Vietnam: 06 important regulations on vehicle registration that people should pay attention

1. Online vehicle registration is available from March 01, 2021

According to Clause 4 Article 10 of the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, the vehicle owner shall make online vehicle registration (via the Internet). Specifically, the procedures are carried out as follows:

Firstly, the vehicle owner shall make the vehicle declaration, and then access to the section of vehicle registration form (form 01) on the website of the Department of Traffic Police or the national public service portal to register vehicle online

Concurrently, the vehicle owner shall receive the ordinal number, appointment to process application via email and phone message.

Then, the officer in charge of vehicle registration shall check the declaration and proceed the registration for the vehicle owner.

The vehicle dossier is stipulated in Articles 8 and 9 and procedures for issuance of vehicle registration and license plate is stipulated in Article 10 of Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA.

2. The vehicle owner is responsible for making online declaration of vehicle renovation or change of vehicle paint

According to Clause 2 Article 6 of the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, the vehicle owner is responsible for having their vehicles inspected at the competent vehicle registry in case of initial registration and registration of title transfer, refurbishment, and paint change.

Before the vehicle renovation, change of paint (including drawing, advertisement), the vehicle owner must make declaration of vehicle renovation or change of vehicle paint on the website of the Department of Traffic Police or in person at the competent vehicle registry and obtain the confirmation of the competent vehicle registry.

Note: Declaration of vehicle renovation or change of vehicle paint on the website of the Department of Traffic Police (including drawing, advertisement) will be applied from March 01, 2021.

3. Cars are attached with 02 short license plates

Previously, according to Clause 3 Article 31 of the Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, cars can have one short license plate and one long license plate. Currently, according to the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, an automobile requires 02 short license plates with the following size: 165 millimeters in height and 330 millimeters in length.

In case the design of special-use vehicles or as the characteristics of the vehicle does not fit on 02 short signs, the vehicle registry shall conduct physical inspection and propose the Head of the Traffic Police Department (vehicles registered at the Traffic Police Department) or Head of Traffic Police (local registered vehicle) to change to 02 long license plates with the following size: 110 mm in height, 520 mm in length or 01 short license plate and 01 long license plate. 

Any cost incurred shall be at the vehicle owner's expenses.

4. Owner of the vehicle used for transport business must change to license plate with yellow background, black letters and numbers before December 31, 2021

According to Clause 2 Article 11 of the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, 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.

The license plate has the white background, black letters and numbers, and a series of 20 successive letters, such as: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z issued to vehicles used in transport business;

Note: Vehicles operating in transport business before the effective date of this Circular shall change to license plates with yellow background, black letters and numbers before December 31, 2021.

5. Handling registration of name change for undocumented vehicles until the end of December 31, 2021

Previously, according to Clause 3 Article 34 of the Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, two-wheeled and three-wheeled motorcycles, small motorcycles (including electric vehicles) and others of the similar specifications, all of which have their ownership transferred to various people, shall get their title transfer registered by the end of December 31, 2016.

However, according to Clause 3 Article 26 of the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, vehicles that have transferred their title to more than one person but lack or have no title transfer documentation shall be registered and transferred until December 31, 2021.

6. Student confirmation paper shall not be considered owner’s documentation for vehicle registration

According to Clause 1 Article 9 of the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, the owner’s legal documentation is as follows:

- 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 the working agency/unit of regiment or higher, division of police office of district or higher.

Thus, the Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam has annulled the provision that Learner’s and student’s card of those who are attending the continuous full-time training at vocational schools, colleges, universities and institutes for a period of more than 2 years, the recommendation letter is required for vehicle registration as prescribed in Point c Clause 1 Article 9 of Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA.

Thuy Tram

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