Replacing a car body: all the nuances of registration in the traffic police

Good afternoon, dear reader.

From January 1, 2021, a new law “On state registration of vehicles in the Russian Federation” should come into force. This document is quite voluminous and is discussed in 4 articles on pddmaster.ru: part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4.

Among other innovations, the law “On Vehicle Registration” states that if a car’s engine number or body number is destroyed, the car owner can restore these numbers. The VIN recovery procedure will be discussed today:

What is additional marking?
In what cases is an additional number applied?
What does the additional marking look like?
Where is the additional number applied?
Which organizations can apply new numbers?
What is needed to apply additional markings?
How are the results of marking applied?

The regulatory document regulating the application of additional markings is Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of December 12, 2021 No. 1653 “On approval of the requirements for additional marking of a vehicle, the procedure for its application and application.” It comes into force simultaneously with the law “On Vehicle Registration”, that is, on January 1, 2021 .

What is additional marking?

1. Additional marking of the vehicle (the main component of the vehicle) is the identification number of the vehicle (the main component of the vehicle), additionally applied to the main component of the vehicle in cases established by the Federal Law “On State Registration of Vehicles in the Russian Federation and on Amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation" (hereinafter referred to as the Federal Law, additional marking).

In simple terms, additional marking is another number that must be “stamped” on the body or engine of the car.

Registration in the traffic police

As we have already said, it is advisable to immediately collect the entire list of documents provided by us - this will significantly save your time. Registration of a body replacement begins with checking the documents for their authenticity and the legality of using the vehicle, whether it is stolen, and so on. There is also a small division, which depends on whether you are replacing the part with a used body or a new one.

In the first case, you first obtain permission for the work being carried out. In fact, they cannot refuse you, however, similar situations have been recorded previously and they related to the installation of a non-original body. After receiving permission, you carry out all the work, change the registration information and information in the vehicle passport.

In the second case, in theory, there are also no reasons for refusal, but traffic police inspectors will not want to carry out some important procedures related to the purchase of new imported or domestic parts and will make a decision not in your favor. In this case, request a written refusal accompanied by a video recording, and most often the employee will abruptly change his mind about his choice.

Next, you must pass vehicle certification. Due to the fact that the body will be original and has already passed all tests, you can avoid unnecessary examinations. After approval to replace the part, you need to come inspect the vehicle at the traffic police, wait until the replacement is completed and be sure to receive all the necessary documents, such as a certificate of completion of work. This may affect how quickly changes are officially recorded. Then all that remains is to submit an application to the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate to the State Traffic Inspectorate for amendments.

Is it possible to refuse registration and why?

There can be many reasons for a refusal to replace a car body, the most common of which are:

· Insufficiently complete package of documents;

· Presence of any errors in the submitted documents;

· The vehicle is listed in the traffic police database as stolen.

If the first two points mentioned cannot yet be called critical and everything is quite easy to fix, then in the case of a stolen car you will not only receive a refusal to register, but also a lot of problems.

There are also reasons that can rather be called far-fetched. These include:

If you were given exactly one of these reasons, then you have every right to go to court at your place of residence and begin resolving the issue at a different level.

In what cases is an additional number applied?

5. Additional markings are applied if identification of a vehicle is impossible due to the fact that the marking of this vehicle or the marking of the main component of this vehicle has been destroyed due to corrosion or repairs, or has been tampered with, hidden, altered or destroyed due to illegal actions of third parties, as provided for in Part 2 Article 20 of the Federal Law.

There are several situations when an additional body or engine number may be stamped:

the number has been destroyed by corrosion (the metal is rusty);
the number was destroyed during repairs (for example, when straightening the body after an accident);
the number was “interrupted” by hijackers.

Please note that in all of these cases, we are talking about the fact that the number was originally applied to the body or engine, but later it became unreadable.

How to register a body replacement for further registration

To begin replacing a car body, you first need to collect a complete package of documents, with which you will subsequently apply to specialized inspections. The list consists of:

An explanatory note, which describes in detail the reasons for the need for replacement in the car;
Contract for a car;
Agreement for the purchase of a new part;
Driver's passport details;
Insurance policy;
Vehicle VIN (sticker with vehicle VIN number);
Vehicle passport;
Vehicle registration certificate;
Detailed sequence of points of change in the body;
If the part is imported, then it is necessary to provide a customs declaration;
If the body was produced on the territory of the Russian Federation, then a certificate of conformity is required;
When buying a used part, you need to show a certificate from the State Traffic Inspectorate.

