The means of transport in the Transnistrian region can be registered with neutral-design license plates until December 31, 2026. The extension of the deadline is stipulated in a draft law that was given a final reading by Parliament, IPN reports.

Thus, the citizens will continue to benefit from the mechanism of registering units of transport in the Transnistrian region with neutral-design license plates and will have access to international traffic. This mechanism does not apply to motor vehicles used in commercial activity. At the same time, persons residing in localities other than those situated in the uncontrolled territory will not be able to register their means of transport with neutral-design license plates.

The bill was drafted by a group of MPs of the Party of Action and Solidarity. According to them, the goal is to support the inhabitants of the eastern districts of the country who are facing difficulties due to the non-settlement of the Transnistrian conflict.

In 2018, the authorities offered the residents from the left bank of the Nistru the possibility to register their means of transport with neutral-design license plates for a period of two years. Subsequently, the deadline was extended. The measure is necessary because the Convention on Road Traffic stipulates that the people can access international traffic with their own vehicles only if these are registered with the state authorities. Another advantage of neutral-design license plates is that the state authorities can determine through the international law system if the means of transport are not lost or stolen. Also, drivers can be identified in road traffic and, in case of involvement in road accidents, they can be held responsible.

So far, more than 10,000 vehicles have been registered at the vehicle registration points opened by the Public Services Agency in the cities of Tiraspol or Rybnitsa. The citizens’ interest increased significantly after Ukraine banned vehicles with license plates issued on the left bank of the Nistru from crossing the Moldovan-Ukrainian border in 2021.

The document will enter into force on the date of publication in the Official Gazette.