Driving attention! These cars must not pay the patent in May 2025

The patents They are a fundamental tool to identify each vehicle that circulates in the country. In addition to fulfilling a legal and registration function, they allow to know key data such as the model and year of manufacture, which is essential, for example, when buying a used car. In Argentina, this system is managed by the National Directorate of the Automotive Property Registry (DNRPA), dependent on the Ministry of Justice.

Since 2016, the current format combines letters and numbers in a standardized way: 2 letters, 3 numbers and 2 letters. However, in the last time, new vehicles began in circulation without these visible plates, and although it seems an infraction, it is not. Actually, the measure responds to a particular situation that is going through the Argentine patented system and forced the State to implement provisional solutions.

At the same time, there are cars that are exempt to pay The patent. Again, far from being an irregularity, this corresponds to different provincial norms that contemplate exceptions for certain vehicles.

Why are there cars that circulate without patent?

If we pay attention at the time of circulating on the street, we can see that there are certain vehicles that have a paper poster attached to the windshield and another in the window. These have a series of numbers and letters that serve as identification for traffic agents and police officers, and are provisional patents.

The lack of metal plaques began to become evident in 2023but it worsened for 2024 due to a combination of administrative and political factors. First, the La Moneda Casathe state agency in charge of manufacturing the plates, was intervened for six months, so its operational capacity was interrupted.

On the other hand, the reforms promoted by the government of Javier Milei directly affected the system of automotive records. In an attempt to unwind the system, 136 establishments throughout the country were closed and the opening of another 12 was suspended.

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And although these changes seek greater efficiency, they also generated mismatches in the daily operation of the records. That is why, to avoid delays in the delivery of new vehicles, the DNRPA authorized that they can register without having the physical sheet. In these cases, the car receives a Provisional patent on paperwith an alphanumeric code in red letters that is placed on the windshield and in the rear window. This document has legal validity by 180 dayswith the possibility of renewal, and is complemented by the delivery of the digital title and the green card.

In addition, the country’s departure was enabled with this provisional patent to bordering countries, provided that the driver has an additional certificate that proves the domain of the vehicle, available through the app “My Argentina”.

Who should not pay the patent?

In our country, and depending on the regulations of each province and Argentine jurisdiction, there are certain vehicles that, by antique or special characteristics, they are exempt from paying the patent every month, such as manufactured cars more than 25 years. In 2025, this includes the models of the year 2000 or previous.

This benefit also reaches electric carsas part of the incentives to promote sustainable mobility, and adapted vehicles For people with disabilities. The latter may be released from payment only if they are registered in the system.

In addition, there are Historic cars: Models with more than 30 years, preserved in good condition and that usually have recreational use. If they are registered, they can access an exemption or pay a reduced rate, depending on the district.