Circular No. 58/2020/TT-BCA procedures for grant of registration certificates road motor vehicles

CIRCULAR

Prescribing procedures for grant and revocation of registration certificates and number plates of road motor vehicles^[1]

Pursuant to the November 13, 2008 Law on Road Traffic;

Pursuant to the November 24, 2015 Civil Code;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 01/2018/ND-CP of August 6, 2018, defining functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Public Security;

At the proposal of the Director of the Traffic Police Department;

The Minister of Public Security promulgates the Circular prescribing procedures for grant and revocation of registration certificates and number plates of road motor vehicles.

Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.Scope of regulation

This Circular prescribes the order and procedures for grant and revocation of registration certificates and number plates of road motor vehicles, including cars; tractors; trailers and semi-trailers pulled by trucks or tractors; two-wheeled motorbikes; three-wheeled motorbikes; motorbikes (including electric motorbikes) and vehicles of similar structure; special-use motorbikes of the Public Security forces for security purposes (below collectively referred to as vehicle registration).

Article 2.Subjects of application

1. This Circular applies to:

a/ Officers and non-commissioned officers of traffic police (below collectively referred to as officers and soldiers) who perform the duty of vehicle registration;

b/ Public Security offices of units and localities;

c/ Domestic agencies, organizations and individuals; and foreign organizations and individuals that are based or lawfully residing in the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and involved in vehicle registration.

2. This Circular does not apply to registration of road motor vehicles of the Army for use for national defense purposes.

Article 3.Vehicle registration agencies

1. Vehicle registration agencies shall manage and archive dossiers under regulations, while vehicle information shall be uniformly managed on the database registered at the Traffic Police Department.

2. Vehicle registration places must have instruction diagrams and citizen reception schedules, be located in convenient areas for receipt and processing of vehicle registration dossiers and procedures, and have seats, parking lots, suggestion boxes, and nameplates of officers and soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration; vehicle registration agencies shall publicly post up regulations on vehicle registration procedures and fee, violations of regulations on vehicle registration and grant of number plates, and sanctions.

3. The Traffic Police Department shall carry out registration and grant number plates for vehicles of the Ministry of Public Security; cars of diplomatic missions, consular offices and representative offices of international organizations in Vietnam and cars of foreigners working in such missions or offices; and cars of the agencies and organizations specified in Appendix 01 to this Circular.

4. Traffic police divisions, road and railway traffic police divisions or road traffic police divisions of provincial-level Departments of Public Security (below collectively referred to as traffic police divisions) shall carry out registration and grant number plates for the following vehicles (except vehicles of the agencies, organizations and individuals specified in Clause 3 of this Article):

a/ Cars, tractors, trailers, semi-trailers, motorbikes of a cylinder capacity of at least 175 cm³, vehicles subject to confiscation decisions, and vehicles of similar structure of agencies, organizations, enterprises, army enterprises, and individuals that are based or residing in their localities;

b/ Motorbikes, electric motorbikes, and vehicles of similar structure of foreign agencies, organizations and individuals, projects or economic organizations in joint ventures with foreign partners in their localities, and organizations and individuals that are located or residing in districts, towns or provincial cities where traffic police divisions are located.

5. Public security divisions of districts, towns or provincial cities (below collectively referred to as district-level public security divisions) shall carry out registration and grant number plates for motorbikes, electric motorbikes and vehicles of similar structure of domestic agencies, organizations, enterprises and individuals that are based or residing in their localities (except vehicles of the agencies, organizations and individuals specified in Clauses 3 and 4 of this Article).

6. In case of necessity, in order to meet practical requirements in border, deep-lying or remote districts or localities that lack physical facilities, directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security shall report such to the Director of the Traffic Police Department for guidance on organizing registration and grant of number plates of vehicles in clusters.

Article 4.Time limits for grant of registration certificates and number plates

1. For first-time grant or renewal of a number plate: Right after receipt of a valid dossier for vehicle registration.

2. For grant of a temporary vehicle registration certificate and a temporary number plate: On the date of dossier receipt.

3. For first-time grant or renewal of a vehicle registration certificate or grant of a certificate of revocation of vehicle registration certificate or number plate: Within 2 working days after receipt of a complete and valid dossier.

4. For re-grant of a number plate which is lost, faded or damaged: Within 7 working days after receipt of a complete and valid dossier.

5. For re-grant of a vehicle registration certificate which is lost: Within 30 days after receipt of a complete and valid dossier.

Article 5.Responsibilities of officers and soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration

1. To strictly comply with this Circular’s provisions and other relevant regulations on vehicle registration.

2. To guide vehicle owners in carrying out procedures for vehicle registration in accordance with law; to receive vehicle registration dossiers and carry out vehicle registration after checking and comparing such dossiers with actual state of vehicles under regulations. For dossiers improperly made, to provide specific and adequate guidance only once.

3. To receive vehicle registration dossiers, carry out registration and grant number plates for vehicles after the vehicle owners restore the original state of vehicles before the commission of security and order-related violations, such as changing paint colors without permission, drawing paintings or advertisements or mounting devices on vehicles, or changing utilities of vehicles in contravention of regulations.

Article 6.Responsibilities of vehicle owners

1. To abide by regulations on vehicle registration; to show themselves up at vehicle registration agencies specified in Article 3 to fully fill in vehicle registration declarations and produce the papers specified in Article 9 of this Circular; to take responsibility before law for the lawfulness of vehicles and vehicle registration dossiers; to pay the vehicle registration fee; to refrain from committing acts of forging dossiers and changing original engine and chassis numbers of vehicles for vehicle registration.

2. To take their vehicles to vehicle registration agencies for checking, for vehicles subject to first-time registration, title transfer registration, converted vehicles or vehicles with changed paint colors. Before converting vehicles or changing paint colors of vehicles (including drawing paintings or advertisements on vehicles), vehicle owners shall make declarations on the website of the Traffic Police Department in the section for declaration of vehicle conversion or paint color change or directly at vehicle registration agencies and obtain the latter’s certification; to carry out procedures for renewal of vehicle registration certificates after converting their vehicles or changing their addresses.

3. Within 7 days after a document on transfer of vehicle title to an organization or individual is made:

a/ For transfer of vehicle title to an organization or individual based in another province or centrally run city (below referred to as inter-provincial vehicle title transfer): The vehicle owner shall directly return or authorize a service provider to return the vehicle registration certificate and number plate to the vehicle registration agency;

b/ For transfer of vehicle title to an organization or individual based within a province or centrally run city (below referred to as intra-provincial vehicle title transfer): The vehicle owner shall directly return or authorize a service provider to return the vehicle registration certificate to the vehicle registration agency. In case the organization or individual that purchases, is transferred, given as gift, donated or allocated, or inherits the vehicle immediately carries out procedures for vehicle title transfer, it/he/she is not required to carry out procedures for revocation of the vehicle registration certificate.

4. Within 30 days after a document on vehicle title transfer is made, the organization or individual that purchases, is transferred, given as gift, donated or allocated, or inherits the vehicle shall assign a person to show or shall show himself/herself up at the vehicle registration agency to carry out procedures for grant of a vehicle registration certificate and number plate.

