SBKTS and EPTS in Plain Words: Certifying an Imported Car
Without SBKTS and EPTS an imported car cannot be registered. We explain what these documents are, how the procedure works, how long it takes and which mistakes delay it.
The car has cleared customs — but you still cannot drive it on public roads. To register it, you must confirm that its construction is safe and create an electronic title for it. Two documents handle this: SBKTS and EPTS. Let's break each down in plain words.
What SBKTS is
SBKTS is the vehicle construction safety certificate. It confirms that a specific imported car meets the requirements of the Customs Union technical regulation "On the safety of wheeled vehicles". The document is issued for a single vehicle — which is why every privately imported car needs one, even if the same model is officially sold in the country.
How the procedure works
- Booking an accredited testing laboratory. You can only work with laboratories listed in the accreditation registry — we cooperate with verified partners in several cities.
- Vehicle examination. Specialists verify the VIN and markings, check the lighting (beams must be right-hand-traffic), belts, glass, tires, mirrors and overall construction compliance.
- ERA-GLONASS unit. The emergency call device is mandatory for cars imported into Russia. Chinese cars do not come with it from the factory, so the unit is installed and activated locally. Temporary relaxations have applied to some import categories — check current requirements with a manager.
- SBKTS issuance. After a successful examination the laboratory issues the certificate electronically.
What EPTS is
EPTS is the electronic vehicle title — a record in the unified electronic title system that replaced the paper title. The EPTS records the car's specifications, owner data, customs marks and status. Without a valid EPTS in "active" status the car will not be registered.
The EPTS is issued by an authorized organization based on the SBKTS and customs documents. A mark confirming payment of the recycling fee is also entered into the title — this is a mandatory condition.
Timing and cost
With a complete document package the procedure usually takes two to five business days: one day for the examination and unit installation, the rest for paperwork. The cost consists of the laboratory services, the ERA-GLONASS unit with installation and the EPTS fee; the total depends on the city and the model, so we fix exact amounts in the estimate before the deal.
Typical mistakes that delay the process
- VIN discrepancies between the declaration and the actual markings — only fixable by correcting the documents.
- Undeclared "modifications": for example, original headlights removed before export and replaced with non-standard ones.
- Trying to save with a "grey" SBKTS issued without a real examination: such certificates get annulled, and the car hangs unregistered.