Circular No. 01/2002/TT-BCA(C11) guiding the organization of registration and issuance of license plates for motor vehicles on roads

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for organizing the issuance of registration certificates and vehicle number plates
of the Ministry of Public Security on guiding the organization of issuing registration certificates and vehicle numbers for motor vehicles

 

Pursuant to Articles 48 and 49 of the Road Traffic Law adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its ninth session of the tenth term on June 29, 2001, the Ministry of Public Security stipulates the procedures for registering and issuing number plates for motor vehicles as follows:

 

This technical regulation sets out technical requirements, testing methods, sampling procedures; management requirements; responsibilities of organizations and individuals producing, trading, and importing cigarettes.

1. Scope and subjects of application:

1.1. Motor vehicles (hereinafter referred to as "vehicles") include automobiles, tractors, two-wheeled motorcycles, three-wheeled motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and similar types of vehicles, including motorized vehicles for disabled persons owned by domestic and foreign organizations and individuals residing or having offices within the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, must be registered and issued number plates according to the provisions of this Circular before being put into operation.

1.2. This Circular does not apply to the registration and management of military vehicles used for national defense purposes.

2. Registration Authority:

2.1. The Highway Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security shall register automobiles belonging to diplomatic agencies, international organizations, and certain central government agencies (as listed in the attached list).

2.2. Provincial and centrally-administered city traffic police departments shall register vehicles belonging to domestic and foreign organizations and individuals, and economic enterprises under the Ministry of Defense residing or having offices in their respective localities.

3. Responsibilities of the vehicle owner:

3.1. The vehicle owner shall be responsible under the law for the legality of the vehicle registration documents and the vehicle itself.

3.2. Any acts of forging documents or erasing engine and frame numbers for the purpose of registration are strictly prohibited.

4. Responsibilities of the registration authority:

The registration authority shall be responsible for implementing the provisions of this Circular and other relevant laws.

5. Timeframe for issuing registration certificates and number plates:

5.1. Upon receipt of complete and valid documents, the registration authority shall immediately issue a receipt and number plate.

5.2. Within five days from the date of receiving complete and valid documents (excluding public holidays and weekends), the registration authority must issue the vehicle registration certificate or vehicle file to the owner (in cases of transfer or relocation) or a certificate of deregistration (in cases of deregistration). For Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the timeframe shall not exceed seven days.

5.3. Temporary vehicle registration: upon receipt of complete and valid documents, the registration authority shall immediately issue a temporary registration certificate and number plate.

II. VEHICLE REGISTRATION

A. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY THE OWNER WHEN REGISTERING A VEHICLE

1. The owner is a Vietnamese citizen:

- Present a national identity card.

- In case of absence of a national identity card, present one of the following documents:

+ Permanent residence registration book or temporary residence certificate with validity period.

+ A copy of the decision on job transfer or acceptance issued by a competent state agency (if no permanent residence registration book is available).

+ For owners who are military personnel (Army, Police): a letter of introduction from the working unit accompanied by a People's Army identification card, People's Police identification card, or People's Security identification card, including temporary identification cards.

+ For student or university student owners registering a vehicle: a temporary residence introduction letter as prescribed and present a student or university student card.

+ For Vietnamese citizens residing abroad: a temporary residence declaration as prescribed and present a passport (still valid).

- A person authorized by the owner to register the vehicle: must have a power of attorney from the owner (confirmed by local authorities or the working unit) and present their own national identity card. If the person registering the vehicle is the owner's parent, spouse, child, or guardian, they do not need a power of attorney.

2. The owner is a foreign citizen:

- Foreign citizens (including Vietnamese citizens holding foreign nationality): present a passport (still valid) and an introduction letter from a Vietnamese agency managing foreign nationals.

- Diplomatic personnel: present a valid diplomatic identification card and an introduction letter from the Consular Service Bureau or the Department of Foreign Affairs.

- Foreign citizens or Vietnamese citizens residing abroad working in Vietnamese enterprises or organizations: present a passport (still valid) and a work permit issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, provincial-level labor and social affairs departments, or industrial zone management boards.