5. Within 7 days after the use duration of a vehicle expires or a vehicle is irreparably damaged or destroyed due to an external reason, the vehicle owner shall make declaration on the website of the Traffic Police Department in the section for declaration of recalled vehicles and return the vehicle registration certificate and number plate directly to the vehicle registration agency or to the public security office of the commune, ward or township where it/he/she is based or resides (below referred to as commune-level public security office) or authorize a service provider to carry out procedures for revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate at the vehicle registration agency.

Chapter II

PROCEDURES FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION, AND RENEWAL, RE-GRANT AND REVOCATION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES AND NUMBER PLATES

Section A

VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOSSIERS AND NUMBER PLATES

Article 7.Vehicle registration declarations

Vehicle owners shall properly and fully fill in vehicle registration declarations according to Form No. 01 provided in Appendix 04 to this Circular.

Article 8.Vehicle documents

1. Vehicle origin documents:

a/ For imported vehicles:

For a vehicle imported under a commercial contract, duty-free vehicle, special-use vehicle or vehicle as project aid: Declaration of origin of imported car or motorbike under regulations.

For a vehicle imported for non-commercial purpose, vehicle used as a gift or donation or vehicle imported as a personal belonging or provided as a non-refundable or humanitarian aid: Customs declaration under regulations, permit for temporary import of vehicle and receipts of paid import duty, excise tax and value-added tax on imports (as required) or order for making debit-credit entries into state budget or paper of payment to state budget clearly stating duty/tax payment under regulations. In case of duty/tax exemption: There must be also a duty/tax exemption decision or document of a competent authority or a certificate of aid goods under regulations (in replacement of duty/tax receipts) or an import permit clearly stating duty/tax exemption.

For a vehicle subject to 0% duty rate: Declaration of non-commercial imports or exports under regulations, indicating vehicle brand, and engine and chassis numbers.

For a vehicle temporarily imported for re-export of a person entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities in accordance with law or a treaty to which Vietnam is a contracting party, or of a foreign expert implementing an ODA program or project in Vietnam or an overseas Vietnamese invited to return to work in Vietnam: Customs declaration under regulations and a vehicle import or temporary import permit;

b/ For domestically manufactured or assembled vehicle: Certificate of ex-works quality inspection for road motor vehicles;

c/ For converted vehicles:

Vehicle registration certificate (for registered vehicles) or document on import origin (for used vehicles) specified at Point a, Clause 1 of this Article.

Certificate of technical safety and environmental protection quality of converted motor vehicle under regulations;

d/ For vehicles confiscated for the state fund:

Decision on vehicle confiscation or decision on establishment of all-people ownership over vehicle or excerpt of a court judgment’s content on vehicle confiscation fully stating the vehicle brand, model number, type, engine and chassis numbers, cylinder capacity and year of manufacture (for cars).

Invoice of sale of assets confiscated for the state fund or invoice of sale of public assets or invoice of sale of state assets (assets disposed in the form of auction); minutes of asset handover and receipt (assets disposed in the form of transfer); and money receipt or handover minutes (for victims).

2. Document on vehicle title transfer, which may be one of the following documents:

a/ Financial invoice or voucher (receipt) or document on vehicle purchase, sale, donation or giving as a gift (decision, contract or inheritance paper) made in accordance with law;

b/ Paper on vehicle sale, donation or giving as a gift of an individual which is notarized, authenticated or certified by the agency, organization or unit where such individual is currently working or serving, for armed forces personnel and foreigners working in diplomatic missions, consular offices or representative offices of international organizations that register vehicles according to addresses of their agencies, organizations or units;

c/ For vehicles liquidated by the public security forces: A competent authority’s decision on vehicle liquidation and an invoice of sale of public assets or state assets;

d/ For vehicles liquidated by the army: Vehicle registration certificate, official letter of the Ministry of National Defense’s Vehicle and Machinery Department certifying that the vehicle is no longer a military equipment, and an invoice of sale of public assets or state assets.

3. Vehicle registration fee documents:

a/ Receipt or paper on payment to state budget or via-bank payment order for registration fee payment or another paper of registration fee payment as specified by law or paper on registration fee payment data printed from the vehicle registration and management system (fully indicating the vehicle brand, model number, type, and engine and chassis numbers). In case one registration fee payment paper is used for more than one vehicle, each vehicle must have an authenticated copy of such paper under regulations or a certification by the agency that has issued such paper;

b/ For vehicles exempt from registration fee: Registration fee declaration bearing certification by a tax office.

Article 9.Papers of vehicles owners

1. A vehicle owner being a Vietnamese shall produce his/her people’s identity card or citizen identity card or household registration book. An armed forces serviceman shall produce his/her people’s public security identity card or people’s army identity card or a written certification by the head of his/her regiment or higher-level unit or a district- or higher-level public security division/department or the equivalent (in case he/she holds no armed forces identity card).

2. A vehicle owner being an overseas Vietnamese returning to reside and work in Vietnam shall produce his/her temporary residence book or household registration book or valid passport or another paper of equivalent validity.

3. For vehicle owners being foreigners:

a/ A foreigner working in a diplomatic mission or consular office or a representative office of an international organization shall produce a letter of introduction of the Directorate of State Protocol or a provincial-level Department of Foreign Affairs and his/her valid diplomatic or official-duty identity card;

b/ A foreigner working or studying in Vietnam shall produce his/her visa that remains valid for at least one year or another paper of equivalent validity.

4. For vehicle owners being agencies or organizations:

a/ For a vehicle owner being a Vietnamese agency or organization, the person in charge of carrying out vehicle registration procedures shall produce his/her citizen identity card or people’s identity card. For a vehicle of an army enterprise, the person in charge of carrying out vehicle registration procedures shall produce a letter of introduction bearing the signature and seal of the Director of the Vehicle and Machinery Department of the Ministry of National Defense;

b/ For a vehicle owner being a diplomatic mission, consular office or representative office of an international organization in Vietnam, the person in charge of carrying out vehicle registration procedures shall produce a letter of introduction of the Directorate of State Protocol or a provincial-level Department of Foreign Affairs and his/her valid official-duty identity card;

c/ For a vehicle owner being a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, representative office, foreign enterprise being a bid-winning contractor in Vietnam or non-governmental organization, the person in charge of carrying out vehicle registration procedures shall produce his/her citizen identity card or people’s identity card or passport (for foreigners).

5. A person authorized to carry out vehicle registration procedures shall produce his/her citizen identity card or people’s identity card or valid diplomatic or official-duty identity card, in addition to the paper of the vehicle owner specified in Clause 1, 2 or 3 of this Article.

Section B

GRANT, RENEWAL AND RE-GRANT OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES AND NUMBER PLATES

Article 10.Grant of vehicle registration certificates and number plates

1. For first-time grant of vehicle registration certificates and number plates:

a/ A vehicle owner shall submit the papers specified in Articles 7 and 8 and produce its/his/her identification papers specified in Article 9 of this Circular;

b/ An officer or soldier performing the duty of vehicle registration shall check the registration dossier and physically inspect the vehicle under regulations;

c/ The officer or soldier performing the duty of vehicle registration shall guide the vehicle owner in choosing a number plate on the vehicle registration system;

d/ The vehicle owner shall receive an appointment for receiving a vehicle registration certificate, pay the vehicle registration fee and receive a number plate;

dd/ The officer or solider performing the duty of vehicle registration shall complete the dossier and grant a vehicle registration certificate under Article 4 of this Circular.

