Residents of Armenia paid 234 million 400 thousand drams (~$639,000) for 224 "attractive" license plates, doing so within just a few days after the government adopted new criteria for license plates in demand among the population.

As reported by Ruslan Marandyan, head of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, at a press conference on July 28, the criteria are set by the government, while the pricing is set by the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He specifically noted that this does not concern "especially in-demand" plates, which, as before, are purchased through an electronic auction.

Explaining the difference, the department head noted that in the case of "especially in-demand" plates, the combination consists of five zeros and two Latin letters (series), or four zeros, one digit, and two letters. In the case of "in-demand" plates, the plate consists of two zeros (or three, in the case of a legal entity), two letters, and three digits, if the latter repeat — in which case the price is higher. The cost of "especially in-demand" plates ranges from 250,000 drams (~$680) to 8 million drams (~$21,800). For example, a combination of 00 +- (letters) XXY (digits) costs 250,000 drams (~$680), while a combination of XX (digits) +- (letters) 000 costs 600,000 drams (~$1,635). All of the above applies only to motor vehicles with 7-character plates (5 digits and 2 letters).

Tigran Gevorgyan, deputy head of the Registration, Examination Services, Permits, and Licensing Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, said that the listed plates can be purchased during vehicle registration. An advantage is that they remain reserved for the owner for six months after the sale of the vehicle, and the owner can register a new car under these plates or transfer them to a close relative. After six months, if the plates are not used, they return to the general database and can be sold again.

Gevorgyan also reported that auctions for "especially in-demand" plates, held since February 1, 2024, have brought the budget 892 million drams (~$2,430,000) for 49 plates. In the days following the adoption of the new criteria, 224 plates were sold, and citizens paid 234 million 400 thousand drams (~$639,000). The highest demand is for plates in the 600,000-dram (~$1,635) category.

It was also noted that license plates for state agency vehicles do not fall into either the "in-demand" or "especially in-demand" category, and cost the same as ordinary license plates — 12,000 drams (~$33).