Car owners are often faced with a situation where it is necessary to temporarily remove registration plates from their vehicle. This may be due to the sale of the car, the desire to keep a “nice” number, or a break in operation. With the development of digital services, the procedure has become much more transparent, although it requires a careful approach to design details. Saving license plates It is now possible without unnecessary queues if you prepare in advance and correctly fill out the application on the government services portal.
It is important to understand that you cannot simply take the license plates home “just in case” - this is a violation of traffic rules. State Traffic Inspectorate provides for strict regulations, according to which marks must be in a specialized storage facility or assigned to the owner in a database. Electronic recording simplifies the process, allowing you to choose a convenient time and department for your visit.
In this article we will look in detail at how to arrange the service, what documents will be required and why sometimes it is more profitable to immediately re-register license plates for a new car. Legal literacy in this matter will help to avoid fines and loss of the right to use the desired combination of symbols in the future.
Reasons for depositing numbers
The legislation of the Russian Federation clearly regulates situations when the owner of a car has the right to deregister the vehicle or surrender license plates. The most common reason is car sale. In this case, the seller can keep the plates for himself to install them on a new car, or transfer them to the buyer along with the vehicle.
Another reason may be the need for long-term downtime of equipment. If you do not plan to use the car for a certain period, deregistration allows you to avoid paying transport tax. However, in this case, the plates are scrapped or stored at the traffic police, and to resume operation you will need to obtain new plates.
⚠️ Attention: Storing license plates “at home” without an official procedure at the traffic police is equivalent to driving without license plates. This threatens with a fine and the car being towed to an impound lot.
The service is also relevant for those who want to retain a specific combination of numbers and letters, known as “blatnoy” or just a beautiful number. The owner can deposit the signs, buy a new car and immediately register it while preserving the old one registration code.
Preparation of documents for the procedure
Before going to the registration and examination department or submitting an application online, you need to collect a package of documents. The absence of even one certificate may result in refusal to accept the application. The base document is passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation owner of the vehicle.
You will also need the original PTS (vehicle passport). If the car was purchased on credit and the title is in the bank, you must obtain an extract or a certified copy, although in practice they often require the original or an electronic version in the database. The Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) must also be submitted.
- 📄 Car owner’s passport (original).
- 📘 PTS (paper or electronic extract).
- 📝 Certificate of Registration (CTC).
- 🚗 The car itself (for checking VIN numbers and units).
- 💰 Receipt for payment of state duty (paid after submitting the application).
Particular attention should be paid to the condition of the license plates themselves. If they are severely damaged, scuffed or deformed, the inspector may require them to be replaced before storage. State signs must be readable and comply with GOST.
Take high-quality photographs of license plates and documents before going to the traffic police. This will help you quickly restore data in case of loss of papers or controversial situations.
Step-by-step instructions for submitting an application to the State Services
The application process through the government services portal saves significant time. You don't have to wait in line to get your ticket if you make an appointment in advance. Log in to your personal account and select the “Transport and Driving” category.
Next, you should select the “Vehicle Registration” service and find the item related to changing registration data or deregistration. Depending on the current version of the portal interface, the names may differ slightly, but the essence remains the same - change of vehicle data.
☑️ Checklist before applying
Fill out all fields of the form, carefully checking the entered data. An error in one digit of the VIN code or STS series can lead to the fact that the application is sent for verification, and you receive a refusal. Once completed, the form is sent to the department for verification.
Sequence of actions:1. Authorization on the portal.
2. Selecting the “Vehicle Registration” service.
3. Search for the option “Deregistration” or “Save numbers”.
4. Filling out the electronic form.
5. Selecting the date and time of visiting the MREO.
After successfully accepting the application, you will be asked to select a convenient traffic police department and time of visit. It is at this slot that you will need to arrive with a car and a package of documents. Electronic queue guarantees that you will be seen at the appointed time.
The procedure for inspecting and submitting signs to the traffic police
On the appointed day and time, you arrive at the selected traffic police department. The first step is usually an on-site inspection of the vehicle. The inspector checks VIN code, body and engine numbers with data in the PTS. The car must be clean so that the numbers can be read without effort.