2. For registration of vehicle title transfer:

a/ An organization or individual that sells, transfers, donates, gives as a gift, allocates or bequeaths a vehicle shall make a declaration and return the vehicle registration certificate and number plate under Clause 3, Article 6 of this Circular;

b/ An officer or soldier performing the duty of vehicle registration shall revoke the vehicle registration and number plate on the vehicle registration system and grant a certificate of revocation of vehicle registration certificate and a temporary number plate;

c/ An organization or individual that purchases, is transferred, donated, given as a gift, allocated or inherits a vehicle shall contact the vehicle registration agency of the locality where it is located or he/she resides shall submit the papers specified in Article 7, and Clauses 2 and 3, Article 8; and a certificate of revocation of vehicle registration certificate and number plate (not applicable in case of intra-provincial vehicle title transfer after procedures for vehicle title transfer are completed), and produce the vehicle owner’s papers specified in Article 9 of this Circular for carrying out procedures for title transfer registration. Procedures for grant of a number plate must comply with Points b and dd (for cars undergoing intra-provincial title transfer and motorbikes undergoing title transfer at the same place of registration), or Points b, c, d and dd, Clause 1 of this Article (for case of inter-provincial vehicle title transfer).

3. For vehicle registration when databases of vehicle registration agencies are connected with e-databases of ministries and sectors: The papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular may be replaced by e-data that serve as a basis for grant of vehicle registration certificates and number plates.

a/ Checking vehicle owner information: Based on information about citizen identity cards stated in vehicle registration declarations (made according to Form No. 01), officers or soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration shall check and compare vehicle owner information on the database on citizen identification or via the National Public Service Portal;

b/ Checking e-information about vehicles: Based on information about e-invoices and codes of registration fee declaration dossiers, information in e-customs declarations and information about domestically manufactured or assembled vehicles stated in vehicle registration declarations (made according to Form No. 01), officers or soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration shall check and compare information on the database on e-invoices and e-data on registration fee payment by organizations and individuals via banks, state treasury offices or payment intermediary service providers transmitted by the General Department of Taxation to the Traffic Police Department or via the National Public Service Portal; check and compare information and data in e-customs declarations and those about domestically manufactured or assembled vehicles transmitted to the Traffic Police Department or via the National Public Service Portal.

4. For online vehicle registration (via the Internet): A vehicle owner shall declare information about the vehicle and himself/herself in a vehicle registration declaration (made according to Form No. 01) on the website of the Traffic Police Department or the National Public Service Portal for online vehicle registration, and receive an ordinal code and appointment for receiving dossier-processing results via email or phone text message. Officers or soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration shall check declared information and carry out vehicle registration for the vehicle owner. A vehicle dossier must comply with Articles 8 and 9 and procedures for grant of vehicle registration certificates and number plates must comply with Article 10 of this Circular.

Article 11.Renewal or re-grant of vehicle registration certificates and number plates

1. Subject to renewal or re-grant of vehicle registration certificates are converted vehicles, vehicles with their original paint colors changed, and vehicles used for transportation business and previously registered for grant of number plates bearing black numbers and characters on a white background; and cases of extension of vehicle registration certificates; or cases where vehicle registration certificates are faded, torn, ragged or lost or have information about vehicle owners (their names or addresses) changed or vehicle  owners wish to have old vehicle registration certificates renewed into vehicle registration certificates under this Circular.

2. Cases of renewal or re-grant of number plates: Number plates are faded, broken, damaged or lost or vehicle owners wish to have 3-digit or 4-digit number plates changed into 5-digit ones; vehicles used for transportation business and previously registered for grant of number plates bearing black numbers and characters on a white background which must be changed into number plates bearing black numbers and characters on a yellow background.

3. Procedures and dossier for renewal or re-grant of a vehicle registration certificate and a number plate: The vehicle owner shall submit the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular and the vehicle registration certificate (in case of renewal of vehicle registration certificate) or number plate (in case of renewal of number plate). For a converted vehicle with a new complete engine or chassis, the vehicle owner shall also submit papers on registration fee payment and vehicle title transfer (change of engine or chassis) and documents on origin of the complete engine or chassis under regulations.

Section C

TEMPORARY VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Article 12.Vehicles subject to temporary registration

Vehicles that are not yet registered for grant of official number plates but need to be used for transport; vehicles that are registered overseas and permitted by competent authorities to be brought into Vietnam for use for tourism purpose or to serve conferences, trade fairs, exhibitions, or physical training and sports events; vehicles to serve conferences held by the Party, the State or the Government; cars for which procedures for revocation of registration certificates and number plates are carried out for re-export to their countries of origin or transfer in Vietnam; and vehicles subject to decisions on transfer, sale, donation or giving as gifts.

Article 13.Vehicle temporary registration dossiers

1. For a vehicle manufactured or assembled in Vietnam:

a/ A vehicle registration declaration (made according to Form No. 01);

b/ A copy of the sale invoice under regulations or delivery note.

2. For an imported vehicle or a vehicle temporarily imported for re-export or a vehicle in transit:

a/ A vehicle registration declaration (made according to Form No. 01);

b/ A copy of the import or export declaration form or detailed declaration of vehicle import. For a vehicle for which import procedures have been completed, papers for registration and grant of temporary number plates must comply with Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular.

3. For a vehicle permitted by a competent agency to be brought into Vietnam to serve a conference, trade fair, exhibition or physical training sports event; a foreign vehicle on a tourist trip in Vietnam; or a vehicle to serve a conference held by the Party, the State or the Government: A copy of the vehicle registration certificate or a list of vehicles requested for registration as approved by a competent authority.

4. For a foreigner’s right-hand drive car that has been registered overseas or left-hand drive car for carnivals and is permitted to join traffic in accordance with law:

a/ A vehicle registration declaration (made according to Form No. 01);

b/ A competent authority’s permission for joining traffic in Vietnam.

Article 14.Validity period of vehicle temporary registration certificates and places of vehicle temporary registration

1. A vehicle temporary registration certificate is valid for up to 30 days.

2. For the vehicles specified in Clauses 2, 3 and 5, Article 13 of this Circular: The validity period of a vehicle temporary registration certificate is the period during which a vehicle is permitted by a competent agency to be used for such activities.

3. A temporarily registered vehicle may join traffic during a period, along routes and within an operation scope stated in its temporary registration certificate.

4. Vehicle owners may obtain vehicle registration certificates at the nearest vehicle registration agency.

Section D

REVOCATION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES AND NUMBER PLATES

Article 15.Vehicles subject to revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates

1. Vehicles that are irreparably damaged or demolished due to external reasons.

2. Vehicles with their engines or chassis removed for use for other vehicles.

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

4. Import duty-free vehicles that are transferred for use for other purposes.

5. Vehicles registered in special economic-trade zones or international border-gate economic zones under the Government’s regulations upon their re-export or transfer into Vietnam.

