Personal license plates on cars in Ukraine are officially called individual license plates. These are license plates that are made to the individual order of the vehicle owner: with a selected inscription, a combination of letters and numbers, and in some cases, with a graphic element.
Points of attention
- You can order individual license plates online through the Driver's Office or in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center.
- To attach signs, you can choose any MIA service center that is conveniently located and available for appointment.
- Drivers often confuse individual license plates with paid license plates with a desired combination of numbers.
The main thing a driver needs to know: an individual license plate does not replace a standard state license plate. It is additional, valid only on the territory of Ukraine and must be officially assigned to a specific vehicle at the MIA service center. The MIA main service center explains that the INZ is assigned to a car after re-registration at the MIA territorial service center, and the main state registration license plates must be kept.
As of the date of preparation of the material, individual license plates can be ordered online through the Driver's Office or in person at the MIA service center. However, data on already manufactured license plates can be entered into the register and legally attached to a car only at the MIA service center. Such a final action is not provided online.
In which service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs can you issue personalized numbers?
You can attach individual license plates to your car at any convenient territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. You do not need to go to the region where the car is registered, where the owner lives, or where the order was placed. This approach works on the principle of extraterritoriality.
This is convenient in several situations. For example, the owner ordered the INZ online, received the kit by delivery, but is in another region. Or the car is registered in Lviv, the owner lives in Kyiv, and actually uses the car in Dnipro. To fix the signs, you can choose any service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which is convenient in location and available for registration.
At the same time, three stages need to be distinguished:
ordering a layout and manufacturing of the INZ;
receiving a ready-made kit;
attaching signs to a car through re-registration.
It is the third stage that is mandatory before using such numbers on a car.
What are individual license plates?
Individual license plates are an officially manufactured set of numbers with a personalized combination. They can be engraved with a word, name, call sign, brand, short inscription, a combination of letters and numbers, or, under certain conditions, a graphic element.
Such rooms are often ordered for:
personal car;
corporate car;
car brand or project;
gift;
family car;
memorable combination;
motorcycle;
company's fleet.
But the TIN is not just a decorative plate. Its production, issuance, registration and attachment are regulated by the rules of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the procedure for state registration of vehicles. The State Registration Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates that the procedure for ordering, issuing and registering the TIN is approved by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 174, and its attachment to the vehicle is determined by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1388.
How do registered rooms differ from “beautiful” rooms?
Drivers often confuse individual license plates with paid license plates with a desired combination of numbers. These are different services.
A paid number with a desired combination is a regular state license plate, but with a combination of numbers that the owner chooses from available options. For example, the same numbers, a sequence, a mirror combination, or another number with a digital part specified by the applicant.
An individual license plate is a separate personalized inscription that is made to order. It is additional to the state license plate and is valid only in Ukraine. When traveling abroad, it is necessary to install standard license plates obtained during the state registration of the vehicle.
The practical difference is simple: if you need a combination like 7777 or 0001, it's a paid state number. If you want an inscription with your own word, name, title, or a combination of letters and numbers, it's an individual license plate.
On which vehicles can I install INZ?
Custom license plates can be manufactured and installed on cars, trucks, buses, and motorcycles, including scooters and mopeds.
Trailers, semi-trailers, caravan trailers and other towed vehicles are not allowed to have license plates installed. The State Registration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explains this restriction by the requirements of the registration procedure and the technical characteristics of the license plate design.
A separate restriction applies to cars with a temporary registration certificate. If the vehicle is on temporary state registration, TINs are not assigned to it. The State Central Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explains that the temporary certificate confirms the right to use, but does not change the owner's data, therefore an individual sign can only be made for a vehicle with state registration and a plastic registration certificate.
What inscriptions are allowed on nameplates?
For passenger cars, the inscription on the TIN must contain from 3 to 8 characters. These can be letters or letters and numbers. For motorcycles, from 3 to 6 characters are allowed. The inscription must contain at least two letters, located at the beginning.
In practice, this means that the combination should look like a clear inscription or alphanumeric personalization, and not as an imitation of a regular state number. For example, a word of several letters can pass the check if it is not taken and does not violate the rules. But a random numeric combination without the required number of letters will not.
An important rule: you cannot use letters of the Ukrainian and Latin alphabets at the same time if they have different spellings. Only cases are allowed when the characters match in spelling and do not create confusion.
What inscriptions and symbols are prohibited?
