After receiving a personalized license plate, the owner has 10 days to re-register the vehicle - if this is not done, the use of the plate becomes illegal. A strict rule applies at the layout approval stage: violation of at least one legal norm automatically leads to rejection of approval, reports the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
A personalized license plate (PLP) is an official state document. The requirements for its manufacture and inscriptions are regulated by Order No. 174 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine dated March 11, 2016, and the structure of the inscription by a separate Order No. 166 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Prohibited symbols
The most sensitive category is symbolism associated with war and totalitarian regimes. PLPs cannot display abbreviations, slogans, or symbols of communist or Nazi regimes, as well as anything related to Russia's full-scale military aggression against Ukraine. In particular, the letters "Z" and "V" are prohibited if used in the context of war propaganda or to designate the equipment of the occupiers.
It is also specifically prohibited to imitate state bodies and international organizations: the plate cannot reproduce the names or abbreviations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, SBU, Armed Forces of Ukraine, State Emergency Service, UN, NATO, and similar structures.
Obscene language, rude or offensive words - both in Ukrainian and foreign languages - are also prohibited, as are expressions that incite national, religious, racial, or gender hatred.
In the field of symbols and brands, the following restrictions apply:
The State Emblem of Ukraine (Trident) and the State Flag cannot be reproduced on PLPs.
Flags and emblems of foreign states, official emblems, and cockades are prohibited.
Names of well-known companies or registered trademarks, including car brands and corporations, are allowed only with official permission from the rights holder.
Technical requirements for the inscription
For cars, the inscription must contain 3 to 8 characters, for motorcycles - 3 to 6. It must start with at least two letters. It is not allowed to use letters from the Ukrainian and Latin alphabets that have different spellings simultaneously in one inscription - for example, combining Ukrainian "І" and Latin "W" in one word.
