Buying a car or changing place of residence in Kazakhstan inevitably brings the owner to the vehicle registration procedure. In recent years, this process has undergone significant changes aimed at digitalization and simplification of interaction between citizens and government agencies. State license plates today it is not just a piece of metal, but a key identifier that allows you to record violations, track thefts and monitor the technical condition of the country’s vehicle fleet.
Many drivers are still faced with confusion regarding where exactly they need to obtain documents, whether they can keep the old license plate when selling the car, and how much it will cost this year. Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan regularly makes adjustments to administrative procedures, so information that was relevant a year ago may no longer be applicable. It is important to understand that the registration procedure is now maximally tied to electronic services and pre-registration.
In this article, we will look in detail at the entire path from purchasing a car to installing bumper signs. You will learn about current tariffs, features of serial selection and nuances that will help you avoid queues and bureaucratic delays. New numbering standards for electric vehicles and hybrids will come into force in 2026., which also requires special attention from owners of environmentally friendly transport.
Registration procedure and obtaining numbers at the Public Service Center
The main place where the physical issuance of registration documents and license plates themselves takes place remains specialized service centers Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, often simply called public service centers for cars. The process begins long before visiting the building: the first step is pre-registration through the portal eGov.kz or mobile application. This allows you to distribute the flow of people and avoid hours of waiting in line.
Having arrived at the appointed time, the applicant undergoes an inspection of the vehicle by an inspector. At this stage, compliance is checked VIN code, engine and body numbers given in previous documents or the sales contract. Any discrepancies, signs of interruption or damage to plates with serial numbers may result in refusal of registration until the circumstances are clarified.
After a successful technical inspection, a package of documents is transferred to the operator. Here it is important to have a complete set of papers with you so that you do not have to return home. Typically required:
- 📄Original and copy of owner's ID.
- 📑 Vehicle passport (if issued in paper form) or an electronic equivalent.
- 🤝 Purchase and sale agreement or other document confirming ownership.
- 💰 Receipts for payment of government duties and fees.
Modern service centers are equipped with areas for the production of license plates. This means that you receive your signs ready on the day you call, rather than having to wait for them to be made by a third party as was the case in the past.
☑️ Documents for car registration
Registration cost and current tariffs
The financial issue is always acute when registering a car. The cost of registration consists of several components: a fee for issuing license plates, a fee for issuing a registration certificate (STS) and, if necessary, a fee for making changes to the vehicle passport. Tariffs are indexed annually in accordance with the state budget law.
For a standard passenger car with the issuance of new license plates, the total cost in 2026-2026 is approximately from 13,000 to 15,000 tenge. If you decide to keep the old plates (provided that they are in good condition and belong to the region of your registration), the amount will be significantly less, since the cost of manufacturing the metal base is excluded.
Below is a table with approximate prices for basic vehicle registration services:
| Type of service | Approximate cost (tenge) | Due date |
|---|---|---|
| Issuance of new license plates (cars) | 10 680 | On the day of treatment |
| Issuance of STS (plastic) | 1 630 | On the day of treatment |
| Making changes to the PTS | 650 | On the day of treatment |
| Transit numbers (metal) | 5 340 | On the day of treatment |
Payment can be made through terminals in the PSC building, through banking applications or on the portal eGov.kz. When paying online, there is often a 10% discount, which allows you to save your budget. It is important to keep receipts until the documents are fully issued.
When paying state fees through eGov.kz or Kaspi.kz while maintaining the payment history, you can always restore the receipt in case of loss by contacting the bank or portal support service.
Retaining the old license plate when selling a car
One of the most common questions that arises when selling a car is: can I keep the license plate? The legislation of Kazakhstan allows the owner to keep license plate number for yourself, but for this a number of conditions must be met. The main thing is that the number must be readable, without mechanical damage, corrosion or deformation.
The procedure for saving the number is possible only if the new owner of the car is not against changing it or if the car is sold outside the region of registration. If you sell a car within one region, the buyer often prefers to leave the existing license plates so as not to waste time and money on re-registration. In this case, you, as the seller, do not save the number.
If you want to leave a “beautiful” or just a familiar number for installation on a new car, you need to:
- 🚗 Go through the procedure of deregistering the car with the option “preserve state registration certificate”.
- 📝 Write a corresponding application at the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
- 💵 Pay for the storage and issuance of license plates.
- ⏳ Wait for the certificate-invoice and numbers themselves to be issued (or placed for temporary storage in the database).
The validity period of the saved number is limited. Usually it is one year, during which you must register another vehicle and install these signs on it. If you do not buy a new car within a year, the plates will be disposed of and the right to them will expire.