3. The owner is an organization or institution:

- The owner is a Vietnamese organization or institution: an introduction letter clearly stating the name and position of the person registering the vehicle.

- The owner is an economic enterprise under the Ministry of Defense: an introduction letter from the Motorcycle Management Bureau under the General Technical Department of the Ministry of Defense.

- The owner is a diplomatic agency or international organization: an introduction letter from the Consular Service Bureau or the Department of Foreign Affairs.

- The owner is a joint venture or wholly foreign-owned enterprise: a copy of the investment license issued by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (at the central level) or by the provincial-level people's committees (at the local level). The copy must be certified or authenticated by the issuing authority.

- The owner is a representative office: a permit for establishing a representative office issued by a competent state agency or a certified or authenticated copy of such permit.

- The owner is a foreign company that has won a bid and brought vehicles into Vietnam for use: a copy of the bid-winning permit issued by a ministry, department, or economic or social organization (all copies must be certified or authenticated by the issuing authority).

- The owner is a non-governmental organization: a certified or authenticated copy of the permit for establishing an office and an introduction letter from the agency managing the non-governmental organization.

4. Introduction letters and copies of documents required by points 1, 2, and 3 above must be kept in the vehicle file.

B. PROCEDURES FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION

1. Vehicle registration procedures include:

1.1. Application for registration (according to the prescribed form);

1.2. Transfer documents;

1.3. Stamp duty payment receipts;

1.4. Proof of origin of the vehicle.

2. The transfer documents specified in point 1.2. above include one of the following types of documents:

Sales or gift contracts; decisions or agreements or inheritance documents as prescribed by law; sales invoices as prescribed by the Ministry of Finance.

In the case of vehicles owned by administrative and service agencies, organizations, or individuals not engaged in business operations, when transferring or selling vehicles, there is no need for a sales invoice. In cases of jointly-owned vehicles, when transferring ownership, signatures from all co-owners or authorization letters to sell on behalf of the owners must be provided.

3. The tax stamp certificate prescribed in point 1.3 above shall be specified as follows:

3.1. A receipt for the payment of the tax stamp or a payment voucher submitted to the state budget in cash or by check through the National Treasury (with confirmation from the National Treasury that it has received the money).

3.2. In cases where the tax stamp is exempted, a declaration form for the tax stamp must be provided.

3.3. In cases where multiple vehicles share one tax stamp certificate, a declaration form for the tax stamp and a certified copy of the tax stamp certificate issued by the issuing authority must be provided.

4. The vehicle origin certificate prescribed in point 1.4 above shall be specified as follows:

4.1. Imported complete vehicles;

4.1.1. Vehicles imported under commercial contracts;

- Declaration form for the origin of imported motor vehicles and two-wheeled motorcycles as prescribed.

- For donated vehicles, an additional confirmation of donation from the International Aid Reception Board - Ministry of Finance must be provided.

4.1.2. Non-commercial imports, gifts, or imported movable assets:

- Export and import permit for non-commercial goods as prescribed by the General Department of Customs;

- Declaration form for the import of non-commercial goods as prescribed by the General Department of Customs;

- Receipts for export tax and import tax:

+ For passenger vehicles with less than 24 seats, tourist vehicles, combined passenger and cargo vehicles, and lam vehicles imported with an import permit after January 1, 1996, a valid special consumption tax receipt or a certified copy thereof must be provided, which is submitted by the entrusted importer (certified copy signed by the entrusted importer). Exempted donations and vehicles imported under diplomatic immunity or tax benefits as prescribed by the Government are excluded.

+ In cases where the vehicle is a gift or movable asset exceeding the permitted quantity as prescribed by the General Department of Customs, an additional special consumption tax receipt must be provided.

+ Cases where import tax receipts or special consumption tax receipts are not required include: temporarily imported vehicles by individuals enjoying diplomatic immunity or tax benefits; individuals who have returned to Vietnam after residing abroad; vehicles imported according to Government Decrees or bilateral agreements under temporary import and re-export regimes; gifts or movable assets within the permitted quantity as prescribed by the General Department of Customs.

