Have you ever seen a car with Ukrainian license plates on the road and wondered what region this car is from? Or maybe you are planning to buy a used car from Ukraine and want to check whether the seller is hiding the real place of registration? The codes on Ukrainian license plates are not just random letters and numbers, but a whole code that can tell about the history of the car, its owner and even the potential risks when purchasing.

In this article we will not just list everything Ukraine region codes for 2026, but we will also explain how they are formed, what changes have occurred in recent years (including temporarily occupied territories), and why some numbers can be misleading. We’ll also look at the legal nuances that are important to know when buying or selling a car with Ukrainian license plates.

How Ukrainian license plates work: structure and meaning of symbols

Ukrainian numbers have a standard format AA 1234 BB (for passenger cars), where:

  • 🔤 First two letters (AA) — license plate series (may indicate the type of vehicle).
  • 🔢 Four digits (1234) — a unique number of the car in the series.
  • 🔤 Last two letters (BB) — region codewhere the car is registered. It is this element that interests us most.

However, there are nuances: for example, on motorcycles and trailers different format - AA 123 BB (three digits instead of four). And for diplomatic vehicles and taxi special series are used (for example, DT or TA). Also, starting in 2020, Ukraine began issuing new-style license plates with a flag and inscription UKRAINE instead of UA, but this does not affect area codes.

Important: The region code on the number does not always match the actual place of residence of the owner. A car can be registered in one city and operated in another. This is especially true for cars purchased on credit or lease - banks often require registration in their region.

📊 Have you ever checked the region using Ukrainian numbers?
Yes, before buying a car
Yes, out of curiosity
No, I didn't know it was possible
No, there was no need

Current table of regional codes of Ukraine for 2026

Since 1995, Ukraine has had a system of regional codes, which is periodically updated. The latest changes were related to temporary occupation of territories (Crimea, parts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions) and administrative-territorial reform (consolidation of districts). Below is a complete table of current codes:

Code Region/City Notes
AA, VA, SA Kyiv (capital) Codes AA and VA were issued until 2013, now new series are used.
AE, KE, TE Vinnytsia region Code TE introduced in 2020 due to a shortage of combinations.
AK, KK, TK Volyn region —
AM, KM, TM Dnepropetrovsk region One of the most “populated” codes due to the large number of cars.
AN, KN, TN Donetsk region Codes are not issued in the temporarily occupied territories since 2014.

Full list of codes includes 27 regions (24 regions + Kyiv + Sevastopol + Autonomous Republic of Crimea). However, after 2014, numbers with codes of the occupied territories (AN, KN, AR, KR etc.) are not issued officially, but can be found on cars registered before annexation. Such cars require special attention when checking the history!

What codes were used in Crimea before 2014?

Before the annexation, codes were in force in Crimea AR (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) and KR (Sevastopol as a city of republican subordination). After 2014, Ukraine stopped issuing these series, and Russia began assigning Russian numbers (series) to Crimean cars 82, 92, 182). If you see a car with a code AR or KR, this may mean that the car was not re-registered in the Russian Federation or was taken out of the peninsula before the occupation.

How to check the authenticity of Ukrainian license plates: 5 working methods

Unfortunately, Ukrainian license plates are often counterfeited, especially on cars imported from Europe or the USA. Here's how to check their authenticity:

  1. Checking through online services:
  2. Visual inspection:
    • 🔎 Check it out hologram on the number (should be voluminous and change color when tilted).
    • 🔎 New numbers (from 2020) should have Ukraine flag and inscription UKRAINE.
  • Reconciliation with PTS:
    • 📄 Rooms in technical passport (PTS) and on the car must match.
    • 📄 If the number has been interrupted, there should be a note about this in the PTS.

    Check your region code against the table above

    Make sure the hologram is not damaged or coming off

    Check the number with the data in the PTS or the MBC electronic database

    Pay attention to traces of repainting or touch-up

    If the car is from the occupied territories, request additional documents

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    ⚠️ Attention: If you buy a car with Ukrainian license plates in Russia or Belarus, be sure to check it through the database traffic police. Many cars from Ukraine are re-registered in the Russian Federation with the old license plates retained, but this is illegal! Such a car can be confiscated and the owner fined 50,000 rubles.

    What to do if the region code does not match the place where the car was purchased?

