing ownership - plates are issued only by the traffic police.
Below is a table with the current amounts of government fees that may arise when registering a car:
| Type of service | Duty amount (RUB) | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (metal) | 2000 | In case of replacement or loss |
| Issuance of STS (plastic) | 1500 | Always upon registration |
| Making changes to the paper PTS | 350 | If you have a paper PTS |
| Issuance of a new EPTS | 600-800* | When switching from paper or losing |
*The cost of EPTS may vary depending on the system operator and intermediary tariffs. Payment of state fees is made through the State Services portal or at bank terminals. There is often a discount available when paying through the portal, but discounts may change in 2026 so please check for current information before applying.
Preserving the old license plates saves the owner 2,000 rubles (the cost of the state duty for registration registration), but requires the plates to be in perfect technical condition and the region code to match the registration.
Registration procedure with saving numbers
The process of registration with the preservation of license plates is practically no different from the standard procedure, with the exception of one stage - handing over the old hardware. When you arrive at the registration department of the traffic police, you submit a complete package of documents, including an application where your desire is indicated in the appropriate column save GRZ.
The inspector inspects the vehicle on site. Particular attention is paid to checking VIN numbers, body and engine numbers with the data in the documents. If all units are in place and the numbers are legible, the employee puts a mark on the diagnostic card. Next, at the document acceptance window, you hand over your old license plates if a decision was made to replace them, or present them for verification if you want to keep them.
If the signs are saved, they remain in your hands (or on your car), and information is entered into the database that this license plate is assigned to the new owner. After paying all the fees, you will be issued a new STS and, if necessary, an updated PTS. The entire process in 2026, thanks to digitalization, takes significantly less time than before.
☑️ Checklist for car registration
If you have already submitted your numbers to the acceptance window, it will be impossible to “win back” the situation. Therefore, the decision must be made in advance, weighing all the pros and cons.
Registration deadlines and liability for violations
The legislation of the Russian Federation establishes clear deadlines for registering a vehicle. The new owner is required to register the car within 10 days from the moment of signing the purchase and sale agreement. This period is the same for all cases: you change numbers or leave old ones.
Violation of this deadline entails administrative liability. The fine for individuals ranges from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles. If you are caught driving an unregistered car after 10 days have passed, the fine may be issued again, and in case of repeated violation - up to the deprivation of your license for up to 3 months.
⚠️ Attention: The period of 10 days is calculated in calendar days, including weekends and holidays. If the last day falls on a weekend, the deadline is postponed to the first next working day, but there is no point in taking risks and delaying until the last moment - no one has canceled the queue at the traffic police.
It is also worth mentioning the situation when the seller did not deregister the car on his own (although now the buyer is doing this). If the new owner has not registered the car within 10 days, the seller has the right to apply to terminate the registration in order to avoid paying transport tax and fines from cameras. In this case, the numbers and documents will be put on the wanted list.
What to do if the 10th day falls on a holiday?
If the last day of the registration period falls on a non-working holiday or weekend, then the expiration date is considered to be the next working day. However, it is better not to count on this and submit documents in advance, since technical failures in the database can occur at any time.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to leave the license plates if I bought a car in another city in my region?
Yes, if the region code on the license plates matches your registration code. For example, you live in Krasnodar (code 93, 123) and bought a car in Sochi (also code 93, 123). There will be no problems with this. The main thing is the coincidence of the code of the subject of the Russian Federation.
Do I need to change numbers if I change my registration within the same region?
No, you do not need to change numbers when changing your registration address within one subject of the federation (one region). The region code on the numbers will remain the same and will be current.
What should I do if there is a small scratch on the numbers?
This is a risk. The inspector may consider the sign to be damaged. It is better to make duplicates in advance in a specialized organization (that has a license) and register the car with them, or be prepared for the fact that you will have to obtain new plates from the traffic police.
Is it possible to register a car without license plates if they are lost?
Yes, but you will still have to pay a state fee for issuing new license plates. You can’t just drive “without license plates”; transit license plates for passenger cars within the country are now practically not issued, except in cases of export abroad.
How long are the submitted license plates kept by the traffic police?
Submitted license plates are stored at the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate for 180 days (about 6 months). During this period, you can write an application for the return of these particular signs if, for example, you buy a new car. After the expiration date they are disposed of.