Having purchased a car, the owner must register it as quickly as possible. Each vehicle is registered with the State Traffic Inspectorate, and information about it is entered into the database. The car must be assigned numbers; operating vehicles without license plates is prohibited by law. In order to go through the procedure correctly, avoiding problems and claims from the traffic police, you should familiarize yourself with the current procedure and nuances in advance. We will tell you further about how to register a car with the traffic police.
Vehicle registration deadlines
The state has established clear deadlines for registering STS and obtaining license plates. This is 10 days after signing the purchase and sale agreement. If a car is purchased abroad, the owner must register it with the State Traffic Inspectorate within 30 days. Violating the deadlines, the motorist will be fined 2,000 rubles. Fine for legal entities – up to 10,000 rubles.
Please note that you need to buy insurance within 10 days and only after that contact the MREO. To meet the allotted deadlines and avoid fines, it is worth making an appointment in advance.
How long does it take to notify the traffic police after purchasing a car?
Current regulations establish the following deadlines for vehicle registration after purchase::
- During the period that is valid for the “TRANSIT” sign - no more than 30 days.
- Within 10 days from the date of transfer of the car from the seller to the buyer.
The last one is worth special mention. The moment of signing the contract and the moment of transfer of the vehicle may not always coincide .
The parties may well agree on the conditions under which the car will be transferred after the contract has entered into force. However, in this case, they will have to separately draw up a transfer deed, which will be presented along with the contract to the traffic police after the buyer decides to go there to register the car.
In this case, the parties to the purchase and sale agreement can contact the traffic police :
- at the place of registration of the seller;
- at the place of registration of the buyer;
- to any other branch in the Russian Federation.
At the same time, unlike the old norms, there is no need to change the numbers - it is enough to indicate the new owner in the documents and databases of the traffic police.
“TRANSIT” signs are issued only to organizations and individual entrepreneurs. Ordinary citizens can travel without license plates at all for the period established by law.
Where to register a car with the traffic police?
In Russia, information about a vehicle and its owner is entered into a single automated database, so it is allowed to register a car in any city and region, without reference to the owner’s registration. But license plates must correspond to the region of registration. This means that when registering a car in Moscow, a driver with registration, for example, in Nizhny Novgorod, will receive numbers with the Nizhny Novgorod region code.
A nonresident driver can choose any traffic police address and register the car at the nearest branch. However, there are nuances with obtaining registration plates. If the procedure is carried out at the place of registration of the owner, he has a choice: receive plates directly at the State Traffic Inspectorate station or order them from a private organization. When filling out documents for a car in a “non-native” region, there is no choice: a motorist can only obtain plates from a private company, after the traffic police assigns a license plate to the vehicle.
Important! In Moscow, you cannot register your car with the traffic police 24 hours a day. There are no branches operating 24 hours in the capital.
How much does it cost to register a car in 2021?
The cost of registering a car for individuals consists of payment of state fees for certain actions listed in Part 1.36 of Art. 333.33 Tax Code of the Russian Federation. The state fee for registering a car is paid when submitting documents; the details for paying the state fee for registering a car with the traffic police are indicated in the receipt. You can also pay the state fee for registering a car online, through the State Services portal when filling out an application for admission to the traffic police.
We present the amounts of state fees for various actions in the table.
| Action | When contacting the traffic police directly, RUB | When applying to the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate and paying the state fee through the State Services portal, rub. |
| Issuance of license plates for cars | 2000 | 1400 |
| Issuance of license plates for motorcycles, trailers, tractors | 1500 | 1050 |
| Issuance of STS | 500 | 350 |
| Issuance of PTS | 800 | 560 |
| Making changes to the PTS | 350 | 245 |
From the data provided, it is clear that the price of registering a car with the traffic police through the State Services portal is almost one and a half times lower than when applying directly.
What is needed to register a car?
Having prepared all the necessary documents in advance, the car owner will go through the procedure at the MREO quickly and successfully. To register a new car with the traffic police, you need:
- Statement
- Civil passport of the car owner
- Technical certificate
- Document of title (purchase and sale agreement or other equivalent)
- State duty payment receipt
If a used car is re-registered to another owner, the old registration certificate is attached to the above list.
