Order a vehicle registration plate at an inspection station

You can order a registration plate for your vehicle using its former registration number. The previous registration number is usually shown in the vehicle’s history information in the Transport Register.

If the former registration number cannot be found in the Transport Register, you must prove that the number was once assigned to the vehicle. When placing your order, present a copy of the registration card or another document showing the registration number. A former registration number can be ordered if it is not currently in use for a vehicle of the same category. However, the registration number must comply with current legislation.

The requirements for a registration number are:

• The registration plate of a car or trailer must contain two or three letters and a number with up to three digits.
• The special registration plate of a motorcycle or moped must contain either two or three letters and up to three digits, or the other way around.

If your vehicle currently has registration plates without the EU symbol, you may change them to EU plates. You may also replace EU plates with registration plates without the EU symbol.

You may order an additional plate if your vehicle’s registration plate becomes obscured by a device attached to the vehicle, such as a bicycle carrier. 

Once the additional plate has been entered in the vehicle’s registration data, you may use a temporary registration plate for up to one month.

Returning an additional plate

Return the additional plate to an inspection station that offers registration services when you no longer need it. The record of the additional plate will remain in the Transport Register until the plate has been returned.

You can order registration plates with a black background for your vehicle if it is a historic vehicle or if it has previously had a registration number with black registration plates.

You can also order black registration plates based on the vehicle’s year of first use: 

• for a car first taken into use in Finland in 1972 or earlier
• for a trailer first taken into use in 1972 or earlier
• for a motorcycle first taken into use in 1973 or earlier
• for an imported vehicle first taken into use abroad in 1971 or earlier.

If you are ordering registration plates with a black background using the vehicle’s former registration number, the registration number must meet the following requirements:

• The registration plate of a car or trailer must contain two or three letters and a number with up to three digits.
• The special registration plate of a motorcycle or moped must contain either two or three letters and up to three digits, or the other way around.

If the vehicle information required to order black registration plates is not available in the Transport Register, you must present a document showing this information when placing your order.

If there is not enough space on your vehicle for a long registration plate, you can order a suitable plate from an inspection station that offers registration services. The order can be made when the inspector has confirmed that a long plate does not fit on the vehicle.

Non-standard plate types include the following:

• low or high plate with EU symbol for cars
• small plate for cars
• high plate with EU symbol for trailers
• high plate for tractors or mobile machinery

You can order a registration plate for your vehicle to replace a lost or damaged one. You may replace the plate, for example, due to worn paint or dents.

If the registration plate has been stolen, file a police report before placing the order and take the report with you to the inspection station.

If both registration plates have been lost, it is recommended to change the vehicle’s registration number. You will then receive new plates with a new number from the inspection station. However, if you prefer, you may keep the old registration number.