Every car owner sooner or later faces a situation when state registration plate (GRZ) becomes unusable or lost. This can happen suddenly: the license plate can be stolen by criminals, stolen along with the bumper, deformed as a result of a minor accident, or simply fade to an unreadable state due to the aggressive effects of reagents and time. The absence of a legible license plate on a vehicle is a direct violation of traffic rules, which entails serious fines and even the detention of the vehicle.
The issue of replacing a license plate comes up sharply when further operation of the car becomes impossible without the risk of being stopped by a traffic police inspector. It is important to understand that you cannot simply screw on an old but dented sheet of metal - it must comply with GOST. In this article we will analyze in detail all the legal grounds for replacement, the algorithm of actions in 2026-2026, and also consider the nuances associated with maintaining your favorite numbers or changing the region.
The procedure for issuing new “plates” does not require complex technical knowledge, but does require attention to detail when filling out documents. Errors in the application or incorrect sequence of actions can lead to refusal of registration or loss of time in queues. Let's take a step-by-step look at what needs to be done if your car is left without license plates or they have become unreadable.
Legal grounds for changing a license plate
The legislation clearly regulates situations when the owner of a vehicle is obliged or has the right to contact the traffic police to replace the GRZ. The most common case is loss or theft license plate. If you discover a loss, you cannot hesitate, since driving without license plates is prohibited. In such a situation, it is necessary to immediately contact the police to record the fact of theft, although for the replacement procedure at the traffic police, a certificate of theft is not always required, but it is useful to have it on hand in case of controversial situations.
The second common reason is damage or wear. If the license plate is deformed so that at least one character is difficult to read, or if the reflective coating has worn off, the inspector has the right to issue a fine. GOST R 50577-2018 strictly regulates the appearance of signs: they must be clean, free of rust, dents and damage that interfere with identification. Even a slight abrasion of the paint, making the letter unrecognizable, is grounds for replacement.
⚠️ Attention: Independent correction of license plate defects (painting, correcting dents, painting over with a marker) is prohibited. Such actions can be regarded as counterfeiting a state registration plate, which entails not administrative, but criminal liability.
Also, replacement is made when the owner of the car changes, if the new owner wants to get new numbers with a different region code or simply prefers new combinations of numbers. In addition, the basis is a change in the registration data of the car, for example, a change in body type or color, if during the registration process a decision was made to change the license plate. In some cases, replacement is required when switching to a new standard of license plates, although this process has not yet been launched on a large scale and is voluntary for most passenger cars.
It is important to note that if only one number (front or rear) was lost or stolen, it must be replaced whole set. The traffic police cannot issue one sign to replace a lost one, since numbers are issued in pairs to ensure uniformity and compliance with records in the database. Therefore, prepare to receive two new metal sheets, even if only one is missing.
Necessary documents and preparation for a visit to the traffic police
Before going to the registration and examination department, you must carefully prepare a package of documents. The absence of even one certificate may result in refusal to accept the application. The main document is passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation owner of the vehicle. If the procedure is carried out by a representative under a power of attorney, a notarized power of attorney and a passport of the representative will also be required.
The second key document is PTS (Vehicle Passport). It will be amended regarding the new license plates. If the PTS is electronic (EPTS), then a paper insert is not needed, all changes will be made to the digital database. You must also provide a valid vehicle registration certificate (VTC). After the procedure, the old certificate will be replaced with a new one, with current data.
☑️ Documents for changing the number
Don't forget about the policy OSAGO. Although formally the information about the number in the policy does not need to be changed (it is tied to the VIN code), the presence of a valid insurance policy is mandatory for allowing the car to participate in road traffic, and its availability can be checked. In addition, you will need a receipt for payment state duty. You can pay for it through the State Services portal, at the terminal in the traffic police building or through online banking. When paying through State Services, there is often a discount, but it is important to make sure that the service is available for payment at a discount in your region.
The car must also be clean. Before entering the inspection site, be sure to wash the body, especially where the license plates are attached. Dirt, snow or ice on the license plate can become a formal reason for refusing inspection, since the inspector must clearly see the VIN number, engine and chassis numbers, and also check the external features of the car with the data in the documents.
Step-by-step instructions: procedure for replacement
The procedure for replacing a license plate is strictly regulated by the administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The first step is make an appointment to a convenient traffic police department. This can be done through the State Services portal or by phone. Making an appointment allows you to avoid hours-long queues and guarantees an appointment at the appointed time. If an appointment is not available, you can come on a first-come, first-served basis, but it will take significantly longer.
After arriving at the traffic police, you need to go to the document acceptance window or to the inspector at the site. You submit a prepared package of documents and receive an application form. The application must indicate the reason for the replacement (for example, “to replace lost” or “to replace damaged”) and vehicle data. After checking the documents and paying the fees (if the payment did not go through automatically online), you will be given a direction to inspect the vehicle.
Next, the car is driven to the observation deck. The inspector checks:
- 🔍 Compliance of the VIN code on the body with the data in the PTS.
- 🔍 Availability and condition of license plates (if the replacement is partial or they were in place).
- 🔍 No design changes not registered with the traffic police.
- 🔍 Cleanliness and readability of factory markings.
If the car is equipped with non-standard equipment (for example, powerful optics or changes in the exhaust system) that are not included in the documents, the inspection may be refused. After successfully passing the inspection, you return to the document issuance window. There they will give you a new STS, make an entry in the PTS and give it back new license plates. From this moment on, old numbers (if they were handed over) are considered invalid and are disposed of.
What to do if your license plates are stolen at night?
