From January 1, 2020 in Russia there is an opportunity preservation of the state registration plate (license number) upon sale, disposal or deregistration of the vehicle. This procedure allows you to avoid losing a “beautiful” or familiar number, and also save on the production of new plates. Portal Public services has become the main tool for obtaining such a service - quickly, without visiting the MREO and at minimal cost.

However, many car owners are faced with questions: how to submit an application correctly, what documents are needed, how much does it cost, and what to do if the number is already linked to another car? In this article we will look at step-by-step algorithm for saving license plates through State Services, nuances for individuals and legal entities, as well as typical mistakes due to which an application may be refused.

Important: the procedure for saving a number is regulated By Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia No. 399 of June 26, 2018 (as amended in 2023). According to it, the saved number can be used to register another vehicle within 180 days from the moment the car is deregistered. If the number is not used during this time, it will be cancelled.

Before proceeding with registration, check whether your case fits the terms of the service. For example, saving a number impossible, if the car is pawned, is listed as stolen or has unpaid fines. It is also worth considering that from 2026, legal entities will have additional requirements for the package of documents.

📊 Why do you save your license plate number?
To use on a new car
The number has personal value
Avoid queues at MREO
Other

Conditions for maintaining a license plate through State Services

Before you apply, make sure your situation meets the legal requirements. Here are the key conditions for maintaining the registration plate:

  • 📋 The car must be owned by the applicant (individual or legal entity).
  • 🚗 The number is saved only when deregistration of a vehicle (sale, disposal, export outside the Russian Federation).
  • ⏳ The validity period of the saved number is 6 months (180 days).
  • 💰 Paid service: 2,000 rubles for individuals, 3,500 rubles for legal entities (for 2026).
  • 🔍 The car should not have outstanding fines or restrictions (bail, arrest).

Particular attention should be paid to cases where saving the number impossible:

⚠️ Attention: If the car was sold by general power of attorney (without re-registration), saving the number through State Services is not available. In this case, you will need to personally contact the MREO with documents about the transaction.

Also, if you plan to use it for a new car, make sure that the new vehicle does not have valid registration plates (for example, when buying a used car with license plates).

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If you are selling a car with a retained license plate, be sure to indicate this in the purchase and sale agreement. The buyer must be notified that the car will have to be registered with new plates.

Step-by-step instructions: how to save your license plate through State Services

The registration process takes no more than 15 minutes if you prepare all the documents in advance. Follow these instructions to avoid errors:

  1. Log in on the portal Public services under a verified account.
  2. Go to section Transport and driving → Vehicle registration → Saving registration plates.
  3. Select applicant type: physical or legal entity.
  4. Fill in the car details:
    • 📄 VIN code (indicated in PTS and STS).
    • 🔢 License number (series and number).
    • 📅 Date of deregistration (if known).
  • Attach scanned documents:
    • 📄 Passport (for individuals) or constituent documents (for legal entities).
    • 📄 PTS and STS (if the car is still registered).
    • 📄 Sales and purchase agreement (if the car has already been sold).
    • Pay the state fee online (30% discount when paying through State Services).
    • Sign the application electronic signature (ESIA).

    After submitting your application, you will receive a notification about the status of your review. Usually the answer comes within 1–3 business days. If everything is ok you will receive electronic certificate of license plate retention, which can be printed or saved as PDF.

    ☑️ Documents for saving license plate

    Done: 0 / 5

    How much does it cost to maintain a license plate in 2026?

    The cost of the service depends on the type of applicant and payment method. Current tariffs for 2026 are shown in the table:

    Applicant type Cost (RUB) Discount when paying through State Services Total amount (RUB)
    Individual 2 000 30% 1 400
    Legal entity 3 500 30% 2 450
    Foreign citizen 2 000 No discount 2 000

    You can pay the state fee by credit card via Sberbank Online, Tinkoff or other payment systems integrated with State Services. If you paid the duty without a discount (for example, through a bank), you cannot return the difference - make sure you select a payment method with a 30% bonus.

    In addition to the state fee, additional costs may be required:

    • 💳 Production of new numbers (if the saved number is not suitable for the new car) - from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles.
    • 📑 Notarization of documents (for legal entities) - from 1,000 rubles.