An application may be rejected if the inscription or graphic element does not meet the requirements. Discriminatory inscriptions, obscene words, offensive designations, imitation of state symbols, similarity to state or departmental license plates, as well as the use of names, abbreviations, symbols or trademarks without proper consent are prohibited.
It is forbidden to apply:
obscene or offensive words;
discriminatory inscriptions or graphic elements;
official names of state authorities or their abbreviations without justification;
symbols of institutions, enterprises or organizations without written consent;
another's trademark without the written consent of the owner;
a graphic element that looks like a letter or number;
imitation of the State Emblem or the State Flag of Ukraine;
state symbols of other countries and international organizations;
combinations identical or similar to regular state license plates.
This is especially important for businesses. If a company wants to place a brand, logo, abbreviation, or trademark on a number, it must have documents confirming the right to such use or written consent from the copyright holder.
How to order personalized numbers online
The most convenient way is the Driver's Office. According to the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, online ordering involves authorization using BankID, a qualified electronic signature or Diya.Signature, choosing the desired combination, checking availability, completing the application, paying, and choosing a method of receipt.
The general procedure is as follows:
Log in to the Driver's Office.
Choose the service of ordering an individual license plate.
Choose a vehicle.
Specify the region of registration.
Suggest the desired inscription.
Check the availability of the combination.
Agree on the layout.
Pay for the service.
Choose a delivery method.
After manufacturing, receive the kit and attach it to the car at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center.
If the inscription is already taken or does not meet the requirements, the applicant will receive a response stating that it is impossible to register it.
An important nuance: a graphic element cannot be added during an online order. According to the State Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a graphic element can only be added to the layout during an offline visit to a territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
How to apply for a personal identification number at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center
Offline registration is suitable for those who want to consult with the administrator, add a graphic element, submit documents through a representative, or do not use the Driver's Office.
To place an order at the territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the owner or an authorized person submits an application, a vehicle registration certificate or a copy, and if necessary, a power of attorney, documents on symbols, consent of the trademark owner, or constituent documents of the organization. The MIA Service Center also indicates the need for payment documents after paying for the service.
You should choose offline appeal if:
a logo or symbol is needed;
the number is ordered by a legal entity;
the application is submitted by a representative;
there is a question about the admissibility of the inscription;
it is necessary to immediately clarify the package of documents;
The online service does not allow you to order the desired option.
Before visiting, it is worth checking the opening hours of a specific Ministry of Internal Affairs service center and whether an appointment is available.
How much do nameplates cost?
The cost consists of several parts. According to the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the production of an INZ costs 300 UAH for three characters, 90 UAH for each subsequent character up to eight, 500 UAH for a graphic element, and the cost of special products is also paid separately: 228 UAH for license plates for a car or 108.96 UAH for a motorcycle. Delivery to a Nova Poshta branch via SE “INFOTECH” costs 500 UAH, and the carrier’s logistics services are additionally paid.
The approximate calculation logic is as follows: a short inscription of three characters will be cheaper, a longer inscription will be more expensive. If a graphic element is added, the amount increases. If delivery is selected, logistics costs are added.
Separately, you need to take into account the costs of re-registering the vehicle and a new registration certificate when fixing the TIN. It is after this that the number can be legally installed on the car. Before paying, it is worth checking the current tariffs on the website of the State Tax Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or in the Driver's Office, as the amount of payments may change.
How long does it take to make custom license plates?
The term depends on the stages of verification, payment, approval of the layout and transfer to the manufacturer. The State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs notes in the material on extraterritoriality that after approval of the layout and payment, the kit is manufactured within the established period of up to 42 days: up to 12 working days for processing the payment and confirmation of receipt of funds and up to 30 calendar days for transfer of the layout to the manufacturer and printing.
In another explanation, the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates a period of up to 40 days from the date of order, as well as storage of manufactured license plates at the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for one year from the date of manufacture. If the customer does not collect the kit within this period, the license plates are destroyed, and the combination is returned to the database of available ones.
In practice, it is better for a driver to plan not “for tomorrow,” but with a margin of time. If you need license plates for a gift, car sale, event, or corporate launch, it is worth ordering them in advance.
How to get a ready-made kit
If the order was placed online, during the application you can choose the method of receipt: self-pickup or delivery by postal operator. If the order was placed at the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the kit is issued by the Standardization Department of the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs personally to the customer or an authorized person with the appropriate documents.
The GSC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs clarifies that you can receive the finished kit in person at the Standardization Department of the GSC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kyiv or by delivery to a Nova Poshta branch, if this method was selected during the online order. It is impossible to change the method of receipt after placing the order.