6. Vehicles that are stolen or appropriated without any whereabouts and requested by their owners to have their registration certificates revoked.

7. Vehicles with expired use durations; vehicles not permitted for road use in accordance with law; vehicles having their engine and/or chassis numbers cut off, welded or chiseled as concluded by competent agencies.

8. Vehicles that have been registered but granted inappropriate number plates under this Circular.

9. Vehicles subject to title transfer.

10. Military vehicles for which civil-vehicle number plates are no longer required.

11. Vehicles that have been registered with forged dossiers or granted number plates in contravention of regulations.

Article 16.Procedures for revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates

1. Vehicle owners or authorized service providers shall submit vehicle registration certificates and number plates to the agencies specified in Clauses 3 and 5, Article 6 of this Circular. For a vehicle with lost vehicle registration certificate and/or number plate, its owner shall make a report clearly stating the reason for the loss.

2. Officers or soldiers performing the duty of vehicle registration shall receive information and revoke vehicle registration certificates and number plates on the system and hand revocation certificates to vehicle owners under regulations.

Article 17.Responsibilities of public security offices of units and localities in the revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates

1. Responsibilities of vehicle registration agencies:

a/ Based on the list of cars with expired use durations and vehicles not permitted for road use in accordance with law, to notify vehicle owners of the revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates. Within 30 days after being notified of the revocation, if vehicle owners fail to return vehicle registration certificates and number plates, vehicle registration agencies shall revoke such registration certificates and number plates on the vehicle registration and management system and notify such to public security offices of units and localities in charge of ensuring traffic order and safety for detecting and handling violations in accordance with law;

b/ To update information declared by vehicle owners on the website of the Traffic Police Department or the National Public Service Portal about vehicles with expired use durations, irreparably damaged vehicles, vehicles demolished due to external reasons, and stolen vehicles, for carrying out procedures for revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates under regulations; to notify such to vehicle owners via email or phone text message;

c/ To notify owners of registered vehicles for which dossiers have been forged or number plates have been granted in contravention of regulations, and issue decisions on revocation of vehicle registration certificates and number plates (according to Form No. 10 provided in Appendix 04 to this Circular); for forged vehicle dossiers, to request investigation agencies to conduct investigation, clarify and handle violations in accordance with law.

2. Responsibilities of public security offices of units and localities:

a/ To detect, through the work of ensuring traffic and social order and safety, vehicles specified in Clauses 6, 7, 8 and 11, Article 15 of this Circular, make minutes on and handle violations in accordance with law, and notify such in writing to the agencies that have registered such vehicles for monitoring;

b/ Based on lists of cars with expired use durations provided by vehicle registration agencies or notified by commune-level public security offices of localities where vehicle owners reside, to revoke and return vehicle registration certificates and number plates to the agencies that have granted them through the Ministry of Public Security’s liaison channel or authorized organizations or individuals;

c/ For vehicles irreparably crashed in traffic accidents, agencies that accept traffic accident cases for handling shall revoke and return their registration certificates and number plates to the agencies that have registered such vehicles for carrying out revocation procedures.

Section E

GUIDANCE ON SETTLEMENT OF SPECIFIC CASES

Article 18.Cases related to vehicle engine and chassis numbers

1. Vehicles with engine and/or chassis numbers cut off, welded or chiselled may not be registered.

2. Registered vehicles with their engine and chassis numbers faded, rusty or corroded due to environmental impacts and concluded by assessment agencies as not having been chiselled or rubbed out may have their engine and chassis numbers re-embossed as stated in their dossiers; in case of replacement of imported vehicle engines, blocks or chassis bearing no numbers, numbers on number plates shall be embossed on new engines, blocks or chassis.

3. For imported vehicles:

a/ For a vehicle without engine and chassis numbers: If the customs office’s declaration of the vehicle’s import origin states that engine and chassis numbers are unavailable or unidentified, numbers in the number plate shall be embossed on the engine and chassis. In case its engine and chassis numbers are found through physical inspection, the vehicle owner shall come to the customs office for re-certification;

b/ For a vehicle with its engine and chassis numbers in etiquette, painted, faded or rusty, numbers certified by the customs office in its import origin declaration shall be embossed on its engine and chassis. For an imported trailer or semi-trailer truck, tractor, electric motorbike or electric car with faded chassis or engine numbers, numbers stated in the certificate of technical safety and environmental protection quality of imported motor vehicles shall be embossed on its chassis or engine;

c/ For a vehicle certified by a customs office as having only vehicle identification number (VIN) and having no engine and chassis numbers, its chassis number may be replaced by VIN (a VIN photo in replacement of chassis number stencil imprint) and its engine number shall be re-embossed according to the plate number;

d/ For an imported vehicle with a re-embossed or erroneously embossed engine or chassis number, registration is not permitted (unless it is permitted in writing by the Government or the Prime Minister).

4. For domestically manufactured or assembled vehicles:

a/ For a vehicle with its engine and chassis numbers in etiquette or embossed with laser, faded or unclear, its engine and chassis numbers shall be re-embossed with numbers stated in the certificate of inspection of ex-works quality of road motor vehicle;

b/ For a vehicle with overlapped engine and chassis numbers, expert examination is required. If the expert examination agency concludes that the vehicle’s engine or chassis number is chiselled, its registration dossier shall be rejected. If the expert examination agency concludes that the vehicle’s engine or chassis number is original, such number shall be re-embossed according to that stated in the certificate of inspection of ex-works quality of road motor vehicle;

c/ For a vehicle with domestically embossed engine or chassis number that has a technical error and is later re-embossed by the manufacturer and bears certification, registration is permitted.

5. For vehicles subject to decisions on confiscation or disposal of material evidences stating their engine and chassis numbers that are faded, corroded or rusty through the prolonged course of preservation or concluded by expert examination agencies as having been chiselled or rubbed out, or those with their original engine and chassis numbers unidentifiable, their engine and chassis numbers may be re-embossed according to plate numbers.

6. In any cases, vehicle registration agencies shall carry out the re-embossment of engine and chassis numbers.

Article 19.Title transfer registration for vehicles having previously undergone title transfers

1. Procedures and dossiers for vehicle title transfer: The current user of a vehicle shall come to the agency managing vehicle dossiers to carry out vehicle title transfer procedures, produce the papers specified in Article 9 of this Circular, clearly stating that the vehicle purchase, sale and handover are lawful, give a commitment on the origin of the vehicle, and submit:

a/ The vehicle registration certificate and number plate as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 6 of this Circular;

b/ The vehicle title transfer paper of the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and the vehicle title transfer paper of the last seller (if any).

2. Procedures and dossiers for vehicle title transfer registration: The current user of a vehicle shall contact the vehicle registration agency of the place where he/she resides, produce the papers specified in Article 9 of this Circular, and submit:

a/ The vehicle registration declaration (made according to Form No. 01 provided in Appendix 04 to this Circular);

b/ The registration fee payment paper as prescribed;

c/ The certificate of revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate (for cars with title transfer between different provinces and motorbikes with different places of registration).

