Deregistration of a car while retaining state registration plates is a procedure that allows you to avoid unnecessary expenses for new license plates when purchasing your next car. In 2026, the rules underwent changes: electronic filing of documents was simplified, but the requirements for vehicle inspection were tightened. This article will help you figure out how to correctly terminate registration without losing license plates, what documents will be required, and what nuances you should pay attention to.

The process of deregistration while preserving the numbers is relevant in several cases: selling a car with the subsequent purchase of a new one, recycling, exporting a car outside the Russian Federation or temporary cessation of operation. It is important to understand that Saving numbers is possible only with voluntary deregistration — if the car is removed due to theft or a court decision, the signs are confiscated automatically. Also, starting from 2023, new restrictions have been introduced for legal entities, which we will discuss below.

In this article you will find step-by-step instructions taking into account the latest changes in legislation, an analysis of common mistakes that lead to refusal to save numbers, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. We analyzed the experience of car owners and official explanations from the traffic police in order to collect the most complete and up-to-date information.

Who can keep the numbers when deregistered?

According to Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 399 of June 26, 2018 (as amended in 2026), the right to retain registration plates when deregistering a vehicle has:

  • 🔹 Individuals - owners of cars and trucks (categories B, C), motorcycles (A), trailers. An exception is vehicles deregistered due to disposal with payment of state duty (in this case, the license plates are cancelled).
  • 🔹 Individual entrepreneurs, if the car was used for personal purposes (not for commercial transportation). Since 2026, individual entrepreneurs are required to provide an extract from the Unified State Register of Individual Entrepreneurs to confirm their status.
  • 🔹 Legal entities - only provided that the car is not special equipment or commercial transport (eg buses, delivery trucks). There is a restriction for legal entities: you can save no more than 3 sets of numbers per year.

Important: if the car is in pledged to the bank, the written consent of the lender will be required to save the numbers. Without this document, the traffic police will refuse the procedure. It is also impossible to save numbers if:

  • 🚫 It is imposed on the car arrest or judicial restrictions apply.
  • 🚫 The car was deregistered by a court decision (for example, during confiscation).
  • 🚫 The numbers were issued temporarily (transit or for transportation).

Sales and purchases of new|Disposal|Export abroad|Temporary cessation of operation|Other-->

Documents for deregistration while maintaining numbers

The list of documents depends on the reason for deregistration and the status of the owner. Here basic package, which will be required in most cases:

Document For individuals For legal entities Notes
Owner's passport ✅ Original ❌ Not required For legal entities - passport of the representative + power of attorney
PTS (vehicle passport) ✅ Original ✅ Original If the PTS is electronic, a printout is not needed
Certificate of Registration (CTC) ✅ Original ✅ Original If lost, restore it in advance
Application for deregistration ✅ The form must be filled out on the spot ✅ Form + organization seal Can be submitted via Public services in advance
Power of attorney (if a representative acts) ✅ Notary ✅ Notary The procedure cannot be carried out without a power of attorney.

Additionally you may need:

  • 📄 Sales and purchase agreement (if the car is for sale). Important: the contract must contain a note “without deregistration” - otherwise the license plates will be automatically cancelled.
  • 📄 Recycling act (if the car is written off). In this case, save the numbers it is impossible - they are subject to mandatory submission to the traffic police.
  • 📄 Certificate from customs (when taking a car abroad). The plates can be saved if the car is temporarily removed (up to 1 year).
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If you are selling a car with retained license plates, indicate in the purchase and sale agreement the phrase: “The buyer undertakes to re-register the vehicle in his name within 10 days.” This will protect you from fines for late re-registration.

Step-by-step instructions: how to deregister a car while keeping the license plates

The procedure consists of 5 main stages. Let's look at each in detail.

1. Preparation of documents

Before visiting the traffic police or submitting an application through Public services check:

  • 🔍 Absence unpaid fines (check on the website traffic police). If there are debts, the procedure will be suspended.
  • 🔍 Compliance of data in PTS and STS (if there are discrepancies, correct them first).
  • 🔍 Availability of a valid OSAGO insurance (if the car is not scrapped).

