Letters on car license plates: encoding secrets you didn't know

Have you ever wondered why these letters are used on car license plates and not others? Or why on some cars you can find combinations like AAA or XKO, and on others - only strict sequences like MRE? It turns out that behind each letter on the license plate there is an entire system of rules, history and even geopolitics.

In this article we will look not only official decoding of letters on Russian license plates (including new episodes in 2026), but we’ll also talk about hidden meanings that only traffic police officers and collectors of rare license plates know. You will learn how to spell out the registration region of a car, why some combinations cost tens of thousands of rubles on the black market, and what the “forbidden” symbols mean, which you will never see on legal license plates.

1. Why are these letters used on car license plates?

Modern Russian license plates are based on Cyrillic alphabet, but not all 33 letters are allowed here. For registration plates of vehicles (RZTS) only those symbols are used that have graphic analogues in the Latin alphabet. This is done to simplify the recognition of license plates abroad and automatic systems for recording violations.

Here is the full list of allowed letters:

• 🅰️ A (A)
• 🅱️B (B)
• 🅲️S (C)
• 🅴️ E (E)
• 🅺️ K (K)
• 🅼️ M (M)
• 🅽️ N (H)
• 🅾️ O (O)
• 🆁️ R (P)
• 🆂️ S (S) - yes, two different letters "S" and "S" (Cyrillic and Latin analogues)
• 🆃️ T (T)
• 🆄️U (U)
• 🆇️ X (X)

And here are the letters you you'll never see on legal numbers:

• 🚫 F, Z, I, J, L, D, G, P, F, S, b, b, E, Yu, I
• 🚫 Latin I, Q, W (they can easily be confused with the numbers 1, 0 or other letters)

2. License plate structure: what each letter and number means

The standard Russian license plate consists of 8 characters, distributed in the format X 123 XX 45, where:

• 🔤 First letter (X) - license plate series (indicates regional issue code)
• 🔢 Three digits (123) — unique number of the car in the series
• 🔤🔤 Two letters (XX) — additional encoding (expands the number of possible combinations)
• 🔢🔢 Two numbers in a frame (45) — registration region code

For example, number A 777 MR 77 deciphered like this:

• 🅰️ A - series (in this case one of the first released in Moscow)
• 🔢 777 - unique number in the series
• 🅼🆁 MR - a combination of letters (can mean anything, the main thing is uniqueness)
• 🔢🔢 77 — Moscow or Moscow region

3. Regional encoding: how to determine by letter where a car is from

Many people mistakenly think that region code (two numbers in a box) is the only way to determine where the car is registered. In fact, first letter of the number also carries geographical information! The fact is that series of letters are distributed between regions centrally, and some combinations are assigned to specific constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

For example:

• 🅰️ A, B, E, K, M, N, O, R, S, T, U, X - used in Moscow and Moscow region (series A, M, Oh especially prestigious)
• 🆇 X - often found in St. Petersburg and Leningrad region
• 🅱️ B - common in Republic of Tatarstan (Kazan)
• 🅲 C - typical for Krasnodar region and Rostov-on-Don

However, there is a nuance: in 2020, the traffic police began redistribute series between regionsto avoid a shortage of combinations. Therefore, now the same letter can be found in different regions of the Russian Federation. To accurately determine the region, it is better to check two numbers in a frame according to the official database:

Region code	Subject of the Russian Federation	Example number	Features
77, 97, 99, 177, 197, 199, 777	Moscow	M 123 OH 77	The most "expensive" numbers (for example, AAA 777 sell for millions)
78, 98, 178	St. Petersburg	K 456 XU 78	Letters are common X, Y, T
16, 116	Republic of Tatarstan	B 789 EP 16	Letter B historically connected with Kazan
23, 93, 123	Krasnodar region	S 321 AM 23	Popular numbers with a letter A (association with resorts)
50, 90, 150, 190	Moscow region	A 654 MP 50	Often confused with Moscow numbers (77)

Complete list of Russian region codes (200+ options)

You can download the current table of regional codes on the traffic police website at the link: [traffic police.rf/regions](https://traffic police.rf/regions). Please note that since 2023, new codes have appeared for Crimea (82, 182) and Sevastopol (92, 192).

