Frequently Asked Questions about Identification License Plates

What is an identification license plate? This article answers common questions about identification license plates. Please refer to the article below.

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1. What is an identification license plate?

According to Clause 3, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, vehicle license plates are issued and managed according to the vehicle owner's identification code (hereinafter referred to as the identification plate).

The identification license plate is a license plate with symbols, license plate series, size of letters and numbers, and license plate color as prescribed in Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA.

Furthermore, Clauses 4 and 5 of Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA stipulate the issuance and management of vehicle license plates based on the vehicle owner's identification code as follows:

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

- For foreign vehicle owners, license plates are 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 a competent authority.

2. Is the license plate the same as the personal identification number?

* According to Clause 3, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, the identification license plate is a license plate with symbols, license plate series, size of letters and numbers, and license plate color as prescribed in Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA.

For example, according to Clause 4, Article 37 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, motorcycles are issued license plates attached to the rear of the vehicle, with dimensions: Height 140 mm, Length 190 mm, specifically as follows:

- Arrangement of letters and numbers on motorcycle license plates of domestic agencies, organizations, and individuals:

+ The first group of numbers is the local vehicle registration code and registration serial number.

+ The second group of numbers is the vehicle registration number, consisting of 05 natural numbers, from 000.01 to 999.99;

- The arrangement of letters and numbers on motorcycle license plates of foreign organizations and individuals: The first group is the symbol of the locality where the vehicle is registered, the second group is the symbol of the country, territory, or international organization of the vehicle owner, the third group is the registration series, and the fourth group is the registration number consisting of 03 natural numbers from 001 to 999.

* According to Article 13 of Decree 137/2015/ND-CP, the personal identification number is a 12-digit natural number sequence, structured as follows: 6 digits representing the century of birth, gender, year of birth, province, centrally governed city, or country where the citizen registered their birth; and 6 digits representing a random number range.

Therefore, the identification license plate is not a plate with a series of numbers like the personal identification number of the vehicle owner, but is only issued and managed according to the vehicle owner's identification code.

3. The retention period for the vehicle identification plate when transferring vehicle ownership.

According to Clause 7, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, in cases where a vehicle has reached the end of its service life, is damaged, or ownership is transferred, the vehicle registration plate of the owner will be revoked by the vehicle registration authority and reissued when the owner registers another vehicle under their ownership.

The vehicle identification number is retained by the vehicle owner for a period of 05 years from the date of revocation; after the aforementioned period, if the vehicle owner has not registered the vehicle, that identification number will be transferred to the license plate inventory for registration and issuance to organizations or individuals according to regulations.

4. If I move to a different province, do I need to change my vehicle registration plate?

If a vehicle owner moves their registered office or residence from one province or centrally-governed city to another, they may retain their existing license plate (they do not need to change the license plate).

Therefore, according to the above regulations, when moving from one province or centrally-governed city to another, the registered identification number is retained.

(According to Clause 8, Article 3 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA)

5. Time limit for issuing and reissuing identification license plates.

According to Clauses 3 and 4 of Article 7 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, the time limit for issuing and reissuing identification license plates is as follows:

- Issuance of initial vehicle identification plates: Issued immediately after receiving a valid vehicle registration application.

- Issuing replacement license plates, reissuing license plates, issuing license plates for vehicles won at auction, reissuing identification license plates: No more than 7 working days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents.

6. Do the current 5-digit license plates need to be changed to identification plates?

According to Clauses 1 and 2 of Article 39 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, the regulations for 5-digit license plates are as follows:

- For vehicles registered with 5-digit license plates before August 15, 2023, that have not yet undergone the revocation procedure, that license plate number will be considered the owner's identification plate.

- For vehicles already registered with 5-digit license plates, if the owner completed the revocation procedure before August 15, 2023, that license plate number will be transferred to the license plate inventory for the issuance of new license plates according to regulations.

The following cases require the revocation of vehicle registration certificates and license plates before August 15, 2023, according to Article 15 of Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA:

- The vehicle is broken down and unusable, or destroyed due to unforeseen circumstances.

- The engine and frame of the vehicle were removed to be used as replacements for other vehicles.

- Vehicles temporarily imported by foreign agencies, organizations, or individuals for re-export or transfer in Vietnam.

- The vehicle was exempt from import tax, but is now being transferred for a different purpose.

- Vehicles registered in special economic and trade zones or international border economic zones as regulated by the Government when re-exported or transferred into Vietnam.

- If a vehicle is stolen or misappropriated and cannot be recovered, the owner requests the revocation of the vehicle registration certificate.

- Vehicles that have exceeded their service life; vehicles not permitted to circulate according to legal regulations; vehicles that have been determined by competent authorities to have had their engine number, chassis number, or both engine number and chassis number altered by cutting, welding, or re-stamping.

- The vehicle is registered but does not have the correct license plate system as stipulated in Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA.

- The vehicle is subject to a transfer of ownership.

- Military vehicles no longer require civilian license plates.

- The vehicle has been registered but the vehicle documents are found to be forged or the license plate was issued improperly.

Therefore, for vehicles registered with 5-digit license plates before August 15, 2023, that have not yet undergone the revocation procedure, that license plate number is considered the owner's identification plate.

7. Do license plates with 3 or 4 digits need to be changed to identification plates?

According to Clause 4, Article 39 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, vehicles already registered with 3 or 4-digit license plates are still permitted to participate in traffic, except in cases where the vehicle owner wishes to have a new license plate issued, or when the vehicle owner carries out procedures for changing vehicle registration certificates, changing license plates, reissuing vehicle registration certificates, reissuing license plates, or registering a transfer of ownership or relocation of the vehicle as stipulated in Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA. In such cases, the 3 or 4-digit license plate will be revoked and replaced with a new license plate as prescribed.

Therefore, vehicles already registered with 3 or 4-digit license plates are allowed to continue participating in traffic and only need to change to a unique license plate if they fall into one of the following cases:

- The vehicle owner needs to have a new license plate issued.

- When the vehicle owner carries out procedures for renewing the vehicle registration certificate, renewing the license plate, reissuing the vehicle registration certificate, reissuing the license plate, or registering a change of ownership or vehicle relocation.

8. When will the issuance of identification license plates be implemented?

According to Clause 1, Article 38 of Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA, Circular 24/2023/TT-BCA takes effect from August 15, 2023.

Therefore, the issuance and management of vehicle license plates based on the vehicle owner's identification code will be implemented from August 15, 2023.

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