Regions on Ukrainian numbers: decoding codes, changes in and legal subtleties

Ukrainian car license plates are not just a combination of letters and numbers, but a whole code that can tell about the origin of the car, its registration history and even some legal nuances. For car enthusiasts planning to buy a used car from Ukraine, or for those who frequently cross the border, the ability to “read” license plates becomes a critical skill. In 2026, the encoding system underwent several changes, which not everyone knows about.

In this article we will not only decipher all regional codes of Ukrainian numbers, but we will also look at how to distinguish new formats from old ones, which letters are never used in official numbers, and why some combinations may signal a counterfeit. We will pay special attention legal aspects: what to do if the number does not correspond to the region of registration of the vehicle, and how this affects insurance or customs clearance when imported into Russia or Belarus.

Spoiler: from 2023, Ukraine began issuing license plates with the letter “I” (and a dot), which is often confused with the Latin “I” - this is an official innovation, not a fake. And here are the combinations with letters Ї, Є or Ґ should be on your guard - they should not be in the serial numbers.

How Ukrainian numbers work: structure and designations

A modern Ukrainian license plate consists of 7 characters, divided into three groups: two letters, three numbers and again two letters (format AA 123 BB). The first letter on the left always indicates series, and the second - region of registration. The numbers in the middle are the vehicle's unique number, and the last two letters are the additional serial combination.

Key format features:

• 🔤 First letter (series) can be any of the Ukrainian alphabet, except Ї, Є, Ґ, and some others. Most often used A, B, C, E, H, I, K, M, O, P, T, X.
• 📍 Second letter - this is region code. It is she who indicates in which regional center (or Kyiv) the vehicle was registered.
• 🔢 Numbers - unique number from 001 up to 999. Rooms with 000 are not issued to civilian vehicles.
• 🔤 Last two letters - additional serial combination. Can repeat the first letter (for example, AA 123 AA).

Important: since 2020, Ukraine began issuing license plates European style (with a blue stripe on the left and the UA symbol), but the old numbers (yellow or white) remain valid until they are replaced. On new numbers, the regional code may be duplicated on the right side under the flag of Ukraine.

Complete table of regional codes of Ukrainian numbers (2026)

Valid in Ukraine 27 area codes, including Kyiv, Sevastopol and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. After 2014 numbers with codes AR (Crimea) and NE (Sevastopol) are no longer issued, but remain on cars registered before the annexation. Below is the current table taking into account changes for 2023–2026:

Code	Region	Issue center	Notes
A, AA	Kyiv	Main Directorate of Patrol Police	Rooms with AA — new series from 2021
B, BB	Vinnytsia region	Vinnitsa	Starting in 2023 they began issuing BB due to lack of combinations
C, CC	Volyn region	Lutsk	Code CC appeared in 2022
E, EE	Dnepropetrovsk region	Dnepr	Code E also used for temporary numbers
I, II	Kirovograd region	Kropyvnytskyi	The letter “I” with a dot is the official designation from 2023

A complete list of all codes can be downloaded here (PDF, 120 KB). Please note: numbers with code T (Chernigov region) and X (Kharkiv region) are often counterfeited due to their popularity on the secondary market. Always check the code with technical passport car!

How to distinguish fake Ukrainian license plates: 5 key signs

Counterfeiting of Ukrainian license plates is a common problem, especially in the used car market. Fraudsters often use numbers from popular regions (Kyiv, Lviv, Odessa) to hide the real origin of the car. Here 5 signs of a fake:

• 🔍 Wrong font or kerning. Original numbers have a strictly regulated distance between characters (kerning) and a standard font FE-Schrift (as on German license plates). On fakes, the letters often “float” or have different thicknesses.
• 🎨 Color deviations. Yellow numbers must be colors Pantone 109 C, and white ones have a bluish tint. Counterfeits are often too bright or dull.
• 💡 Lack of microtext. On the original numbers, the microtext “UA” is applied under the varnish (visible under a magnifying glass). On fakes it is not there or it is blurred.
• 📏 Wrong sizes. The standard size of a Ukrainian number is 520×112 mm. Counterfeits may be 1–2 mm narrower or narrower.
• 🔤 Prohibited letters. Letters are never found in official numbers Ї, Є, Ґ, , as well as combinations SS (due to associations with Nazism).

If you doubt the authenticity of the number, you can check it through the official service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine: https://hsc.gov.ua (section “Checking the vehicle”). To do this you will need the vehicle's VIN code.

What to do if you find a fake number?

If you find out that the number is fake, do not under any circumstances try to use it to cross the border or sell a car. In Ukraine, forging license plates is subject to a fine of up to 51,000 hryvnia (about $1,300) or imprisonment of up to 2 years. Report suspicion to your local police department or through the online service "Diya".

Legal nuances: what to do if the number does not correspond to the region

A situation where a car is registered in one region, but the license plate was issued in another, is not a violation. For example, a car can be purchased in Lviv (code BC), but registered in Kyiv (code A) - in this case the number will be with the Kyiv code. However, there are several scenarios where a discrepancy should raise red flags:

⚠️ Attention: If in technical passport (TP) one region is indicated, but the license plate shows another, this may mean that the car was re-registered without changing the plates (which is permitted by law) or that the TP is forged. Always check your history through the Ministry of Internal Affairs registry!

