Green plate replacement by 30 November: who it affects

The deadline is 30 November 2026, and the replacement is not optional. According to Kormány.hu’s 5 October notice, 32,325 plug-in hybrid car owners still need to replace their green number plates with white ones at government service offices. Below, we explain who the obligation applies to, which two options are available, how much they cost, and what is worth arranging after the replacement.

Why does the green plate need to be replaced?

According to Telex’s summary, the change is due to an amendment to the legislation that came into force on 1 September 2024. From that point, only vehicles classified in the pure electric (5E) and zero-emission (5Z) environmental categories can receive green number plates.

Owners of plug-in hybrids previously issued with green plates and classified as 5N and 5P were given a transitional period: according to the Digital Hungary Agency’s (DMÜ) frequently asked questions page, they must replace the official marking with white number plates. Fully electric cars are not affected by the change.

How can you tell whether a given car is affected?

The simplest way is for the owner to check the environmental classification code in the vehicle registration certificate, which appears in section V.9. If it says 5N or 5P, the replacement must be carried out; if it says 5E or 5Z, no action is needed.

The number of affected vehicles is gradually shrinking. According to 24.hu, the number of affected cars has fallen from 38,556 to 32,325, meaning many owners have already completed the replacement, but a significant share still remains.

Two options: a new plate or keeping the old characters

According to the government offices’ guidance, owners can choose between two solutions, which differ in both cost and time required.

• New plate with different characters: according to the government offices, the price of a pair of number plates is 11,475 forints, and the new vehicle registration certificate costs 6,000 forints, bringing the total cost to 17,475 forints. This option can be completed immediately in a single office visit.
• Replacement plate with the same characters: anyone who wants to keep their existing number plate must pay 16,605 forints, according to the government offices’ information. In this case, a new vehicle registration certificate is not needed, but because of the production time, the owner has to visit the government service office twice.

The comparison by specialist outlet Villanyautósok also highlights this difference: keeping the old characters is slightly cheaper, but requires more time and an extra trip. For anyone arranging this close to the deadline, the faster option that can be completed in one visit may be the safer choice.

Hidden costs: sticker and duty

Many people ask whether the registration sticker for the windscreen must be paid for separately. According to Villanyautósok, it does not: the cost of the sticker is already included in the 11,475-forint plate price.

According to Telex, no additional acquisition duty has to be paid afterwards because of the mandatory number plate replacement. So beyond the fees outlined above, the replacement does not involve any further official charges.

The process step by step

• 1. Check: based on the vehicle registration certificate, make sure the car is classified as 5N or 5P.
• 2. Decide: decide whether the owner wants a new plate with different characters or a replacement with the old characters.
• 3. Book an appointment: to avoid queuing, it is worth booking an appointment in advance at the government service office, which can also be done online, for example using Ügyfélkapu+ or DÁP identification.
• 4. Attend in person: for a new plate, one visit is required; for replacement with the same characters, two visits are needed.
• 5. Notifications: if the car receives a plate with different characters, the relevant service providers must be informed (more on this below).

There is no public official data on how busy government service offices will be in November. That is why it is worth not leaving the replacement to the final weeks, especially if someone chooses the replacement option that requires two visits.

After a new plate: who needs to be notified?

According to information from the government offices and Telex, if the car receives a plate with different characters, the owner must report the change to:

• their insurer;
• the National Toll Payment Services Plc. (NÚSZ), so that the valid e-vignette can be transferred to the new plate;
• the parking company, if they have, for example, a parking permit;
• the leasing company, in the case of a financed car.

Transferring the e-vignette is particularly important because motorway-use entitlement is linked to the number plate. Anyone also interested in next year’s fees can find more information in our summary of 2027 motorway vignettes. If the same characters are retained, the plate does not change, so these notifications are generally not necessary.

What happens from 1 December?

According to information from the DMÜ and a report by 24.hu, from 1 December 2026, during a roadside check, the police officer carrying out the inspection will confiscate any green number plate and vehicle registration certificate that have not been replaced, and the authority will withdraw the vehicle from traffic. Kormány.hu’s notice also refers to 30 November as a forfeiture deadline.

So failing to comply is not only inconvenient, but in practice also means the car cannot be used until the matter is resolved. The information provided here is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. In an individual case, for example with a leased or company car, it is worth asking directly at the government service office or with the finance provider. The simplest takeaway, however, applies to everyone: anyone driving a car classified as 5N or 5P should book an appointment as soon as possible, because the replacement can be completed for around 17,000 forints and with one or two office visits.