The Top 5 Scenarios that Mandate a Change of Vehicle Number Plate and Registration Certificate from January 1, 2025

The 2024 Road Traffic Safety and Order Law will come into effect on January 1, 2025. According to Article 39.3 of this law, there are 5 cases where the registration certificate and license plate of motor vehicles and specialized vehicles must be changed.

5 Cases Requiring Changes to Vehicle Registration Certificates and License Plates

Specifically, Article 39.3 of the 2024 Road Traffic Order and Safety Law (officially taking effect from January 1, 2025) stipulates the following 5 cases where the registration certificate and license plate of motor vehicles and specialized vehicles must be changed:

1. The vehicle registration certificate and license plate are faded or damaged;

2. The vehicle has been modified, including changes to the paint color, the name or identifier of the organization or individual, or the purpose of use;

3. When the vehicle owner changes their address and wishes to change the vehicle registration certificate;

4. The vehicle registration certificate and license plate have expired;

5. The vehicle registration authority changes the structure or format of the vehicle registration certificate and license plate.

Provisions for Temporary License Plate and Registration Cases

Additionally, according to Article 39.5 of the 2024 Road Traffic Order and Safety Law, motor vehicles and specialized vehicles will be granted temporary license plates and registration in certain cases. These cases include:

– Motor vehicles and specialized vehicles that have a certificate of quality, technical safety, and environmental protection, as well as an output quality inspection certificate, when moving from the factory to warehouses, ports, or from warehouses, ports, factories, or dealerships to the vehicle registration authority, or to other dealerships or storage facilities;

– Vehicles undergoing recall procedures for re-export or transfer of ownership; vehicles serving events organized by the Party and State; vehicles registered abroad and permitted by competent authorities, including right-hand drive vehicles (with the steering wheel on the right), temporarily entering Vietnam for transit, temporary import and re-export to participate in conferences, fairs, exhibitions, sports, tourism, etc.;

– Except for cases where a temporary license plate is not required according to international treaties to which Vietnam is a member and cases stipulated in Article 55 of the 2024 Road Traffic Order and Safety Law;

– Test vehicles for research and development that need to participate in road traffic and meet the requirements specified in Point h, Clause 5, Article 42 of the 2024 Road Traffic Order and Safety Law.