Uzbekistan to abolish auction sale of “beautiful” license plates

From January 1, 2026, Uzbekistan will abolish the auction system for selling “beautiful” state license plates for vehicles. This is outlined in a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers, adopted on September 4, titled “On measures to simplify the procedure for issuing state registration license plates for motor vehicles.”

The government noted that the current auction system, with its complicated procedures and high starting prices for certain categories of license plates, restricts access for many citizens.

Under the new rules, beginning January 1, 2026, auctions through the Republican Commodity Exchange of Uzbekistan (UzRTXB) will be discontinued. The practice of issuing popular license plates at increased rates will also be abolished.

Instead, individuals and legal entities will be able to select any available combination of letters and numbers through a unified open database that will be updated online. Applications can be submitted electronically via info kiosks at Ministry of Internal Affairs registration departments, the Road Traffic Safety Service mobile app, the official website of the State Traffic Safety Service, and the Unified Interactive State Services Portal.

Chosen numbers will be issued for a single increased fee, the amount of which will be set by the State Unitary Enterprise “Uzavtomotobelgi” starting October 1, 2025. Auction sales of “beautiful” license plates through UzRTXB will cease from that date.

License plates of categories 1 to 3 that remain unsold or unproduced after the auctions end will be available for purchase at the updated increased fee. Plates of categories 4 to 6 will continue to be issued according to the standard procedure.

It is worth noting that starting from January 1, 2026, vehicle owners in Uzbekistan will also be able to personalize license plates by adding their names.