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California License Plates

California uses the letters I, O, and Q in the second alpha position, but not in the first or third.

Stickers

11 - black on red

12 - black on green

13 - black on orange

14 - black on blue

15 - black on yellow

16 - black on red

17 - black on green

Chris Cargill reports that California started the present sticker color rotation in 1978 with Green stickers. The rotation was Green - White - Orange - Blue - Yellow - Red. White was removed from the rotation after 1997.

He has also seen two different validation stickers being used for late 2012 and on 2013 registrations. Version one is as it's been before with a 4-digit year (2012 - 2013), but he has seen two-digit validations (12 - 13) and there is now an explanation. The difference is the 4-digit version has the random serial numbers on the sticker that CA DMV has always used. The 2-digit sticker has the license plate number printed as the serial number. The 2-digit stickers are issued by the self-serve renewal vending machines at the DMV offices. Every other method of renewal uses the 4-digit stickers.

Isaac Wilson IV reports 2-digit printed validation stickers do NOT have the plate number on them; they have the same standard Lnnnnnnn format as the four-digit stickers. 2014 stickers start with P, while 2015s start with Z.

Chris Cargill reports that California's Black with Yellow letter plates are coming back as a special issue, and will be issued similar to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe plates (special order, etc). The latest word is they will be 6 digits using a Connecticut style numbering sequence (but in reverse letters on either end, numbers in the middle, as above), such as A12 34B. We'll see if that sequence sticks when they hit the road.

Standard Passenger Plates

Non-passenger Plates

Apportioned

ZP64901

Jacob Juarez - Sep 21 ’24

California Apportioned plates since 1982 are assigned to trucks, buses and trailers crossing borders under IRP.

Prefixes AP, BP, CP, EP reserved for two-plate vehicles such as buses and box trucks.

Prefixes SP-ZP reserved for single plate vehicles such as truck tractors.

Prefixes AT-HT reserved for trailer plates issued between 1982-2001, replaced with Permanent Trailer in 2001.

Commercial

20024B5

Jacob Juarez - Sep 25 ’24

9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F are part of a series used for tractor-trailers. Β These plates are found only on tractors, not standard light pickups.

Low: Β 9A04976 on the 1987 base.

9F52984 is the Tractor high with the DMV web on the bottom, spotted on 2016-02-19.

California was expecting to run out of Commercial plates in the current format in August 2008 at 8Z99999, but current indications are that it will be much later, possibly as late as July 2009. Β The next format will be 00000A1 with the last digit staying constant as before. Β After 99999A1 will be 00000B1. Β After 99999Z1 will be 00000A2.

Original format high: Β 8Z99993

New format low: Β 00001A1

High without website: Β 99799E1

Low with website: Β 00036F1

Exempt

1699813CA EXEMPT

William Edwards - Oct 4 ’24

"CA EXEMPT" on the top of the plate.

Exempt plates are found on vehicles belonging to public agencies, such as state and local governments, school districts, etc.

E low: E007027 (E prefix dropped when 1000000 reached)

Exempt Motorcycle: 3011726 This is a new type that takes the place of the former diagonal and diamond E types. Low for this type: 3000231

Motorcycle

26T6911

Ryan - Aug 10 ’24

Note: Β 21A through 29B (all the A and B prefixes from 21-29 were issued) were issued as blue cycles in the late 80s. Β 20A has been verified. Β 20B has also been verified on the current base. Β Next, will they issue any prefixes between 21 and 29, or just go to 30A? Β The DMV has never issued a zero in the 2nd position. Β There are no 10A-10Z prefixes. Β They started at 11A and 21A previously.

Low: Β 11E5389

From Scott Broady: Β After 20Z9999, cycles go to 21C0000. They skip A and B due to these having been issued in the 1980s on blue cycles. They will go from C to Z for every one of the 20's from this point forward.

Franky Hernandez notes that the 21L series is using a narrower die with wider numbers and letters.

Specialty Plates

Coastal Protection

1VEW294

Jacob Juarez - Jan 29 ’24

According to the Los Angeles Times, the redesigned Whale Tail plate is set to debut August 2, 2011. The current plate is being retired in the wake of a dispute with artist Wyland, who created the original design. The new design is in use, which appears similar to the discontinued Wyland design except that the tail is not as wide and is drawn at an angle.

1VDZ316 was the original design, but 1VDZ559 was reported on the new design. However, 1VDY714 was reported on the new design, so there must have been some switching back and forth between the designs briefly.

Firefighter

A974H0

Connor Reynolds - Sep 12 ’23

The California Firefighter license plate can only be issued to a currently registered vehicle owned by an active or retired California firefighter. Β The fees collected from these plates (which vary depending on if the plates are sequential or personalized) are deposited in the California Firefighters Memorial Fund, which was created and is sponsored by California Professional Firefighters (CPF).

Legacy (1963 style)

K413H1

Calvin - Sep 18 ’24

1963 colors of yellow/orange on black, but with a black reflective background.

These apparently started with B in the first position. No A plates have been seen. All plates reported so far have had zero (0) in the last position.

From Chris Cargill: It appears the numbers after the first letter and the second letter advance. I've yet to see one with something other than a zero in the last position. I'm guessing these may have started at B001A0 progressed to B999A0, then to B001B0, and so on. Though I have no official confirmation, it seems to be the logical progression.

Legacy Motorcycle plates are in the same format, but beginning with C.

Motorcycle high: C125U0 2015-07-14 Jake Bear Spotted in San Diego.

Yosemite

1UBU001

Jacob Juarez - Jan 28 ’24

Yosemite plates have been in the UB- series, but Art Kraemer reports 1VBA093 on 2012-10-27. Β In addition, Chris Cargill spotted 1VBA808 on 2013-09-12. Β 1VBB325 reported on 2009-05-11.

The V series has been used on the Whale Tail (Coastal Protection) plates, so it's possible that the VBA series Yosemite plates were just a production mistake.

Military and Veteran Plates

Honoring Veterans

A349W0

Bob Gurwin - Jul 14 ’23

This type released to the general public as a replacement for the original Veteran plate listed below in 2012. It is the only current type of Veteran plate and is not necessary to be a veteran to purchase one. Design includes white "HONORING VETERANS" caption on a red bottom stripe and a large space at left for a decal of various branches of the military.