After you contact the traffic police with these documents, the standard procedure for checking the vehicle will take place based on the database of stolen cars and other required parameters. If everything is in order, the inspector will make an approving decision regarding registration.

We replace the body correctly

According to the established rules, after you have received official permission from the State Traffic Inspectorate that you can repair or replace the car body, you can begin to carry out the required work. Do not forget that the organization you will contact must also have a specialized license. All work carried out must also comply with those specified in the declaration, which was previously submitted to the traffic police.

After completing the above process, you need to undergo vehicle diagnostics, comparable to a technical inspection. Next, you receive updated completed documents and the traffic police issues a certificate that all changes made correspond to those stated on paper, after which the registration information of the car (license plates) is changed if there is a need.

What does the additional marking look like?

3. Application of additional markings includes an indication of the identification number assigned by the vehicle manufacturer or the number of its main component, as well as the alphanumeric designation of the organization that carried out its application, which is used as:
for certification bodies or testing laboratories (centers) - the organization code contained in the unique identification number of such an organization according to the information from the Russian part of the unified register of conformity assessment bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union;
for organizations that manufacture vehicles - the international identification code of the manufacturer, the requirements for which are established by the technical regulations.
The specified alphanumeric designation (code) is entered on one line with the identification number through a separator (for example, the sign “*”) or on a separate line under the identification number with the specified separator placed at the beginning and end of it.

So, the new VIN consists of two parts:

old VIN;
code of the organization that applied the new marking.

Two parts of the code can be written on one line separated by the “*” symbol:

[old VIN]*[organization code]

The second recording option is in two lines. In this case, the “*” symbol is placed on both sides of the organization code:

[old VIN] *[organization code]*

What to do if a replacement is refused

Unfortunately, this also happens. If you refused orally, it is recommended to apply in writing, doing it like this:

First provide the vehicle for inspection;
Then prepare a paper with an appeal;
Request from the authorities a written refusal with the reasons stated in it and a seal.

We must be prepared for the fact that in most regional traffic police the ceremony of action will have to be pushed through several times. Almost always, the car owner is checked, roughly speaking, for a “sucker”, requiring an allegedly “mandatory” set of certificates. These, for example, include various certificates or documents confirming the native engine of a foreign car, prepared in the country of the manufacturer.

If the traffic police's actions proceed in this direction, the car owner will have to take risks in the name of truth. You will need to submit a statement of claim and a collection of documents to go to court.

Today, the courts are simply inundated with claims and statements regarding the replacement of the body and various elements. Considering the sad experience, the arbiters of legal affairs, unfortunately, do not dare to take the liberty of putting a final point. Citizens are denied some questions, while others are referred to an incomplete collection of documentation.

We can only wait for some progress to be made regarding the issue of replacing the body. In the meantime, to replace the pad for the number, it is better to use the services of service centers.

This article is devoted to the topic “How to identify broken VIN numbers of a car yourself.” But before approaching this issue, we need to find out what exactly works and how, how they are interrupted, etc. In this case, you can easily (and accurately) determine on your own whether the license plates on the car are original or not. So, let's go...

What is a VIN number

All car owners, without exception, know the answer to this question. But not everyone knows what the standards, features, etc. are. We will get to know them.

VIN number (original name - Vehicle Identification Number) is the identification number of any vehicle (hereinafter referred to as TZ), which is assigned to it at the manufacturer's factory (akin to a birth certificate). The main purpose of the number is protection against counterfeiting.

There is no single global standard for VIN numbers. Each manufacturer sets the number at its own discretion, but when escorting, it must adhere to certain rules.

The basis is taken from standards that are currently in force in 24 ISO countries. They are constructed in such a way that repetition is excluded. It is prohibited to issue identical numbers with a difference of less than 30 years. These standards are the basis for Russian standards in all other EEC countries. All technical specifications when delivered to these countries are marked in accordance with these standards.

Location and design of the VIN number

There are no clear rules and standards for room location. There are generally accepted oral ones - location on the windshield, driver's door, or on the dashboard. Other options are at the discretion of the manufacturer.

