--- title: "Custom License Plates in Ukraine: Full List of Prohibitions and Legalization Rules from the Ministry of Internal Affairs" description: "The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reminded drivers of the strict rules for custom license plates. 🚫 Symbols of aggression, the letters Z and V, as well as the imitation of state bodies and trademarks are banned. Find out which inscriptions cannot be applied to cars and how to legally obtain unique plates. πŸš—πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦" date: 2026-07-20T04:40:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/custom-license-plates-in-ukraine-list-of-prohibitions-and-mva-rules tags: [ukraine, mvd, license-plates, cars, law] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Custom License Plates in Ukraine: Full List of Prohibitions and Legalization Rules from the Ministry of Internal Affairs ![Ukrainian license plate with regional code VA and national emblem, illustrating the topic of personalized plates and registration rules from the Ministry of Internal Affairs](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/20/individualnye-nomera-v-ukraine-spisok-zapretov-i-pravila-mvd/individualnye-nomera-v-ukraine-spisok-zapretov-i-pravila-mvd-1.webp) The desire to stand out on the road and emphasize the individuality of a vehicle often leads car owners to the idea of installing a custom license plate (CLP). In Ukraine, this service does indeed allow a vehicle to be made unique, however, the "freedom of creativity" here is strictly regulated by the state. The Main Service Center (MSC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine reminded drivers that a license plate is an official state document, and strict requirements are imposed on its design. ### Technical and Linguistic Restrictions According to the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine No. 174 dated March 11, 2016, the design of a custom plate may be rejected if it contradicts even one point of legislation. In addition to semantic restrictions, there are strict rules for the structure of the inscription, approved by Order No. 166. The inscription must necessarily begin with at least two letters. Special attention is paid to the alphabet. It is forbidden to mix letters of the Ukrainian and Latin alphabets in one word if they have different shapes. The MSC gave a vivid example: it is unacceptable to use the Ukrainian letter "Π†" and the Latin "W" in the same inscription. ### Absolute Ban: Symbolism and Aggression The strictest filter concerns symbolism. It is categorically forbidden to place signs of totalitarian regimes and any images related to aggression on license plates. In particular, symbolism related to the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine is banned. The Ministry of Internal Affairs clarified that the use of the letters "Z" and "V" is unacceptable if they are used in the context of war propaganda or symbolize the military equipment of the occupiers. Also, obscene language, rude or offensive words in any language cannot be placed on license plates. ### Prohibition on Imitating State Bodies and Brands Legislation prohibits the imitation of state bodies and international organizations. Abbreviations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), State Emergency Service (SES), UN, NATO, and other similar designations cannot be used on license plates. A similar ban applies to state symbols and official signs. A separate point concerns commercial brands. Placing the names of well-known companies or registered trademarks (for example, logos of car brands or corporations) is possible only with the official written permission of the copyright owner. Without such a document, the use of a brand on a license plate is illegal. ### Legalization and Usage Rules Obtaining a custom license plate is only the first stage. To use it legally, the vehicle owner must re-register the vehicle within 10 days at any Ministry of Internal Affairs service center. Only after the entry about the custom number is made in the "Special Notes" column of the new registration certificate is driving with such plates considered legal. If re-registration is not carried out within the specified time, the use of CLPs is prohibited. It is important to remember that a custom license plate is additional and acts exclusively within the territory of Ukraine. When leaving the country, the driver is obliged to install standard registration license plates.