2. Submitting an application

There are three ways to submit:

  • 📱 Through State Services (fastest option). Select the service "Deregistration of a vehicle", fill in the data and pay the state fee with a 30% discount. The electronic queue will save time.
  • 🏛️ At the MFC (if the service is available in your region). The advantage is a convenient work schedule, but the processing time can increase up to 5 days.
  • 🚔 Directly to the traffic police. We recommend making an appointment in advance through the website traffic police or Public services.

Owner's passport|PTS and STS|Application (completed)|Receipt for payment of state duty (if not paid through State Services)|Power of attorney (if acting through a representative)-->

3. Vehicle inspection

If you deregister a car for recycling or export abroad, inspection is required. In other cases (for example, when selling), it can be avoided if:

  • 🔧 The car is located in another region (provide a photo upon request of the inspector).
  • 🔧 You submit documents via Public services and attach recent photographs of the vehicle (taken no earlier than 3 days before submission).

During the inspection, the inspector checks:

  • 🔍 Correspondence of body and engine numbers to the data in the PTS.
  • 🔍 No signs of refurbishment (if it is not registered).
  • 🔍 Integrity of license plates (if they are damaged, they cannot be saved).

4. Payment of state duty

Cost of the service in 2026:

  • 💰 Deregistration while maintaining numbers — 1 330 ₽ (via State Services - 931 ₽ with a 30% discount).
  • 💰 Issuance of a new STS (if required) - 500 ₽ (350 ₽ through State Services).
  • 💰 Changes in PTS (if necessary) - 350 ₽.

5. Receiving documents

After processing your application you will be given:

  • 📄 New STS (if the car is not scrapped).
  • 📄 Certificate of deregistration with a note to save the numbers.
  • 📄 Numbers (they will be returned to your hands after verification).

Duration of the procedure:

  • ⏳ Via Public services — 1 working day.
  • ⏳B traffic police or MFC — up to 3 working days.
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If you are selling a car, give the buyer a deregistration certificate - this is confirmation that the car can be registered without problems.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

According to traffic police statistics, every fifth refusal to save license plates is due to mistakes by the owners. Let's look at the most common ones:

⚠️ Attention: If there are corrections, strikeouts or unreadable entries in the PTS or STS, the inspector has the right to refuse the procedure. Before visiting the traffic police, check the documents for damage.

1. Late re-registration upon sale

If you sold a car, but the new owner did not register it within 10 days, you may be fined 1 500–2 000 ₽ (Article 19.22 of the Administrative Code). To avoid this:

  • 📝 In the purchase and sale agreement, indicate the date and time of transfer of the car.
  • 📝 Save a copy of the buyer’s passport and his signature in the acceptance certificate.
  • 📝 Check on the website after 10 days traffic policewhether the buyer re-registered the car. If not, write a statement to terminate registration.

2. Problems with license plates

Numbers will not be saved if:

  • 🚫 They damaged (scratches, chips, corrosion more than 30% of the area).
  • 🚫 Available traces of forgery (repainting, changing symbols).
  • 🚫 Numbers do not match the region owner registration (for example, you are registered in Moscow, and the numbers are in the Moscow region).

Solution: if the numbers are in poor condition, order duplicates in advance (cost - 2 000 ₽).

3. Errors in filling out the application

Common mistakes:

  • 🔘 Incorrectly specified VIN code or PTS data.
  • 🔘 There is no mark about saving numbers (you need to check the appropriate box).
  • 🔘 The method of obtaining documents is not specified (in person, by mail, through a representative).

Tip: If you are filling out the application online, use autocomplete according to PTS, this minimizes errors.

What to do if you are refused to save your numbers?

If the traffic police refuses, request a written justification. Most often, refusal is associated with:

1. The presence of unpaid fines (check and pay them).

2. Inconsistency of data in documents (correct errors in PTS or STS).

3. Suspicion of fraud (for example, if the car is wanted).

In most cases, the problem can be corrected and the documents can be resubmitted within 30 days without paying the state fee again.

How long are saved numbers valid?

The validity period of saved license plates depends on the reason for deregistration of the vehicle:

Reason for deregistration Validity period of numbers Is it possible to extend
Selling a car 180 days (6 months) ❌ No
Temporary cessation of operation 365 days (1 year) ✅ Yes, for the same period
Export abroad Before the car is returned to the Russian Federation (maximum 1 year) ✅ Yes, upon extension of the customs declaration
Disposal ❌ Numbers are canceled ❌ No

Important: if you did not manage to use the saved numbers within the prescribed period, you will have to turn them in to the traffic police. Expired signs cannot be restored - you will need to obtain new ones.

