Vehicle registration plates of California
The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants had to provide their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to supply plates.[1]
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first California license plate that complied with these standards.
License plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Contents
Passenger baseplates
California alternated issuing single-year and multi-year plates.
Base plate colors 1913 to 1962
Some plates were revalidated for multiple years. For example, the 1947-dated plate was revalidated with metal tabs until 1950.
Image | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Validation tabs (if multi-year) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1913 | dark blue on white | 123456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1914 | white on brick | 123456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1915 | black on yellow | 123456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1916 | blue on white | 123456 | unknown | 1917 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
1920 | white on black | 123-456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1921 | black on yellow | 123-456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1922 | blue on white | 123456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1923 | white on black | 123-456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1924 | white on green | 123-456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1925 | black on yellow | 123 456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1926 | white on blue | 123 456 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1927 | white on maroon | 1-234-567 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1928 | yellow on blue | 1-234-567 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1929 | orange on black | 1A-23-45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1930 | black on orange | 1A-23-45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1931 | orange on black | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1932 | black on orange | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1933 | orange on black | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1934 | black on orange | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1935 | orange on black | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1936 | black on orange | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1937 | orange on black | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1938 | black on yellow | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1939 | yellow on blue | 1A 23 45 | unknown | single year |
![]() |
1940 | black on orange | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 |
unknown | single year |
![]() |
1941 | yellow on black | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 |
unknown | 1942 - ![]() |
![]() |
1942 | yellow on black | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 |
unknown | 1943 - ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
1945 | white on black | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 |
unknown | single plate - no pairs issued, 1946 - ![]() |
![]() |
1947 | black on yellow | 1A 23 456 12 A 3 456 |
unknown | 1948 - ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
1951 | yellow on black | 1A 23 456 12 A 3 456 |
unknown | 1952 - ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
1956 | black on yellow | AAA 123 | AAA 123 to ? | 1957 - ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Baseplates 1963 to present
All base plates from 1963 to present are still valid for use, assuming the plate never left the vehicle and the vehicle maintained concurrent registration.
Modern standard issue automobile plates use a 7-digit format with a leading digit that remains constant plus a 6-digit serial starting with AAA000 and ending at ZZZ999. At that point the leading digit increases by one and the series starts over at AAA000. 6ZZZ999 was followed by 7AAA000, and should count up until the 1ABC123 series is exhausted at 9ZZZ999. At that point if the California DMV follows the precedent of reversing serial numbers at exhaustion as it has done since 1963, the next series should be in the 123ABC1 format.
Exclusions: The letters I, O, and Q are not used in the first or third alpha positions of the 7-digit alpha-numeric series.
Image | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1963 | gold on black, non-reflective, embossed state name | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to ZZZ 999 | In addition to all plates in the section above these bases can be used for the year of manufacture program with appropriate year sticker. They can also be seen as regular registration with modern month/year stickers if the plates were originally registered to the vehicle. |