This is an important everyday moment. If you do not plan to go to Kyiv, do not choose self-pickup by chance. If you choose delivery, check the correctness of the branch, contact details and the possibility of receiving the shipment within the specified time.
How to attach a TIN to a car
After receiving the kit, you need to contact any convenient territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There, the vehicle is re-registered, the TIN data is entered into the Unified State Register of Vehicles, and the owner is issued a new registration certificate with a note about the presence of individual license plates.
To fix it you need to take:
passport with a mark on the place of registration;
taxpayer registration card registration number;
vehicle registration certificate;
a set of individual license plates;
power of attorney, if an authorized person applies.
The Central Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs emphasizes: information about TIN is entered only at the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, an online service is not provided.
Why you can't immediately install ready-made license plates on a car
Getting a kit and installing it on a car are not the same thing. Until the VINs are entered into the register and indicated in the registration certificate, their use on a vehicle is prohibited. The State Central Register of the Ministry of Internal Affairs directly warns that the physical use of VINs before their registration in the State Central Register of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is prohibited and entails administrative liability.
After receiving the TIN, the owner has 10 days to re-register the vehicle. Only after this is the use of the numbers considered legal.
A typical mistake is to pick up the number plate, screw it to the car, and drive away. Formally, this is not yet a completed procedure. The correct procedure is to get a kit, make an appointment or contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center, re-register, get a new certificate, and then install the TIN.
Is it possible to travel abroad with personal license plates?
No, for trips outside Ukraine, you must install standard state license plates obtained during vehicle registration. Individual license plates are valid only on the territory of Ukraine.
This is especially important for drivers who frequently travel to the EU, Moldova or other countries. Before crossing the border, you must return your standard state license plates. That is why they cannot be lost, sold, left at a service center or considered “old”.
For trips within Ukraine, you can use a TIN after it has been officially registered. For international routes, only state license plates are allowed.
What will happen to the VAT number when selling a car?
An individual license plate is linked to the vehicle and the owner through registration data. During re-registration or change of owner, the plate may be left with the previous owner for further use on another vehicle, subject to compliance with the requirements of the law. The State Central Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs also notes that license plates are not subject to paid storage at the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs: the owner can store them independently and later re-attach them to another car.
Before selling a car, it is worth clarifying in advance with the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs how to proceed in your case. If the number plate has value for you - a personal name, brand, call sign, corporate name - do not postpone this issue until the moment of the transaction.
When can registration be refused?
Rejection is possible not only due to obscene writing. The reason may be a busy combination, format mismatch, non-compliance with character requirements, similarity with state license plates, lack of trademark documents, or an incomplete package of documents.
The State Central Office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates that if the inscription has already been selected by another owner or does not meet the requirements, the applicant will receive a response stating that it is impossible to register it.
To reduce the risk of rejection, check the following before submitting your application:
whether the inscription fits within the permissible number of characters;
whether the combination begins with at least two letters;
Are Ukrainian and Latin letters incorrectly mixed?
whether there is any offensive or discriminatory content;
does the inscription resemble a license plate;
Do you have documents for a logo, brand or abbreviation?
whether the combination is occupied in the desired region.
If the number is ordered for a company, it is better to prepare trademark documents, constituent documents, or written consent from the copyright holder in advance.
How to choose a good inscription for a name plate
A good personal number should be short, readable, correct, and self-explanatory. You should not create a combination that is difficult to read, easy to confuse, or inconvenient to dictate.
Practical tips:
choose an inscription of up to 5–6 characters if you want better readability;
avoid ambiguous abbreviations;
do not use offensive jokes;
do not copy other people's brands;
check how the inscription looks in Ukrainian and Latin letters;
Do not mix symbols for visual similarity if it violates the rules.
for business, use the official name or registered trademark;
For your personal car, choose an inscription that will not lose its relevance in a year.
The VIN should look appropriate on the car. An overly emotional, aggressive, or questionable inscription can quickly become boring, reduce the car's versatility when selling, and create unnecessary attention on the road.
Can I book a room before buying a car?
It is necessary to separate the booking of regular license plates with the desired combination and the production of individual license plates. The State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reports that through the Driver's Office you can book a license plate online even before purchasing a vehicle, but the term of such booking is a maximum of 15 days. During this time, you need to register the vehicle and assign the number to the car.
This is useful if you are just planning to buy a car and want to reserve the desired combination of a standard license plate. However, a separate procedure applies to TINs: they are made to order by the owner for a vehicle that has state registration.
