Kazakhstan has introduced new rules allowing motorists to select personalised licence plates when registering vehicles, the country’s Interior Ministry has announced. The regulations, published on Polisia.kz, took effect on 1 January 2026 and give vehicle owners the option to request registration plates with their preferred combination of letters and numbers.
Kazakhstan personalised licence plates and how to apply
The Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) said the measure permits plates with any desired numeric and alphabetic designations, subject to standard restrictions on prohibited content. The move aligns with similar schemes in other countries that permit greater personalisation of vehicle registration while generating additional revenue for the state.
Under the new rules, standard personalised licence plates are issued for fees set at 10 and 15 MRP. For 2026 the monthly calculation index (MRP) is 4,325 tenge, meaning the two fee tiers translate to 43,250 tenge and 64,875 tenge respectively. That equates roughly to $86 and $128 at current exchange rates. The MVD further clarified that licence plates considered to be in higher demand will be subject to separate, additional charges.
Authorities have not published an exhaustive list of high-demand combinations, but such categories commonly include repeating digits, sequential numbers and combinations that form easily recognisable or prestigious patterns. The ministry also indicated that ordinary application and issuance procedures will apply, with details available through official Polisia.kz channels.
Officials say the reform is intended to give vehicle owners greater choice and to modernise administrative services related to vehicle registration. By formalising a fee structure for personalised plates, the government is also creating a transparent framework for what has in other jurisdictions sometimes been an informal market.
Motorists considering personalised plates should note the following practical points: fees are paid at the time of issuance; the MRP-based amount means the tenge cost may change in future years if the monthly index is revised; and any chosen combination will be checked to ensure it does not contravene public order or violate prohibitions on offensive or misleading text.
The ministry’s announcement did not suggest widescale changes to vehicle taxation or broader transport policy. Instead, the provision focuses on licence plate personalisation as an administrative option for drivers. It may also spur a modest secondary market in desirable numbers, as has been observed elsewhere, though the MVD’s separate tariffs for popular numbers are aimed at regulating that demand.
For now, the most immediate impact is straightforward: from 1 January 2026, Kazakh drivers can request personalised licence plates, paying the set MRP-based fees or higher sums where special allocations apply. Further procedural guidance and application steps are expected to be posted on official ministry platforms.
Readers requiring confirmation or wishing to apply should consult Polisia.kz or contact local vehicle registration offices for the most current information and instructions.
Key Takeaways:
- Kazakhstan now allows citizens to select personalised licence plates when registering vehicles, under rules effective 1 January 2026.
- Standard licence plates are priced at 10 and 15 MRP (43,250 and 64,875 tenge in 2026, approximately $86 and $128); high-demand numbers carry separate fees.
- The Ministry of Internal Affairs issued the regulations via Polisia.kz, aiming to simplify registration and offer greater choice to drivers.
