Procedures for first-time vehicle registration under new regulations

Decision No. 1383/QD-BCA on promulgating the list of amended and supplemented administrative procedures in the field of registration and management of motor vehicles and specialized motorbikes; granting operating licenses for smart vehicles under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security. The Decision takes effect from March 1, 2025.

Procedures for first-time vehicle license plate issuance are carried out partially or directly by public services at the central, provincial and communal levels as follows:

Implementation sequence

Step 1: Vehicle owners log in to the public service portal and declare accurately, completely and honestly the contents specified in the vehicle registration declaration.

In case there is no digital signature, the vehicle owner prints the vehicle registration declaration from the public service portal, signs, clearly states full name and stamps (if it is an agency or organization).

In case it cannot be done on the public service portal, the vehicle owner must declare the vehicle registration directly at the vehicle registration agency.

Step 2: After successfully declaring, the vehicle owner receives the online vehicle registration file code and appointment schedule to process the file notified by the public service portal via text message or email address to complete the vehicle registration procedure.

Step 3: The vehicle owner brings the vehicle to the vehicle registration office to have the vehicle inspected, provides the vehicle registration file code and submits the required documents to the vehicle registration office; registers to use the postal service to receive the vehicle registration certificate and license plate.

Step 4: The vehicle registration officer checks the vehicle owner's documents; the vehicle documents, compares them with the vehicle owner's data information on the vehicle registration and management system and conducts a physical inspection of the vehicle according to regulations.

Step 5: After the vehicle registration officer checks the vehicle records and ensures the vehicle is actually valid, the license plate will be issued according to the following regulations:

Issue a new license plate for the case where the vehicle owner has not been issued a license plate or has a license plate but is registering another vehicle.

Issuing identification plates for vehicle owners whose identification plates have been revoked from August 15, 2023.

In case the vehicle registration documents do not comply with regulations, supplement and complete the documents according to the instructions of the vehicle registration officer on the document instruction form.

Step 6: The vehicle owner receives an appointment to receive the results, pays the vehicle registration fee and receives the license plate (in case a new license plate is issued or in case the vehicle owner requests to reuse the old, revoked license plate, if the vehicle registration authority has not yet destroyed that license plate according to regulations).

Step 7: Vehicle owners choose to receive results at the vehicle registration office or via postal service.

How to do it

Vehicle owners declare vehicle registration on the Public Service Portal or declare directly at the vehicle registration office. The vehicle registration office accepts applications during working hours.

Return results at the vehicle registration office or via postal service.

Profile components

Vehicle registration certificate.

Vehicle owner's documents as prescribed.

Vehicle documents: Certificate of vehicle origin; Certificate of legal ownership; Documents of completion of financial obligations.

Time limit for settlement

Issuance of vehicle registration certificate: No more than 2 working days from the date of receipt of complete and valid documents.

New license plate issuance: Issued immediately after receiving complete valid documents.

Issuing new license plates for auction-winning vehicles, changing license plates, issuing identification license plates: No more than 7 working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents. The time limit for processing vehicle registration is calculated from the date of receiving complete and valid documents and the vehicle owner completes the payment of vehicle registration fees.