- For specialized vehicles with a zero percent tax rate, only the declaration form for the import of non-commercial goods as prescribed by the General Department of Customs, which clearly states the brand name, engine number, and chassis number, is required.

4.2. Domestic production and assembly vehicles:

- Quality inspection certificate for motor vehicles and two-wheeled motorcycles upon factory release as prescribed by the Ministry of Transport.

For domestically assembled vehicles bearing foreign brand names that are converted into domestic brand names or further assembled into different types, each assembly must have a quality inspection certificate as prescribed by the Ministry of Transport.

- Declaration form for the origin of imported motor vehicles and two-wheeled motorcycles (for vehicles assembled from parts as prescribed by the General Department of Customs, a declaration form for the origin of imported motor vehicles and two-wheeled motorcycles must be provided).

4.3. Modified vehicles:

4.3.1. Vehicles changing their nature of transport:

- Vehicle registration certificate (for registered vehicles) or import origin certificate (for used vehicles allowed to be imported);

- Certificate of technical safety inspection for modified motor vehicles as prescribed by the Ministry of Transport.

Registration will not be processed for other vehicles modified into passenger vehicles; specialized vehicles converted in function or purpose (referred to as functionality) before five years and refrigerated vehicles before three years (from the date of import) as prescribed by the Government.

4.3.2. Vehicles replacing the engine assembly, body assembly (block), or chassis assembly imported:

- Vehicle registration certificate;

- Original confirmation from the customs authority responsible for the import procedures of the assembly (imported under a commercial contract). In cases of non-commercial imports, the original declaration form for the import of non-commercial goods and the receipt for export and import taxes must be provided;

- If the engine assembly, body assembly (block), or chassis assembly differ in brand or technical specifications, a certificate of technical safety inspection for modified motor vehicles as prescribed by the Ministry of Transport must be provided.

4.3.3. Vehicles replacing the engine assembly, body assembly (block), or chassis assembly produced domestically:

- Vehicle registration certificate;

- Sales certificate of the assembly from the manufacturing facility;

- Quality inspection report of the product from the manufacturing facility.

4.3.4. In cases where the engine assembly or chassis assembly of a registered vehicle is used to replace another vehicle, a cancellation registration certificate must be provided. The cancellation registration certificate must clearly indicate that it is issued for the engine assembly or chassis assembly.

4.4. Vehicles seized and transferred to the state treasury:

- Seizure decision (original or certified copy with notarization or certification from the competent authority);

- Sales invoice for seized items issued by the Ministry of Finance or a document establishing state ownership rights from the competent authority.

Registration of seized items transferred to the state treasury shall be based on the current engine and chassis numbers recorded in the decision and invoice, but the vehicle must be of the same type and technical specifications.

4.5. Vehicles auctioned or transferred by the court to enforce judgments:

- Copy of the court's decision or extract of the judgment;

- Enforcement decision from the enforcement office;

- Payment receipt or asset handover record.

In cases of auctioned vehicles, they must have a legitimate origin as prescribed in this Circular and proof of lawful ownership of the vehicle by the person whose vehicle was auctioned. Vehicles with unclear origins or without proof of lawful ownership of the person whose property was auctioned will not be accepted for registration and must be directed to the place that issued the auction decision for resolution.

4.6. Vehicles with a decision to handle evidence:

- The decision to handle evidence issued by the investigating agency, Prosecutor's Office, or Court (original or certified copy by the competent authority);

- Receipt for payment or receipt for money or handover record (if it is a victim);

4.7. Vehicles subject to repossession by banks:

- A copy of the credit agreement or guarantee contract (signed by the financial institution);

- Purchase agreement or asset transfer agreement or asset receipt record or auction sale document (depending on the specific handling case);

- Vehicle registration certificate or origin document of the vehicle;

- Payment receipt according to the regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

In cases where the vehicle is a disputed collateral or pledge, a litigation vehicle, or an execution asset, the following must also be provided:

+ Extract of judgment or copy of judgment or copy of court decision;

+ Execution decision of the enforcement agency.

