Changing the state registration plate (SRP) is a procedure that many car owners face, whether it’s selling a car, moving to another region, or simply wanting to change their “lucky” numbers. In 2026, the process has become much more transparent, but issues of cost and legal validity of payments remain relevant. State duty is a mandatory payment, without a receipt for which the traffic police inspector has no right to issue new plates.
The size of the payment directly depends on what exact actions you perform: whether you are changing only metal plates or making changes to Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC). It is important to understand that even if you keep the old numbers, but change the region, the procedure requires payment for the full cycle of services. In this material, we will analyze all the nuances in detail so that you do not overpay and go through the procedure quickly.
When is it necessary to replace state license plates?
There can be many reasons for replacing the GRZ, and the legislation clearly regulates each of them. Most often, drivers turn to MREO traffic police when selling a car, when the new owner wants to keep the old plates, and the seller wants to take back his “thieves” or simply familiar plates. Also, replacement is required when the owner’s registration changes to another region, since the region code on the numbers must correspond to the region of registration of the owner.
There are also technical reasons that require immediate contact with the department. If the plates have become unusable, worn out, or deformed as a result of an accident or corrosion, operating the vehicle with them is prohibited. The road inspector has the right to issue a fine for unreadable license plates, which is equivalent to their absence. In such cases administrative regulations requires immediate replacement of damaged elements.
⚠️ Attention: An attempt to independently paint over erased numbers or correct deformation with a hammer is regarded as making changes to the design and falsifying documents. This threatens not only a fine, but also the detention of the vehicle until the circumstances are clarified.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the situation with stolen cars. If the car was found after it was stolen, but the criminals managed to change the license plates or damage them, the owner is required to go through the procedure of restoring identification marks. In this case, additional forensic examination, the results of which are attached to the application.
Current amounts of state duties in 2026
The cost of services of the state register of vehicles is regulated by the Tax Code of the Russian Federation and is indexed annually. Rates have changed in 2026, and it is now important to clearly differentiate what exactly you are paying for. There are two main payments: for issuing the metal signs themselves and for making changes to the registration documents.
If you change the numbers completely (for example, when changing the region), you will have to pay for a full set of new plates. The cost of one pair is 2000 rubles. However, if you simply make changes to the database due to a change of surname or registration, but leave the old numbers (if they correspond to the new region), you only pay for issuing a new one STS and entries in PTS (if it is paper).
| Type of service | Duty amount (RUB) | Base |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (metal signs) | 2000 | Full replacement when changing region or loss |
| Issuance of a new STS | 1500 | Any change in owner data |
| Making an entry in a paper PTS | 350 | Change of owner or data |
| Issuance of transit numbers | 1600 | To transport cars abroad |
It is important to note that if you have an electronic PTS (EPTS), there is no need to pay 350 rubles for making changes to the vehicle passport, since electronic records are not subject to state duty. This is a significant saving for owners of modern cars.
When paying the fee for changing numbers through the State Services portal in 2026, there is still a 30% discount if the payment is made electronically before visiting the department.
Payment procedure through the State Services portal
The most convenient and fastest way to pay is to use the unified government services portal. This not only saves time in queues, but also allows you to automatically generate the correct receipt template with the current details of your particular regional unit traffic police.
To start the procedure, you need to log in to the portal and go to the “Vehicle Registration” section. Select the service that suits your situation: “Change of registration data” or “Deregistration”. The system will automatically prompt you to select a convenient department and time of visit. It is at the stage of forming the application that you will be asked to pay a fee.
Payment is made by credit card, through the fast payment system (FPS) or electronic wallets. After a successful transaction, the receipt is saved in your personal account in the "Payments" section. It can be downloaded in PDF format and sent for printing or simply shown QR code from the smartphone screen to the inspector when submitting documents.
⚠️ Attention: When paying through a client bank or terminal, carefully check the KBK (budget classification code) and OKTMO. An error in even one digit will result in the payment being stuck on unidentified receipts, and you will have to write an application for a refund, which can take up to 30 days.
