Check the customs declaration by number: official services and step-by-step instructions

Checking the customs declaration number is a key step when buying a used car, especially if the car was imported from abroad. This document confirms the legality of import, contains data on customs duties and technical characteristics. Without checking, you risk purchasing a car with unpaid duties, falsified documents or restrictions on registration with the traffic police.

In 2026, the verification procedure was simplified: now it is enough to know the declaration number (usually indicated in the PTS or purchase and sale agreement) to gain access to the official databases of the Federal Customs Service of Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union. However, not all services are equally informative, and some data may be hidden for individuals. In this article, we will look at how to correctly decipher the declaration number, where to check it for free, and what to pay attention to when analyzing the results.

What is a customs declaration and why check it?

A customs declaration (CD) is a legal document confirming the legality of the import of goods (in our case, a car) into the territory of Russia or the EAEU countries. It contains:

• 📄 Owner information (importer) and seller abroad
• 🚗 Specifications car: VIN, model, year of manufacture, engine size
• 💰 Amounts of duties paid and taxes (VAT, recycling fee)
• 📅 Date and checkpoint across the border

For cars there are two types of declaration:

1. IM40 — for individuals (for personal import of cars)
2. DT (declaration of goods) — for legal entities and commercial parties

Why is verification required? Without it you will not be able to:

• ✅ Register the car with the traffic police (confirmation of payment of duties is required)
• ✅ Sell a car without the risk of claims from the buyer
• ✅ Avoid fines for undeclared import (up to 300% of the cost of the car)

⚠️ Attention: If the declaration number is indicated in the PTS, but it is not in the FCS database, this is a sign of document falsification. This car cannot be registered!

Structure of the customs declaration number: how to read it

The declaration number consists of 10–15 characters and contains encrypted information about customs, date of registration and type of document. Let's decipher it using an example:

Example number: 10103010/070420/0001234

If the number is shorter (for example, 8 characters), it could be simplified declaration for individuals (form IM40). In this case:

• 🔢 The first 2 digits are the customs post code
• 📅 The next 4 are the year and month of registration
• 📄 Last 2 - document number

Important! If the number contains letters (for example, RU/123456/010123), this is the EAEU declaration. She is checked through portal of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Official services for checking declarations by number

Available in 2026 4 reliable ways check the declaration online. All of them are free, but differ in the depth of data provided.

1. Portal of the Federal Customs Service of Russia (fts.gov.ru)

The most complete source, but with restrictions for individuals. Instructions:

1. Go to FCS website → section “Electronic services”.
2. Select "Search the register of customs declarations».
3. Enter the declaration number in the format XXXXXX/XXXXX/XXXXXXX (no spaces).
4. Confirm that you are not a robot and click Find.

What you will see:

• 📋 Basic information about the car (VIN, make, model)
• 💵 Amounts of duties and taxes paid
• 📍 Customs and clearance date

Limitations: For details (for example, scans of documents) you will need qualified electronic signature (KEP).

2. EAEU portal (if the declaration is issued in Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan)

If the number contains a letter prefix (for example, KZ or BY), use:

1. EEC portal → “Register of declarations”.
2. Select the country of registration.
3. Enter the number in the “DT number” field.

Feature: The data may be in the language of the country of registration. For translation use Google Translate with text scanning function.

3. Government services (for verification before registration with the traffic police)

If you plan to register your car, check your declaration through State Services:

1. Login to gosuslugi.ru.
2. Go to “Transport and Driving” → “Vehicle Registration”.
3. Select "Verify Documents for Registration".
4. Enter VIN and declaration number.

Advantage: The system automatically checks the data with the traffic police and the Federal Customs Service database, issuing a verdict: “Documents are valid" or "Need clarification».

4. Mobile applications (for quick checking)

If you need to check your declaration on the road, use the official applications:

• 📱 Federal Customs Service of Russia (Android/iOS) - scans the QR code from the declaration.
• 📱 Autocode — checks the history of the car, including customs data.

⚠️ Attention: Do not use third-party sites like “check-declaration.ru” - they often show outdated data or require payment for access to complete information. Official sources are always free!