If the vehicle is registered in another locality, an additional transfer name change form must be provided along with the original file (the transfer name change declaration signed by the vehicle owner or the selling entity, financial institutions).

4.8. Vehicles of projects:

4.8.1. Vehicles from foreign aid projects upon expiration and handed over to Vietnam:

- Origin documents of the vehicle as stipulated in Points 4.1 and 4.2 of Section B, Part II of this Circular;

- Acceptance decision of the head of the central ministry (for central agencies) or the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee (for local agencies);

- Handover record of the vehicle according to regulations.

After obtaining the vehicle registration certificate under the name of the Vietnamese agency, the sale of vehicles belonging to central agencies shall be decided by the head of the central ministry, while those managed by local authorities shall be decided by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

In cases of humanitarian aid vehicles, normal transfer name change procedures apply according to regulations.

4.8.2. Vehicles (already registered) from this project handed over to another project:

- Transfer document of the foreign project owner;

- Confirmation letter of aid goods from the International Aid Reception Board - Ministry of Finance;

- Accompanied by the original file of the registered vehicle.

4.9. National reserve vehicles:

- Order to sell national reserve goods issued by the National Reserve Agency. For multiple vehicles, each vehicle must have its own order (copies must be certified by the National Reserve Agency).

- Declaration of imported vehicle origin or confirmation letter from the General Department of Customs (one original per vehicle specifying brand, engine number, chassis number);

- Invoice and dispatch note in accordance with the Ministry of Finance's regulations issued by the National Reserve Agencies' branches, one invoice per vehicle specifying brand, engine number, and chassis number.

4.10. Vehicles subject to back taxes on import duties:

- Decision to collect back taxes issued by the Customs Service or Tax Service of provinces and centrally-administered cities;

- Payment receipt for import tax paid into the State budget.

If the vehicle has already been registered, in addition to the above two documents, the original file of the vehicle must also be provided.

4.11. Foreign leased special purpose vehicles:

- Lease agreement;

- Export and import declaration forms in accordance with the General Department of Customs regulations.

4.12. Vehicles missing origin documents:

- Affidavit from the vehicle owner declaring before the law about the loss of the vehicle's origin documents, confirmed by local authorities or the working unit.

- Copy of the vehicle's origin documents confirmed by the issuing authority. In cases where the Quality Inspection Certificate at Factory Departure issued by the Ministry of Transport needs to be reissued (registration files must be complete as stipulated in Section B, Part II of this Circular).

After 30 days without any violations or disputes being discovered, vehicle registration procedures can be processed.

4.13. Police and Military vehicles sold to civilians:

Must provide vehicle origin documents as stipulated in one of Points 4.1, 4.2, or 4.3 of Section B, Part II of this Circular, and simultaneously must have a decision to sell the vehicle from the Logistics General Department - Ministry of Public Security (for police vehicles) or the General Staff - Ministry of Defense (for military vehicles).

For vehicles with origins issued by the Ministry of Defense before December 31, 1989 and registered before December 27, 1995, the original certificate of the Motorcycle Management Bureau under the Technical General Department must be provided for each vehicle.

4.14. Registration and management of vehicles of enterprises under the Ministry of Defense:

4.14.1. Vehicles managed by the military before December 31, 1989:

- Original file of the vehicle (in cases where there is no original file, the vehicle owner must provide a commitment statement detailing the vehicle's origin. The commitment must be confirmed by the head of the military region, corps, or branch or subordinate units of the Ministry of Defense).

- Vehicle registration certificate from the Motorcycle Management Bureau - Technical General Department of the Ministry of Defense.

4.14.2. Vehicles managed by the military after December 31, 1989 or purchased or newly equipped by military units, when registering, must have a valid original file as stipulated in Point 4 of Section B, Part II of this Circular.