⚠️ Attention: It is impossible to save the number if it is damaged, has erased paint, or if it shows signs of self-repair. The inspector has every right to reject such signs and send them for melting down.
Features of registration of electric vehicles and hybrids
With the growing popularity of environmentally friendly transport in Kazakhstan, the rules for their identification have also changed. For electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) individual license plate series are now highlighted. This is done in order to facilitate control over benefits for parking, travel on dedicated lanes and exemptions from certain taxes.
Owners of such vehicles can receive license plates with a green border or special markings, which are immediately noticeable to police officers and CCTV cameras. It also simplifies the process of applying for charging subsidies, which are available in some regions of the country.
When registering an electric car, it is important to make sure that the documents correctly indicate the engine type and range. The possibility of receiving benefits depends on this. Errors in data sheet may lead to the car being formally considered a regular hybrid or even an internal combustion engine, which will deprive the owner of preferences.
Benefits for electric vehicles in 2026
Owners of electric cars in Kazakhstan are exempt from transport tax, have the right to free parking in paid parking zones (registration in the system is required) and can use dedicated lanes for public transport in Almaty and Astana. However, these benefits apply only if you have correctly executed documents and appropriate marking of the vehicle.
Choice of series and “beautiful” numbers
The question of choosing a specific combination of numbers and letters on a license plate worries many car enthusiasts. In Kazakhstan, the system for issuing numbers is predominantly automatic: the computer assigns the next available number in the queue. However, there are legal ways to get the combination you want.
Officially, “beautiful” numbers (with repeating numbers, for example, 777, 001, 100, etc.) are put up for electronic auctions. Trading takes place on specialized platforms, where the starting price can vary from several hundred thousand to millions of tenge, depending on the “steepness” of the combination. By winning the auction, you get the right to install this number on your car.
You should beware of offers to buy a number “from hand” or through dubious intermediaries. Purchasing a license plate separately from the vehicle is prohibited by law. The number is tied to a specific vehicle. You can legally transfer the number only with the car (upon sale) or through the storage procedure described above. Any schemes for “switching” numbers between machines for the sake of selling the combination itself are gray and can be regarded as fraud.
There is also the concept of “thieves” series, which were historically issued to certain departments. Today, the range of such series has expanded, and the presence of a certain letter combination does not always guarantee special status, although in practice traffic police officers may show more attention to such cars.
Installation rules and common violations
Getting a number is only half the battle. The second half is to install it correctly. The traffic rules of the Republic of Kazakhstan strictly regulate the place and method of attaching state registration plates. Violation of these rules entails penalties.
The license plate must be installed in a specially designated place in front and behind the vehicle. The front number is attached in the center or shifted to the left (in the direction of travel), the rear number is in the center. The use of frames that cover at least one number or letter, as well as inscriptions such as “KZ”, “RUS”, “EU” and brand logos that cover the number field is prohibited.
The most common violations for which fines are issued:
- 🚫 Installing a number in an unintended place (for example, on the windshield or in the cabin).
- 🧱 Pollution of the number, making it unreadable (dirt, snow, ice).
- 🎨 Using frames with advertising inscriptions that overlap the symbols.
- 🔧 Mounting the license plate on homemade brackets at an angle that makes reading difficult.
The fine for driving a vehicle with unreadable or non-standard license plates is 5 MCI (monthly calculation index). Repeated violations within a year may result in an increased fine. In addition, the inspector has the right to demand that the violation be corrected on the spot, that is, to wipe the number or remove the frame.
Proper installation of the number is not only compliance with the law, but also your protection. The read number is recorded by cameras, which allows you to receive notifications about fines, and in case of theft, to find the car faster.
Frequently asked questions and answers
Is it possible to register a car in another region, not at the place of registration?
Yes, with the introduction of new registration rules, the link to the owner’s region of residence was abolished. You can register your car at any service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kazakhstan, regardless of where you live. License plates will be issued with a region code corresponding to where the vehicle is registered, not the owner.
What to do if your number is stolen or lost?
In case of theft or loss of license plates, you must immediately contact the police to record the fact and obtain a certificate. With this certificate you contact the service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for duplication of numbers. Driving without license plates or with only one plate (if the second one is lost) is prohibited and risks having the car towed to the impound lot.
Do I need to change numbers when moving to another city?
No, the obligation to change license plates when changing residence within the country has been abolished. You can live in Almaty and have numbers with area code 07 (Aktobe region) or 10 (East Kazakhstan region). The main thing is that the data in the registration certificate is up to date.
How long does it take to produce plates at the Public Service Center?
In most large cities (Astana, Almaty, Shymkent) plates are produced within 30-60 minutes directly in the service center building. In remote areas, the process may take up to one business day. You will be informed about the exact time when submitting your documents.