The citizen receives the application form at the police station, where he will be offered a sample to fill out. The form must correctly indicate the vehicle data, entering them as in the PTS and STS, without abbreviations. The address and name of the department where the applicant is applying, and the full name of the head of this department are indicated.
A trusted person can go through the procedure instead of the owner of the vehicle. The representative must have his passport with him, as well as a general power of attorney. It indicates not only the details of the vehicle and the owner, but also the powers of the authorized representative, the exact name of the procedure, the address and date of filing the application, it is recommended to list the documents transferred to the representative, and also indicate the validity period of the power of attorney. The motorist can draw it up independently, without contacting a notary. But in this case, he must give the representative the original of his passport.
OSAGO insurance policy
An uninsured vehicle cannot be registered. The presence of insurance confirms the car’s compliance with safety standards; every car owner is required to obtain an MTPL policy. CASCO insurance is available upon request.
If three years have not passed since the car was released, no maintenance is required. Vehicles that are three years old or older can only be insured after passing a technical inspection. You need to go through it at a certified service station.
The cost of the policy depends on a number of factors, including the number of motorists allowed to drive the car. You can calculate the price using an online calculator on the insurance company’s website. To purchase compulsory motor liability insurance, it is not necessary to personally contact the insurer’s office; you can receive the service remotely by ordering insurance online.
The policy is issued in paper or electronic format. The last driver can be stored on a mobile device or accessed at any time via an online service. There is no need to carry insurance in the car. The same as presenting it to the traffic police when registering a vehicle. Inspectors check the availability and validity period of the policy using the database.
Registration online
Registering a car with the Moscow State Traffic Safety Inspectorate will not take much time if you make an appointment at the station in advance. There is no need to visit the branch in advance and pick up a coupon at the terminal - instead of this inconvenient method, you should use the State Services service. The portal makes it possible to submit an electronic application and enroll in any department of the city, choosing the appropriate time. This feature is only available to registered users with verified accounts. “Verified” means that the citizen’s data has been verified by government agencies. Verification occurs after account creation and may take several business days. The user receives confirmation by mail, at a multifunctional center or at a Sberbank branch.
The procedure for registering a car with the traffic police through State Services:
- Account creation and authorization
- Go to the “Transport and Driving” section
- Choice
- Filling out an application
- Selecting the date and time for receiving STS
- Payment of state duty
The electronic application form has 13 sections, not all of them are required to be completed. You must indicate the type of vehicle (car, trailer, or other). If an authorized person applies to the traffic police, the corresponding point is noted in the application; in this case, it is the authorized person who needs to fill out the form.
The user enters passport data and residential address. Indicate vehicle data (category, VIN code, make, model, year of manufacture, etc.). If a license plate number is required, check the appropriate box.
Important! It is not necessary to fill out the MTPL insurance policy details. The insurer automatically enters information into a database that is accessible to the traffic police.
After filling out the form, the service prompts the user to pay the state fee. By attaching a bank card to your account, this is easy to do and the operation will take a minimum of time. It is recommended to save and print the receipt.
After confirming the user’s application, an electronic application and a ticket appear in the personal account, which must be saved and printed. At the appointed time, you must visit the selected area with original documents and place the car on the site for inspection. Inspectors inspect the vehicle and compare the VIN code with the registration certificate; the procedure takes about 15 minutes. The check is carried out to exclude forgery of identification marks when a car is stolen.
Important! At the time of applying to the MREO, the state duty must already be paid.
After checking the documentation and inspecting the car within 10-15 minutes, the applicant receives an STS, PTS with new data and license plates, if necessary.
Payment of state duties
State duty is a fixed cost of services provided by government agencies. The price for registering a car with the traffic police will be the same in all branches of Moscow and in other regions. The owner pays several fees:
- 500 rubles for registration of STS
- 350 rubles for entering data into the PTS
- 2000 rubles for issuing state registration plates
If the car is re-registered without changing the license plate, the amount is reduced to 850 rubles.
There are several ways to pay fees:
- contact the precinct cashier
- use the terminal
- at the bank's cash desk
- via Internet banking
- via the bank's mobile application
- on the State Services website
Please note that when paying the state fee on the State Services website or through the service’s mobile application, there is a 30% discount.
