Where to Buy a Hungary License Plate?
Posted by AirplaneGeek155@reddit | askhungary | View on Reddit | 44 comments
Üdvözlöm Magyarország lakosait! Kaliforniában, az USA-ban élő rendszámtábla-gyűjtő vagyok, és jelenleg egy aktuális kiadású magyar rendszámtáblát szeretnék a gyűjteményembe szerezni (lásd a csatolt fotót referenciaként).
Ha valakinek van javaslata, hogy hol tudnék beszerezni egyet – akár hivatalos csatornákon, gyűjtőkön vagy megbízható eladókon keresztül –, nagyon hálás lennék a segítségéért.
Előre is köszönöm a segítséget.
Péter
Hello people of Hungary. I am a license plate collector based in California, USA, and I am currently looking to add a current-issue Hungarian license plate to my collection (see attached photo for reference).
If anyone has suggestions on where I might be able to obtain one—whether through official channels, collectors, or reputable sellers—I would greatly appreciate your guidance.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Peter
KoLa04@reddit
You can't buy legally.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
He can buy one—it’s called a custom license plate, and the price depends on the chosen characters.
KoLa04@reddit
That's right, but it's not the common type so it's not for collection, because you can also get similar one in a different country. In addition, to apply, you must have a hungarian permanent or temporary residence.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
You can also apply for a custom license plate through a Hungarian company if you don’t have a Hungarian address.
KoLa04@reddit
I don't think the OP is interested in this. We are talking about a plate collection, not a unique license plate, which is also complicated to obtain in this way (and its use is also illegal under the law).
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
I’m Hungarian and I own several custom license plates, so I know exactly how this works. For a collection, the only legal way in Hungary is to obtain a custom plate, which requires some Hungarian connection. What exactly is unclear?
KoLa04@reddit
I suggest you read the laws regarding this, what conditions it imposes for private individuals and legal entities. OP is not officially entitled to such a license plate even through a company, in which case the company commits a violation of the law. You are Hungarian, as you write, the situation here and for you is different.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
That’s not correct. A Hungarian company can legally apply for a custom license plate — that alone is not a violation of the law. You’re mixing up eligibility with how the plate is used. And yes, a foreigner can apply if they have a valid Hungarian residence.
So there are two legal ways to obtain a license plate, but only a custom one. It can even follow the standard Hungarian format. You just need some Hungarian connection, you don’t have to be a Hungarian citizen.
KoLa04@reddit
A legal entity may not pass it on to a private individual for use abroad in a way that is not permitted by law directly to private individuals. Even if you conclude a contract with a private person regarding this, the legal framework is at a higher level.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
Now you’re talking about usage, not the application, those are two different things. A Hungarian company can still legally apply for a custom license plate. A collector isn’t going to use it anyway, they’ll just put it on a shelf or wall or etc..
KoLa04@reddit
From a legal perspective, it doesn't matter whether you use it or keep it on the shelf (if you use it, it must also be registered in the vehicle registration document), but the point is that a hungarian legal entity can own it but cannot transfer it to a private individual, because the law itself handles it and imposes conditions on it, but we've already talked about that.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
You’re still moving the goalposts. The original question was about obtaining a plate, which is perfectly legal with a Hungarian connection. It’s not limited to legal entities, and it can also be legally transferred. That’s a separate issue.
KoLa04@reddit
Thats not true. Not limited for (hungarian) legal entities, BUT It cannot be transferred its ownership to a private individual, it is the responsibility of the authority if a private individual requests it. The license plate remains in the possession of the legal entity and it has no right to officially transfer it to a private individual FOR USE, even by contract, IF the private individual does not comply with the terms of the law (which originally applied to individuals). If it does so, it is a violation of the law.
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
You’re overcomplicating and mixing different legal aspects. Custom plates are not limited to legal entities, and individuals can obtain them under the same conditions. Transfer and usage are separate issues and don’t change the original point.
You know what? I’m done arguing with you. For the past 10 years, all my cars have had custom license plates, always matching the type of car. After selling them, the plates are now in my garage, either in my name or my company’s. But I’m sure you know better. I’ve even sold and transferred two custom plates together with the cars. Case closed.
KoLa04@reddit
As I wrote, legal entities can only transfer it for use because they have ownership, but the use contract cannot deviate from the conditions for private use stipulated by law. A contract cannot provide for a higher level than the applicable original law for private individual. What you did or didn't do may or may not be completely illegal. The law states the legal status in black and white. Case closed?😅
Illustrious_Pie_1171@reddit
Now you’re just making assumptions without knowing the actual details. Everything I’ve done was fully legal. At this point you’re just speculating, so there’s nothing more to discuss.
