How to keep the license plate after re-registering a car

Anna Tkach

AutoPortal editorial team

2,502 views 2 min read

License plates are more than just a combination of letters and numbers. For many drivers, they hold personal significance: they remind of home, symbolize belonging to a region, express patriotism, or have simply become a kind of 'talisman' and a lucky 'plate' that has adorned the car for years.

To prevent license plates from disappearing during vehicle re-registration or deregistration, MIA service centers offer the responsible storage service. This allows you to keep the plates for the required period and, if necessary, extend it remotely via the 'Driver's Cabinet' if circumstances have changed.

What is the essence of responsible storage of license plates?

The service involves storing license plates after they have been removed from the vehicle. The owner decides how long they will be stored — from one day to ten years. The cost of the service is fixed: UAH 10.80 per day including VAT.

How to get the service?

Storage can be arranged exclusively at MIA service centers. The process is as follows:

Contact the administrator of the service center.
Write an application indicating the desired number of days.
Pay for the service. The amount must exactly match the selected period and be a multiple of the cost of one day.

Please note: no extra rounding of the payment is needed — the payment must match the declared period.

How to extend the storage period?

If you cannot pick up the plates on time or your plans have changed, the period can be extended in two ways:

Directly at the MIA service center, without prior appointment.
Online via the 'Driver's Cabinet' — the payment will be credited automatically.

If the period expires without payment, the license plates are destroyed. It is impossible to get them back after that.

Practical tips and rules

Plates are stored only at the service center where the application was submitted — forwarding to another unit is not provided.
An authorized person can extend the storage period with a notarized power of attorney.
Plates can be assigned to a vehicle only during the registration procedure.
Tracking storage periods and payment status is the owner's responsibility.
After the period expires, the plates are automatically disposed of the next day.
The payment must be made to the account of the MIA unit where the plates are stored.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay for storage for several months at once?
Yes, you can pay for any chosen period in one payment.
What to do if the period has expired and the plates have already been destroyed?
It is impossible to restore them. New plates are issued during the registration of the next vehicle.
Will my favorite number remain when moving to another region?
Yes, if it meets the standards, the number remains with you.
Can old license plates be stored?
No, only plates that comply with the current DSTU are accepted for storage.

If you still have doubts, it is better to contact the MIA service center where your license plates are stored directly — they will provide comprehensive information and help resolve issues.