After a successful inspection, you are directed to the document acceptance window. Here you hand over old license plates (if the procedure involves physically handing them over to the storage facility) and STS. It is important to understand the difference: when selling a car and keeping the number for yourself, the signs often remain in the owner’s hands (in the form of an entry in the database), but formally the procedure is called “retention”.
| Action | Who performs | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle inspection | Traffic police inspector | Inspection report |
| Submission of documents | Car owner | Accepting applications |
| Payment of duty | Car owner | Receipt/Check |
| Issuance of documents | Traffic police inspector | New STS / Accounting card |
If you physically deposit the plates in storage (which is less common; usually the plates are simply “reserved” for the owner in the database for 360 days), they are packaged and labeled. You will be given a document confirming that the signs are on responsible storage.
⚠️ Attention: The storage period for numbers is 360 days. If you do not reserve them for a new car within this time, the combination will be returned to the general pool of available numbers.
The main result of the stage: Successful submission of plates ends with the issuance of a new STS (if the car remains with you) or transit plates, and the old plates are reserved in the database in your name.
Cost of service and shelf life
The financial issue is always important when interacting with government agencies. The service of filing an application through State Services is free, but state fees are charged for registration actions. The amount of the fee depends on what specific actions you perform: making changes to the PTS, issuing a new STS, or saving the numbers.
Currently, the cost of preserving license plates (reservation) is 2,000 rubles. If changes are required to the paper PTS, this is another 350 rubles, and issuing a new STS will cost 500 rubles. When paying through the State Services portal, there was previously a 30% discount, but conditions may change, so it is better to check the current amount at the time the receipt is generated.
As already mentioned, shelf life combinations for the owner is exactly 360 days. This time is enough to purchase a new car and register it. It is impossible to extend this period - if you do not have time, the numbers will go on sale.
- 💵 Saving a number: 2000 rub.
- 📝 Making changes to PTS: 350 rub.
- 🆔 Issuance of a new STS: 500 rub.
- 💳 Issuance of new signs (if necessary): 2000 rub.
It's important to note that if you sell the car and keep the plate, the buyer will still have to get new plates at their own expense if they don't have their own reserved ones. This should be taken into account when bargaining and discussing the final price of the car.
What to do if the shelf life expires?
If the 360 days are coming to an end and the car has not yet been purchased, you can try to register the number on your existing old car (if you own it) to extend the reservation period, but this requires a repeated de-registration and registration procedure.
Common mistakes and important nuances
Despite digitalization, human error and inattention often lead to problems. One of the most common mistakes is trying to hand over license plates that are listed as stolen or have restrictions on registration actions. You can check the status of your car in advance through the online services of the traffic police.
Also, owners often forget that when selling a car while retaining the license plate, the purchase and sale agreement (SPA) must indicate the old license plates in the “Registration plate” column, and in the note it is specified that they are retained by the seller. The buyer receives a car without license plates or with transit ones, if they were issued.
Another nuance concerns the condition of the car. If the car is not drivable and was delivered on a tow truck, inspection may be difficult. In such cases, it is sometimes necessary to provide additional documents or conduct an inspection at the parking lot, which complicates the procedure.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to restore erased numbers with paint or stick film on your own. This is regarded as falsification of registration plates and entails criminal liability.
Carefully check the issued documents before leaving the inspector's window. An error in one letter of the last name or number of the VIN code in the new STS can create problems with future sales or travel abroad. Registration details must be identical to the passport and PTS.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to deposit license plates if the car is deregistered?
No, the procedure for saving license plates is only possible at the time the car is deregistered or the registration data is changed. If the car has already been deregistered, the plates are considered surrendered or invalid.
Is it necessary for the buyer to be present when renting out rooms?
No, if the seller retains the numbers, the buyer’s presence is not required. The seller goes through the procedure independently, filling out an application to retain the symbol combination.
What happens if I don’t have time to register a new car within 360 days?
If the 360 days expire, your reserve will expire. The combination will return to the general pool of free traffic police numbers, and you will lose the right to receive it as a priority. It will be possible to restore the right only in the general manner if the number is free again.
Can I save my number through a representative?
Yes, this is possible, but the representative must have a notarized power of attorney with the right to perform registration actions and specifically preserve registration marks. The power of attorney must indicate the number and series of signs being preserved.
Do I need to take the car to the traffic police if I just keep the license plate?
Yes, in most cases, a vehicle inspection is required to confirm that this is the vehicle the license plate is being removed from. However, in some cases (for example, when a vehicle is lost or exported abroad), the rules may differ, but for a standard sale, inspection of the VIN code is required.