District of Columbia License Plates

At about FN4000 in 2017 the top line on passenger plates reverted to “WASHINGTON, DC” and the bottom slogan revised to start with “END TAXATION…”

Starting with the EK passenger series in 2013, the "WASHINGTON, DC" inscription was changed to "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA". This caused legibility issues on some plates reading "STRICT OF COLUMB" due to the boltholes obstructing part of the text.

Plates changed from embossed to flat in 2001; embossed high BG 1673, flat low BG 2033.

The original "Taxation Without Representation" legend started at the AZ series in 2000.

Not DMV-issued, found with TC and TT prefixes and 65 suffix. Plates and color scheme replaced annually. Issued for trucks and equipment weighing over 65,000 lbs GVW that are used but not registered in DC. They are displayed along with the license plates from the registering jurisdiction (usually MD or VA).

DC Apportioned plates are very uncommon. Header changed from "Washington, DC" to "District of Columbia" in 2013 between AP-0784 and AP-1001.

Changed from embossed to flat in 2006; flat low AP 0508, embossed high AP 0452. Earliest plates had black numbers that later changed to blue.

Header changed from "Washington DC" to "District of Columbia" in late June 2014, between B-48651 and B-49060.

Plate number in two lines, "CLERGY" embossed above plate number on "A Capital City" base as recently as 2014.

Taxation legend, flat

DC Government plates are used on police vehicles, parking enforcement, etc. Header changed from "Washington, D.C." to "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" in May 2014, between 10362 and 10524.

Numbering expanded to five digits after reaching 9999 in 2013. Prefix GT had also been used in the past.

DC Government motorcycle observed with number DC5186, flat blue on white and caption "GVT Motorcycle" in Arial-like font. Does anyone have a clear photo they can share with us?

This is the only DC government agency with its own special plate type and therefore does not use the standard government fleet plates. Previously known as DC Water and Sewer Authority, its plates featured stacked prefix W/A/S/A and had gone flat after 2001 between 0695 and 0741. The name was shortened to DC Water in 2010 and starting in October 2011 its vehicles began receiving replacement plates with the new agency logo and revised stacked prefix D/C/W.

Dealer plates have been flat since 2004 with screened "WASHINGTON, DC" on the top & "DEALER" on the bottom. The color scheme changes every year and plates expire annually on October 31. Numbering is cumulative and ongoing, not restarted annually.

The 2016 plate was black on gray and continued the 2015 format of 8 characters plus the D.C. flag, low DLR-01676.

The 2015 version was black on yellow, combining elements of previous year serials, using an 8-character format with the D.C. flag, high DLR-01392.

DLR-1234 numbering format used 2005-11.

Previous series dealer plates until 2004 were originally embossed with numbering format D-1234, screened "D.C. Dealer" on the top and "Washington, D.C." along bottom. Later versions had screened "Washington, D.C." along top and "D.C. Dealer" along bottom.

Flat, "Taxation" legend

Original format was H/P 0000

"Historic Motor Vehicle" legend.

Flat with "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION"

From dcplates.com: Livery vehicles are vehicle/driver combinations for hire, as are taxis, with the difference between the two types being that livery cars cannot solicit passengers on the street. Instead, livery services must be prearranged for.

First issued in 2004, Dealer and Manufacturer plates are re-issued annually in a varying color scheme.

All plates measure 4 x 7" and use renewal date stickers. Designs are flat black on white with various serif fonts for the top ("Motorcycle") and variable bottom captions.

In 2013, the high for old "Washington, D.C" design shown in our artwork was M/R 1715.

In 2014, by M/R 4555 bottom wording changed to "District of Columbia".

In 2015, by M/R 6018 all fonts were changed to a different serif style, including plate serial.

In 2021, by M/Y 0287 bottom wording reverted to "Washington, D.C.", fonts unchanged.

Rental was the second type after passenger to change header from "Washington, DC" to "District of Columbia". Change occurred in 2014 between R-30710 and R-31265.

Rental plates started up again in 2013 on the Taxation base and jumped to R-30000 after having not been manufactured since before 1991 on the "A Capital City" base.

Letter H moved from prefix to suffix in 2011 and restarted numbering at 00001 H after H 99999. Dave Edmondson observed first plate low 00001-H.

Taxi plates in the H 98000 range used a smaller font for the district name; only about 2/3rds of regular width.

Red on white cardboard. The space returned in the N 37000 series.

Another Temporary permit is also in use, but we don't know how it differs from the original, other than it appears to be laminated paper rather than cardboard. The numbering system differs; 01NC234, high 08NC034.

Trailer plate slogan changed to taxation and plate revised to flat in 2005, low T 15672. Previously embossed plates with "Celebrate & Discover" slogan were numbered in formats T 1234 and T 12345 through at least T 15500.

Still embossed; "D.C. Transporter" on top in old italic typeface.

Header changed in 2012 from "WASHINGTON, DC" to "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" between ENV 3143 and ENV 4904. Numbering moved to three, followed by low four digits in 2023-24 after 9999 was reached.

This flat FOP plate can be found with either black (0000 series) or blue (2000 and 5000 series) printing on a white background.

Plain font for district name, previously issued without a space in the serial and the district name was printed in the older script font, and those plates had higher serials, so it is likely that this type started over at DAV 000 after reaching DAV999.

Bradley Gallagher speculated that the DAV 123 (sans-serif) plates are remakes of older DAV123 (script font) plates. DAV 2208, while unexpectedly high, had the D.C. flag between the letters and the numbers. The six-digit DAV plates did not have the D.C. flag. Bradley hasn't seen any 7 digits under DAV 2200.

Disabled Veteran - Handicapped: DAV009 This appears to be a new type with a wheelchair to the left of the serial. Bradley speculates that non-handicapped went to 7 characters to free up the 6 character series for handicapped.

Another variation of the handicapped version of this plate: DV[wheelchair][D.C. flag]008. Legend is "DISABLED AMERICAN VETERAN"

Issued through the DC Office of Veteran Affairs; seal with "Proud D.C. Veteran" to the left of the registration serial.

All have number 200, only the letters change.

Highest all-numeric, not counting the 1985-issued 900-000 series.