Exception: if you bought a new car and want to transfer old numbers to it, you can do this at any time, even if the validity period of the signs has expired. To do this you need:

  1. Apply for registration of a new car.
  2. Indicate in it your desire to use the saved numbers.
  3. Pay the state fee for issuing new documents (800 ₽).
⚠️ Attention: If you sell a car with the plates still in place, but do not buy a new one within 6 months, the plates will automatically be cancelled. They cannot be used even when purchasing a car later.

How to transfer saved license plates to a new car

The procedure for transferring license plates to a new vehicle takes 1 day and includes the following steps:

1. Preparation of documents

You will need:

  • 📄 Owner’s passport.
  • 📄 PTS and STS for a new car.
  • 📄 Act on deregistration of an old car (where it is indicated that the numbers have been saved).
  • 📄 OSAGO policy for a new car.
  • 📄 Receipt for payment of state duty (800 ₽ for new documents).

2. Submitting an application

An application can be submitted:

  • 📱 Via Public services (select the service "Vehicle registration" → "With saved numbers").
  • 🏛️ B MFC or traffic police (make an appointment in advance).

3. New car inspection

An inspection is required if:

  • 🔧 The car is new (has not been registered in the Russian Federation before).
  • 🔧 You are changing vehicle category (for example, from a motorcycle to a car).

If the new car is of the same category as the old one, the inspection may not be carried out (at the discretion of the inspector).

4. Receiving documents

After processing your application you will be given:

  • 📄 New STS with new car data.
  • 📄 PTS with a registration mark.
  • 📄 Your old license plates - they will be installed on your new car directly at the traffic police (or you will pick them up for installation yourself).
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If you buy a new car at a dealership, check with the manager if you can immediately register it with saved license plates. Many dealers provide this service free of charge.

Additional rules apply for organizations and individual entrepreneurs:

1. Limitations on the number of saved numbers

From 2026, legal entities can retain no more than 3 sets of numbers per year. Exceptions:

  • 🏢 Vehicle fleets with more than 50 vehicles (the limit increases to 5 sets).
  • 🏢 Organizations carrying out car leasing (limit does not apply).

2. Additional documents

In addition to the standard package, legal entities will need:

  • 📄 Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities (not older than 30 days).
  • 📄 Order to appoint a representative (if the documents are not submitted by the director).
  • 📄 Power of attorney for a representative (notarized).

3. Tax audit

If the car was on the organization’s balance sheet, before deregistration, the tax office may request:

  • 📊 Vehicle write-off act (if the car is being scrapped).
  • 📊 Sales and purchase agreement (if the car is for sale).
  • 📊 Accounting documents (if the car has been in use for less than 3 years).

This is due to checking for illegal tax optimization (for example, if a car is written off from the balance sheet ahead of its depreciation period).

⚠️ Attention: If a legal entity deregisters a car that was leased, the consent of the lessor will be required. Without this document, the traffic police will refuse the procedure.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about deregistration while retaining numbers

Is it possible to keep the license plates if the car is on loan?

Yes, but only with the written consent of the bank. Without this document, the traffic police will refuse the procedure. Contact the bank for permission - some lenders give it automatically, others require you to repay part of the loan.

How much does it cost to deregister while maintaining numbers through State Services?

In 2026, the cost with a 30% discount is 931 ₽ (instead of 1 330 ₽ when paying at the traffic police department). Additionally, you may need to pay for new documents (for example, STS - 350 ₽).

Is it possible to keep the license plates if the car is deregistered for non-payment of fines?

No. If a car is forcibly deregistered (for example, for large debts on fines), the license plates are automatically cancelled. To save them, first pay off all debts and restore registration.

What to do if you have lost your deregistration certificate?

Contact the traffic police department where the procedure was carried out, with your passport and PTS. You will be given a duplicate of the act. If the branch is closed or you have moved, please submit your request via Public services — the document will be restored in electronic form.

Is it possible to keep the license plates when selling a car under a general power of attorney?

No. When selling by proxy, the new owner does not become the full owner, so the numbers cannot be saved. In this case, the car is deregistered without retaining the marks.