4.15. Vehicles as common property of spouses:

- The vehicle owner voluntarily declares that the vehicle is common property of both spouses, must fully fill in the names of both spouses in the registration declaration and sign by both spouses. In cases where the vehicle was registered as common property of spouses before October 18, 2001, and now wishes to change the "Vehicle Registration" to include both names, a new registration declaration must be filled out with signatures of both spouses.

4.16. Military vehicles (excluding economic vehicles) requiring civilian license plates:

- Request letter from the leadership of the Ministry of Defense;

- In cases where the vehicle is already registered, a certified copy of the original file of the vehicle (confirmed by the Motorcycle Management Bureau - Technical General Department) must be provided;

- In cases where the vehicle is not yet registered, all registration procedures as stipulated in Section B, Part II of this Circular must be completed.

4.17. Two-wheeled motorcycles with cylinder capacity of 175 cm³ or more:

- Procedures as stipulated in Section B, Part II of this Circular.

- Registration users as prescribed by the Government.

4.18. Various types of vehicles similar to automobiles:

- Procedures and documents as prescribed in Section B, Part II of this Circular.

- In cases where vehicles produced or assembled before December 31, 1995 have origin documents that do not meet regulations, the vehicle owner must provide a commitment regarding the legitimate origin of the vehicle (confirmed by local authorities); technical safety inspection confirmation record by the Transportation Industry.

C. TEMPORARY REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

1. Eligible subjects for temporary registration:

1.1. New imported vehicles and vehicles produced and assembled moving from warehouses, ports, factories, dealerships to registration offices or other dealerships, storage facilities.

1.2. Vehicles with transfer certificates moving to another locality.

1.3. Vehicles undergoing cancellation procedures for re-exportation or transfer within Vietnam.

1.4. Vehicles permitted for temporary importation for international conferences, trade fairs, exhibitions, sports events, or advertising.

1.5. Vehicles permitted for transit (except those under bilateral agreements signed by the State).

1.6. Vehicles undergoing modification or newly manufactured test vehicles running on public roads.

2. Registration Procedures:

2.1. Vehicles Produced and Assembled in Vietnam:

- Vehicle registration application form (according to the prescribed model);

- Quality control certificate upon factory release as stipulated by the Ministry of Transport;

- Sales invoice or warehouse dispatch note.

2.2. Imported Vehicles:

- Vehicle registration application form (according to the prescribed model);

- Tax notification issued by the customs authority where the vehicle was imported;

- Import permit; customs declaration form for imported goods or detailed import declaration form for vehicles.

In cases where the vehicle has completed import procedures, the temporary registration process includes the types of documents specified in Section B, Part II of this Circular (excluding tax payment receipts).

When applying for temporary registration, the vehicle owner must bring the original and copies of all documents for verification; there is no need to bring the vehicle for inspection but the engine number and chassis number must be affixed to the registration application form. Upon issuance of the temporary registration, the original documents will be returned, and the registration authority will retain copies of the original documents.

2.3. Temporary Registration Period:

2.3.1. The maximum validity period of a temporary vehicle registration certificate is 7 days; if it exceeds 7 days, it must be approved by the Director of the Highway Traffic Police Corps (at the central level) or the Provincial Public Security Chief (at the local level) but not exceeding 15 days.

2.3.2. Vehicles temporarily imported for advertising, trade fairs, exhibitions, sports events, or other lawful purposes shall have their registration period determined according to the duration stated in the temporary import permit.

D. REPLACEMENT AND ISSUANCE OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES OR LICENSE PLATES

1. Replacement of Vehicle Registration Certificates or License Plates:

The following situations allow for replacement of vehicle registration certificates or license plates: modified vehicles; vehicles with changed paint color; damaged, worn-out, or faded vehicle registration certificates or license plates.

When requesting a replacement of a vehicle registration certificate or license plate, the vehicle owner must submit a formal letter (for organizations) or an application (for individuals) confirmed by the local government or workplace. The registration authority will issue new registration certificates and license plates (using the old numbers), except for three-digit license plates which must be replaced with four-digit ones. When applying for a replacement due to damage or fading, the old registration certificate or license plate must be submitted, and the vehicle does not need to be brought along.