If the license plates have been stolen and you cannot get to the traffic police station without them, use a tow truck. Driving without license plates, even to the police station, is prohibited and risks a fine and deregistration of plates (if you still have them), which will complicate the procedure. Call a tow truck to the garage or directly to the traffic police.
Replacement cost and terms for obtaining numbers
The financial side of the issue consists of several mandatory payments. The bulk of the amount is state duty for issuing registration plates. Currently, the cost of issuing a new set of metal plates is 2,000 rubles. This amount is fixed for standard license plates.
In addition, you must pay for the issuance of a new vehicle registration certificate (VTC). The cost of this service is 500 rubles (for a paper version) or 1,500 rubles (if a new plastic card is issued, although the mass transition to plastic has been suspended for now and mostly paper certificates are issued). Making changes to the PTS costs 350 rubles if the PTS is paper. If the PTS is electronic, there is no fee for making changes, but there may be technical fees for the PTS operators.
| Type of service | Cost (RUB) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of license plates (set) | 2 000 | Paid at the traffic police department or bank |
| Issuance of STS | 500 / 1 500 | 500 rub. - paper, 1500 rub. - plastic |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | Only for paper PTS |
| Total (minimum) | 2 850 | With paper PTS and STS |
The timing of obtaining numbers directly depends on the workload of the department. Usually the whole procedure takes from 1 to 3 hours if you come by appointment and with a full package of documents. The metal signs themselves are often made directly in the traffic police building or in an adjacent room within 15-30 minutes after passing the inspection. In rare cases, if there are no blanks with the required region code, production may take up to several days, but this will be warned in advance.
Keep all receipts for payment of state fees. In the event of a failure in the database or a cashier error, having a paper or electronic receipt will allow you to quickly prove the fact of payment and not have to go through the procedure again.
Saving a number and changing the area code
Many drivers want to keep their “nice” or just a familiar number plate when replacing it. Legislation allows save a combination of numbers and letters, but only if you change the car or owner. If we are talking about simply replacing a damaged or lost number plate on the same car and for the same owner, then assigning a random combination is impossible - you will be given a random number from those available.
However, there is a procedure for “saving” the number for up to 360 days. This is relevant if you are selling a car and want to keep the number for future installation on a new car. In this case, the old license plates are handed over to the traffic police for storage, new (random) ones are received for the current car, and the “beautiful” license plate is waiting in the wings in the database. When you buy a new car, you apply for a stored number.
Separate question - change region code. Since 2020, in Russia there has been a rule of linking the region code on the number to the region of registration of the owner. If you change your number, you cannot choose the area code randomly. You will be given a number with the code of the region where you are registered. If you are registered in Moscow, you will be able to get a number with a code 199, 777 or 799 (if they are available), but a number with a code of another area – not. This rule applies even when buying a car in another region: you will receive numbers for your region, possibly through intermediaries or specialized companies, if the local traffic police do not have such codes available.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to buy “thieves” numbers or numbers with a “beautiful” combination through unofficial channels are illegal. Such transactions often turn out to be fraudulent, and the use of fake documents to register a number entails criminal liability.
Frequently asked questions and problematic situations
During the replacement process, car owners often encounter unusual situations. For example, what should you do if, when replacing one damaged number plate, the second one was also in poor condition, but outwardly intact? The inspector has the right to demand replacement of the entire set if one of the signs does not comply with GOST. There are also cases when the database “hangs” or the system does not see the payment of the duty. In such cases, it is important to remain calm and request a written refusal stating the reason, which can then be appealed.
One more nuance - transit numbers. If the car has transit plates, the procedure for replacing them with permanent or new transit plates has its own characteristics and requires the mandatory availability of a valid MTPL policy and a full technical inspection (if the car is not new). Lack of a valid technical inspection for vehicles over 4 years old (for certain categories) can be a hindrance.
If you were given a defective license plate (for example, the number was poorly stamped or the paint was chipped), do not leave the traffic police. Immediately write a statement addressed to the head of the department demanding replacement of the defective sign. Doing this after the fact will be much more difficult, since it will be necessary to prove that the defect is factory-made and did not arise during operation.
The main difficulty when changing numbers is not the bureaucracy, but the waiting and queues. Using the State Services portal and choosing the right time for your visit (for example, mid-week, morning) can reduce the procedure time significantly.
Questions and answers (FAQ)
Is it possible to drive with one number plate if the second one was stolen until I receive a new one?
No, operating a vehicle without state registration plates (or when one of them is missing/unreadable) is prohibited. This threatens with a fine and removal of numbers. Until duplicates or new signs are received, the car must be parked or delivered to the traffic police on a tow truck.
Do I need to hand over old damaged license plates to the traffic police?
Yes, when replacing license plates, old signs (even if they are damaged or deformed) must be submitted to the traffic police for disposal. If the number was lost or stolen, a corresponding note is made on the application and there is nothing to hand over.
How long are transit numbers valid for replacement?
Transit numbers are issued for a period of 30 days for travel to the place of registration or disposal. If during this time you have not managed to obtain permanent numbers, you will have to repeat the procedure for obtaining transits, which is not always possible without good reason.
Is it possible to change a number in any city in Russia?
Yes, from 2020 you can register your car and get license plates at any department of the Russian State Traffic Safety Inspectorate, regardless of your place of registration. However, the region code on the numbers will correspond to your registration region, not the region where you are applying.
What happens if the damaged number is not replaced?
Driving with a damaged, unreadable or non-standard license plate will result in a warning or a fine of 500 rubles (Part 1 of Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation). If the inspector decides that the number is hidden deliberately, the fine may increase to 5,000 rubles with deprivation of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months.