4. “Gold” and “diamond” numbers: why some combinations are worth millions

On the black market there are so-called "beautiful" rooms, for which collectors are willing to pay exorbitant amounts of money. Their cost depends on:

• 💎 Repeating characters (for example, AAA 777, XXX 999)
• 🔢 Palindromes (read the same from left to right: A 123 MA 77)
• 📿 Associative combinations (for example, WWII 1945 for veterans)
• 🏆 Rare series (first issues, for example, A 001 AA 77)

Prices for such rooms can reach several million rubles. For example:

• 💰 AAA 777 - up to 5,000,000 rub. (record price at auction)
• 💰 MMM 999 - about 3,000,000 rub.
• 💰 DICK 78 - up to RUB 1,500,000 (despite the obscene association, it is very popular in St. Petersburg)
• 💰 WWII 1945 - up to 2,000,000 rub. (patriotic symbols)

How are numbers checked for “beauty”? There are even special services, for example, AvtoNomerCheck or Gibdd.ru, where you can enter a combination and find out its market value. However The traffic police are actively fighting with the resale of numbers: from 2021, restrictions have been introduced on changing signs more than once every 6 months.

⚠️ Attention: If you are offered to buy a “beautiful” license plate with the wording “registration through a friend at the traffic police,” this 100% scam. By law, license plates are only issued upon vehicle registration and cannot be transferred separately from the vehicle.

5. Prohibited and “unofficial” letter combinations

Not all letter combinations are allowed. The traffic police prohibits the registration of license plates that:

• 🚫 Contain obscene or offensive words (for example, DICK, ASS - although some such numbers are still found on older cars)
• 🚫 There may be interpreted as extremist symbols (for example, SS - association with Nazi symbols)
• 🚫 Match with intelligence codes (for example, FAS, KGB)
• 🚫 Have too many duplicate characters (for example, AAAA 77 — such numbers are reserved for government agencies)

Interesting fact: in 2019, the traffic police recalled more than 10,000 numbers with “undesirable” combinations. Among them were:

• 🔥 PUT 77 (association with politics)
• 🔥 FSB 78 (imitation of departmental numbers)
• 🔥 BMW 95 (car brand advertisement)

If you find that your number is on the “black list”, you can replace it free of charge at the traffic police. However, new combinations will be issued from the reserve fund, which often consists of less "pretty" options.

Go to the traffic police website|Enter the series and number in the "License Plate Check" field|Make sure that there is no "Revoked" or "Invalid" status|If necessary, apply for a replacement-->

6. Number plates for different types of vehicles: how are they different?

Letter combinations on license plates depend not only on the region, but also on type of vehicle. Here are the main differences:

Vehicle type	Number format	Example	Features of letters
Passenger cars	X 123 XX 45	A 456 MR 77	Any permitted letters, except combinations for government agencies
Motorcycles	1234 XX 45	5678 TK 78	Letters only at the end, often used T, K, M
Trucks	X 123 XX 45	B 789 EP 16	Letters are common E, R, T (association with cargo transportation)
Taxi	X 123 XX 45 with yellow background	T 321 AM 77	Letter T (taxi) is more common than in regular rooms
Government agencies	XX 123 45 with a white background and the flag of the Russian Federation	AM 777 77	Only letters are used A, M, O, R, S, E, K

For electric vehicles from 2023, special numbers have been introduced with green background and letter E at the beginning (for example, E 123 AB 77). This is done to simplify the identification of “green” transport and provide benefits (for example, free parking in Moscow).

