Don’t forget to get new license plates for your hybrid car

This article covers the following topics:

• Green license plates in Hungary
• How to get white license plates for your hybrid car
• The perks you will lose
• FAQ

Green license plates in Hungary

Green license plates were first introduced in Hungary in 2015, alongside several perks to promote climate friendly vehicles. Back then, both fully electric cars and hybrid cars could receive the green license plate, which is also the easiest way to communicate that the vehicle is eligible for specific benefits.

Since September 1, 2024, however, green license plates are not issued to hybrid vehicles. Existing green license plates should be replaced by November 30, 2026. After that, hybrid vehicles will need a regular, white license plate.

Pollution class	Description	Green license plate
5E	Battery Electric Vehicles	Available
5Z	Zero emission vehicles (typically with hydrogen fuel cells)	Available
5P	Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)	Should be replaced by November 30, 2026
5N	Range Extended Electric Vehicles	Should be replaced by November 30, 2026

Visit a government office and ask for your white license plates

If you have a vehicle that is not eligible for a green license plate anymore, visit the government office (“kormányablak”) nearest to you, and apply for a new license plate for your vehicle.

You can get a license plate with the same license number or with a new license number. Both has its advantages and disadvantages.

	Same license number	New license number
Number of visits to the government office	At least twice: once to apply, once to get the new plates	Possibly only once: to get the new plates if they have them in stock, and get new documents for the car
Cost	HUF 16,605	HUF 17,475 (Covers both plates and registration)
Update contracts	No	Insurance, parking permits, highway toll stickers

If you want to keep your existing license number, you will need to visit the government office at least twice: once to apply for the new plates, and once to receive them. Since plates with an existing number need to be produced anew, that might take some time (typically 1-3 weeks). It will cost you HUF 16,605 (ca. EUR 45). You will be notified once your new white license plates are ready, and you will need to go to the government office to pick them up. Now you just need to equip the new plates to your hybrid car. You have nothing else to do.

You can also get a new license number now. If they have new plates in stock at the government office, you may choose to accept those then and there. This way you will not have to wait for plates to be produced, but this will add a few administrative tasks to your plate. You will need a new vehicle registration card and document (“törzskönyv” and “forgalmi engedély” in Hungarian), for which you can apply right then. The joint cost of the plates and the new documents is HUF 17,475 (ca. EUR 48), so slightly more than if you kept your existing license number. Once you get your new plates, you will also need to update any providers who might have your license number on file, such as your insurance provider (both KGFB and CASCO), the local municipality who manages your parking permit, or Highway Management if you have a highway toll sticker.

Watch out for perks you lose

If you have a hybrid car that is no longer eligible for the green license plate, you will also be losing the benefits associated with the green plate. These are the following:

• Parking benefits: depends on the local government. In Budapest, vehicles with a green license plate park free of charge in public spaces until December 31, 2026. From January 1, 2027, however, even green cars have to pay for parking.
• Registration tax exemption
• Exemption from the vehicle tax and the company vehicle tax
• Exemption from transfer duty (upon buying a new or used EV)

Naturally, if you were exempt from taxes when you bought your car (registration tax, transfer duty), you do not have to pay those taxes now.

Please note that these perks are tied to the class of your vehicle, not to the color of your license plate. Even if you keep your old, expired green license plate on your hybrid car, you will not be able to take advantage of the benefits available to vehicles that belong to classes 5E and 5Z. In case of a roadside check, if the police officer finds that your green license plate is expired, it can be revoked, and your vehicle might get excluded from road traffic.

Administrative services for your car in Hungary

Helpers has more than 20 years of experience providing administrative services to international clients living, working, and doing business in Hungary. This includes taking care of your car too, if you have one.

We can help with the registration of either a new car or your existing car “imported” from where you lived before. And of course, we are happy to help with the update of the license plate of your hybrid car.

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The post Don’t forget to get new license plates for your hybrid car appeared first on Helpers Hungary.