The Russian State Traffic Inspectorate previously allowed cars to operate without license plates for up to ten days after ownership rights were transferred, a policy noted by the Telegram channel No Limit, which linked to a letter from Viktor Chernikov, head of the inspectorate. The document states that legislation permits road use without state registration, including plates, for a period not yet elapsed since the vehicle owner’s rights were finalized. It also notes that a legal dispute had arisen in the past, and the law permits drivers to operate an unregistered vehicle for ten days until the vehicle is formally registered with the traffic police.
In late 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in a case that driving without a state license plate was unlawful. As a result, at the start of 2024, traffic police began issuing fines to drivers of newly purchased vehicles that lacked plates. The practical remedy often cited was towing the vehicle to the nearest MREO facility for registration processing.
There had been prior remarks indicating that traffic police would sometimes confiscate the driver’s license of owners whose right-hand drive vehicles did not have plates mounted near the vehicle’s center of gravity. This shift reflected a tighter enforcement stance that affected vehicle owners across several regions.
Earlier reports also highlighted an increase in Moscow’s compulsory vehicle evacuation tariffs by about a quarter, a change that added to the cost of compliance for new car owners facing plate-related obligations.
These developments collectively illustrate a transition in how plate requirements were enforced in late 2023 and into 2024, moving from a temporary compliance window to stricter real-time enforcement and penalties for non-registration. The evolving rules underscore the importance for buyers and owners to ensure timely registration with the traffic authorities to avoid fines and penalties.