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How the new procedure for purchasing vehicles will work from April 1 - a complete step-by-step guide for the bank, notary, and client.

From April 1, 2026, a new procedure will come into force, according to which all payments for the sale and purchase of real estate, as well as vehicles of categories M, N, O, and G manufactured within the last 10 years, must be conducted electronically through a bank and a notary. This means the practice of hand-to-hand cash payments will be abolished, and the entire process will be brought under control.

The main principle of this procedure is that the money is first held in a bank escrow account and is transferred to the seller only after the contract is notarized. Now, let's go through the process step-by-step for a full understanding.

1. First stage: The buyer applies to the bank. After agreeing to buy a house or car, they submit an application to the bank, entering all the necessary information. This includes details about the buyer and seller, the property (house or car), the contract amount, and account numbers. This officially starts the process.
2. Second stage: The bank opens a special escrow account for the buyer. This is a separate account where the money is temporarily held. The primary purpose of this account is that the money is not given directly to the seller but is "frozen" in the bank for security, thereby protecting both parties.
3. Third stage: The buyer deposits the agreed-upon amount into the escrow account, either in cash or via bank transfer. If the house or car is being purchased with a loan, the lending bank will send an electronic notification to the notary, and the funds will be transferred after the contract is approved, not before.
4. Fourth stage: Once the money has been deposited into the escrow account, the buyer and seller go to a notary to formalize the contract. Here, the main document, the sale and purchase agreement, is prepared.
5. Fifth stage: Before certifying the agreement, the notary performs an electronic check with the bank to confirm that the funds are in the account. The bank responds to this query in real-time. If the funds are insufficient or the escrow account has been closed, the notary will not certify the contract, and the transaction will not proceed.
6. Sixth stage: If everything is in order, the notary certifies the contract and sends an electronic notification to the bank. From this moment, the transaction becomes legally binding.
7. Seventh stage: Upon receiving the notary's confirmation, the bank automatically transfers the money from the escrow account to the seller's account. This is usually completed on the same day or the next business day, and the process is executed programmatically without human intervention.
8. Eighth stage: The seller can then withdraw the money from their account as cash or leave it in the account. At this point, the money has officially become their property.

This procedure applies to the following categories of vehicles that are no more than 10 years old:

▪️Category M - Passenger transport, i.e., standard passenger cars (Cobalt, Malibu, Tracker), electric cars, and buses.

▪️Category N - Trucks (Isuzu, KamAZ, etc.).

▪️Category O - Trailers and semi-trailers (trailers, articulated lorry trailers).

▪️Category G - Off-road vehicles (Niva, Land Cruiser, and other 4x4 vehicles).

In practice, this means almost all types of vehicles fall under this regulation. If for any reason the notary does not certify the contract, the buyer can contact the bank and fully withdraw the money from the escrow account, meaning their money will not be "stuck."

The funds deposited into the escrow account are transferred to the seller after the conditions are met, ensuring convenience for the seller in this process.

That is, the seller can choose to transfer the money to a bank card, withdraw it as cash, or receive it in foreign currency.

Also, there is no need to wait for the funds; it will be possible to receive the money on the same day.

For reference: The money from the escrow account is disbursed in the national currency. It can then be converted to US dollars through the same bank. This means the funds are not directly credited to the seller's account in US dollars.

For reference: The money is received from the escrow account in national currency - and then it can be converted to dollars through that bank, meaning the funds do not go directly to the seller's account in dollars.