The government has updated the procedures for vehicle registration across the subdivisions of the National Traffic Inspectorate. Cabinet Decree No. 722, issued on April 21, 2022, entered into force on May 3, as noted by Parlamentskaya Gazeta. The change marks a shift in how and when owners or their representatives must submit registration applications and supporting documents to the local traffic police registration department. The new rule requires a direct, in-person submission within a 10‑day window from key trigger events: the purchase of a car, the car being released into circulation when manufactured for personal use, or the vehicle being temporarily imported into Russia for more than one year. The countdown also starts from the date when other obligations arise that necessitate changes to the registration information.
The decree also clarifies the process for issuing the state registration number designated as “Transit” in preparation for vehicle registration documents. This specifically applies to vehicles that are brought in from outside Russia either for sale in the domestic market or for delivery to the original manufacturer. The Transit plate is issued for a limited period of 30 days and serves as a temporary identifier while the official registration paperwork is completed.
In the past, transit numbers were issued primarily for vehicles that had been exported from the Russian Federation or when a vehicle was being transported to manufacturers who added aftermarket components or modifications. The new guidance expands or refines that practice, outlining when a Transit plate should be used and under what circumstances it remains valid, ensuring clearer oversight of temporary identifiers during cross-border movements and domestic sales processes.