☑️ Check before payment
Replacement procedure at the traffic police department
After successful payment of the state fee, the stage of physical application to the department begins. You need to arrive at the selected department at the appointed time. You must have a package of documents with you: a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a valid STS, PTS (if paper), policy OSAGO and a receipt for payment of the duty (although its presence in the database is usually checked automatically).
The first thing you need to do on the territory of the MREO is to undergo an inspection of the vehicle at the observation deck. The inspector will check the body and engine numbers with the data in the documents, and will also check the presence and readability of old license plates (if they are still on the car). If replacement is made due to their loss, this step can be skipped or carried out in a simplified manner.
After a successful inspection, you are directed to the document acceptance window. There, an employee will check that the application is filled out correctly and that all originals are present. If everything is in order, you will be called to the pick-up window where you will receive new license plates and an updated Certificate of Registration. The entire process in 2026 is optimized and takes on average from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours if there are no queues.
What to do if the inspector refuses to accept documents?
Most often, the refusal is due to unpaid fines or errors in the application. Check for fines on the traffic police website or through State Services. If there are no fines, request a written refusal indicating the reason - this will discipline employees and speed up the resolution of the problem.
Retaining old numbers when selling
Of particular interest to many car owners is the opportunity to keep their “nice” or just familiar license plates when selling a car. Legislation allows the GRZ to remain with the current owner for up to 360 days. This is a unique mechanism that allows you not to lose the desired combination of numbers and letters.
To exercise this right, the seller and buyer must jointly contact the traffic police. The seller writes a statement to preserve the license plate, and the buyer receives a car with new license plates (for which he pays). It is important to understand that the procedure for saving license plates is free - state duty is charged only for issuing new plates to the buyer and making changes to the documents.
However, there is a nuance: you can save the numbers only if they are in good condition and comply with GOST. If the plates are scuffed, wrinkled, or unreadable, the inspector has the right to refuse to keep them and require them to be scrapped, issuing new ones. Therefore, before the transaction, carefully examine your signs.
Saving the numbers is possible only if they are in perfect technical condition and comply with the current GOST R 50577-2018.
Frequently asked questions and solutions to problems
Despite digitalization, non-standard situations may arise in the process of changing numbers. For example, what should you do if there is an error in the VIN code or owner's last name in the database? In such cases, the records must be corrected in advance, which may take additional time. Questions also often arise with legal entities, where the package of documents is much broader and includes powers of attorney and statutory documents.
Another common problem is data discrepancies in EPTS and the actual condition of the car. If the electronic passport does not indicate the replacement of the engine or body that you previously made, you may be sent for additional examination. Always check that the data in the EPTS is up to date before visiting the traffic police.
Don't forget about deadlines. After purchasing a car, the new owner has 10 days to register. If you do not meet this deadline, you will have to pay a fine when registering. Therefore, plan to change numbers and register in advance, especially during the periods before the holidays, when the load on the MREO increases.
Is it possible to change numbers without changing ownership?
Yes, you can. You have the right to replace the GRZ at your own request (for example, if you don’t like them or are damaged), even while remaining the owner of the car. In this case, you pay the full cost of new signs (2000 rubles) and the fee for a new STS (1500 rubles).
What should I do if I lost my payment receipt?
In 2026, almost all payments are recorded in the GIS GMP. The inspector sees the payment based on your passport details. If the payment is not visible, you can restore the receipt in the Internet bank (in the transaction history) or on the State Services portal in the "Payments" section.
Do I need to change numbers when moving to another city within the same region?
No, it's not necessary. The region code on the numbers must match the region code of your registration. If you moved from Kazan to Naberezhnye Chelny (both cities in Tatarstan, code 16), changing numbers is not required, just make changes to the STS.
How much is the state duty for changing plates?
The state duty is valid for 1 year from the date of payment. However, it is recommended to use it in the current calendar year, as rates may change from January 1 of the next year, and you will need to pay the difference.