3. Responsibilities of vehicle registration agencies:

a/ In case the current user of a vehicle has the vehicle title transfer paper of the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and the vehicle title transfer paper of the last seller: Within two working days after receiving a complete and valid dossier, the agency managing vehicle dossiers shall settle vehicle registration and grant a number plate (for cars with title transfer within a province and motorbikes sharing the same place of registration) or grant a certificate of revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate for the current user of the vehicle to carry out procedures for vehicle registration and grant of a number plate in his/her place of residence;

b/ In case the current user of a vehicle has no vehicle title transfer paper: The agency managing vehicle dossiers shall issue a paper stating the date of settlement of vehicle title transfer which helps the user use the vehicle for 30 days; send a notice to the person named in the vehicle registration certificate and post it on the website of the Traffic Police Department and at the head office of such agency; search information in the archives of stolen vehicles and vehicle registration databases right after receiving a dossier of request for vehicle title transfer. After 30 days, if there is no dispute or complaint, the agency managing vehicle dossiers shall settle vehicle registration and grant a number plate (for cars with title transfer within a province and motorbikes sharing the same place of registration) or grant a certificate of revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate for the current user of the vehicle to carry out procedures for vehicle registration and grant of a number plate in his/her place of residence.

4. Responsibilities of current users of vehicles:

a/ To personally come to vehicle registration agencies for carrying out vehicle title transfer procedures;

b/ To make declarations to commit to take responsibility before law for the origin of vehicles and the process of vehicle purchase and sale and handover;

c/ To declare and pay registration fee in accordance with law.

5. Responsibilities of units managing databases on stolen vehicles or vehicles as material evidences: To give a written reply to vehicle registration agencies right after receiving the latter’s request for information verification.

Article 20.Settlement of some cases of registration of, and grant of number plates for, vehicles

1. Regarding invoices:

a/ For vehicles registered for the first time and sold through different organizations, agencies or enterprises, the original invoice issued by the last seller is required. In case one invoice is used for more than one vehicle, a notarized or certified copy of the sale invoice is required for each vehicle;

b/ For vehicles of enterprises or business establishments, a value-added invoice, sale invoice or self-printed invoice prescribed by law is required. In case of purchase of liquidated vehicles of administrative and non-business agencies, a state asset sale invoice or public asset sale invoice is required. For vehicles confiscated for the state fund, an invoice on sale of assets confiscated for the state fund or a state asset sale invoice or a public asset sale invoice (the original or a notarized or certified copy) is required. For vehicles auctioned by banks, a law-prescribed invoice is required;

c/ For organizations and individuals that contribute capital to enterprises and such contribution is recorded in a capital contribution minutes or an asset delivery and receipt minutes, upon capital withdrawal, a vehicle return minutes or an asset delivery and receipt minutes is required. In case the contribution of capital to an enterprise is recorded in a value-added invoice, upon capital withdrawal, the enterprises shall make a value-added invoice. In case enterprises sell vehicles, a law-prescribed invoice is required.

2. For converted vehicles:

a/ In case only the complete engine, block or complete chassis of a vehicle is replaced (it is not permitted to replace both engine and chassis):

The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular and the registration fee paper as prescribed.

A copy of the declaration of exports or imports accompanied by a detailed list of complete engine or complete chassis (only the first page and the page indicating information on the complete engine or complete chassis as certified by the importer) or an e-customs declaration is required;

b/ In case of using a domestically manufactured complete engine or complete chassis: The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Article 7, at Point b, Clause 1, Article 8, and in Article 9, of this Circular (the ex-works quality inspection certificate for road motor vehicles is required, or it is required to clearly write the engine number or chassis number under regulations of the manufacturing or assembling enterprise);

c/ In case of using the complete engine or complete chassis of a registered vehicle: The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and a certificate of revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate (clearly stating whether the certificate is granted for the complete engine or complete chassis);

d/ In case of using a confiscated complete engine or complete chassis:

The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and a competent authority’s confiscation decision accompanied by an invoice on sale of goods confiscated for the state fund under regulations;

dd/ Registration will not be settled for vehicles converted into passenger cars or for special-use vehicles with their functions and uses converted within 5 years and refrigerator trucks converted within 3 years from the date of importation;

e/ It is not permitted to use the complete engine or complete chassis of vehicles with expired lifetime or duty-free vehicles; or of vehicles temporarily imported for re-export of diplomatic missions, consular offices or representative offices of international organizations entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities or consular immunities in replacement of those of other vehicles.

3. For imported trailers, semi-trailers, tractors, and electric motorbikes and cars, a technical safety and environmental protection quality certificate of imported motor vehicles (for number plate registration) is required.

4. For vehicles handled as inventories left in warehouses in areas of customs operation under the customs law, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the following papers:

a/ The paper proving the origin of import as prescribed at Point a, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular;

b/ The decision on sale of inventories left in bonded warehouses, issued by the council for handling of inventories left in bonded warehouses under regulations.

Particularly for vehicles on the Government-issued list of goods banned from import, the decision on vehicle confiscation is required (the registration dossier must comply with Point d, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular).

5. For vehicles handled as inventories left at ports in areas of customs operation under the customs law, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the decision on asset sale issued by the council for handling of inventories at ports and signed by the council’s chairperson being a leader of the concerned provincial-level Customs Department.

For vehicles confiscated for the state fund, the origin paper must comply with Point d, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular.

6. For vehicles subject to retrospective collection of import duty (vehicles that have been registered with forged origin papers as detected later), the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular, and the following papers:

a/ The receipt of import duty, excise tax and value-added tax (if any) on imports;

b/ The vehicle registration certificate or decision on handling of material evidences or written conclusion issued by the investigation body.

7. For vehicles subject to retrospective collection of additional import duty amounts, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular, and the following papers:

a/ The decision on retrospective duty collection, issued by the concerned provincial-level Customs Department;

b/ The receipt of remittance of import duty into the state budget.

8. For vehicles in national reserves, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular, and the following papers:

a/ The decision on sale of national reserves goods, issued by a minister or the head of a sector managing national reserves goods. In case one decision is issued for more than one vehicle, one copy of such decision is required for each vehicle (certified by the ministry or sector managing national reserves goods);

b/ The declaration of origin of imported vehicle or certificate issued by the General Department of Vietnam Customs (one original for each vehicle), indicating the brand, engine number and chassis number.

9. For vehicles subject to auction decisions of competent agencies:

Registration will be settled for vehicles with valid original dossiers or lawful vehicle title documents of vehicle owners. Registration shall not be settled for vehicles with unidentified origin or without lawful vehicle title documents of vehicle owners, and competent agencies shall instruct vehicle owners to come to the agencies that have issued auction decisions for settlement.

a/ For vehicles for which judgment enforcement agencies have issued auction decisions to secure judgment execution, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular, and the following papers:

The vehicle registration certificate (for registered vehicles). If it is impossible to revoke the vehicle registration certificate, such shall be certified in writing by the judgment enforcement agency.

A copy of the court ruling or a judgment extract.

The judgment enforcement decision issued by the competent civil judgment enforcement agency.