ConsciousLow9690@reddit
Also, a custom license plate can be exactly the same as a regular, I mean you can ask for AA CX - 513 if you want, so if that's what the collector want, still doable.
kockologus@reddit
One way I would think to get one legal is to get someone’s gray licence plate- by rules the white ones are inseparable from the car, however you can request for some fee a “second copy” gray one which you can use if you put a rack on the rear of the car like a trailer hitch mounted bicycle rack which covers the original plate. Such racks usually have a plate holder in which you can put the gray plate.
kockologus@reddit
Like this one: https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pro-user.hu%2Fmedia%2Fnyitolap%2Fprouser%2Fhome-3%2FwebFullSizeRender-2-1.jpg&f=1&ipt=70e06405209c2e60060170b263e012c5f0d78eb867acc3dddde526d130f04d29
AirplaneGeek155@reddit (OP)
So if I wanted to obtain a license plate legally, I’m SOL?
KoLa04@reddit
In Europe, we don't have 'fancy' license plates like in the US where you can buy. In many European countries license plates belong to the car and are essentially government property.
KoLa04@reddit
YES
ManufacturerLost7686@reddit
The new ones are hard to get a hold of because they are actively used.
The older pre-2021, ABC-123 style plates are more common as there are heaps of abandoned wrecks they can come from that nobody cares about.
If you hit me up in a few months, i can give you a 1999 plate from my off-roader. Its never been registered to me and it haven't even been in the country for a decade, its never gonna be road legal or registered due to modifications.
Gb2753@reddit
There is a bunch of abandoned plate near me on a junkyard. If you want I can take you one and mail it to you for 200 bucks
AirplaneGeek155@reddit (OP)
Yes! That would be great!
Gb2753@reddit
I have Ukraine US Style EV(Green plate) front and back too if you want
AirplaneGeek155@reddit (OP)
I’ll take them as well!
Sad-Check-1536@reddit
In Hungary, license plates belong to the car, not the owner. Issuing license plates is a state privilege; unlike in other countries, you cannot purchase them here. Hungarian license plates are the property of the state. You cannot legally acquire Hungarian license plates for a collection. Of course, it can be done illegally. But I don’t want to give any tips to illegal method.
Silent_Hedgehog_8660@reddit
Maybe just buy a cheap shitbox car that has new plates...
AirplaneGeek155@reddit (OP)
I don’t live in Hungary. I live in the US.
Silent_Hedgehog_8660@reddit
Contact "Bountyflyer" on Facebook. If someone can help you thats him.
Funny_Scholar_2592@reddit
This format is still new. It was released recently. I would wait a year and try again—maybe by then someone will have a spare.
Silent_Hedgehog_8660@reddit
IT was released in 2021
Funny_Scholar_2592@reddit
2022
Silent_Hedgehog_8660@reddit
You can buy a custom plate in the goverment office (its araond 150K huf in the normal format) , you can buy even without car.
Pleasant_Plate_1507@reddit
You can customise one for youself on this page https://www.bulirendszam.hu/index.php, but i don't know if they can send it to you to the USA
skp_005@reddit
I don't have specific advice (I never tried to buy a license plate), but it might be simpler / easier to get a replica, either bought or made. Some older plates are on marketplaces and such, but this is much more of a niche than in the States, there aren't bargain bins of old plates in shops, so it's not that easy to get one. And as others have said, the new ones are really new, started issuing this format (AA BB 123) in 2022 or so, so even in those marketplaces, it's not likely they are there.
I found this article (in HUN) that talks a bit about the new plate template, you might find it useful if you go the replica route.
ashdalton@reddit
You have to buy a car and keep it registered :)
Mr_A_B_Ductor@reddit
Come to here, may you can fint a lost one on the streets. :D
tucsok26@reddit
The government keeps track of the license plates, it belongs to the car, and you need to return it when the car is decommissioned.
The only way I can see someone getting one and being able to sell to you is by stealing it, fraudulently reporting it as lost, or finding a lost plate and not returning it - all of which are illegal.
AirplaneGeek155@reddit (OP)
So I’m basically SOL if I tried to get a license plate the legal way?
tucsok26@reddit
Well, you can buy a car, pay insurance and tax on it, and you'll have the license plate - but when you sell the car, the license plate goes with it, it belongs to the car, not you.
Lordy8719@reddit
Afaik selling authentic ones would be illegal - same way as one couldn’t legally sell you their ID papers.
You might be able to find someone who’s willing to “lose” theirs, but those wouldn’t fit the official/reputable part of your post.
szebe@reddit
I doubt you can get one through official channels, since plates are property of the state.