2. Issuance of Lost Vehicle Registration Certificates or License Plates:

If a vehicle owner loses their registration certificate or license plate, they must submit a formal letter (for organizations) or an application (for individuals) requesting a replacement confirmed by the local government or workplace. The owner may authorize someone else to handle the request without bringing the vehicle to the registration authority.

After 60 days without any suspicious findings, the replacement of the registration certificate or license plate (using the old number) will be processed; for three-digit license plates, they must be replaced with four-digit ones.

Early issuance must be approved by the Director of the Highway Traffic Police Corps (at the central level) or the Provincial Public Security Chief (at the local level).

D. SITUATIONS FOR REAFFIXING ENGINE AND FRAME NUMBERS

1. For imported vehicles without engine or frame numbers, if the customs declaration indicates that these numbers are missing or not found, they should be reaffixed according to the registration number.

If the engine or frame numbers are marked with Etekét numbers, painted numbers, or faded numbers, they should be reaffixed according to the numbers confirmed by the customs authority in the import origin declaration.

2. Domestic Produced and Assembled Vehicles:

- Vehicles with engine or frame numbers stamped with pins (lade) or faded numbers that are unclear should be reaffixed according to the numbers recorded in the quality control certificate upon factory release;

- Vehicles with overlapping engine or frame numbers must undergo appraisal. If the appraisal authority concludes that the engine or frame numbers were tampered with, the registration will not be accepted;

If the appraisal concludes that the engine or frame numbers are original, they should be reaffixed according to the numbers recorded in the quality control certificate upon factory release.

3. If a registered vehicle has been replaced with a new engine or engine block without an engine number, it should be reaffixed according to the registration number.

4. For vehicles with confiscation decisions or decisions on evidence handling, if the engine or frame numbers are scratched or erased, they should be reaffixed according to the registration number.

III. TRANSFER AND MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES

Within 30 days from the date of transferring ownership documents, the new owner must go to the vehicle registration authority managing the vehicle (or authorize someone else to do so) to complete the transfer and movement procedures.

A. PROCEDURES FOR TRANSFERRING AND MOVING VEHICLES:

1. Transfer within the same province or city requires the following procedures:

1.1. Vehicle registration application form (according to the prescribed model);

1.2. Vehicle transfer application form (according to the prescribed model);

1.3. Vehicle registration certificate;

1.4. Ownership transfer document as stipulated at Point 2, Section B, Part II of this Circular.

1.5. Stamp duty receipt (as prescribed).

In this case, the original license plate remains unchanged (except for three-digit plates which must be replaced with four-digit plates of the same type) and a new registration certificate will be issued to the new owner.

2. Transfer to another province or city requires the following procedures:

2.1. Two vehicle transfer application forms (according to the prescribed model);

2.2. Vehicle registration certificate;

2.3. Ownership transfer document as stipulated at Point 2, Section B, Part II of this Circular.

The license plate must be returned; there is no need to bring the vehicle for inspection.

3. Movement of the same owner requires the following procedures:

3.1. Employment transfer decision or household relocation decision (instead of purchase and sale documents);

3.2. Two vehicle transfer application forms (according to the prescribed model);

3.3. Vehicle registration certificate.

The owner does not need to bring the vehicle, but the license plate must be returned. If the registration certificate or license plate is lost, a formal letter (for organizations) or an application (for individuals) must be submitted. After 60 days from the date of receiving the application or letter, if no suspicious findings are discovered, a transfer and movement certificate will be issued.

In case of issuance prior to the above-mentioned time limit, it must be approved by the Director of the Highway and Railway Traffic Police Department (at the central level) or the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department (at the local level).

4. When a vehicle moves to another locality but the owner has not registered it and sells it to a new owner, if the purchase and sale procedures and the preliminary tax comply with regulations, then registration will be accepted and processed, and a notification will be sent to the transferring locality to adjust the vehicle registration records.

