Traffic police end EKH era by recalling 'beautiful' license plates

The traffic police have begun recalling license plates from the EKH series, which were previously associated with special status. The measure is linked to preventing potential security threats.

Mar 1, 2026

A traffic police officer inspects a vehicle with special license plates on a Russian street.
Source:
Yegor Aleyev / TASS

In Russia, the procedure for seizing so-called «beautiful» license plates from the EKH series has begun. The information was confirmed after an incident in Nizhny Novgorod, where a driver lost his plates with these letters while registering a new car.

As reported by the Telegram channel Mash, the official response from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the owner stated that the plates were seized «to prevent threats of information compromise,» citing the laws «On Operational-Search Activities» and «On State Protection.» Specific grounds were not detailed.

Traditionally, such plates were acquired by purchasing an old, often inexpensive car (e.g., a VAZ-2101) with the desired combination. The new owner would register the car in their name while keeping the plate, and then transfer it to a more prestigious vehicle. This scheme worked without issues for a long time.

According to information obtained from sources in St. Petersburg, an unofficial oral order recently appeared: when replacing EKH series plates, they should be detained, and the car owner should be issued another set. Inspectors were advised to come up with formal reasons on their own, such as citing the need for additional checks.

Logically, those who obtained such plates not through merit but by purchasing them are primarily affected. Individuals who originally had the right to EKH plates are likely to retain their signs after checks.

EKH plates, whose folk interpretation is «I drive as I want,» were indeed issued to capital city law enforcement in the 90s and provided unofficial privileges on the road. However, now, as experts note, their holders have no real advantages, just like cars with other «folkloric» series such as VOR, MUR, or KHAM.

The logic of modern realities on the roads was explained by a traffic police representative:

If we see a flashy car, and behind the wheel is a young person, clearly far from high life achievements and merits to the homeland, and he behaves arrogantly on the road, we don«t care what plates he has. It would benefit him if we stop him and have a friendly explanatory conversation — maybe he won»t get into trouble and won«t harm others. And vice versa. If behind the wheel is a man of respectable age, with gray hair, behaving decently — all the more, what difference do his plates make? Why would we need to stop him?

Despite the cooling of the trend, the market for «beautiful plates» remains active. The price depends on the letter series, the combination of digits, and the prestige of the region code. For example:

EKH: the most expensive plate in St. Petersburg (three identical digits, region 98) costs 2.5 million rubles (approximately $25,000 at current rates). The least expensive (digits scattered, region 198) — 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,000). Across Russia, the maximum is 2.9 million rubles (approximately $29,000) for a plate with a zero at the beginning and the Krasnodar code 23.
KHAM: a plate with two zeros and region 77 is valued at 12 million rubles (approximately $120,000). A similar one without the «Bondiana» (a term for elite plates) — 3.5 million rubles (approximately $35,000). In St. Petersburg (three consecutive digits, region 98) — 2 million rubles (approximately $20,000).
VOR: a combination with three identical digits and «old Krasnodar» (23) costs 10 million rubles (approximately $100,000). In St. Petersburg, such plates rarely exceed 250,000 rubles (approximately $2,500).
KRA: a series associated with Chechnya. A plate with consecutive digits and the Krasnodar region 123 reaches a price of 20 million rubles (approximately $200,000).
ERE («United Russia rides»): the most expensive (region 177, beautiful digits) — 7 million rubles (approximately $70,000).
AMR (government series): a plate from the first hundred with region 77 costs 30 million rubles (approximately $300,000).
VVV: a plate with six identical digits and a Moscow code is valued at an astronomical 80 million rubles (approximately $800,000).

Thus, spending a large sum on a status symbol is still possible. However, as specialists note, the plates themselves no longer guarantee special treatment on the road. The decisive factor remains the driver«s behavior.