How to choose a license plate for your car during registration: rules, prices, and available options

When registering a car in Ukraine, drivers have the opportunity to choose the combination they like best when receiving a license plate. The procedure offers various options, from free numbers to special paid combinations, each with its own terms and cost. Learn more about how license plate selection works, how much it costs, and what to look for before paying

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When registering or re-registering a car in Ukraine, the owner has more freedom of choice than it seems at first glance. As explained by the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the license plate can be not only standard, but also chosen at will — from among free or paid combinations.

What options are available, how much does it cost, and how not to get confused with payments — we will tell you more in this article.

Don't forget to check the validity of your motor insurance!

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How does the standard license plate issuance work in Ukraine?

In the basic scenario, when a car is first registered or re-registered, the MIA service center issues a license plate automatically. The system generates it in sequential order — the owner receives the combination that is available in the electronic registry at the time of application. In this case, there is no additional choice, and the number is considered free of charge.

At the same time, the registration of the vehicle itself is not free. The car owner pays mandatory fees: UAH 350 for administrative services, UAH 606 for a vehicle registration certificate form (the amount may vary slightly depending on the batch of forms), and UAH 350 for a license plate. Additionally, there may be a commission charged by the bank or payment system.

Appointments at MIA service centers will now work differently. Find out what has changed by following the link.

Free license plate combinations: how to choose another option?

If the owner does not like the number suggested by the system, they have the right to refuse it and choose another free combination from those available at a particular service center. To do this, you need to inform the administrator, who will provide a list of available options.

It is important to note that in this case, a separate fee of UAH 360 is charged for the license plate selection service. This payment is in addition to the mandatory registration costs: administrative services, certificate form, and license plate. The receipt for the license plate selection fee must be presented to the administrator along with other payment documents.

By the way, starting in 2026, Ukraine will switch to European standards for drivers.

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Paid license plates: how much do they cost?

License plates with specific, i.e., paid combinations constitute a separate category. These include numbers with identical or repeated digits (e.g., 1111, 7777), consecutive numbers (1234), or mirror combinations (2112, 3003). The list of such numbers is approved by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The cost of paid license plates for passenger cars ranges from UAH 4,800 to UAH 96,000, depending on the type of combination. In this case, the fee of UAH 360 for choosing a license plate is not charged, as the driver pays for a specific combination immediately.

However, the following payments remain mandatory: UAH 350 for administrative services, UAH 606 for the registration certificate form, as well as a possible bank commission.

What you need to know about car bodies and what the letters in the registration certificate actually mean — we explain this at the link.

What to look for before paying for a license plate?

Before paying, you should clearly understand what exactly you are paying for. A free number means that there is no charge for the combination

itself, but it does not cancel the registration costs. A paid number, in turn, can significantly increase the total cost of registration, but allows you to immediately get the desired combination without additional service fees.

It should also be noted that the list of available numbers, both free and paid, depends on the specific service center and the availability of combinations in the system on the day of application. All receipts must be kept until the registration procedure is complete.

For more information about paid combinations, costs, and reservations, visit the website of the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the section “License Plates”.

Don't forget about car insurance!

After choosing a license plate and completing the registration of the car, it is mandatory to obtain car insurance. Without a valid policy, you are not allowed to drive on the road, and in the event of an accident, the lack of insurance can lead to significant financial costs.

On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can quickly take out car insurance online, without queues and paperwork.

Take out a policy in advance and complete your car registration without unnecessary risks!

Reminder! There are more and more offers on the internet to obtain a driver's license “officially” without training or exams. Attractive promises of quick results often hide fraudulent schemes that can cost you both money and personal data. How not to fall victim to fraudulent schemes for obtaining a driver's license — we explain here.

Photo: Lyudmila Grynyuk / Ukrinform

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