B. CASES OF VEHICLES EXEMPT FROM USE TAX NOT BEING USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE:

Vehicles that are gifts; temporarily imported vehicles; project vehicles still within the transfer period in Vietnam, before registering, the vehicle owner must complete the deletion procedure at the traffic police agency, then proceed to the customs agency to handle import procedures according to regulations and return the file to the traffic police agency for name change and transfer procedures for the new owner.

If the aforementioned types of vehicles have not completed the deletion procedures, but the customs agency has collected or reclaimed import taxes or the relevant agencies of the Ministry of Finance, General Customs Department have provided a written response stating that there is no need to reclaim taxes, then normal name change and transfer procedures can be carried out and the written document shall be kept in the vehicle file.

C. RESOLUTION OF SOME ISSUES

1. REGARDING VEHICLE TRANSFER AND ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENTS:

1.1. When transferring ownership, if the file lacks transfer or assignment documents or the transfer is not continuous, then:

- Vehicles registered on or before September 1, 1993, are considered valid:

- Vehicles registered from September 2, 1993, to December 31, 1995; the vehicle owner must write a declaration confirmed by the local authority or workplace; the registration agency will accept the file and propose in writing to the Director of the Highway and Railway Traffic Police Department (for vehicles managed by the Highway and Railway Traffic Police Department) or the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department (for vehicles managed locally) for approval to process.

1.2. For vehicles bought and sold through multiple owners where intermediate owners cannot be identified, when transferring ownership, there must be transfer documents from the first owner and the last owner, and the owner must provide a declaration of responsibility confirmed by the local authority or workplace. After sixty days, if there is no dispute or complaint, the registration, name change, transfer, or license plate change will be processed.

2. Motorcycles with illegal import origins that were allowed to pay commercial and industrial taxes and registered by the police before December 31, 1995, must have full tax payment documents in their files to be accepted for processing of name change, transfer, or license plate change.

3. If a vehicle already registered is found to have a false certificate of origin (customs paper) or altered engine and frame numbers:

- The file will be transferred to the investigation agency for investigation and handling according to the law.

- If the investigation agency provides a written conclusion that the vehicle is not stolen, the registration agency will propose to the Director of the Highway and Railway Traffic Police Department (at the central level) or the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department (at the local level) to transfer the matter to the local Tax Bureau for tax recovery; once the owner pays the tax as prescribed, the name change, transfer, or license plate change will be processed.

4. Vehicles from Eastern European socialist countries and the former Soviet Union imported and registered before December 31, 1990, and vehicles with origins before 1975 registered under the old regime, when transferring ownership, if the original file lacks procedures but there are no disputes or complaints, the name change, transfer, or license plate change will be processed.

5. If a vehicle registered before December 31, 1990, has its engine and frame numbers repainted and appear different in handwriting and numbers but still match the original numbers in the file, the owner must write a declaration and the name change, transfer, or license plate change will be processed.

6. Vehicles registered before December 31, 1990, with a "not for sale, exchange, gift" stamp on the registration paper, if there are no disputes or complaints, the name change, transfer, or license plate change will be considered and processed.

7. Vehicles modified and registered before August 1, 1995, lacking technical inspection reports in the file, according to Circular No. 223/TTLB dated December 7, 1979, issued jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Home Affairs, will be considered for name change, transfer, or license plate change.

8. Vehicles assembled in Vietnam and registered before February 19, 1998, if they have a copy of the first product certification or a copy of the acceptance report by the acceptance committee as prescribed by the Ministry of Transport, will be considered for name change, transfer, or license plate change.

IV. DELETION OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORDS

1. Cases requiring deletion of registration records:

1.1. Old and unusable vehicles;

1.2. Vehicles dismantled for parts replacement;

1.3. Temporarily imported vehicles of foreign organizations and individuals re-exported or transferred in Vietnam;

1.4. Project vehicles exempt from import tax now sold or used for unintended purposes.

2. Deletion record files:

2.1. Application form for deletion of registration records (according to the model);

2.2. Official letter or application for deletion of registration records;

2.3. The vehicle owner does not need to bring the vehicle but must return the registration certificate and license plates to the traffic police agency.

