Nonstandard license plates echo European styles, with German and Belarusian fonts and blue left margins, yet are produced by the same companies that offer typical Russian plates.
In this context, several St. Petersburg firms price a series of plates in the “Under Germany” font with a blue field on the left at about 2,500 rubles, or 1,500 rubles for a single plate. Plating numbers in a Belarus-like font carries a similar price.
The defining distinction is clear: these plates bear no Russia identifier, no tricolor, and the lettering style diverges from the standard.
Paradoxically, the alphanumeric code on such plates still matches the vehicle’s GRZ in the Russian traffic authorities’ records, meaning the vehicle data in the state registration certificate aligns with the owner’s PTS and STS documents.
A representative speaking with a correspondent from socialbites.ca noted that demand for these plates has surged.
“This is the most frequent order right now. They are bought for Europe to safeguard the vehicle in light of current events, that’s the gist.”
Gosnomera 24, speaking to a socialbites.ca correspondent, added that customers say border controls pushed them to adopt these plates, continuing on their routes thereafter.
A set of numbers with the vehicle’s Russian data is priced at between 2.5 and 4 thousand rubles, depending on the font. Some discussions on regional forums suggest a risk of fines in Baltic and EU nations, and users advise reserving such plates for long-term parking only.
The Moscow company Running Elephant advertises Eurostyle rooms at 2.5 thousand rubles per set, with a caution that using these plates abroad could carry penalties.
“Legal plates made to GOST standards are lawful; anything else carries its own risks, including installation and driving choices,” warned a company representative.
One representative noted, “People who buy these numbers say fines won’t deter them. The essential concern is the safety of the car, passengers, and children.”
flag removed
The practice of omitting the national flag from the GRP on Russian cars has persisted for years as a way to stand out. Unlike the so‑called European plates, those numbers still adhere to the GOST format introduced in 1993, which means removing the three colors is rarely a problem with the traffic police, so long as the RUS script remains present.
Back in the 1990s, such markings were common on certain service vehicles, and the idea of a “privilege” has lingered in memory.
In Russia – to the first traffic police stop
When new European-style “russified” plates are used domestically, the first stop by the traffic police is likely. Experts warn of potential heavy penalties or license suspension.
“Using these plates in Russia is illegal and may be treated as intentional plate damage, carrying a 1–3 month license ineligibility or a fine around 5,000 rubles.”
Pyotr Shkumatov, coordinator of the Blue Buckets movement, told socialbites.ca that cameras are calibrated to recognize certain fonts, raising concerns that such plates may not be read properly.
In other countries, Russian GOST plates do not apply, and foreign police typically follow the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and related documents, requiring license plates to reflect the official vehicle identity. A noted expert explained that if the information is consistent, authorities abroad might not suspect the plates are homemade, reducing risk in some cases.
Shkumatov underscored the point.
Sergey Radko, a lawyer with the Free Choice auto movement, offered a different view: drivers could face penalties for using nonstandard GRP, particularly in EU states near Russia, where authorities often recognize Russian state marks.
“In Russia, such a plate can be considered false even if the numbers align with the documents. Penalties abroad depend on local laws where the violation is detected, and fines could be substantial,” Radko stated.
Radko also noted indications of potential enforcement issues for nonstandard plates observed by Latvian media and local residents reporting suspicious vehicles with “possibly fake” Russian numbers, reflecting administrative action in neighboring markets.