The History of Vehicle License Plates in Ukraine
After gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine began developing its own system of standards, particularly in the field of state vehicle registration. Until that time, Soviet license plates were used according to GOST standards, specifically GOST 3207-77. However, with the transition to an independent state, there arose a need to unify license plates in accordance with both national and international requirements.
In 1995, the first national standard — DSTU 3650-97 — was developed and later implemented. It established the general technical specifications for vehicle license plates. The new Ukrainian plates adopted the format AA 1234 BB and used letters common to both the Cyrillic and Latin alphabets (A, B, C, E, H, I, K, M, O, P, T, X). For the first time, the plates featured national symbols — the Tryzub (trident) on a background of the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag.
The next significant update came in 2004 with the introduction of DSTU 4278:2004, which aligned Ukrainian license plates with European standards. A blue stripe with the country code “UA” was added, anti-counterfeiting protection was improved, and the classification of license plates was expanded to include various types of vehicles — diplomatic, military, transit, and others.
In 2012, a revised version, DSTU 3650:2012, was introduced to modernize the technical characteristics of license plates — fonts, colors, materials, dimensions, and security elements. New types of plates were introduced, including those for electric vehicles, although their practical use was not yet fully regulated.
To meet modern needs and support the development of eco-friendly transport, a new standard — DSTU 3650:2019 — came into effect in 2019. One of its key innovations was the clear definition of license plates for electric vehicles. These plates have a green background with white characters, allowing for easy identification of electric vehicles on the roads and enabling the application of various benefits, such as free parking or access to public transport lanes.
In addition, the procedure for issuing, storing, and circulating license plates is regulated by the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine No. 166 dated March 2, 2021, “On Certain Issues of Vehicle License Plates.” This order has been amended several times to reflect new realities — including the introduction of electric vehicles, new plate formats, and the issuance of personalized license plates. The latest amendments have adapted Ukrainian legislation to the conditions of martial law, digital public services, and personal data protection.
Thus, the development of license plates in Ukraine is an ongoing process of adapting to modern safety requirements and integrating into the European legal framework. From the first independent plates of the 1990s to today’s “green” electric vehicle plates, Ukraine’s vehicle registration system has undergone continuous modernization and harmonization with international standards.
The company “TURBOZNAK”, continuing the traditions of the development of Ukrainian license plate production, actively supports the latest standards and technologies. Thanks to our own production facilities and modern equipment, we manufacture plates, equipment and accessories for the production of license plates. “TURBOZNAK” is a partner network that unites dealers and manufacturers throughout Ukraine, contributing to the formation of a high-quality, reliable and legal license plate market.
