New points in vehicle registration will take effect from August 15

Registered and issued license plate at temporary residence

According to Clause 2, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023, the principles of vehicle registration are as follows:

Vehicle owners who are organizations or individuals with headquarters and residence (permanent or temporary residence) in a locality shall register their vehicles at the vehicle registration agency in that locality; except for the case specified in Clause 14, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023.

Vehicle license plates are issued and managed according to the vehicle owner's identification code (identification plate number)

According to Clause 3, Clause 7 and Clause 8, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023, regulations on identification plates are as follows:

Vehicle license plates are issued and managed according to the vehicle owner's identification code (hereinafter referred to as identification plates). An identification plate is a license plate with a symbol, license plate series, size of letters and numbers, and license plate color according to the provisions of Circular 24/2023.

For vehicle owners who are Vietnamese citizens, license plates are managed according to personal identification numbers.

For foreign vehicle owners, the license plate is managed according to the foreigner's identification number established by the electronic identification and authentication system or the permanent residence card number, temporary residence card number or other identity card number issued by the competent authority.

In case the vehicle expires, is damaged or ownership is transferred, the vehicle owner's identification plate will be revoked by the vehicle registration authority and reissued when the vehicle owner registers another vehicle under his/her ownership.

The identification number is retained for the vehicle owner for a period of 5 years from the date of revocation; after the above period, if the vehicle owner has not registered, the identification number will be transferred to the license plate warehouse for registration and issuance to organizations and individuals according to regulations.

In case the vehicle owner changes his/her headquarters or residence from one province or centrally-run city to another, he/she can keep the identification number plate (no need to change the vehicle number plate).

Cars are given 1 short plate and 1 long plate.

Currently, most cars are equipped with 02 short license plates. In case the design of the specialized vehicle or the characteristics of the vehicle cannot be equipped with 02 short license plates, it can be changed to 02 long license plates or 01 short license plate and 01 long license plate when the vehicle registration authority inspects the actual situation and proposes to the superior to change (according to Clause 3, Article 25, Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA).

From August 15, 2023, all cars will be equipped with 2 license plates including 1 short license plate and 1 long license plate without permission (based on Clause 3, Article 37, Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA).

Vehicle registration declaration is done online

According to Clause 10, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023, vehicle registration declaration is done online on the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal. Vehicle owners use the declared profile code on the public service portal to complete vehicle registration procedures.

In case it cannot be done on the public service portal due to lack of electronic data or technical errors, the vehicle owner must declare and complete the procedure directly at the vehicle registration agency.

When selling a car, the owner must keep the vehicle registration and license plate.

A new point in Circular 24 that people need to note is that when selling a vehicle, the owner must retain the vehicle registration and license plate. According to Article 6 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, when selling, donating, inheriting, exchanging, contributing capital, allocating, or transferring a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as transferring vehicle ownership):

The vehicle owner must retain the vehicle registration certificate and license plate (not give it to the organization or individual receiving the vehicle ownership transfer) and submit the vehicle registration certificate and license plate to the vehicle registration authority to carry out the revocation procedure; in case of transferring vehicle ownership with the auction winning license plate, the vehicle owner must submit the vehicle registration certificate to the vehicle registration authority to carry out the revocation procedure.

Within 30 days from the date of completing the vehicle ownership transfer paperwork, the vehicle owner must complete the revocation procedures; if after the above deadline the vehicle owner fails to complete the revocation procedures or hand over the vehicle registration certificate and license plate to the organization or individual receiving the vehicle ownership transfer to complete the revocation procedures, before resolving the matter, the vehicle registration authority shall issue a decision to impose a penalty on the vehicle owner for not completing the revocation procedures as prescribed.

In case the vehicle owner does not carry out the revocation procedure after transferring the ownership of the vehicle, he/she shall be legally responsible for any violations related to that vehicle. After the vehicle owner carries out the revocation procedure, the organization or individual receiving the transfer of ownership shall carry out the vehicle registration procedure according to regulations.

Individuals 15 years of age or older can register a vehicle.

Previously, the 2008 Road Traffic Law and Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA did not limit the age of vehicle registration. However, Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA clearly stipulates the age of vehicle registration.

According to Clause 9, Article 3 of the new Circular, individuals aged 15 and over are allowed to register a vehicle. In cases where individuals aged 15 to under 18 register a vehicle, they must have the consent of their parents or guardians. This consent must be recorded as “agree”, signed, and clearly stated in the vehicle registration form, full name, and relationship with the guardian.

Violators are not allowed to register their vehicles if they do not pay the fine.

This is one of the notable changes in vehicle registration from August 15, 2023. According to Clause 15, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, organizations and individuals who violate traffic order and safety without complying with the decision to impose administrative penalties will not have their vehicle registration processed. After complying with the decision to impose traffic penalties, they can register their vehicles according to regulations.

Thus, if the traffic fine is not paid, the violator will not be able to proceed with the registration of another vehicle. In order to register a vehicle according to regulations, the vehicle owner must first pay the traffic fine.

Use VNeID instead of CCCD when registering a vehicle

According to Article 8 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, the first-time vehicle registration dossier includes: (1) Vehicle registration declaration; (2) Vehicle owner's documents; (3) Vehicle documents.

In particular, for the documents of Vietnamese vehicle owners, Article 10 of Circular 24 stipulates that level 2 electronic identification accounts can be used to carry out vehicle registration procedures on the public service portal or present Citizen Identification Card (CCCD) or passport.

Similarly, vehicle owners who are organizations can also use a level 2 electronic identification account to carry out vehicle registration procedures on the public service portal; in case the organization has not been granted a level 2 electronic identification account, it must present a tax code notification or establishment decision.

More cases of temporary vehicle registration

In addition, according to Circular 24/2023, cases of temporary vehicle registration include: Exported, imported or manufactured and assembled vehicles, circulating from the factory to the port warehouse or from the port warehouse, factory, car dealer to the place of vehicle registration or to other dealers, storage warehouses; cars undergoing recall procedures for re-export to the country or transfer of ownership; cars operating within a limited scope (vehicles not participating in road traffic); vehicles registered abroad with permission from competent authorities, including right-hand drive (reverse-hand drive) cars entering Vietnam for transit, temporary import, re-export for a limited period to participate in conferences, fairs, exhibitions, physical education, sports, tourism; except for cases where vehicles are not required to be issued temporary license plates according to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member; temporarily imported, re-exported vehicles or vehicles manufactured and assembled in Vietnam for testing on public roads; vehicles serving conferences organized by the Party and the State.

In addition, the temporary vehicle registration certificate is only valid for 15 days and can be extended once for a maximum period of 15 days.