What to do if the data in the declaration does not match the PTS

Discrepancies between the declaration and the PTS - critical signal, which may indicate:

• 🔧 Interrupted VIN (if the models or year of manufacture do not match)
• 💸 Unpaid duties (if the amount in the declaration is less than the actual value of the car)
• 📝 Forgery of documents (if the declaration number is not found in the database)

Algorithm of actions:

1. Check the VIN on the car body with what is indicated in the declaration and PTS. To do this:
• 🔍 Inspect the sign under the hood or on the door pillar.
• 📱 Scan VIN through the app VIN scanner (for example, CarVertical).

https://autocode.rf
https://vin.history

Example of a letter to the FCS:

Dear sirs!

Please provide information on customs declaration No. [number] dated [date], issued for a car [make, model, VIN].
The PTS series [number] contains the following data: [list discrepancies].
Please confirm the relevance of the information or explain the reasons for the discrepancies.

Best regards,
[Your name]
[Contact number]

Response deadline: until 30 days (according to Law No. 59-FZ “On the procedure for considering appeals”).

How to check the payment of customs duties according to the declaration

Even if the declaration is found in the database, this does not guarantee that all duties have been paid. 3 ways to check:

1. Through the “Payment of state duties” service on the FCS website

Instructions:

1. Go to fts.gov.ru → “Electronic services” → “Payment of state duties.”
2. Enter the declaration number and VIN of the vehicle.
3. The system will show the payment status: “Paid" or "There is a debt».

2. According to the TIN of the previous owner

If you have a purchase and sale agreement with the seller’s TIN:

1. Check it out on Federal Tax Service website in the “Business Risks” section.
2. If there is a debt on customs payments, ask the seller for a certificate of payment.

3. Through judicial practice

If the seller refuses to provide supporting documents, request an extract from files of arbitration cases. Enter:

• 🔎 Full name or INN of the seller
• 📄 Declaration number

If there are cases under Art. 194 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is a reason to refuse the deal.

Type of duty	How to check	What to do if not paid
Customs duty	Through the FCS service using the declaration number	Request a receipt from the seller or pay yourself (risky!)
VAT (10–20%)	In the declaration in the “Taxes” section	Cars will not be registered without paying VAT.
Recycling fee	On the website Rosavto	Paid separately if not specified in the declaration

⚠️ Attention: If the declaration indicates an underestimated value of the car (for example, 500,000 rubles instead of the real 1,500,000 rubles), this is a reason for additional duties to be charged. The traffic police may refuse registration if the price in the sales contract is higher than in the declaration.

Common mistakes when checking a customs declaration

Even experienced car owners make mistakes that lead to problems with registration. Top 5 misses:

• 🔍 They confuse the declaration number with the PTS number. The declaration has 10–15 characters, the PTS has 10 digits (series and number).
• 📅 Data storage periods are not taken into account. Declarations older than 5 years may not be displayed in online databases (you need to request the archive).
• 🚫 Ignores discrepancies of 1–2 characters in VIN. Even a small mistake can mean a fake.
• 💰 Trust the seller's verbal assurances instead of official checks.
• 📄 They don't check the trailer or motorcycle. A declaration is also issued for them!

How to avoid mistakes? Use the checklist:

Alternative verification methods (if the declaration number is unknown)

It happens that the declaration number in the PTS is not indicated or is erased. 3 ways to find it:

1. By car VIN

Some services (for example, Autocode or Carfax) when checking a car's history, linked customs declarations are shown. Instructions:

1. Enter VIN on the website autocode.rf.
2. In the “Customs history” section, find the declaration number.
3. Check it through the FCS.

2. Through the traffic police (if the car is already registered)

If the car is registered in Russia:

1. Order extract from the traffic police register.
2. In the “Information on customs clearance” section there will be a declaration number.

3. According to the previous owner

If you have contacts of the importer (indicated in the DCP):

• 📞 Call him and request a copy of the declaration.
• 📧 Write an official request by email (see example above).

Important! If the car was imported before 2010, the declaration could be drawn up on paper. In this case:

• Contact FCS archive at the place of registration.
• Please send your request by registered mail with notification.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions