A reader sent a photo to the editorial WhatsApp number +7 777 001 44 99, capturing a vehicle with an unusual license plate, reports Tengri Auto.
The image shows that the vehicle's license plate has a combination of letters preceding the numbers and consists of only two letters. This distinguishes it from a standard license plate, where the letter combination follows the numbers and consists of three letters. The reader asked whether this means that Kazakhstan has started issuing new-style license plates.
Neither the special center for public services in Almaty nor the city police department could answer this question. Only the Ministry of Internal Affairs responded to our official inquiry, stating that this type of state registration license plate (GRNZ) "meets the new requirements of the special services standard".
"This type of GRNZ belongs to the special services of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Furthermore, we inform you that the characteristics of special GRNZ are regulated by the rules for approving the forms and samples of state registration license plates, approved by the order of the Minister of Internal Affairs dated December 19, 2015," the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs noted.
Our editorial team examined the types of special license plates that exist and how to distinguish them.
In Kazakhstan, there are various types of special state registration license plates, differing in format, color, and symbolism, depending on the purpose and departmental affiliation of the vehicles. Let's consider the main ones.
Border Service of the National Security Committee
The KNB license plate features a green background and a star. As explained by the Border Service of the KNB, this color symbolizes its affiliation to the Border Service, where green is present on the flag, emblem, and uniform cap. The star on the plate emphasizes the service's connection to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The letters BS stand for Border Service, which translates from English as "Border Service."
It is worth noting that the license plate mentioned earlier also has the letters BS. Perhaps this is what the Ministry of Internal Affairs was referring to regarding these special services.
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Legal Entities
It should be noted that having two letters instead of the usual three is not so rare on license plates. License plates registered to legal entities typically have a format with two letters and three numbers. This format is used for vehicles owned by organizations. However, there are exceptions: the letter combinations AV, KZ, and SK are used for vehicles belonging to the Presidential Administration and its security service.
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In Kazakhstan, the color and letter designations on vehicle license plates indicate the special status of the vehicle. For example, vehicles of diplomatic missions have red background plates.
The letter D designates diplomats, while T signifies technical personnel. Yellow license plates are intended for specific categories of vehicles.
The letter designations are as follows:
- HC - vehicle of an honorary consul;
- M - vehicle of a representation or branch of a foreign company;
- H - vehicle of a Kazakhstan company with foreign participation;
- F - personal vehicle of a foreign citizen or stateless person.
Vehicles of the Ministry of Defense have license plates featuring a five-pointed star instead of the state symbols. Letter designations include "MO" (Ministry of Defense) or "MP" (Military Police). The color scheme may be white symbols on a black background, or conversely, vehicles of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are equipped with blue plates and white symbols.
Previously, we reported that a driver lost their license for covering their license plate with a napkin.
The driver concealed the license plate on their car with a wet napkin and lost their driving privileges. On the republican highway Shymkent – Samara, police stopped a vehicle with a concealed license plate, driven by a 30-year-old resident of the Arys district. He decided to cover the plate with a wet napkin, thereby violating vehicle operation rules.
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