The security code is written on a certified label or plate. The method of application also does not have standards - it can be embossing, laser, etc. The height of the plate for the chassis, frame, body is at least 7mm, for labels at least 4mm. It is applied on the technical specification in one or two rows, in documents - one row without spaces.

How VIN numbers are interrupted

To accurately determine the authenticity of a number, you need to know at least in general terms how the interruption procedure is carried out.

There are mainly two ways to change numbers (a narrow circle may know more):

Direct interruption. In this case, the symbols are corrected (for example, 3 is corrected to 9); — Replacement of the entire platform or part of the body.

The interruption depends on where these numbers are filled. In classic Zhiguli/Moskvich cars this is quite difficult - you need to remove the engine, grind off the old number plate, and only then “draw” a new one. With “nines” and the like, everything is simple, because the numbers are stamped on the top of the cylinder block.

When the traffic police learned to check welding seams, the “specialists” began to cut off the entire front of the car and weld a new one, no one checks the seams there. But only a few criminal elements can afford this, because expensive special equipment is needed (to make everything go “smoothly”).

What does the VIN number examination include? First of all, this is a visual inspection. If the work is done at the highest level, he will give nothing. In this case, a special liquid is applied to the number pad, which reveals the welds. They also analyze the car's paint (the welded element is always tinted). These are the main stages of the VIN number examination. You can learn about other methods directly from an expert.

How to identify broken VIN numbers

By buying technical specifications secondhand (especially by proxy), you can very easily become the owner of a stolen car. Listen to the recommendations below.

Theory

Before purchasing a specific car model, collect as much information as possible about it. It is advisable to visit a salon where there are similar cars. Inside, carefully inspect the car, find out where the VIN number and additional stickers are located.

Practice

When purchasing, carefully inspect the area around the numbers. Pay attention to the paint - its texture should match the engine compartment and the area near the trunk. There should be no drips on it. If the layer stands out and is noticeable even to the eye, it means the area has been painted. Such painting is possible in two cases - an accident and a fake license plate. Rub with solvent; if the paint dissolves even a little, it is clearly not factory.

Now about the rooms themselves. If the reworking is done using a handicraft method, it is clearly visible to the eye: the metal can be concave or convex; characters jump and have different depths; different spaces between characters.

Pay special attention to the same symbols - they must be identical. During factory stamping, all numbers are applied simultaneously. In the artisanal method, each symbol is applied separately, so the defect is repeated.

It is much more difficult to identify a “criminal” car, since the entire license plate is replaced. In this case, use the method described above in the column “How to interrupt VIN numbers.”

The number plate should not rattle. In cars, the mounting points of the platform are points 5 mm in diameter each.

Based on all the signs described above, even a layman can determine its authenticity. There are other, more accurate methods, but they are used only by experts. If you have any doubts, call an expert who will accurately determine

Starting July 10, the traffic police will register cars with damaged VIN numbers in a new way. The corresponding order was issued more than three months ago, but only came into force now. The most important thing about it is that from now on it is allowed to register cars “with changed markings of vehicles and numbered units as a result of natural wear, corrosion, repairs or returned to the owners or holders, subject to their identification.”

Previously, it was impossible in principle to obtain new license plates or sell such a vehicle. Now, according to police explanations, in order to legitimize a license plate that has disappeared (for example, due to rust), the car owner will have to undergo a vehicle identification examination. And based on the conclusion received, as well as the decision to refuse to initiate a criminal case (what if it’s a car!), the traffic police makes a note in the registration data that the VIN number of the car has been lost.

In fact, nothing fundamentally has changed for motorists. It’s just that previously, cars with a lost VIN were sent for a so-called forensic examination, the only task of which was to identify traces of a VIN “interruption” on the body and, therefore, the fact that the car was stolen. And now, in fact, a similar process has been called differently. Apparently, so that the procedure is perceived by citizens as less “criminal.”

Much more interesting is another innovation in . From now on, it has become possible to “reinstate” a car that was previously scrapped according to documents. For example, after an accident. Or once sold “by proxy”. Now, if the car was not actually scrapped, its registration can be restored “based on confirmation of credentials at the place where the vehicles were last registered.” Moreover, in any registration department of the police of any region of the country.

