In Vietnam: What shall be done when license plates are lost? What documents are included in the application for re-issuance of license plates in Vietnam?

In Vietnam: What shall be done when license plates are lost?

Pursuant to Article 11 of the Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA stipulating replacement and re-issuance of the certificate of vehicle registration and license plate in Vietnam as follows:

- Subject matters of replacement and re-issuance of certificate of vehicle registration: refurbished vehicle, repainted vehicles, vehicles used for transport business registered for issuance of license plate with white background, black letters and numbers; extension for certificate of vehicle registration; certificate of vehicle registration which is blurry, torn or lost, or change of vehicle owner details (name, address) or vehicle owner wishes to replace the old certificate of vehicle registration with a new certificate of vehicle registration as per this Circular.

- Subject matters of replacement and re-issuance of license plate: The license plate is blurry, broken, or lost; or the vehicle owner wishes to the replace 3-digit or 4-digit license plate number to 5-digit license plate number; the vehicle used for transport business registered for change from license plate with white background, black letters and numbers to license plate with yellow background, black letters and numbers.

In your case, you need to preapare documents for application for re-issuance of your license plate.

What documents are included in the application for re-issuance of license plates in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Clause 3 Article 11 of the Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA stipulating procedures for the replacement or re-issuance of vehicle registration and license plate in Vietnam as follows:

Procedures for the replacement or re-issuance of vehicle registration and license plate: The vehicle owner shall submit required documents in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the certificate of vehicle registration (in case of change of certificate of vehicle registration) or license plate (in case of change of license plate), regarding a refurbished vehicle which changes engine subassembly or chassis subassembly, additional documents below are required: Proof of payment of registration fee as regulated, title transfer documentation (in case of change of engine or chassis) as regulated, the origin documentation of engine subassembly or chassis subassembly.

Pursuant to Article 9 of the Circular 58/2020/TT-BCA stipulating the owner’s legal documentation in Vietnam as follows:

1. If the legal owner is Vietnamese, one of these documents must be submitted: Identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) or household register. If the legal owner is a member of armed forces' personnel, one of these documents must be submitted: people’s police or military identity card or document certified by the head of working agency/unit of regiment or higher, division of police office of district or higher (in the absence of identity card of the armed forces' personnel).

2. If the legal owner is a Vietnamese expatriate currently living and working in Vietnam, temporary residence or household register and passport (valid) or any other valid document in lieu of passport must be submitted.

3. The legal owner is a foreign national.

a) As for foreign nationals who are working for diplomatic missions, consular posts and representative offices of international organizations: they must show a letter of accreditation to Directorate of State Protocol or Department of Foreign Affairs and Diplomatic and Official Identity Card (valid);

b) As for foreign nationals working and living in Vietnam: they must show their passport (valid) or other valid substitutes for passport.

4. The legal owner is an agency or organization:

a) If the legal owner is a Vietnamese agency or organization: identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) of the authorized person must be shown. Regarding a military enterprise, a letter of introduction signed and sealed by the Director of Department of Vehicles affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense must be shown;

b) If the legal owner is a diplomatic mission, consular post and representative office of international organization in Vietnam: A letter of accreditation from Directorate of State Protocol or Department of Foreign Affairs Diplomatic and Official Identity Card (valid) of the authorized person must be shown;

c) If the legal owner is a joint-venture or wholly foreign-owned enterprise, representative office and a foreign enterprise who have won a bidding in Vietnam, and non-governmental organization: the authorized person to register their vehicle must show his/her identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) or passport (in case of foreigner).

5. The authorized person to carry out the vehicle registration, apart from the documentation of the vehicle owner as prescribed in clauses 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, he/she must show his/her identity card (9-digit or 12-digit) or diplomatic or official identity card (valid).

As regulations above, the application for re-issuance of license plates in Vietnam shall include the owner’s legal documentation, proof of payment of registration fee, title transfer documentation (in case of change of engine or chassis) and the origin documentation of engine subassembly or chassis subassembly.

Best regards!