    A situation where a car is registered in one region and sold in another is not uncommon. Here are the possible reasons and what to do about them:

    Reason Risks Actions
    Car purchased on credit/lease The bank may demand repayment if the loan is not repaid Request a certificate of no encumbrances
    Car from the occupied territories There may be problems with re-registration in the Russian Federation/EU Check through the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
    The owner has moved There are no risks if the documents are in order Make sure the PTS is reissued

    If the seller refuses to explain the area code discrepancy, it reason to be wary. Perhaps the car:

    • 🚨 Stolen (numbers interrupted).
    • 🚨 It is pledged to the bank.
    • 🚨 Has restrictions on registration actions (for example, arrest).
    💡

    If you buy a car with Ukrainian license plates in Russia, be sure to check it through the service Autocode. Even if the car is “clean” according to Ukrainian databases, fines or restrictions may be imposed on it in the Russian Federation.

    Buying a car with Ukrainian license plates is not only a matter of technical verification, but also legal risks. Here are the key points to consider:

    1. Customs clearance:

      If a car is imported into the Russian Federation, it must be clear customs (pay duties). The cost depends on the age of the car:

      • 💰 Up to 3 years - 54% of the cost + excise tax
      • 💰 From 3 to 5 years - 48% of the cost.
      • 💰 Over 5 years old - 3.5 € per 1 cm³ of engine volume.
  • Re-registration:

    Ukrainian license plates are valid in Russia only 60 days from the moment of import. After this you need to get Russian signs.

  • Restrictions for occupied territories:

    Car from Crimea, Donetsk or Lugansk cannot be legally imported into the Russian Federation without special permission. Such cars may be confiscated.

    • ⚠️ Attention: If a seller offers to complete a transaction “on parole” or without a purchase and sale agreement, this is an almost guaranteed deception. In Ukraine, as in the Russian Federation, all transactions with cars must be recorded in registration authorities (in Ukraine this is MVS service centers).

    💡

    The most reliable way to buy a car from Ukraine is through an official intermediary (for example, a car dealership with a license for international transactions). This will protect you from fraud and problems with customs clearance.

    Frequent fraudulent schemes with Ukrainian numbers

    The Ukrainian car market is known for its high level of fraud. Here are the most common schemes and how to avoid them:

    1. "Doubles":

      Criminals fake license plates for stolen cars. To check, compare the VIN number on the body with the data in the PTS and MBC databases.

    2. "Credit" machines:

      A car pledged to the bank is sold without the knowledge of the lender. Check through the service Ukrainian Pledge Register.

    3. "Occupied" cars:

      Cars from Crimea or Donbass are sold with fake documents. Such cars cannot be legalized in the Russian Federation.

    4. "Interrupted" numbers:

      Body or engine numbers are altered to hide the theft. Use interruption detectors (cost ~500 rubles).

      5. If you become a victim of scammers, immediately contact the police and file a report with Bureau of Financial Investigations of Ukraine (BFRS). In Russia you can apply to Rospotrebnadzor or prosecutor's office, if the transaction took place through a Russian intermediary.

      FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about Ukrainian license plates

      Is it possible to drive around Russia with Ukrainian license plates?

      Yes, but only 60 days from the moment of import. After this, you need to get Russian license plates or take the car back. If you are stopped with expired Ukrainian license plates, the fine will be 5,000–10,000 rubles (under Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation).

      How to find out if a car with Ukrainian license plates has been stolen?

      Check the VIN number via:

      If the car is reported stolen, end the transaction immediately!

      What to do if the region code on the number does not match the PTS?

      This a serious sign of fake. Possible reasons:

      • The numbers are full.
      • PTS is fake.
      • The car was stolen and re-registered.

      Refuse to purchase and report to the police.

      Is it possible to re-register a car from Crimea in Russia?

      No, it's illegal. Cars registered in Crimea before 2014 can be legalized in the Russian Federation only through a court decision (which is extremely difficult). Most of these cars are confiscated by border guards.

      How much does customs clearance of a Ukrainian car in Russia cost?

      The cost depends on the age and engine size:

      • 🚗 Up to 3 years: 54% of the cost + excise tax (from 30,000 to 300,000 rubles).
      • 🚗 3–5 years: 48% of the cost.
      • 🚗 Over 5 years: 3.5 € per 1 cm³ (for example, for a 2.0 l engine - ~7,000 € or ~700,000 rubles).

    You will also have to pay recycling fee (from 20,000 to 700,000 rubles) and customs clearance fee (~5,000 rubles).