An application to save registration plates through the State Services portal is submitted strictly before the vehicle is submitted for inspection to the traffic police, since the system blocks the ability to select the “Save” option after recording the current data in the inspection report. If the inspector has already checked the VIN code and verified the units, and you have just paid the state duty for storage, the service in the electronic account may become unavailable, and you will have to wait for the current registration certificate to expire or issue duplicates through the standard replacement procedure. This is why it is critically important to initiate the process of digital plate reservation in advance, understanding that technically this is not a separate “save” button, but a set of actions to apply for a change in registration data while simultaneously requesting the assignment of new plates to replace the ones surrendered.
The procedure requires strict adherence to the sequence of actions, since any omission of a stage, for example, the absence of a valid MTPL policy or unpaid fines, will lead to an automatic refusal to accept the application without the possibility of resubmitting within 24 hours. In 2026, the algorithm for interdepartmental electronic interaction (IEC) became stricter: the system checks in real time the presence of debts, insurance status and even the technical parameters of the car using the EPTS database. The user needs to prepare scans or high-quality photographs of documents in advance, since uploading incorrect files (unreadable text, cropped edges) is a common reason for service suspension.
It is important to realize that maintaining the number is a paid government service, which involves the issuance of a new registration certificate (CTC) with new numbers, and the old “beautiful” or familiar signs are transferred to special storage for up to 365 days. During this period, you are required to either install them on another vehicle in your possession, extend the storage period, or abandon them in favor of a random issue. Ignoring storage periods leads to the automatic disposal of signs, and it will be almost impossible to restore them through the court, since they will be transferred to the reserve for random issuance to other applicants.
Preparation of documents and checking the car before submitting an application
The first step before entering your personal account is to carefully prepare the vehicle and a package of documents, since the State Services system requests data that must 100% match the information in the Electronic Vehicle Passport (EPTS). If the database contains errors or old information about the owner, the electronic application will be rejected automatically, and you will first have to contact the MFC or the traffic police to correct the entries in the register. Pay special attention to the status of the EPTS: it should have the status “Current” and not “Unfinished” or “Disposed of”.
The car from which you plan to remove license plates for preservation must be technically sound and meet safety requirements, since after submitting the application you will still have to visit the traffic police department to hand over old plates and obtain new documents. Although a full inspection with a visit to the inspection groove while maintaining the license plates (without changing ownership) may not be carried out, a visual check of the markings of the body and components by a police officer is mandatory. The presence of tinting that does not comply with GOST, or faulty lighting devices may become a formal reason for refusal to perform registration actions.
Collect a complete package of documents in digital format, as they will have to be uploaded into the system. You will need a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a valid OSAGO policy (check that the owner’s details are correct in it), a current vehicle registration certificate (VRC) and a vehicle passport (if it is paper, although in 2026 the majority have already switched to EPTS). Lack of valid insurance is a blocking factor: the system automatically makes a request to the PCA database, and if the policy is not found or it is overdue by at least one day, the service will not be available for selection.
⚠️ Attention: Before submitting an application, make sure that the car does not have registration bans on the part of bailiffs or other government agencies. You can check for restrictions in the “Services” -> “Check for restrictions” section on the portal or through specialized services.
Pay all available traffic fines, even if they seem insignificant to you or you plan to appeal them later. The Mir system is integrated with the GIS GMP database, and the presence of unpaid fines (even those that are within the grace period for payment) is often interpreted by the algorithms preventively, blocking the possibility of changing registration data. It is recommended to pay the debt no later than 2-3 days before submitting the application so that the payment has time to appear in the databases.
Step-by-step instructions: filling out an application on the State Services portal
The application process begins with authorization in your personal account, where you need to find the “Vehicle Registration” service. In 2026, the interface became more intuitive, but the logic remained the same: you need to select the “Change registration data” category and then “Change owner data” or “Obtain STS, PTS (EPTS) and numbers,” depending on the wording of the current interface update. The key point is to choose the option that involves replacing state registration plates (GRP).
