diff --git a/frigate/api/event.py b/frigate/api/event.py
index 9b65f9826..9557672d2 100644
--- a/frigate/api/event.py
+++ b/frigate/api/event.py
@@ -166,43 +166,32 @@ def events(params: EventsQueryParams = Depends()):
         clauses.append((sub_label_clause))
 
     if recognized_license_plate != "all":
-        # use matching so joined recognized_license_plates are included
-        # for example a recognized license plate 'ABC123' would get events
-        # with recognized license plates 'ABC123' and 'ABC123, XYZ789'
-        recognized_license_plate_clauses = []
         filtered_recognized_license_plates = recognized_license_plate.split(",")
 
+        clauses_for_plates = []
+
         if "None" in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
             filtered_recognized_license_plates.remove("None")
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].is_null())
+            clauses_for_plates.append(Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].is_null())
+
+        # regex vs exact matching
+        normal_plates = []
+        for plate in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
+            if plate.startswith("^") or any(ch in plate for ch in ".[]?+*"):
+                clauses_for_plates.append(
+                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text").regexp(plate)
+                )
+            else:
+                normal_plates.append(plate)
+
+        # if there are any plain string plates, match them with IN
+        if normal_plates:
+            clauses_for_plates.append(
+                Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text").in_(normal_plates)
             )
 
-        for recognized_license_plate in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
-            # Exact matching plus list inclusion
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    == recognized_license_plate
-                )
-            )
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    % f"*{recognized_license_plate},*"
-                )
-            )
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    % f"*, {recognized_license_plate}*"
-                )
-            )
-
-        recognized_license_plate_clause = reduce(
-            operator.or_, recognized_license_plate_clauses
-        )
-        clauses.append((recognized_license_plate_clause))
+        recognized_license_plate_clause = reduce(operator.or_, clauses_for_plates)
+        clauses.append(recognized_license_plate_clause)
 
     if zones != "all":
         # use matching so events with multiple zones
@@ -516,42 +505,31 @@ def events_search(request: Request, params: EventsSearchQueryParams = Depends())
         event_filters.append((reduce(operator.or_, zone_clauses)))
 
     if recognized_license_plate != "all":
-        # use matching so joined recognized_license_plates are included
-        # for example an recognized_license_plate 'ABC123' would get events
-        # with recognized_license_plates 'ABC123' and 'ABC123, XYZ789'
-        recognized_license_plate_clauses = []
         filtered_recognized_license_plates = recognized_license_plate.split(",")
 
+        clauses_for_plates = []
+
         if "None" in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
             filtered_recognized_license_plates.remove("None")
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].is_null())
+            clauses_for_plates.append(Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].is_null())
+
+        # regex vs exact matching
+        normal_plates = []
+        for plate in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
+            if plate.startswith("^") or any(ch in plate for ch in ".[]?+*"):
+                clauses_for_plates.append(
+                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text").regexp(plate)
+                )
+            else:
+                normal_plates.append(plate)
+
+        # if there are any plain string plates, match them with IN
+        if normal_plates:
+            clauses_for_plates.append(
+                Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text").in_(normal_plates)
             )
 
-        for recognized_license_plate in filtered_recognized_license_plates:
-            # Exact matching plus list inclusion
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    == recognized_license_plate
-                )
-            )
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    % f"*{recognized_license_plate},*"
-                )
-            )
-            recognized_license_plate_clauses.append(
-                (
-                    Event.data["recognized_license_plate"].cast("text")
-                    % f"*, {recognized_license_plate}*"
-                )
-            )
-
-        recognized_license_plate_clause = reduce(
-            operator.or_, recognized_license_plate_clauses
-        )
+        recognized_license_plate_clause = reduce(operator.or_, clauses_for_plates)
         event_filters.append((recognized_license_plate_clause))
 
     if after:
diff --git a/frigate/db/sqlitevecq.py b/frigate/db/sqlitevecq.py
index ccb75ae54..aa4928e84 100644
--- a/frigate/db/sqlitevecq.py
+++ b/frigate/db/sqlitevecq.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import re
 import sqlite3
 
 from playhouse.sqliteq import SqliteQueueDatabase
@@ -14,6 +15,10 @@ class SqliteVecQueueDatabase(SqliteQueueDatabase):
         conn: sqlite3.Connection = super()._connect(*args, **kwargs)
         if self.load_vec_extension:
             self._load_vec_extension(conn)
+
+        # register REGEXP support
+        self._register_regexp(conn)
+
         return conn
 
     def _load_vec_extension(self, conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
@@ -21,6 +26,17 @@ class SqliteVecQueueDatabase(SqliteQueueDatabase):
         conn.load_extension(self.sqlite_vec_path)
         conn.enable_load_extension(False)
 
+    def _register_regexp(self, conn: sqlite3.Connection) -> None:
+        def regexp(expr: str, item: str) -> bool:
+            if item is None:
+                return False
+            try:
+                return re.search(expr, item) is not None
+            except re.error:
+                return False
+
+        conn.create_function("REGEXP", 2, regexp)
+
     def delete_embeddings_thumbnail(self, event_ids: list[str]) -> None:
         ids = ",".join(["?" for _ in event_ids])
         self.execute_sql(f"DELETE FROM vec_thumbnails WHERE id IN ({ids})", event_ids)