On January 1, 2025, a new GOST standard came into force in Russia, which prohibits the issuance of car license plates without a tricolor. Police cars with license plates of the new format were spotted in the Moscow region. The blue registration plates now feature the Russian flag next to the region code.
Journalists note that a mass issuance of blue license plates with a tricolor is not expected yet. The fact is that they are made in advance for police cars, and plates of the old format are still being put into circulation.
Initially, Russian license plates did not provide for the presence of a flag. In some regions, such as Tatarstan, registration plates without a tricolor were issued until the mid-2000s.
Read more on the topic:
Russian flag on license plates became mandatory
Are car owners in Russia threatened with fines for license plates without a tricolor from 2025?
Lada Iskra in the colors of the Russian flag was shown to the public