When filling out the electronic form, the system will automatically pull up your personal data from the ESIA profile. You will need to carefully check your registration address and passport details. Next comes a block of information about the car: VIN code, make, model, year of manufacture. This data is downloaded from the traffic police database using the current STS number or VIN code. If you notice an error in the automatic filling, you cannot correct it manually - you need to stop submitting the application and contact technical support or the traffic police to correct the registry.
The most important step is choosing the type of registration action. In the list of available options, you need to find and check the box “Issuance of a state registration certificate is required”**. It is this option that signals the system that you want to receive new numbers and put the old ones into storage. If you simply replace the STS without this mark, the old numbers will remain on hand (or will be disposed of on site without the possibility of recovery), and the new entry in the registry will be tied to new random characters, which will make the preservation procedure pointless.
☑️ Checklist before submitting your application
After filling out all the fields, the system will offer to select a convenient traffic police department for the visit, the date and time of the appointment. Choose the address that is geographically closer or has the best reviews about the speed of work, since this is where you will go to rent out your old numbers. You must show up at the appointed time with the originals of all documents and the car itself.
Payment of state duties and financial issues
The financial side of the issue in 2026 is fully automated: after checking all entered data, the system will generate an invoice for payment. Saving numbers is not one payment transaction, but a combination of several state fees. First of all, the issuance of a new Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) is paid for, since the old document with current numbers becomes invalid. There is also a fee for making changes to the Vehicle Passport (if it is paper) or recording in the EPTS.
There is a separate line item for the fee for issuing new state registration plates. This is a mandatory payment as you cannot drive without plates or with old plates that have already been deposited. Cost of services is indexed annually, so it is better to look at the exact amount directly at the time the receipt is generated in your personal account. Payment is made online using a card from any bank, and payment information is instantly sent to the treasury.
There is also a state fee for storing license plates, but in current practice it is often included in the overall package or is not charged separately as a physical service, since the plates remain in the traffic police database. The main thing is not to forget to pay for the issuance of new hardware and documents. If you miss paying even one part of the bill, your application will not be accepted and your traffic police ticket will be expired.
| Type of service | Description | Payment status |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of STS | New certificate with new numbers | Required |
| Issuance of state license | Making new metal signs | Required |
| Making changes to the PTS | Record of change of numbers (for paper PTS) | Mandatory (if you have a PTS) |
| Checking against databases | MEV queries (offline) | Free |
Save electronic payment receipts in your personal account or take screenshots. Although the data should be sent to the traffic police automatically, technical failures in interbank interaction sometimes occur. Having a paid receipt on your smartphone will help you quickly resolve the issue in the document acceptance window if the operator says that “the payment is not visible.”
Visit to the traffic police: handing over license plates and receiving documents
On the appointed day and time, you arrive at the selected traffic police department. The algorithm of actions here is strictly regulated. First of all, you go to the document acceptance window or the electronic queue terminal (depending on the equipment of a particular MREO). The employee checks the completeness of the documents: passport, STS, PTS (if any), MTPL policy and application, which by this time should already be in the electronic system with a payment stamp.
Then follows the procedure for handing over old state registration plates. You provide the inspector with both numbers (front and rear) that you want to keep. Important: The numbers must be in readable condition, without significant dents, peeling of the reflective film or rust that interferes with the identification of the symbols. If signs are damaged, the inspector may require them to be replaced with new ones through a commercial organization before delivery, which will create unnecessary complications and costs.
⚠️ Attention: After handing over the numbers, you will receive an acceptance certificate or a corresponding mark in the documents. From now on, you do not have the right to drive a car without license plates or with transit plates if they have not been issued. Drive to the parking lot carefully or use a tow truck if the license plates were taken outside the traffic police department.
After passing the signs and checking the car (if it is required in this particular case), you receive new state registration plates, a new STS with new numbers and a mark in the PTS. Old numbers are now listed as “in storage” in the database. From this moment on, your car is legally registered with new plates, and the old ones are reserved.