    What to do after saving the license plate number

    After receiving the electronic certificate you have 180 daysto use the saved number for a new car. Here's what to do next:

    1. Check your number status in your personal account of State Services or through the service traffic police checks. The number should appear as “saved.”
    2. If you buy new car, indicate the saved number when registering with MREO or through State Services.
    3. If you buy used car with license plates, first deregister them, and then attach your saved number.

    Important: if you have not used the number within 6 months, it will automatically canceled. It will be impossible to restore it - you will have to get a new one.

    ⚠️ Attention: If you sold a car with the same license plate, but did not have time to register a new one, check to see if the old license plate is still with you. Sometimes, due to errors in the traffic police database, the number may remain “hanging” on a deregistered car, which will create problems the next time it is registered.

    If you plan to use the saved number on another vehicle, make sure that:

    • 🚘 New vehicle complies same category (for example, passenger car → passenger car).
    • 📏 Room sizes are the same (for example, standard 520×112 mm for passenger cars).
    • 🔧 The new car does not have valid license plates (they must first be submitted to the MREO).
    Is it possible to keep the number if the car is stolen?

    No, if a car is on the wanted list, any registration actions with it (including saving the number) are blocked. Before submitting an application, check the status of the vehicle through the service traffic police checks by VIN or license plate number.

    Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    Even when registering through State Services, many car owners make mistakes due to which they are refused to save the number. Here are the most common problems:

    • 📝 Incorrect VIN code — check the data using the PTS, not from memory.
    • 💳 Payment of duty without discount — always select the “Payment on the State Services portal” option.
    • 📄 There is no purchase and sale agreement — if the car has already been sold, attach a scan of the contract.
    • ⏳ The number has expired — track 180 days in your personal account.

    If you receive a refusal, the notification will indicate the reason. Most often this is:

    ⚠️ Attention: If the refusal states “Data mismatch”, check whether the information in the vehicle title has changed since the last registration (for example, after replacing the engine). In this case, you will need to provide fresh documents.

    Another common problem is the number is already linked to another car. This may happen if:

    • You previously saved the number, but did not cancel it.
    • The previous owner of the car did not deregister it.
    • There is a technical error in the traffic police database.

    In such cases, contact MREO with a written application to unblock the number. You need to have with you:

    • 📄 Passport.
    • 📄 PTS (if available).
    • 📄 Certificate of preservation of the number (from the personal account of the State Services).

    If the car belongs to an organization, the procedure for saving the number has a number of features:

    • 📋 Required organization seal on the application (if there is one).
    • 💼 Must be provided constituent documents (Charter, INN, OGRN).
    • 👔 Signs the application manager or authorized person (by proxy).
    • 💰 State duty is higher - 3,500 rubles (with a discount of 2,450 rubles).

    In addition, legal entities are often rejected due to:

    • 📝 Outdated data in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities — before submitting an application, check the information about the company on the website Federal Tax Service.
    • 🔐 Lack of electronic signature - required for legal entities qualified digital signature.
    • 📄 Incorrectly executed power of attorney — if the application is not submitted by the manager, the power of attorney must be notarized.

    If the company is liquidated or in bankruptcy, maintaining the number impossible — first you need to resolve the legal status.

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    Legal entities are recommended to prepare a package of documents in advance and check them through the service electronic signature of State Servicesto avoid delays.

    Frequently asked questions about maintaining license plate numbers

    Is it possible to keep the number if the car has not yet been sold?

    Yes, you can apply to keep your number in advance, even if the car is still registered. The main thing is to indicate in the application the date of expected deregistration (for example, the date of sale). The number will be saved after the car is deregistered.

    What happens if you don’t use the saved number for 6 months?

    If you do not register a new vehicle with a saved license plate within 180 days, number canceled and becomes unavailable for reuse. It will be impossible to restore it - you will have to get a new one.

    Is it possible to keep the number if the car is pledged?

    No, if the car is pledged to the bank, keep the number prohibited. First you need to repay the loan and remove the encumbrance, only after that you can submit an application.

    How many numbers can I store at the same time?

    An individual can save unlimited number of numbers, but each number is tied to a specific car. For example, if you have two cars, you can save the numbers from both, but you can only use them for new vehicles.

    Is it possible to transfer a saved number to another person?

    No, saved number cannot be transferred — he remains attached to the applicant. If you want another person (for example, a relative) to use the number, he will have to save it himself when selling his car.