Before exploring the unofficial market prices, we sent an official request to the State Automobile Inspectorate (SAI). In it, we raised several difficult questions, but have not yet received answers. As soon as they appear, we will immediately share the information. In the meantime, let's talk about what "prestige plates" are.
Historical background and current situation
Since the Soviet era, there have been special number series intended for top leadership and important figures. After Ukraine gained independence, such license plates, which theoretically provided advantages on the road, became available to wealthy motorists. However, they were not officially sold.
Since 2009, plates containing four identical digits can be legally obtained by paying 20,000 UAH. But for that amount, you shouldn't count on a combination like "...7777..." — there are few such plates.
According to information obtained by Autoportal from its own sources in the SAI, plates starting with "AA000....", which could previously be bought officially, are now not so easy to acquire. As for other combinations with attractive digits, in theory they can be obtained for free. At MREO-2, we were told by phone that there is a possibility to choose a plate you like from those available.
The real situation
In practice, however, you won't be able to choose a nice plate for free now. Just as you couldn't a year or five years ago. Our interlocutor, connected to the SAI, explained this by saying that MREO employees earn good money from such deals, so they hold back attractive plates. He also lamented that over the past two years, the number of people wanting to buy nice plates has noticeably decreased. Many inquire, learn the prices, but ultimately settle for ordinary ones or take more or less attractive ones for a small reward. According to him, even owners of very expensive cars sometimes refuse "prestige" plates, choosing, for example, a cheaper "9990" instead of "9999".
It is worth noting that, despite the decrease in demand compared to 2007-2009, unofficial prices for nice plates still exist.
Prices for digits. Unofficial price list
Plates with three identical digits ("9994", "8881", etc.) — $500
Plates with the combination "777" — $700
Plates with three digits where "0" is at the beginning or end — $500-$700
Plates with "000" at the beginning ("0005", "0007") — $5000-$7000
Plates with "000" at the end ("5000", "7000") — $1000 (for the combination "6000" — $500-$700). An alternative option is to have connections in the SAI
Plates with repeating digits ("2299", "3388") — $300 (for "2277" — $400-$500 due to the popularity of this combination among the Chernovetsky family. However, in current times, the desire to associate with this family seems dubious.
Plates with repeating combinations ("2929", "3838") — $300 (for combinations with zeros, they may ask for more)
Mirror plates ("1551", "4664") — $250-$300 (it all depends on the combination. For example, for "8008" or "9009" they may ask for more than $300)
Plates with ascending digits ("5678", "3456") — $250-$300 (for those interested in the combination "1234", we immediately clarify: you cannot buy such a plate. We were told it is "departmental". Judging by the photo from the SAI Department parking lot, this is indeed the case.)
Can you negotiate and are there other options
As our source claims, getting a discount and "negotiating" is quite realistic. We will not provide the exact expressions our insider used to describe people who buy plates at such prices, but, in literary terms, they could be called overly trusting.
As for other options, as Autoportal found out, it all depends on the financial capabilities of the owner and the car itself. If, for example, the owner of a Porsche 911 comes to MREO and asks for the plate "0911", he is unlikely to get it on general terms. The same applies to the owner of a Ferrari 612 or any other sports car on which the owner wants to put a "thematic" plate.
According to our interlocutor, in such cases, MREO employees who engage in such earnings decide themselves how much to ask "for help". At the same time, the owner of a VAZ, say, might completely accidentally get a "sports car" plate on general terms. This also applies to other combinations. Our insider also said that if a car owner asks about a specific combination (even as inconspicuous as "0275"), it means a similar plate is on the car of his wife/husband/son/security, etc. In that case, he will also likely be hinted at a reward.
About letters and fashion trends
After Viktor Yanukovych came to power, Donetsk plates with the letters "AN...VR" became popular. Their presence does not guarantee that a traffic inspector will not stop a car that ran a red light in the oncoming lane. However, according to our interlocutor, inspectors still beware of "cool" cars with such plates. Therefore, some MREO employees began to ask for "extra payment" for them as well.
As for "AA...VR", the first digit plays a key role. If it is "0" — such a plate cannot be bought; it is only for people's deputies. "AA6...VR" is freely available. There are other options available for purchase. There are many combinations not related to the Verkhovna Rada. But if a person wants exactly those letters, they cannot be obtained without money.
The same can be said about "...MI". If earlier such plates were put on police cars, then on cars of benefit recipients and disabled people, now it is just one of the series. No special privileges — only associations. Although there are exceptions that SAI employees know well.
SAI employees can notice plates from special series of past years only in one case. If, for example, no longer used state plates (such as "77777 KE", "53211 OO", etc.) are on cars of recent years of manufacture — it means a very serious person is riding in the car. Such a plate cannot be bought, ordered, or transferred... they indicate the owner's connections. According to unofficial data, high-ranking officials (or those close to them) who have influence on the SAI and beyond are guilty of this.
It is also worth mentioning the series "AA...HS" (appeared during the time of SBU chief HoroshkovSky), "AA...MM" (these plates are often used by Ministry of Internal Affairs units), "AA...SS" (this series officially does not exist at all, but for some reason cars with such plates exist), "AA...KS" (Constitutional Court), "AA...VS" (Supreme Court). However, these are far from all the series that scare SAI employees. We will talk about which cars State Automobile Inspectorate inspectors try not to notice in a separate article dedicated to truly "prestige plates" that are inconspicuous at first glance but indicate the owner's influence.
Otherwise, as Autoportal found out, nice plates do not scare inspectors, but hint that the car owner has a good income and... can afford to thank them for turning a blind eye to traffic violations.
