How much does it now cost to keep a “nice” license plate?
Selling a car does not necessarily mean giving up its “nice” license plate. Under the new procedure, when a vehicle is re-registered, the plate can be retained in the name of the previous owner or transferred to another person in accordance with the established procedure.
However, a separate fee is required for this. Most importantly, the fee is calculated not on the basis of how much the plate was previously purchased for, but as 50 percent of the current unified increased payment.
When did the rule take effect?
The new procedure was established by Resolution No. 562 of the Cabinet of Ministers dated September 4, 2025. The changes concerning the retention and re-registration of state license plates came into force on January 1, 2026.
According to the resolution, when a vehicle is re-registered, state license plates of all categories may be:
retained in the name of the previous owner;
or transferred to another person in accordance with the procedure established by law.
For this, 50 percent of the unified increased payment is charged.
Important clarification: not 50 percent of the previous purchase price
Some reports circulating claim that if the owner originally purchased the plate for a certain amount, they must pay half of that amount again.
However, the official text of the resolution contains no such rule. The document establishes the following provision:
“A payment amounting to 50 percent of the unified increased payment”
This means the calculation is tied not to the individual price paid at the previous auction, but to the unified increased payment currently established for license plates.
For example, if the applicable unified increased payment is conditionally 10 million soums, 5 million soums will be paid to retain and re-register the plate. This is merely an example explaining the calculation method—the exact amount will be determined according to the tariff in effect at the time of application.
The plate can be stored free of charge for 12 months
When a car is sold to another person, the previous owner may submit the state license plate to the territorial YHXX authority for safekeeping. An application is required for this.
The plate:
is stored for up to 12 months;
no fee is charged for the storage itself;
the 50-percent fee applies when it is reinstalled on the next vehicle.
Thus, the two processes must be distinguished from each other:
Process | Payment |
|---|---|
Storing the plate at YHXX for 12 months | Free |
Re-registering it for the next vehicle | 50 percent of the unified increased payment |
Therefore, it is not necessary to purchase a new car immediately after selling the old one. The owner can submit the plate for temporary storage and register it for the next vehicle within 12 months.
Does the procedure apply only to “nice” plates?
The text of the resolution refers to state license plate numbers of all categories. The rule also applies to plates issued or in use before November 1, 2025.
Therefore, the new mechanism is not limited to plates previously purchased at high prices through auctions. When a vehicle is re-registered, if the owner wishes to retain their plate, they must comply with the established payment and registration procedure.
Is the plate the private property of the vehicle owner?
Under the law, a state license plate is not considered the private property of the vehicle owner. It is provided to the owner for designated use on a specific vehicle.
Therefore, it cannot be sold independently like an ordinary item, handed over without documentation, or installed on any vehicle at will. Any changes associated with it must be formalized through YHXX.
Purchasing a “nice” combination also does not grant ownership of the metal plate itself, but only the right to use it in accordance with the established procedure.
What happens if the plate is not retained?
If the owner does not apply to retain the plate, it will be confiscated and destroyed by the territorial YHXX authorities. However, the combination of numbers and letters itself will be re-entered in the unified open database as an available combination.
Later, the same combination may be produced as a new plate and issued to another person in exchange for the unified increased payment.
Therefore, if the owner wants to use a plate that is important to them on their next vehicle as well, it is important to submit an application in advance during the sale and purchase process.
The system for obtaining new plates has also changed
From January 1, 2026, the system of selling previously issued “nice” plates through exchange auctions was abolished. Now, any available combination of letters and numbers can be selected electronically in exchange for the unified increased payment.
It is possible to select a plate through the following platforms:
infokiosks at YHXX divisions;
the YHXX mobile application;
the official YHXX website;
the my.gov.uz portal.
Available combinations are displayed in a unified open database that is updated online.
What should a person selling a car do?
To retain a valuable or memorable plate, it is advisable to take action before re-registering the vehicle.
Based on the current procedure, the owner must:
Inform YHXX of their wish to retain the plate.
Submit the required application.
Submit the plate for 12-month storage.
Pay 50 percent of the unified increased payment when registering it for the new vehicle.
Complete the registration before the storage period expires.
After the sale and purchase agreement has been signed, the plate is not automatically retained for the previous owner. Their application is required for this.
Can the plate be transferred to another person?
The resolution provides for the possibility not only of retaining the state license plate in the name of the previous owner, but also of transferring it to another person in accordance with the procedure established by legislative acts. The 50-percent payment requirement also applies in this case.
However, it would be incorrect to conclude that the plate can simply be handed over to any person by private agreement. Re-registration must be carried out through YHXX and in accordance with legal requirements.
The main substance of the new rule
Previously, various categories and separate procedures existed for retaining a plate when a car was sold. The new system has combined them into a single mechanism.
The main rule is now as follows:
The car changes, but the plate may remain with its owner. An application must be submitted, the plate is stored free of charge for 12 months, and half of the unified increased payment is paid when it is transferred to the next vehicle.
The most important point here is that the 50-percent payment is calculated not from the plate’s previous auction or purchase price, but from the current unified increased payment.
Do you think the 50-percent repeat payment to retain a plate in one’s name is fair? Leave your opinion in the comments and share the article with your acquaintances on Telegram or other social networks!
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