![]() |
1969 | gold on blue, non-reflective, embossed state name | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 999 ZZZ | Stamping dies were narrowed around the 123 Wxx series to prepare for the production of 7-digit passenger plates. |
![]() |
1980 | gold on blue, non-reflective, embossed state name | 1ABC123 | 1AAA000 to 1SZZ999 | 1Uxx123 and 1Vxx123 series have been issued on special plates such as Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and "whale tail" plates. 1ZZx123 series are issued on "LIVERY" plates used for vehicles such as for-hire limousines. |
![]() |
1982 |
blue on white with graphic state name, reflective Introduced as an optional plate in 1982. |
1ABC123 | 2AAA000 to 2GPZ999 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association in 1983, the first and, to date, the only time that California has been so honored and the first time that an optional-issue plate was so recognized. |
![]() |
1987 | blue on white with embossed red state name, reflective | 1ABC123 | 2GQA000 to 3FZZ999 | |
![]() |
1994 | blue on white with graphic red state name, reflective | 1ABC123 | 3GAA000 to 3XZZ999 | The state name was modified twice to increase its size. (The third and largest version is shown.) 3YAA-3ZYZ series not issued. 3ZZx123 series are issued on "LIVERY" plates used for vehicles such as for-hire limousines. |
![]() |
1998 | blue on white with graphic red state name and "Sesquicentennial - 150 Years", reflective | 1ABC123 | 4AAA000 to 4NOZ999 | |
![]() |
2000 | blue on white with graphic red state name, reflective | 1ABC123 | 4NPA000 to 6TPV999 | Identical in design to later plates on the 1994 base. |
![]() |
2011 | blue on white with graphic red state name and "dmv.ca.gov" website address at bottom, reflective | 1ABC123 | 6TPW000 to 7MJY000 (as of June 28, 2015) |
Non-passenger types
Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Disabled Person | 1995 | 12345D/P | 00001D/P to 99999D/P | ||
![]() |
Disabled Person | Late 1990s | D/P12345 | D/P00001 to D/P99999 | |
Disabled Person | Early 2000s | D/PA1234 | D/PA0001 to D/PZ9999 | ||
![]() |
Disabled Person | 2006 | 1234AD/P | 0001AD/P to 9999ZD/P | |
![]() |
Disabled Person | 2011 | D/P123AB | D/P001AA to present | |
![]() |
Disabled Veteran | 12345D/V | |||
![]() |
Disabled Person—Motorcycle | 1234D/P | |||
![]() |
Distributor | D/S/T 1234 1/2/A | Full-size number is constant for each distributing entity; stacked prefix varies. | ||
![]() |
Exempt-Local | 1963-1968 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | Black plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for city- and county-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt-State | 1963-1968 | E12345 | E00000-E99999 | Black plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt-Local | 1969-1986 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | Blue plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for city- and county-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt-State | 1969-1986 | E12345 | E00000-E99999 | Blue plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt-Local | 1987-1997 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | White plate with blue numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for city- and county-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt-State | 1987-1997 | E12345 | E00000-E99999 | White plate with blue numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles |
![]() |
Exempt | 1998 | 1234567 | 1000001 to present | "CA EXEMPT" across top. |
![]() |
Foreign Organization | 123 | 001 to present. | "FOREIGN ORGANIZATION" printed to left of serial. | |
![]() |
Manufacturer | M/F/G 1 1/A M/F/G 1 1/2/A M/F/G 12 1/A M/F/G 12 1/2/A |
Full-size number is constant for each manufacturing entity; stacked prefix varies. | ||
![]() |
Motorcycle | 12A1234 | |||
![]() |
Permanent Trailer | 4AB1234 | "California Perm Trailer" across top. | ||
![]() |
Press Photographer | P/P 1234 | |||
Press Photographer | 2000 | P/P 1234 | |||
![]() |
Special Equipment | S/E123456 | Motorcycle-sized. | ||
Tournament of Roses[1] | 1998 | TOFR123 | TOFR1 to present | Used on parade vehicles during the Tournament of Roses parade. | |
![]() |
Trailer | 1AB1234 | Indistinguishable from passenger plates aside from serial format. | ||
![]() |
Truck | Mid-1970s | 1A12345 | 1A00001 to 8Z99999 | Indistinguishable from passenger plates aside from serial format. Series was exhausted in early 2011. 9A12345 plates are issued to tractor trailers. |
![]() |
Truck | 2011 | 12345A1 | 00001A1 to 00001R1 (as of June 2014) | Indistinguishable from passenger plates aside from serial format. |
Optional types (specialty plates)
Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1984 Olympics | 1984 | L/A12345 U/S12345 |
L/A00000 to present | No longer issued but still revalidated. |
![]() |
Arts Council | 1994 | ABC123 123ABC |