7. How the letters on the numbers changed from 1993 to 2026: history in combinations

The license plate system in Russia has undergone several revolutionary changes. Let's look at the key stages:

1993–2008: The numbers had the format A 123 M 45 (only one letter after the numbers). Series used:

• 🅰️ A, B, E, K, M, N, O, R, S, T, U, X - for passenger cars
• 🅱️ B, D, L — for freight (later cancelled)

2008–2013: Switch to format A 123 MR 45 (two letters after the numbers). New series have appeared:

• 🆕 Y (in Latin) - experimental series for Moscow (quickly cancelled)
• 🆕 Sh, Shch, b — were tested, but did not enter mass circulation

2013–2020: Introduced regional restrictions on the series. For example:

• 🔒 A, M, O, R, S — assigned to Moscow and the Moscow region
• 🔒 V, E, K, T — distributed among other regions

2020–2026: It started series redistribution due to a lack of combinations. Now the same letter can be found in different regions. Also appeared:

• 🌿 Green numbers for electric vehicles (series E)
• 🚛 New series for trucks (X, Y, T)

Interesting historical fact: in 1990s letters could be found on the numbers Ї, Ў, Yo, which were later dropped due to difficulties with recognition abroad.

8. How to check the authenticity of a number and avoid problems

With the development of technology, scammers have learned to make fake license plates, which are visually indistinguishable from the original ones. To avoid becoming a victim of deception, keep an eye on the following details:

There is no hologram with the traffic police logo|Paint wears off when touched (the original is covered with a protective varnish)|Numbers and letters are uneven or of different sizes|Microtext "RUS" is missing on the background-->

How to officially check your number:

1. Go to the site traffic police → section "Checking the vehicle".
2. Enter series and number into shape.
3. The system will show:
   • 📝 Registration date
   • 🚗 Car make and model
   • 📍 Issuing region
   • ⚠️ Presence of restrictions (arrest, search)

⚠️ Attention: If during check the number is not found in the database, this may mean:

• 🔴 Number fake (a common situation with stolen cars)
• 🔴 Number withdrawn Traffic police (for example, due to an obscene combination)
• 🔴 Number issued less than 5 days ago (the database has not yet been updated)

In the first two cases contact the traffic police immediately — using such a number is equivalent to driving a car with false documents (fine up to 50,000 rubles or deprivation of rights).

If you are buying a car second hand, be sure to check:

• 🔍 Number plate on a car with number in PTS and STS
• 🔍 VIN code on the back with documents
• 🔍 Date of issue of the license plate (must match the date of registration in the PTS)

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about letters on car license plates

🔹 Is it possible to select letters on the license plate when registering a car?

Officially - no. Numbers are issued automatically from the available pool of combinations. However, some car owners negotiate with traffic police officers “unofficially” (which is a bribe and is punishable by law). An alternative legal way is to buy a car with an already “beautiful” license plate and re-register it in your name.

🔹 What does the letter “E” mean on a green background?

This is the number for electric or hybrid car. The letter "E" stands for ecological (eco-friendly). Such numbers have been introduced since 2023 and give the right to benefits (for example, free parking in Moscow, driving in dedicated lanes in some regions).

🔹 Why are the letters mirrored on some numbers?

Mirror letters (for example, ᴚ, ᴎ, ᴙ) is 100% fake. On original license plates, all symbols have a strictly regulated font GOST R 50577-93, which does not allow mirroring. Such numbers are made by scammers to disguise them as other combinations (for example, R 123 AM 77 turns into R 123 MA 77).

🔹 Is it possible to drive with a license plate where one letter has been erased?

Technically - yes, but only if the number is still readable. According to clause 4.7 Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 605, the license plate must be clearly visible at a distance of 20 meters. If the letter has been erased so that it cannot be identified, the traffic police inspector has the right to issue a fine 500 rub. (Part 1 of Article 12.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation) or warning. In this case, the number must be replaced.

🔹 What to do if there is a typo on the number (for example, the letter is upside down)?

Typos on license plates are production defect. You need:

1. Contact traffic police with an application to change the number.
2. Present PTS, STS and passport.
3. Write an explanation that the defect is not your fault.

Replacement must be made free within 3 working days. If they refuse, demand a written refusal and contact the prosecutor’s office.