The main idea: From the moment you give up old plates and receive new ones, the car must be registered with new plates. Driving with old license plates after they have been officially surrendered is illegal.
Storage periods and rules for using reserved numbers
The storage period for reserved state registration plates in 2026 is up to 365 days. This period is counted from the day the license plates are submitted to the traffic police. During this time, you can install the saved numbers on any other vehicle that you own. This could be a second car purchased on credit, or a car inherited.
To use the saved number, you need to submit an application when registering a new (for you) car with a request to assign the license plate that you have in storage. The application indicates that you want to use a number from the reserve. The procedure is standard: payment of fees, inspection, issuance of documents. After this, the number “burns out” from storage and is assigned to a new car, and the storage period is reset to zero (since the number is no longer in storage, but in operation).
If you have not installed a saved number on any vehicle within a year, it automatically goes into the “reserve for random issuance.” This means that it becomes available to any citizen who simply comes to register a car and receives it by chance. Restore number after the expiration of 365 days, it is almost impossible to go through the court, since the law clearly regulates this period. You can extend the storage period, but only by submitting a corresponding application before the end of the year, and this option does not work smoothly in all regions.
Is it possible to sell a saved number?
The number itself cannot be sold. The legislation of the Russian Federation prohibits the purchase and sale of license plates separately from the car. However, there is a "sale through car" scheme: you buy a cheap car, put your saved license plate on it, and then sell the car and license plate to a new owner. But this is another story, not directly related to State Services.
Frequent errors and reasons for service refusal
Despite digitalization, refusals to save numbers through State Services occur regularly. One of the most common reasons is inconsistency in owner data. If you bought a car but have not yet entered the title or the database has not been updated after the previous transaction, the system will generate an error. Another common problem is the expiration of the passport or compulsory motor liability insurance policy at the time of filing the application.
Technical errors when uploading documents also lead to refusal. Blurred photos, unreadable series of documents, or uploading a file in the wrong format (for example, a photo instead of a scan) force operators to return the application for revision. This wastes time, and while you are correcting mistakes, the traffic police ticket may be burned.
Another mistake is trying to save numbers that are in poor technical condition or are on the wanted list (rarely, but it happens in case of theft or fraudulent schemes in the past). It is also impossible to keep the plates if the car has an “iron” ban from the bailiffs, even if you are ready to pay the duties.
⚠️ Attention: Do not try to bypass the system by submitting an application from different accounts or providing false information. All actions are logged, and such attempts can lead to blocking of the account on State Services and bringing to administrative liability.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to save the license plates if I am registered in one region and the car is parked in another?
Yes, it's possible. Since 2019, the linking of region codes to the place of registration of the owner has been abolished. You can save a number with any area code, regardless of your registration. However, you will need to submit an application and receive new documents in the region where the car is physically located and where you plan to undergo the inspection.
What happens if I don’t have time to put the saved number on another car within 365 days?
The number will be canceled as reserved for you and will go into the general pool for free issuance. You can only return it by chance if you get it during the next registration of another car. There are no legal mechanisms for “eternal” storage of the number.
Do I need to change my MTPL insurance after saving the numbers?
Yes, definitely. After receiving a new STS with new numbers, you are required to make changes to the MTPL policy. The insurance company must see up-to-date data on the registered license plates of the vehicle. Driving with a policy that contains old (surrendered) numbers can create problems in the event of an accident, although by law the policy is tied to the VIN code, but it is better to eliminate bureaucratic delays right away.
Is it possible to keep a number through a representative by proxy?
Yes, at State Services it is possible for a representative to submit an application, but this requires an executed electronic power of attorney or a notarized power of attorney with the right to represent interests in the traffic police. The process is more complicated, as additional verification of the representative’s identity is required.
How much does it cost to keep a number in 2026?
The cost consists of state fees: issuing a new STS (1500 rubles), issuing new license plates (2000 rubles), making changes to the PTS (350-800 rubles). The total budget for the procedure is about 4000-4500 rubles, plus possible costs for making duplicates if the old numbers are lost, but this is another service.