The scheme for registering cars with Kyrgyz license plates has its vulnerabilities, which many discover only at the last moment. As experts explain, the vehicle registration certificate (STC) in Kyrgyzstan for a foreign citizen depends on the duration of temporary registration. Once this period expires, the information about the car's registration in the database of the Kyrgyz road police becomes outdated. If an inspector conducts a check and finds that the registration period has ended, the car may be detained and sent to a penalty parking lot. As a result, potential savings quickly turn into additional expenses and stress, Russian media report.
Reasons for interest in registration in Kyrgyzstan
The main motivation is that the prices for foreign cars, including Chinese brands, in Kyrgyzstan are often significantly lower than in Russia. This difference is due to lower customs duties there. Amid rising car prices and increased recycling fees, some buyers begin to look for alternative ways to purchase, leading to the emergence of numerous "gray" instructions actively discussed online.
Procedure for temporary registration
The essence of the method is to register a car in Kyrgyzstan for a Russian citizen without the need to use a power of attorney from a local resident:
- The buyer arrives in Kyrgyzstan and obtains temporary registration through a local MFC;
- For this, a resident is needed who will register the foreigner at their address. Finding such helpers is quite easy: there are many ads online offering registration for a month or more;
- After receiving temporary registration, the person is issued an INN and a barcode, which allows them to register the car in their name.
Two stages of registration
As market participants explain, the registration process usually occurs in two stages:
- First, the car is registered to a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, to whom it was customs cleared;
- Then it is re-registered to the Russian citizen.
After this, the driver receives Kyrgyz license plates and returns to Russia.
The situation in Russia: checks and inspector reactions
Experience from car owners shows that the traffic police pay attention to cars with Kyrgyz license plates. Drivers are stopped for document checks, and vehicle data may be entered into a database so that fines for traffic violations arrive without "losses." In some cases, inspectors require written explanations as to why the car is not registered in Russia.
Registration deadlines: opinion of an auto lawyer
Auto lawyer Lev Voropaev emphasizes that temporary registration in another country does not cancel Russian citizenship. Therefore, according to current rules, after entering Russia, the owner has 10 days to register the car with the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Failure to comply with the procedure results in penalties:
- First violation: a fine of 500 to 800 rubles;
- Subsequent violation: 5,000 rubles or suspension of driving rights for up to three months.
"You can drive for a year" — but with an important condition
Alexander Khaminsky, head of the Law and Order Center in Moscow and the Moscow region, clarifies: a Russian citizen can indeed import a vehicle registered in an EAEU country (including Kyrgyzstan) for up to one year. However, the key requirement is permanent residence in the country where the vehicle is registered. In case of a dispute, one will have to confirm actual residence outside Russia with documents regarding the change of residence.
Parallels with the Armenian scenario
Experts note similarities with previous practices: Russians bought cars in Armenia, registered them in their name, received local plates, and returned, saving on duties. However, the mass nature of this scheme led to its restriction by 2020. At that time, the traffic police clarified that if a Russian citizen registered a car in an EAEU country, they had the same 10 days to register it in Russia if they did not have permanent residence in the registration country.
Customs nuances and risks of "closing the topic"
The Russian customs, responding to journalists' inquiries, clarified that the rules for using cars with Kyrgyz license plates on the roads fall under the jurisdiction of the traffic police. At the same time, the customs service emphasized that one of the conditions for obtaining the vehicle registration certificate, necessary for registration, is the payment of the recycling fee.
Lev Voropaev warns that with the widespread adoption of this scheme, strict measures may be implemented, which could lead to the loss of both the vehicle and the invested funds. A similar viewpoint is expressed by Anatoly Semenov, director of the Association of Parallel Imports: the connection between the Kyrgyz STC and the duration of temporary registration makes this scheme extremely vulnerable — just one check can turn a "profitable purchase" into serious problems.