Using previously unused letter blocks. | "Coastline" design by Wayne Thiebaud.[2][3] |
![]() |
Bill of Rights | 1990 | 1234 US | ||
![]() |
Children's Trust Fund | ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | An embossed heart, hand, star, or plus sign appears to the left of the serial, or can be incorporated into "vanity" numbers. | |
![]() |
Congressional Medal of Honor 84 —Passenger | 1984 | 12 | Given to Medal of Honor recipients. | |
![]() |
Congressional Medal of Honor 93 —Passenger | 1993 | 12 | Given to Medal of Honor recipients. | |
![]() |
Firefighter—Motorcycle | 00A12 | 00A01 to present. | ||
![]() |
Firefighter—Passenger | 1995 | ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | Only active or retired firefighter can apply for this type of plate. Logo of a firefighter on a blazing background. |
![]() |
Gold Star Family —Passenger | 2011 | 123ABC | Using previously unused letter blocks. | Given to family of fallen soldiers while in the line of duty. |
![]() |
Lake Tahoe Version 1 | 1996 | 1ABC123 | No longer issued but still revalidated. | |
![]() |
Lake Tahoe Version 2 | 2011 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |
![]() |
Legion of Valor—Passenger | 123 | A sticker is placed to the right of the license plate number denoting the decoration held by the recipient. Air Force Cross -Air Force Medal of Honor -Army Medal of Honor -
Army Distinguished Service Cross -Navy Cross -Navy Medal of Honor - |
||
![]() |
Olympic Training Center Version 1 | 1990 | C/A12345 U/S12345 |
No longer issued but still revalidated. | |
![]() |
Olympic Training Center Version 2 | 1999 | C/A12345 U/S12345 |
No longer issued but still revalidated. | |
![]() |
Olympic Training Center Version 3 | 2000 | C/A12345 U/S12345 |
||
![]() |
Pearl Harbor Survivor —Passenger | 1234 | Pearl Harbor Survivor of World War II | ||
![]() |
Protect Our Coast & Ocean Version 1 | 1997 | 1ABC123 | No longer issued but still revalidated. | |
![]() |
Protect Our Coast & Ocean Version 2 | 2011 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |
![]() |
Purple Heart—Motorcycle | PH1234 | |||
![]() |
POW Ex-Prisoner of War —Motorcycle | POW1234 | |||
![]() |
POW Ex-Prisoner of War 93 —Passenger | 1993 | POW1234 | ||
![]() |
POW Ex-Prisoner of War 00 —Passenger | 2000 | POW1234 | ||
![]() |
Veteran Version 1 | 1994 | ABC123 123ABC |
No longer issued but still revalidated. | |
![]() |
Veteran Version 2 | 2012 | 123ABC | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |
![]() |
We Will Never Forget | 2002 | 1234MA | ||
![]() |
University of California, Los Angeles | 1994 | ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |
![]() |
Yosemite National Park | 1996 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. |
Year-of-manufacture plates
The use of year-of-manufacture (YOM) plates is authorized by Section 5004.1 [2] of the California Motor Vehicle Code. It is a law that allows vintage cars to be registered to use vintage license plates. Any officially manufactured California license plates which were produced prior to 1963 and plates on a currently registered vehicle or trailer of a corresponding model year. If used on the original plate, a sticker or metal tab that corresponds to the year of the vehicle is required.
In July, 2009, California extended its YOM program to include passenger vehicles from 1963-1969, and commercial vehicles (pick-ups, etc.) through 1972. Any black and gold plate from this era may be used on these vehicles, as long as they are "clear" with the DMV (i.e., not used, reported stolen, or no records found, for the last 10 years). A valid sticker must be attached to the plate corresponding to the year of the vehicle that is to be registered.
As of January, 2014, in very rare, select cases, California has extended custom license plates to exceed 7 digits, all the way up to, but not exceeding 9 characters.[citation needed]
California Legacy License Plate program
California Legacy License Plate program offers vehicle owners the opportunity to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Only the 1960s plate reached the required 7,500 minimum orders before January 1, 2015, and will be the only one implemented. The 1950s and 1970s plates did not achieve the required 7,500 minimum orders.[4] The plates will be issued from late spring through summer 2015. Additional time is required for personalized plates.[5]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/index
- ↑ http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/faqs
- CA Department of Motor Vehicles License Plate Introduction
- California License Plate Data (1914-1962)
- Special Recognition Plates
- Other types of Specialty Plates
- Legacy Plates
External links
- California license plates 1969-present
- Classic Car Owners Get A Chance At Vintage California Plates (DMV page on Assembly Bill (AB) 1658)
- More Photo of California license plates