If the goal is a personalized inscription, you first need to have a car with state registration and a registration certificate, and then apply for a tax identification number.
Typical driver mistakes
The first mistake is to confuse an individual number with a “beautiful” digital combination. These are different services with different legal implications.
The second mistake is to think that a personal identification number can be registered online. You can order it online, but entering data into the register and re-registration takes place only at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center.
The third mistake is to install the license plates immediately after receiving them. First, you need to attach them to the car and get a new registration certificate.
The fourth mistake is not keeping standard state license plates. They are needed when traveling abroad.
The fifth mistake is ordering an inscription with someone else's brand or logo without the consent of the copyright holder. Such an application may be rejected.
The sixth mistake is choosing self-pickup, even though the owner does not plan to travel to Kyiv. The method of receipt cannot be changed after placing the order.
The seventh mistake is to forget about the 10-day period after receiving the TIN. If you do not re-register, driving with such license plates is prohibited.
Step-by-step diagram for the driver
Determine what you need: a TIN or a paid state number with the desired combination.
Check if the vehicle has state registration and a plastic certificate.
Come up with an inscription taking into account the rules regarding symbols.
Check the availability of the combination.
Choose the registration method: Driver's office or service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
If you need a graphic element or brand, prepare the documents.
Agree on the layout and pay for the service.
Choose a delivery method.
Wait for the kit to be manufactured.
Get a tax ID.
Within 10 days, contact any service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Re-register and get a new certificate.
After that, install the INZ on the car.
Keep standard government license plates for trips abroad.
Conclusion
Personal license plates can be issued through the Driver's Office or at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center, and assigned to a vehicle at any territorial Ministry of Internal Affairs service center, regardless of place of residence, car registration, or place of order. This is what gives drivers the principle of extraterritoriality.
Before ordering, it is important to check the format of the inscription, the availability of the combination, the requirements for symbols, documents for the brand or logo, the cost, the method of receipt and the production time. After receiving the kit, the owner must contact the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs within 10 days, undergo re-registration and receive a new certificate with a mark on the TIN.
Ready-made individual license plates cannot simply be screwed onto a car without entering data into the registry. They are additional, valid only in Ukraine, and for trips abroad you must use standard state license plates.
FAQ
Where can I get personalized car plates?
You can order personalized license plates online through the Driver's Office or in person at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center. You can attach ready-made license plates to your car at any convenient territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs thanks to the principle of extraterritoriality.
Can I secure individual license plates online?
No. You can place an order online, but entering the TIN data into the register and re-registering the vehicle takes place only at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center.
How much do custom license plates cost?
According to the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, production costs 300 UAH for three symbols, 90 UAH for each subsequent symbol up to eight, 500 UAH for a graphic element, and the cost of special products and delivery, if selected, is also paid separately. Before paying, it is worth checking the current amounts in the Driver's Cabinet or on the website of the State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
How long does it take to make INZ?
The State Customs Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs indicates a period of up to 42 days after approval of the layout and payment: up to 12 business days for processing the payment and up to 30 calendar days for transferring the layout to the manufacturer and printing. Other explanations also indicate a period of up to 40 days from the date of order.
What documents are required to confirm a personal identification number?
You will need a passport with a mark indicating the place of registration, the registration number of the taxpayer's registration card, a vehicle registration certificate, and an individual license plate. If a representative is applying, a power of attorney is required.
Can I drive with a driver's license immediately after receiving it?
No. First, you need to contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center, re-register the vehicle, and obtain a new certificate with a note about the individual license plate. It is prohibited to use the TIN on the car until it is fixed.
Is it possible to travel abroad with personal license plates?
No. Individual license plates are valid only in Ukraine. To travel abroad, you must install standard state license plates obtained during vehicle registration.
What inscription can be made on a name plate?
For cars, the TIN must contain 3 to 8 characters, for motorcycles - 3 to 6. The inscription must begin with at least two letters. You can use letters or letters and numbers, but you must follow the rules regarding alphabets, content and similarity to state plates.
Why can they refuse to issue a personal identification number?
The reason may be a busy combination, format mismatch, obscene or discriminatory inscription, similarity to state license plates, use of someone else's trademark without consent, or an incomplete package of documents.
Is it possible to install personalized license plates on a car with a temporary license plate?
No. The State Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs explains that INZ cannot be attached to vehicles operated on the basis of a temporary registration certificate. INZ are made for vehicles with state registration and a plastic registration certificate.
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