V. MANAGEMENT OF VEHICLE FILES AND LICENSE PLATES AND AUTHORITY TO SIGN DOCUMENTS

1. Management of vehicle files:

Vehicle registration files must be managed according to the file management system of the Ministry of Public Security and directly managed, preserved, and utilized by the registration agency in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Public Security. Any violation of the file management system, loss, or misplacement of files must be promptly detected and strictly dealt with.

2. Regulations and management of license plates:

2.1. The Ministry of Public Security uniformly manages and issues license plates nationwide.

In all cases, before issuing new license plates, previously registered vehicles must have their old license plates recovered, corner cut, and invalidated according to regulations.

Strictly prohibited are any acts of producing, erasing, forging, selling, or circulating license plates not produced and issued by the Ministry of Public Security.

2.2. License plates of domestic organizations and individuals:

- Vehicles registered with the Public Security Department of a province or city shall bear the license plate code of that province or city as prescribed.

- Vehicles not used for business by administrative and service agencies, People's Public Security vehicles, vehicles of political and social organizations: license plate background color blue, characters and numbers white.

- Vehicles of enterprises, vehicles used for economic purposes by administrative and service agencies, individual vehicles: license plate background color white, characters and numbers black.

2.3. License plates of foreign organizations and individuals:

- Vehicles of international organizations; the license plate carries the specific code of the country to which the organization or individual belongs according to regulations.

- Vehicles of diplomatic agencies, foreign individuals with diplomatic status: license plate background color white, characters and numbers black; with the red lettering "NG" preceding the numbers. For license plates of special envoys and heads of United Nations representative offices, there is an additional red stripe across the middle of the numbers.

- Vehicles of organizations, representative offices, foreign individuals (including foreign students): license plate background color white, characters and numbers black, with the black lettering "NN".

- Vehicles of joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned enterprises, vehicles rented from abroad: license plate background color white, characters and numbers black, with the black lettering "LD".

2.4. Temporary license plates: made of white paper, characters and numbers black, size of the plate, numbers and letters like those produced in metal.

3. Regulations on license plates, writing on the body and doors of vehicles:

3.1. Registration license plates must be affixed at the front and rear of the vehicle (if the vehicle is towing a trailer, a license plate must be attached to the rear side of the trailer).

3.2. For all types of automobiles (except passenger cars with five seats or less), the vehicle owner must comply with the following regulations:

- Write the license plate number on the rear of the vehicle and both sides of the vehicle body;

- Write the load capacity and gross weight on both sides of the car doors;

- Write the name of the agency or unit on both sides of the car doors (except for personal vehicles of Vietnamese citizens, if necessary, write the name on both sides of the car doors).

3.3. Temporary registration license plates must be affixed inside the front and rear windows of the vehicle.

4. Authority to sign various documents:

4.1. The Director of the Highway Police Traffic Management Department signs vehicle registration certificates and other related documents directly managed and registered by the Highway Police Traffic Management Department.

4.2. The Head of the Provincial Public Security Traffic Police Departments signs vehicle registration certificates and other related documents managed and registered by local authorities.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Circular takes effect fifteen days from the date of issuance and replaces Circular No. 15/2000/TT-BCA(C11) dated December 8, 2000 of the Ministry of Public Security.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and government agencies within their functions, tasks, and powers shall coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to effectively implement motor vehicle registration.

3. The General Administration of Police shall direct and inspect the implementation of this Circular.

4. The Highway Police Traffic Management Department shall guide, inspect, and urge traffic police forces to strictly adhere to the provisions of this Circular and relevant laws concerning vehicle registration and management.

5. Heads of General Administrations, heads of agencies under the Minister, and Directors of Public Security Departments of centrally governed cities and provinces are responsible for implementing this Circular./.