MIA reminds: a personalized plate won't save you with 'Diia' — without the plastic certificate, you will be stopped

Ukraine's MIA main service center clarified a critically important rule for drivers using individualized license plates (ILPs): while driving, you must carry not only the electronic registration certificate in the 'Diia' app, but also the original plastic certificate with the corresponding entry in the 'Special Remarks' field. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing an official clarification from the ministry. In essence, for owners of personalized plates, the digital document is insufficient, and ignoring this requirement may lead to administrative consequences during a check by law enforcement officers.

What is an individualized license plate and how is it assigned to a vehicle

An individualized license plate is an addition to the main state license plate. It is produced on a personal order from the owner and is used only after being officially assigned to a specific vehicle. The procedure is not limited to simply buying the plates: after receiving the ILP, the owner is required to apply to the territorial MIA service center within 10 days to re-register the vehicle. During this procedure, the information about the individualized plate is entered into the Unified State Register of Vehicles, and a corresponding entry is made in the 'Special Remarks' field of the registration certificate. The certificate itself must be replaced — the old document is invalidated, and a new one with up-to-date information is issued.

Why 'Diia' does not display ILP data

The key issue highlighted by the MIA is a technical feature of the electronic certificate. In the 'Diia' app, information about the individualized license plate in the 'Special Remarks' field simply does not appear. That is, an inspector checking the electronic document on a tablet or smartphone will physically not see confirmation that a specific vehicle is entitled to use a personalized plate. It is precisely the entry in the plastic certificate that serves as the only documentary proof of the legality of using an ILP. Therefore, the ministry directly recommends that drivers check for the presence of the plastic document with the corresponding mark before every trip.

Practical recommendations for owners of personalized plates

The MIA service center urges drivers using individualized license plates to form the habit of checking the completeness of their documents before leaving: the plastic registration certificate with an entry in the 'Special Remarks' field, a driver's license, and, if necessary, a power of attorney. The absence of the plastic certificate while an ILP is mounted on the vehicle may be considered as operating a vehicle with an unregistered license plate, which entails fines. The ministry emphasizes that the electronic form of the document in 'Diia' remains valid for standard state plates, but for personalized combinations it does not replace the paper (plastic) medium.

What is the difference between paid combinations and individualized plates

Previously, RBC-Ukraine explained in detail the difference between two forms of 'nice' plates. Paid plate combinations involve choosing an already manufactured and available 'nice' sequence of digits — the owner essentially buys a ready-made option from a catalog. Individualized license plates, by contrast, allow you to order a unique inscription or combination of characters that is produced for a specific customer. The fundamental difference in documentary processing: for paid combinations, the standard registration procedure is sufficient, whereas for ILPs a separate re-registration is required, with an entry in the register and a replacement of the certificate. In addition, additional rules apply for crossing the border with individualized plates, which we also covered in our earlier materials.

Contradictory data

No significant discrepancies in facts were found in the provided sources. All three main sources (RBC-Ukraine, novosti.ua, 24tv.ua) unanimously confirm the MIA's position on the necessity of a plastic certificate for ILP owners and the absence of the corresponding entry in the 'Diia' electronic document. The only nuance worth noting: one of the sources (24tv.ua) uses the wording 'incompatible,' which may be interpreted as a complete lack of connection between 'Diia' and ILPs, whereas RBC-Ukraine and novosti.ua point to a specific technical reason — the non-display of the entry in the 'Special Remarks' field. In essence, both descriptions reflect the same fact, but with different levels of detail.