Common reasons for non-compliance:

1. Owner relocation. If a person moved from Odessa to Kharkov, he can leave his old numbers (with code Oh) or change them for new ones (with code X). Both options are legal.
2. Buying a car in another region. The dealer or private owner could register the car at his place of residence, and not at the place of purchase.
3. Administrative error. It is rare, but there are cases when the MREO makes a mistake with the region code. This can be corrected through the courts.

If you are buying a car with Ukrainian license plates, be sure to check:

Check the region code on the number with the data in the TP

Check your history through the Ministry of Internal Affairs service (https://hsc.gov.ua)

Make sure the VIN on the body matches the documents

Check the numbers for counterfeit (font, microtext, sizes) -->

New rules 2026: what has changed in the issuance of numbers

On January 1, 2026, several important changes regarding license plates came into force in Ukraine:

1. Cancel duplicate codes. Previously, some regions had two codes (for example, Kyiv - A and AA). Now new numbers are issued only with the main code (A for Kyiv), and the old ones remain valid.
2. Introducing the letter “I” with a dot. This letter is now officially used in numbers (for example, for the Kirovograd region). It is often confused with the Latin “I”, but on the original numbers the dot is clearly visible.
3. Simplifying number replacement. Now, to change numbers when changing ownership, a mandatory replacement of the TP is not required - it is enough to make changes to the electronic registry.
4. New temporary numbers. Temporary license plates (red) are now issued for up to 30 days (previously - 20 days) and contain the code of the region where they were issued.

Also introduced in 2026 electronic number format (e-numbers), which can be obtained through the “Diya” application. They have the same format as regular ones, but are stored digitally and linked to an electronic TP.

Frequently asked questions about Ukrainian license plates: analysis of controversial situations

Even experienced car owners are faced with unusual situations related to Ukrainian license plates. Let's look at the most common cases:

Question 1: Is it possible to drive with Ukrainian license plates in Russia or Belarus?

The rules have changed since 2022. In Russia, Ukrainian license plates are not recognized as valid for permanent use. You can cross the border in a car with Ukrainian license plates, but for further use you need:

• 📝 Temporary import (up to 1 year) with registration of a customs declaration.
• 🔄 Re-registration for Russian license plates (if the car remains in the Russian Federation for more than a year).

In Belarus, Ukrainian license plates are valid without restrictions, but a “green card” (insurance) is required at the border.

Question 2: What does the letter “E” mean on a Ukrainian license plate?

Letter E may mean:

• 📌 Dnepropetrovsk region (if it is the second letter, for example, AE 123 BC).
• 🚗 Temporary number (if the number is red and starts with E, for example, E 12345).
• 🔄 Re-registration (in some episodes E used for cars that have changed owners).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Is it possible to find out the owner of a car using a Ukrainian license plate?

No, personal data of the owner (full name, address) by car number in Ukraine not disclosed. Through the official service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (hsc.gov.ua) can only be found out:

• Car make and model.
• Year of release.
• Date of last registration.
• Presence of restrictions (arrest, bail).

To obtain information about the owner, a request from law enforcement agencies or a court decision is required.

What to do if you lost your Ukrainian license plates?

Since 2026, the restoration procedure has been simplified:

1. Submit an application through the Diya application (if you have an electronic TP) or at the nearest MREO.
2. Pay the state fee (about 200 hryvnia for one number).
3. Receive new numbers within 1-3 days. Old numbers will be cancelled.

If the license plates are stolen, be sure to file a statement with the police - this will protect you from possible fines that scammers can impose on your car.

Is it possible to order a beautiful room in Ukraine?

Yes, there is an order system in Ukraine individual numbers through auction. The cost depends on the combination:

• 💰 Simple combinations (for example, AA 777 AA) - from 5,000 hryvnia.
• 💎 Elite numbers (for example, A 001 AA) - from 50,000 hryvnia.
• 🏆 Unique series (for example, with your name) - the price is determined at auction.

You can order a room through the service numers.gov.ua. Please note: individual numbers cannot be transferred when selling a car, they remain with the owner.

How to check if a car with Ukrainian license plates is wanted?

The search or arrest check takes 5 minutes:

1. Go to the site Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
2. Enter the VIN code or vehicle number in the “Vehicle Verification” field.
3. The system will show the status: “In Rozshuku”, “Arrest”, “Obmezhennya” or “Clean”.

If the car is wanted, strictly prohibited buying it or crossing the border is equivalent to concealing a stolen vehicle.

What do the red Ukrainian numbers mean?

There are two types of red license plates in Ukraine:

• 🚗 Temporary numbers (issued for 30 days upon purchase of a car or re-registration). Format: E 12345 or T 12345.
• 🚛 Numbers for transit (issued for 20 days for exporting cars abroad). Format: TR 12345.

Drive on red license plates for longer than the established period of time it's impossible - a fine of up to 3,400 hryvnia (about $90).