“The entry into force of a new order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, simplifying the registration of cars, is a significant step towards car owners, one of the necessary liberal measures that takes into account requests from drivers,” Sergei Yanchuk, CEO of BMW Advance-Auto, comments on the innovation at the request of the AvtoVzglyad portal. . — Each amendment to the new bill adds relaxations both for all motorists, without exception, and for certain categories of car owners. Every driver, for example, will benefit from the fact that now he will no longer need to present a compulsory motor liability insurance policy when registering a car. Active Internet users will be interested in the opportunity to register for a visit to the traffic police through the State Services portal without going through unnecessary procedures. Conditions for visiting traffic police departments have also been relaxed for disabled drivers.

Where is the additional number applied?

4. Additional markings are applied to elements of the vehicle that have not been dismantled and (or) altered in close proximity to the place intended by its manufacturer for marking. If there is no technical ability to comply with such a requirement, the closest suitable place for this purpose is selected as the place for applying additional marking.
Additional marking is applied using an automated marking machine in compliance with the requirements established by paragraph 1.4 of Section 1 of Appendix No. 7 to the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” (TR CU 018/2011), adopted by the decision of the Customs Union Commission dated December 9, 2011 N 877.

The location for applying the additional VIN is selected as follows:

it should be as close as possible to the place where the old VIN was located;
The location must be selected on an element of the vehicle that has not been dismantled (removed) or modified (not repaired).

For example, if the old body number was located in the spare wheel niche in the trunk, then the new VIN must be applied in the same niche.

In what cases can it be repaired?

When prescribing the restoration of any element of a machine, the following principles must be observed:

the result of the repair must correspond to the pre-accident condition of the car,
there must be a technical possibility of repair,
and the economic feasibility of such restoration is imperative.

If at least one of the above principles is violated, it means that it will not be possible to carry out a high-quality and complete repair of the part.

Moreover, repair of a specific component, assembly or assembly may be expressly prohibited by the manufacturer's technology. Such parts, as a rule, include parts made of polymer materials (mainly plastic), plastic elements of lighting devices and elements of security systems.

But the possibility of repair actions also depends on the type and nature of damage to the part.

Elements such as bumpers, spoilers, and moldings very often have damage in the form of fractures after an accident. And fractures in elements made of polymer materials from most manufacturers cannot be repaired. But small cracks up to 10 cm in size can be glued together.

If element fastenings are damaged (breaks), everything depends on whether the manufacturer has an appropriate repair kit for them. If not, then the element must be replaced.

Which organizations can apply new numbers?

2. Additional marking is applied:
certification bodies and testing laboratories (centers) accredited in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation in the national accreditation system to carry out work to assess the conformity of products with the requirements of the technical regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” (TR CU 018/2011), adopted by decision Commission of the Customs Union dated December 9, 2011 N 877, included in the Russian part of the unified register of conformity assessment bodies of the Eurasian Economic Union in accordance with the Procedure for including accredited conformity assessment bodies (including certification bodies, testing laboratories (centers) in a single register of bodies for assessing the conformity of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as its formation and maintenance, approved by decision of the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated December 5, 2021 N 100;
organizations that are manufacturers of vehicles included in the Russian part of the unified register of authorized bodies (organizations) of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and organizations that are manufacturers of vehicles (vehicle chassis), self-propelled vehicles and other types of equipment that issue passports (electronic passports) vehicles (vehicle chassis), self-propelled machines and other types of equipment in accordance with the Procedure for the formation and maintenance of a unified register of authorized bodies (organizations) of the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union and organizations - manufacturers of vehicles (vehicle chassis), self-propelled vehicles and other types of equipment that carry out the issuance of passports (electronic passports) of vehicles (vehicle chassis), self-propelled vehicles and other types of equipment, approved by decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission dated September 1, 2015 N 112.

There are only 2 options for organizations that have the right to issue new body and engine numbers:

certification bodies and testing laboratories (the same organizations that issue documents for changing the design of a vehicle);
automakers.

In general, there are few such organizations in Russia, so if you want to apply additional markings, it makes sense to study both registers (the unified register of conformity assessment bodies and the unified register of vehicle manufacturers). You need to look for an organization that is located closest to the location of the car.

What is needed to apply additional markings?