In 2021, dealers were allowed to obtain vehicle license plates themselves. According to the law that has come into force, drivers will now be able to buy new cars with registration plates, they will not have to personally contact the State Traffic Inspectorate. However, this service is not provided yet, since only dealers with the appropriate licenses can provide it. In fact, motorists obtain license plates themselves.
It is impossible to go through the procedure without the participation of the traffic police. Even if the application is submitted at a multifunctional center, only representatives of the State Traffic Inspectorate can perform registration actions (enter data into an automated database, inspect vehicles and check markings with PTS, assign license plates). In this case, the MFC acts as an intermediary between the driver and the traffic police. Today, the easiest and fastest way to register transport is to submit an application through State Services.
How to register a car with the traffic police
- Buying a car
- Articles
- How to register a car with the traffic police
In 2021, adjustments have been made to the procedure for registering cars purchased on the secondary market.
How long does it take to re-register a car?
The car must be re-registered with the traffic police no later than:
- 10 days from the date of purchase;
- 30 days (for vehicles with the “Transit” sign.
Otherwise, administrative liability is provided under Article 19.22 and a fine in the amount of 1,500 to 2,000 rubles.
If you are stopped by a traffic police officer while driving an unregistered car, the fine will be 500-800 rubles. for the first time, and for a repeated violation the liability is more serious: from a fine of 5,000 rubles to deprivation of rights for a period of 1 to 3 months. Where to go for re-registration?
You can register your car at any traffic police department. On the official website of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate you can find out the address of the nearest branch, and you can make an appointment on the State Services website (https://www.gosuslugi.ru/10059)
On the specified page of the government services website, select the item “Registration of documents when purchasing, leasing or changing data about the owner”
Next - “Change of registration data in connection with the transfer of ownership (purchase and sale)”
Next, follow the instructions, select a convenient department of the State Traffic Inspectorate, time and date of the visit.
Please note that when submitting an application and paying for the service through the website, you will receive a 30% discount (1,750 rubles instead of 2,500).
Please note that the car number is assigned with the code of the buyer’s region of registration (place of residence).
What documents will be required:
- PTS (or electronic PTS).
- Document for ownership of a car. Most often this is a purchase and sale agreement. It can also be: a certificate of inheritance, gift, power of attorney or other;
- General civil Russian Federation (in accordance with Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 339, a temporary identity card (VUL) is allowed);
- OSAGO with data of the new owner;
- Application of the established form (filled out on the government services website when registering)
- Transit numbers (if the used car was purchased outside the Russian Federation)
How is the procedure done?
- We pay the state fee.
The cost of registration is 1,500 rubles, the issuance of STS is 300 rubles. Current information on the amount of state duty is presented here
- We give the traffic police inspector the entire list of documents and go through the procedure of checking the numbers on the observation deck (checking the numbers on the engine and chassis with the data in the PTS).
- With the received inspection report, documents and receipts for paid duties, we go to the traffic police officer who will handle the registration.
Important Notes:
- The owner or another person can register a car using a executed and notarized general power of attorney.
- When selling a vehicle, you can automatically deregister the car when the new owner contacts the traffic police.
- The owner of a car can be a minor citizen, but a vehicle can only be registered in the name of a person who has reached 16 years of age.
- The car can be jointly owned; it will be registered in the name of one of the owners, subject to the written consent of the others.
In what cases can registration be refused?
As a result of corrosion, repair, accident, or theft of a vehicle, the markings of the vehicle and (or) numbered units may not be readable. Changes to the registration data of a vehicle can be made on the basis of an application from the owner and a copy of the resolution of the body that carried out the preliminary investigation, with the provision of a copy of the research certificate or expert opinion that identifies the vehicle. Information about the changed vehicle markings is entered in the “Special notes” column of the PTS, STS and vehicle registration cards.
Registration may also be refused if there are restrictions. For example, if the former owner did not pay fines, transport tax, or restrictions were imposed on the car due to the presence of a corresponding court decision. Such cases are not uncommon and the company Redemption Center is ready to help you with this problem. Also on our website there is a convenient auto calculator with which you can find out the current average market value and get a favorable purchase offer. Our company will help you resolve any issue with your car.