The receipt or asset handover minutes;

b/ For mortgaged vehicles which are auctioned by banks to collect debts, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular, and the following papers:

The vehicle registration certificate (for registered vehicles). If it is impossible to revoke the vehicle registration certificate, the asset-selling bank’s written certification is required (in replacement of the vehicle registration certificate).

A copy of the credit contract or security contract (certified and signed by the credit institution).

The asset purchase and sale contract or asset transfer contract or asset receipt minutes or asset auction document (as the case may be).

The sale invoice as prescribed by law.

For vehicles involved in disputes or lawsuits or vehicles used as assets for judgment execution, an extract or a copy of the judgment or a copy of the court ruling or judgment execution decision of the judgment enforcement agency is also required. For vehicles seized by banks because their owners fail to voluntarily hand them over, the seizure decision and seizure minutes are also required;

c/ For vehicles subject to forcible distraint decisions issued by competent agencies to secure the execution of notices of debts and late-payment interests in accordance with the customs law, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee paper as prescribed, and the following papers:

The paper on vehicle title transfer; a copy of the decision on administrative coercion through distraint of assets for auction, the asset auction minutes made by the district-level finance agency or provincial-level asset auction service center, and the sale invoice under regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

The declaration of origin of imported car (the second original or a copy of the first original kept at the customs office).

10. For vehicles of a financial leasing company that are registered according to addresses of head offices of lessees:

a/ The registration dossier must comply with Articles 7, 8 and 9 of this Circular;

b/ The financial leasing company’s official letter requesting vehicle registration according to the place of residence or location of office of the lessee.

11. For special-use cars hired from foreign partners:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, and the registration fee paper as prescribed;

b/ The car rent contract;

c/ The declaration of exports or imports under regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

12. For vehicles of completed foreign aid projects that are handed to Vietnamese partners:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the vehicle registration certificate; decision to establish state ownership over the vehicle (document of a minister or the head of a ministerial-level agency, for central agencies, or document of the provincial-level People’s Committee chairperson, for local agencies); and the minutes of receipt of assets from the donor;

b/ For vehicles as aid for completed projects, upon their sale, the competent authority’s decision on asset handling is required.

13. For registered vehicles of a project that are handed to another project for further use:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the vehicle registration certificate;

b/ The foreign project owner’s document on vehicle handover;

c/ The official letter certifying aid goods, issued by the Department of Debt Management and External Finance of the Ministry of Finance.

14. For vehicles as non-refundable aid or humanitarian aid, the vehicle title transfer shall be settled in accordance with this Circular.

15. For registered vehicles that are revoked from completed projects under competent authorities’ decisions on asset handling, and for other state assets:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the vehicle registration certificate;

b/ The competent authority’s decision on asset handling;

c/ The state asset sale invoice or public asset sale invoice, issued by the Ministry of Finance in case the assets are sold or liquidated; or the asset handover and receipt minutes in case the assets are transferred.

16. For registered vehicles of dissolved enterprises that liquidate their assets:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the vehicle registration certificate;

b/ The competent authority’s dissolution decision or a copy of the decision on revocation of the enterprise registration certificate.

17. For registered vehicles that encounter accidents and are recovered by insurance agencies with 100% compensation paid:

a/ The registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular, the registration fee payment paper as prescribed, and the vehicle registration certificate;

b/ The vehicle owner’s vehicle handover paper;

c/ The compensation document;

d/ The insurance agency’s invoice of insurance premiums paid by the client.

18. For a vehicle not yet registered while the title transfer paper or registration fee payment paper or origin paper or all papers of such vehicle is or are lost:

a/ The vehicle dossier must comply with Articles 7 and 9 of this Circular;

b/ Copies of papers in the vehicle dossier (as prescribed in Article 8 of this Circular), certified by the agencies that have issued such papers. For domestically manufactured or assembled vehicles with origin and quality certificates of manufacturers, after 30 days from the date of notification, if no violation or dispute is detected, registration will be settled.

19. For a vehicle being common assets of husband and wife

a/ The vehicle owner shall voluntarily declare the vehicle as a common asset of husband and wife, with full names of the husband and wife together with their signatures written in the vehicle registration declaration. For a vehicle under common ownership of husband and wife that was registered under the name of either husband or wife and is now requested to be registered as a common asset of husband and wife, the vehicle registration declaration with signatures of husband and wife is required, and the vehicle registration agency shall recover the old vehicle registration certificate and grant a new one;

b/ For a vehicle under co-ownership, upon its sale or donation, signatures or sale authorization papers of co-owners are required.

20. For mortgaged vehicles, upon vehicle title transfer, or renewal or re-grant of vehicle registration certificates, a copy of the demortgage certificate or mortgage release document or written consent of the mortgagee is required.

21. For vehicles confiscated for the state fund, the original dossier is not required upon their registration. The origin papers must comply with Point d, Clause 1, Article 8 of this Circular.

22. In case of registration of title transfer for vehicles sold or transferred to agencies, organizations or individuals in provinces other than where the vehicle owners reside while such registration has not yet been made and such vehicles are sold to agencies, organizations or individuals based or residing in the same provinces with the vehicle owners, competent agencies shall settle registration and grant new number plates or re-grant the old number plates as required.

For vehicles already registered and possessing number plates that have been sold by their owners to other persons, and now their owners request re-registration of ownership, competent agencies shall settle re-registration and retain the old number plates.

In case it is detected through checking of vehicle title transfer papers that vehicle owners fail to strictly comply with regulations on the time limit for carrying out procedures for vehicle title transfer (for changing names of vehicle owners stated in vehicle registration certificates to their names), competent agencies shall make a minutes of violation sanctioning under regulations and submit the case to a competent authority for issuing a sanctioning decision.

23. Registration of title transfer and movement for vehicles of army enterprises:

a/ For vehicles registered at traffic police offices and to be moved to the Vehicle-Machine Department of the Ministry of National Defense, the registration dossier must comprise:

The decision on vehicle transfer to the Ministry of National Defense for registration, signed by a leader of the Ministry of National Defense.

The certificate of revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate (made according to Form No. 09 provided in Appendix 04 to this Circular).

The vehicle’s original dossier as prescribed.

When coming to a vehicle registration agency for carrying out vehicle registration procedures, the vehicle owner is not required to take the vehicle to such agency but shall submit the vehicle registration certificate and number plate and produce his/her identification paper under regulations;

b/ For military vehicles to be transferred for civil use, the registration dossier must comprise the papers specified in Article 8 of this Circular and original vehicle dossier.

24. For temporarily imported vehicles; and imported vehicles eligible for import duty exemption that are transferred in Vietnam:

a/ The vehicle owner shall carry out procedures for revocation of the vehicle registration certificate and number plate at the vehicle registration agency under Article 16 of this Circular and submit a letter of introduction of the State Protocol Department or provincial-level Department of Home Affairs; then the vehicle transferee shall come to the customs office for carrying out transfer procedures, pay tax under regulations, and return the transfer dossier and registration fee receipt to the vehicle registration agency for carrying out vehicle title transfer procedures;

b/ Vehicle title transfer will be granted for vehicles subject to retrospective tax collection by the customs office or not subject to retrospective tax collection as notified in writing by a functional agency of the Ministry of Finance.

