How to Replace a Lost or Stolen Vehicle Registration Certificate in Ukraine

Do you need to re-register the vehicle to replace the certificate?

Yes. Ukrainian rules treat replacement of a lost vehicle registration certificate as a vehicle re-registration procedure. The current registration rules expressly provide for re-registration when a new certificate is issued instead of one that was lost or is no longer usable.

This does not mean ownership changes. The vehicle remains with the same owner; re-registration is the administrative mechanism used to invalidate the old certificate and issue the replacement.

Where can you apply in 2026?

You have two main routes. You can apply at a territorial service center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or, if you meet the digital-service conditions, restore the document online.

The Main Service Center of the MIA confirms that the online replacement service is available through the official Driver's Cabinet and Diia. Individual owners can use the online service for all types of vehicles when the required records are available electronically.

The traditional in-person procedure remains available through an MVS territorial service center and is particularly important where the online prerequisites are not met or additional documents need to be presented.

What documents do you need for the in-person procedure?

The official MVS document list includes:

• the owner's application, completed at the territorial service center, or an application submitted by an authorized representative;
• an accepted Ukrainian identity document or another residence-status document recognized for the service;
• residence information where it is not already available in the identity document;
• the RNOKPP taxpayer number if it is not already available in MIA databases, or permitted passport details for a person who officially refused an RNOKPP for religious reasons;
• documents confirming payment of the administrative service and relevant certificate or other products;
• a police certificate if the registration certificate was stolen;
• proof of authority if an authorized representative is applying.

Internally displaced persons whose identity documents do not show registered residence may need an IDP certificate showing their actual place of residence, or its electronic representation in Diia, under the current MVS requirements.

What changes if the certificate was stolen rather than lost?

If the vehicle registration certificate was stolen, the Main Service Center of the MIA requires a police certificate as part of the replacement documentation.

A simple loss and a theft therefore should not be treated identically. If the document was stolen, report the theft to the police and keep the document issued by the police for the re-registration procedure.

What if the certificate was lost or stolen abroad?

The Main Service Center of the MIA specifically states that a Ukrainian vehicle registration certificate can be restored even when it was lost or stolen abroad. The legal result remains the same: a replacement certificate is issued through vehicle re-registration.

If theft occurred abroad, obtain documentation from the competent police authority where the theft is reported and check the current MVS requirements before presenting a foreign-issued document. The official MVS guidance confirms the police-certificate requirement for theft but does not publish a universal translation or legalization rule covering every foreign police document, so those requirements should not be assumed without confirmation for the specific document.

Who can restore the certificate online?

The online service introduced for restoration is available to individual vehicle owners and applies to all types of vehicles.

For the Driver's Cabinet route, the existing vehicle registration certificate must be displayed in the account. For the Diia route, the Main Service Center states that Diia must contain:

• the vehicle registration certificate;
• the owner's RNOKPP taxpayer number;
• an ID card or a permanent or temporary residence permit.

If those records are missing or the online system cannot verify the vehicle, use an MVS territorial service center instead.

Can you choose an electronic replacement certificate?

Yes. During the online procedure, the owner chooses whether the replacement registration certificate will be electronic or produced on a plastic form.

If you choose only the electronic certificate, a plastic certificate is not issued. You can also choose whether to retain the existing registration-number combination or select a new number plate from the special series offered by the online service.

The 2026 MVS guidance identifies the special series as DI when ordering through Diia and ED when using the Driver's Cabinet.

What happens after you submit the online application?

The online application is sent to an MVS service center. Officials check the relevant state registers for restrictions or encumbrances affecting the vehicle.

The official processing period is up to 5 calendar days. After successful processing, the lost certificate stops appearing in Diia and the Driver's Cabinet and the newly issued certificate becomes available.

If you ordered a physical registration certificate or new number plate, those items are sent to the postal operator for delivery to the Ukrainian branch you selected.

How long does postal delivery take?

The Main Service Center states that postal delivery can take up to 10 days after the physical certificate or number plate is transferred to the postal operator.

The delivery period is separate from the online application processing period of up to 5 calendar days.

How fast is the in-person procedure?

For the standard in-person restoration procedure, the Main Service Center states that the owner receives the new registration certificate on the day of the visit to the service center.

You should first obtain a service ticket for vehicle re-registration through the official E-recording service or from the terminal at the MVS service center.

How much does a replacement registration certificate cost?

The final amount depends on the services and products you select. In its June 2026 online-service guidance, the Main Service Center stated that the combination of the administrative service, a plastic registration certificate and metal number plates remained the same as at an MVS service center and was about UAH 1,306.

The online system calculates the amount automatically. Postal delivery, the selected certificate format and number-plate choices can affect the total, so use the amount generated when you submit the application rather than relying on an older fixed figure.

Do you need an expert vehicle examination?

For the standard restoration of a lost or stolen registration certificate, an expert vehicle examination is not mandatory. The current MVS FAQ describes expert examination as optional during this re-registration procedure.

This is useful if your only problem is the missing registration certificate: you should not book an expert examination merely because the document was lost unless another circumstance makes it necessary or you choose to have one performed.

What if the certificate was lost because of Russia's armed aggression?

Current registration rules contain a specific exemption for owners whose registration certificate was lost as a result of Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. An owner who has been formally recognized as a victim and suffered property damage in the relevant criminal proceeding can be exempt from the administrative fee for re-registration and from reimbursement of the registration-certificate form cost.

To use this exemption, the owner must provide the document issued by the pre-trial investigation authority confirming recognition as a victim in the relevant criminal proceeding, in the manner required for the application route.

This exemption is narrower than ordinary loss. It applies when the loss resulted from armed aggression and the statutory victim-status evidence is available.

What can delay or prevent the replacement?

Common practical problems include choosing the wrong service instead of vehicle re-registration, arriving without the police certificate after a theft, missing taxpayer or residence information, or attempting the online route when the existing certificate is not displayed in the required electronic account.

For online applications, the MVS also checks state registers for encumbrances and restrictions. A problem revealed during those checks can prevent the automated replacement process from completing normally.

If your digital records are incomplete, the most direct route is to use a territorial service center with the required original documents.

What official rules govern the replacement?

The Main Service Center provides a dedicated FAQ for restoring a lost or stolen vehicle registration certificate, including cases where the document disappeared abroad.

The current legal basis is the Cabinet of Ministers vehicle registration procedure established by Resolution No. 1388. Paragraph 33 expressly provides for vehicle re-registration when a registration certificate is issued instead of one that was lost or became unusable.

For the newer digital route, the 2026 MVS online restoration guidance explains eligibility, processing, document format, postal delivery and current pricing information.