Despite a significant price increase, personalised license plates remain popular among Lithuanian drivers, with more than 1,000 motorists opting to pay €2,500 for a custom plate last year, and 112 more doing so in the first four months of 2025, according to Regitra, the state enterprise responsible for vehicle registration.
Standard licence plates in Lithuania consists of combinations of three letters and three figures. However, Regitra has issued personalised plates since 2001. The plates can feature a custom combination of up to six characters, at least one of which must be a number, and are often used for personal expression or brand promotion. Examples include substituting numbers for letters, such as “L4URA”.
While the cost of a personalised plate rose from €1,500 to €2,500 in January 2024, Regitra’s data shows the price hike has not discouraged buyers. English-language inscriptions and abbreviations have become increasingly popular, as have symbolic number patterns like 111 or 777.
However, not every custom request is approved. Regitra evaluates each submission to ensure it does not include vulgar, offensive, or misleading content. Plates referencing hate speech, discriminatory language, or politically sensitive acronyms are rejected. Notable rejections include STOL3N, KILL3R, and NAT0 – the latter was deemed potentially misleading.
In cases where plates have sparked public disapproval, some drivers have voluntarily agreed to change them, Regitra said.
For those seeking a touch of exclusivity at a lower price, Regitra also offers distinctive plate combinations – but using the standard 3-letter 3-figure format – for €50 to €700. Popular choices include triple letters or globally recognisable abbreviations such as BBC, NBA, or NYC.
Last week, Regitra reintroduced the letters “I” and “Y” to license plate combinations, which had previously been excluded due to identification system confusion. Drivers can now choose from nearly 60,000 possible combinations, including new letter groupings like AAI, ABI, and NMZ.
Electric vehicle owners can also opt for personalised plates, with a new “ED” combination designated for EVs.
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