25. For domestically manufactured or assembled vehicles that have been registered and have technical defects in their complete engines or blocks to be changed by manufacturers, only the origin and quality certificate of the manufacturer is required.

Article 21.Grant of control badges for cars bearing number plates of special economic-trade zones or international border-gate economic zones under the Government’s regulations to operate in the inland

1. Procedures and dossier:

a/ The registration certificate of the vehicle bearing a number plate of special economic-trade zones or international border-gate economic zones under the Government’s regulations;

b/ The car import declaration.

2. Agencies issuing control badges (traffic police divisions) shall check and compare declared information against lists of vehicles under their management, and record such information in monitoring books, and issue control badges on the same day.

3. A control badge is valid for up to 30 days from the date of issuance. Badges shall be stuck inside on the top right corner of the windshield.

4. Papers on issuance of vehicle control badges and books for monitoring vehicles entering inland Vietnam for operation shall be numbered, starting from 01, bound into volumes and managed under the Ministry of Public Security’s regulations on filing.

Chapter III

FORMS, VALIDITY PERIOD OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES, DETERMINATION OF YEARS OF MANUFACTURE OF VEHICLES, AND NUMBER PLATES OF VEHICLES

Article 22.Appendicesand forms used in vehicle registration

1. Promulgated together with this Circular are the following appendices:

a/ Appendix 01: Agencies and units carrying out car registration at the Traffic Police Department;

b/ Appendix 02: Signs of number plates of domestic cars and motorbikes;

c/ Appendix 03: Signs of number plates of cars and motorbikes of foreign organizations and individuals;

d/ Appendix 04: Regulations on dimensions and sizes of number plates, letters and digits on number plates of cars, motorbikes, tractors, electric motorbikes, trailers and semi-trailers of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals.

2. Promulgated together with this Circular are the following forms:

a/ Form No. 01: Vehicle registration declaration;

b/ Form No. 02: Motorbike registration certificate;

c/ Form No. 03: Car registration certificate;

d/ Form No. 04: Trailer or semi-trailer registration certificate;

dd/ Form No. 05: Temporary vehicle registration certificate;

e/ Form No. 06: Tractor registration certificate;

g/ Form No. 07: Paper of issuance of vehicle control badge;

h/ Form No. 08: Book for monitoring cars of special economic-trade zones which are temporarily imported for re-export;

i/ Form No. 09: Certificate of revocation of vehicle registration certificate and number plate;

k/ Form No. 10: Decision on revocation of vehicle registration certificate and number plate.

For vehicles the structure of which is similar to that of a certain vehicle model, the form of vehicle registration certificate for such model may be used.

Article 23.Validity duration of vehicle registration certificates

1. Registration certificates of trucks, passenger cars and converted cars may have their validity duration written under the Government’s regulations.

2. Registration certificates of cars and motorbikes of foreign staff members of diplomatic missions, consular offices or representative offices of international organizations may have their validity duration written corresponding to the validity duration of their diplomatic identity cards or official identity cards. For temporarily imported vehicles of ODA experts or overseas Vietnamese who are invited to work in the country, the validity duration of vehicle registration certificates must correspond to the working periods of such persons in Vietnam.

3. Registration certificates of cars and motorbikes of diplomatic missions, consular offices or representative offices of international organizations may initially have their validity duration of 5 years that may be extended once every 3 years.

Article 24.Determination of years of manufacture of vehicles

For imported vehicles and vehicles manufactured or assembled from imported car chassis or complete cars, their owners shall produce functional agencies-issued certificates of quality or notices of exemption from technical safety and environmental protection quality inspection for imported motor vehicles for determining the year of manufacture of vehicles. For other vehicles, the year of manufacture shall be determined based on the 10^thcharacter of the chassis number according to relevant current standards. The Traffic Police Department shall coordinate with functional agencies in making and sending copies of regulations on relevant current standards for determining the year of manufacture of vehicles to vehicle registration agencies.

Article 25.Provisions onnumber plates

1. Material of number plates: Number plates shall be made of metal materials with reflective sheeting and must bear the Public Security forces’ concealed confidentiality signs. Number plates shall be made by a unit licensed by the Ministry of Public Security and managed by the Traffic Police Department. Particularly, number plates of temporarily registered vehicles shall be printed on paper.

2. Signs and sizes of letters and digits on number plates of vehicles of all types must comply with Appendices 02, 03 and 04 to this Circular.

3. A car must bear 2 number plates of 165 mm in height and 330 mm in length. In case the design of a special-use car or the characteristics of a car make(s) it impossible to attach 2 number plates of the above dimensions, vehicle registration agencies shall carry out physical inspection and propose the Director of the Traffic Police Department (for cars subject to registration at the Traffic Police Department) or the head of a traffic police division (for cars subject to registration in localities) to permit the attachment of 2 number plates of 110 mm in height and 520 mm in length or permit the attachment of 1 number plate of 165 mm in height and 330 mm in length and 1 number plate of 110 mm in height of and 520 mm in length. Additional costs, if any, shall be borne by vehicle owners.

a/ Alphanumeric patterns on number plates of domestic cars: The first two digits signify the locality of vehicle registration, followed by the registration serial letter; the second group of digits is the ordinal number of the registered vehicle, consisting of 5 digits from 000.01 to 999.99;

b/ Alphanumeric patterns on number plates of foreign cars: The first two digits signify the locality of vehicle registration, followed by the second group of 3 digits denoting the country or international organization, the third group being a serial number denoting that the grantee is a foreign organization or individual, and the fourth group indicating the ordinal number of the registered vehicle, consisting of 2 digits from 01 to 99;

c/ A trailer or semi-trailer may have 1 number plate of 165  mm in height and 330 mm in length attached to the back of the body. The alphanumeric patterns on this number plate are the same as those on number plates of domestic cars.

4. A tractor may have 1 number plate of 140 mm in height and 190 mm in length attached to the rear. The first group of digits signifies the locality of vehicle registration and the registration serial letter; and the second group of digits is the ordinal number of the registered vehicle, consisting of 5 digits from 000.01 to 999.99.

5. A motorbike may have a number plate of 140 mm in height and 190 mm in length attached to the rear. The first group of digits signifies the locality of vehicle registration and registration serial letter. The second group of digits indicates the serial number of the registered vehicle, consisting of 5 digits, from 000.01 to 999.99. For a number plate of motorbikes of foreign organizations and individuals, the first group signifies the locality of vehicle registration; the second group indicates the sign of the country of the vehicle owner; the third group is the registration serial number; and the fourth group indicates the ordinal number of the registered vehicle, consisting of 3 digits, from 001 to 999.