Let's consider paragraph 6 of the requirements, which provides additional information about applying body and engine numbers:

6. To apply additional markings to the organization specified in paragraph 2 of these requirements, the owner of the vehicle (his authorized representative) submits:
a) an application with which the owner of the vehicle applied to the unit of the State Road Safety Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, which is entrusted with the responsibility for providing state services for the state registration of vehicles (hereinafter referred to as the unit of the State Traffic Inspectorate), to carry out registration actions in relation to the vehicle funds in cases established by Federal Law, or a copy of this application certified by an authorized person of the State Traffic Inspectorate unit. The specified application (or its copy) is submitted with marks on it from an authorized person of the State Traffic Inspectorate unit, containing information:
about the existence of grounds for applying additional markings in accordance with paragraph 5 of these requirements;
about the vehicle identification number assigned by the vehicle manufacturer;
about identification elements (seals, seals, tags) secured by officials of the State Traffic Inspectorate units on non-removable parts of the vehicle in places protected from the influence of the external environment (hereinafter referred to as seals);
b) passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or other document proving his identity. The authorized representative of the vehicle owner additionally submits a document certifying his authority to represent the interests of the vehicle owner in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation;
c) a vehicle with seals applied by officials of the State Traffic Inspectorate unit.

1. Before contacting the organization to apply the marking itself, you need to visit the traffic police department .

Traffic police officers direct the driver to the procedure for applying a new number. At the same time they:

seals are applied to vehicle elements (locations must be selected in such a way that the seals cannot be transferred or removed);
enter information about the seals into the driver’s application;
enter information about the original VIN number into the driver’s application;
include information in the driver’s application about the reasons for applying additional markings (for example, the body number has been destroyed by corrosion).

2. After this, you can contact the organization directly to apply a new VIN . In this case, the driver must have:

application with the above traffic police marks;
passport;
a car with seals installed.

Additional documents should not be required from the driver.

What is the body of a car according to the law?

Documents for the numbered unit - in this case, this is the body, and you need to provide a certificate for it that it is a released vehicle. It is also necessary to attach papers that will record the marks of the customs authorities that this unit has been released into circulation in the customs territory of the Customs Union.

As we have already said, it is advisable to immediately collect the entire list of documents provided by us - this will significantly save your time. Registration of a replacement body begins with checking the documents for their authenticity and the legality of using the vehicle, whether it is stolen, and so on.

Other situations will be more individual for each driver, but all these problems have one continuation - registration of a body replacement.

Previously, a similar Regulation was in force (Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia dated November 24, 2008 No. 1001), according to paragraph 37 of which, when replacing the body, the year of manufacture of the car remained the same, and information about replacing the body was entered in the “special notes” column of the PTS.

They helped make changes to the title and register a new vehicle title after wrapping the body with vinyl. I turned to specialists to quickly go through these procedures; I didn’t have time. They completed everything for me, went through the procedure in 40 minutes, and issued new documents. Very convenient, I recommend it.

Even very high-quality and beautiful factory cars do not always completely satisfy their owners. Sometimes, immediately after a purchase, we get so carried away with tuning that we forget about other, equally important things. But there are changes in the design of the vehicle that must be registered.

There are quite a few problematic issues that lead to the need to replace the body, but we will name the most common of them.

Vehicles are required to be registered. Each state develops its own rules for this procedure, the timing of its implementation and types of penalties for failure to comply with the requirements. In Russia, this is done by the traffic police.

There are parts in the car that require special attention. In addition to the fact that their repair in certain situations can be difficult, at the legislative level it is necessary to obtain permission to replace them or other work. One such operation is replacing a car body.

For example, the service book of the LADA 2107 car describes the possibility of using a towbar (hitch). And the documents for the towbar indicate that it passed the conformity assessment as part of the LADA 2107.

Administrative regulations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation for the provision of public services for issuing a certificate of compliance of a vehicle with changes made to its design with safety requirements (stage 2).

The State Traffic Inspectorate unit checks documents and, based on its results, issues a permit or refuses to issue it, indicating the reasons for the refusal.

This does not mean that you may not have an issued MTPL policy, you just don’t need to provide it in paper form, traffic police officers will see it in the database.

You can install a new body in Russia only on domestic brands, since others are simply not sold here.

Do you have an ancient Niva with the vin(number), license plates, and insurance? Do you want to replace the body with a new or more modern one?