6. Number plates of vehicles of domestic agencies, organizations and individuals:

a/ Number plates with white letters and digits on a blue background and serial plate numbers using in succession one of the following 11 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L and M, shall be granted for vehicles of Party agencies; the Presidential Office; the Office and agencies of the National Assembly; offices of National Assembly deputies’  delegations and People’s Councils at all levels; central steering committees; People’s Public Security units, People’s Courts, and People’s Procuracies; ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government-attached agencies; the National Traffic Safety Committee; People’s Committees at all levels and specialized agencies of provincial- and district-level People’s Committees; socio-political organizations (the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Vietnam Trade Union, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam Women’s Union, Vietnam Veterans’ Association, and Vietnam Peasants’ Association);  public non-business units, excluding public driver-training and -testing centers; and project management units with the state management function;

b/ Number plates with white letters and digits on a blue background and “CD” symbol shall be granted for special-use vehicles of the People’s Public Security forces for public security purpose;

c/ Number plates with black letters and digits on a white background and serial plate numbers using in succession one of the following 20 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y and Z, shall be granted for vehicles of enterprises (including joint-stock enterprises of Public Security forces or the Army), management units of projects of enterprises, social organizations, or socio-professional organizations, vehicles of non-public non-business units, vehicles of public driver-training and -testing centers, and personal vehicles;

d/ Number plates with red letters and digits, a symbol of the locality of registration and two letters denoting the acronym of the name of a special economic-trade zone or an international border-gate economic zone on a yellow background shall be granted for vehicles of special economic-trade zones or international border-gate economic zones under the Government’s regulations;

dd/ Number plates with black letters and digits  on a yellow background and serial plate numbers using in succession one of the following 20 letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L, M, N, P, S, T, U, V, X, Y and Z, shall be granted for vehicles used for transportation business activities;

e/ Some cases with separate serial symbols:

Number plates with “KT” symbol shall be granted for vehicles of enterprises in the Army at the request of the Vehicle-Machine Agency under the Ministry of National Defense.

Number plates with “LD” symbol shall be granted for vehicles of foreign-invested enterprises, vehicles hired from foreign partners and vehicles of foreign contractors.

Number plates with “DA” symbol shall be granted for vehicles of management units of foreign-invested projects.

Number plates with “R” symbol shall be granted for trailers and semi-trailers;

Number plates with “T” symbol shall be granted for temporarily registered vehicles.

Number plates with “MK” symbol shall be granted for tractors.

Number plates with “MD” symbol shall be granted for electric motorbikes.

Number plates with “TD” symbol shall be granted for domestically manufactured or assembled motor vehicles, which are permitted by the Prime Minister for pilot operation.

Number plates with “HC” symbol shall be granted for cars with limited scope of operation;

Vehicles the structure of which is similar to that of a certain vehicle model shall be granted with number plates for such model.

7. Number plates of vehicles of foreign agencies, organizations and individuals:

a/ Number plates with black numbers and red “NG” symbol on a white background shall be granted for vehicles of foreign diplomatic missions and consular offices and their foreign staff members holding diplomatic identity cards. Particularly, number plates of vehicles of ambassadors and consuls general have the registration ordinal number 01 with a red stripe through digits denoting the nationality and registration ordinal number (number plates with the registration ordinal number 01 shall be re-granted upon registration of new vehicles);

b/ Number plates with black digits and red “QT” symbol on a white background shall be granted for vehicles of representative offices of international organizations and their foreign staff members holding diplomatic identity cards. Particularly, number plates of vehicles of heads of representative offices of United Nations organizations also have a red stripe through digits denoting the sign of vehicles of international organizations and registration ordinal number;

c/ Number plates with black letters and digits and “CV” symbol on a white background shall be granted for vehicles of administrative and technical staff members holding official identity cards of diplomatic missions, consular offices or international organizations;

d/ Number plates with black letters and digits and “NN” symbol on a white background shall be granted for vehicles of foreign organizations, representative offices and individuals, excluding those specified at Points a, b and c above.

8. Number plates shall be manufactured and provided at the request of vehicle registration agencies. Enterprises may have number plate-manufacturing chains invested by the Ministry of Public Security and number plate products (their dimensions, quality and confidentiality) managed and tested before acceptance by the Traffic Police Department and number plate-manufacturing establishments inspected on a periodical basis. Number plates shall be strictly managed under regulations. Data of number plate-manufacturing establishments shall be connected to those of the Traffic Police Department for unified management, manufacture and provision of number plates.

9.  Number-plate serial numbers and ordinal numbers shall be issued by local Public Security offices according to ascending serial numbers of symbols, ensuring that the 20 serial numbers of one number plate symbol are fully used in succession before using a new symbol. Serial numbers of a new number plate in a locality may be issued only after obtaining a written approval from the Traffic Police Department.

10. Three-digit number plates shall be converted into 5-digit number plates in case of registration of vehicle title transfer; or renewal or re-grant of number plates.

11. Owners of cars (except cars of up to 9 seats) must have number plates painted or attached at the rear and on both sides of their cars; and have names of agencies or units and tonnage and weight of cars written on both doors (except personal cars).

Chapter IV

IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

Article 26.Effect

1. This Circular takes effect on August 1, 2020, and replaces the Minister of Public Security’s Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA of April 4, 2014, on vehicle registration (below referred to as Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA), and the Minister of Public Security’s Circular No. 64/2017/TT-BCA of December 28, 2017, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA.

2. Vehicles that are used for transportation business activities before the effective date of this Circular must have their number plates converted into those with black letters and digits on a yellow background before December 31, 2021.

3. For vehicles that have undergone different title transfers but lack or have no title transfer papers, registration and title transfer may be settled under Article 19 of this Circular through December 31, 2021.

4. The form of vehicle registration certificate issued together with Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA, and number plates of cars, trailers and semi-trailers manufactured before the effective date of this Circular may be further used through December 31, 2020.

5. The declaration of converted vehicles and vehicles with changed paint color (including paintings and advertisements on vehicles), vehicles with expired lifetime, damaged and unusable vehicles, and vehicles demolished due to objective causes on the website of the Traffic Police Department, and online vehicle registration shall apply from March 1, 2021.

Article 27.Implementation responsibility

1. The Director of Traffic Police Department shall direct, examine and guide Public Security offices of units and localities to implement this Circular; upgrade and complete their vehicle registration databases serving data connection with ministries, sectors and the National Public Service Portal and implement operational measures; formulate and issue documents providing operational instructions on vehicle registration; and notify the vehicle registration agencies specified in Article 3 of this Circular of the modification or supplementation of forms, documents and papers in accordance with relevant regulations on vehicle registration for compliance.

2. The Traffic Police Department shall coordinate with the Information Technology Department, the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order, and the Office of the Investigation Police Agency in providing uniform guidance on connection of vehicle registration databases with the database on citizen identity cards, database on vehicles as material evidence, and database on e-invoices, e-registration fee and papers of electronic origin of the General Department of Taxation, the General Department of Vietnam Customs, and the Vietnam Register; formulate a plan on coordination with related agencies in organizing renewal of vehicle registration certificates and number plates for owners of vehicles used for commercial transport activities under regulations.

3. Agencies, organizations and individuals that have their vehicles registered under regulations but are now ineligible for grant of number plates of such type shall return their vehicle registration certificates and number plates and carry out procedures for movement of vehicles or renewal of number plates in accordance with this Circular.

4. Directors of departments and heads of units under the Ministry of Public Security, directors of provincial-level Departments of Public Security, and related agencies and units shall implement this Circular.

Public Security offices of units and localities should report any problems arising in the course of implementation of this Circular to the Ministry of Public Security (through the Traffic Police Department) for timely guidance.-

Minister of Public Security
General TO LAM

* The Appendices to this Circular are not translated.