Virginia License Plates

First available on March 1, 2014.

It appears that this type began at VAA and is progressing in a traditional forward issue. The Original Passenger was in the WLx series when this plate issue began.

Low: VAA-1082 2014-11-10 Bear Guy

Austin C. - 29 May ’23

Backwards issue from ZZZ-9999. This series is once again being issued since the end of the Jamestown plate.

ZZZ-9999 was spotted by Reid Williamson. Remember that this is a backwards issue, so the high actually appears to be the low! The lowest (which in this case is really the highest) reported prior to the beginning of the Jamestown plate was XYN-1108. The highest (which is really the lowest) reported since the end of the Jamestown plate was XXP-8521. Are you confused yet?

The former Rxx series that was used for Rental a few years ago seems to be resurfacing as a standard issue. It appears that Virginia wants to use the leftover stock rather than throwing them out. RAK-5077 was reported by Dave Edmondson on 2012-02-13.

Susmita - 8 Apr ’23

The "Jamestown: America's 400th Anniversary" is no longer being issued. The original plain passenger series with the state name in blue has returned with the same backwards issue as before.

The original 400th Anniversary issue started at JAA-nnnn and ran with a forward progression to KCW-nnnn. The redesigned issue ran from KCX-nnnn to KNP-nnnn, then the original passenger series resumed.

The JO-, JQ-, and KK- series were skipped. It was the first Virginia regular issue to have a slogan. Note: JAA through about JAJ had the slogan on a sticker. All plates from JAM and up have a screened slogan, or so we thought until Bearguy spotted a JAT series with the sticker missing. State name has been appearing in blue or red without any obvious pattern Here is what has been seen: JAA - JAX blue ... JAY - JBE red

Christopher F. reports JAY-1204 as the lowest original Jamestown with Virginia in red, JDL-9950 as the highest reported Jamestown with Virginia in blue.

Christopher F. - 19 Mar ’08

This style of Antique plate is still available, but an alternate style (below) is also available. Dave Edmondson reports seeing these plates in several formats (nnnAA, AAnnn, and Annnn), but he notes that the first letter was always A. However, now the letter B is being used. After using the Bnnnn series, the nnnnB series was used. It appears that nnnnE is now in use.

Antique Motorcycle (black/white) 1817A reported 2007-07-21 Dave Edmondson

Danny K. - 23 Jan ’22

New series after the initial run reached 99999. This format was introduced in 2002. The black/white style Antique plate (above) is still available.

Antique Motorcycle (blue/yellow) 2608Q reported 2007-05-19 Dave Edmondson

It appears that the AH suffix series followed the BQ suffix series.

G.T. Steene - 30 May ’23

There have been three Clean Special Fuel plate types issued.

Type 1:

The original plate was issued to qualifying vehicles registered before July 1, 2006 and may be used in any HOV lanes statewide without regard to the occupancy requirement until the general exemption expires on June 30, 2012.

The original Virginia Clean Special Fuel plate design had the registration number to the right, and "CLEAN SPECIAL FUEL" screened in small capital letters. CF, CY and CZ series were used.

This plate may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle.

Type 2:

This plate was issued, upon application, to qualifying vehicles registered on or after July 1, 2006 and before July 1, 2011, and exempts the vehicle from the occupancy requirements of any HOV lanes except those in the I-95/395 corridor until the general exemption expires on June 30, 2012.

This second design had the registration number to the left of the logo, and "Clean Special Fuel" screened at the bottom in mixed case letters.

This plate may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle.

Type 3:

The current "Clean Special Fuel" plate is issued, upon application, to qualifying vehicles registered on or after July 1, 2011, and exempts the vehicle from the occupancy requirements of any HOV lanes except those in the 1-95/395 corridor and I-66 corridor until June 30, 2012.

This design has the logo centered, splitting the registration number in a 3/3 format, with the CSF legend at the bottom in a similar style to Type 2.

Clean Special Fuel Handicapped: 768X (wheelchair to right of serial)

Clean Special Fuel - Taxi: 10-51H

"TAXI FOR HIRE" in all caps in red over the "Clean Special Fuel" legend.

Chris Cargill - 26 Sep ’15

Original numbering format: D 12-345

Second numbering format was 12-345 D before it expanded to 7 characters to 100-000D in early 2006.

Dave Edmondson reports a low of 1 D.

Adam Garstka - 19 Apr ’21

The recent Handicapped plate used the original passenger base with the wheelchair symbol on left, but with the new "Virginia is for Lovers" plates, handicapped plates have changed format again. Now the handicapped symbol on the left, then the number followed by a single "H."

The highest reported of the last type was 435055 (with the handicap symbol on the left.)

- 19 Apr ’22

Numbering on the Jamestown base likely started at 10000 H/P. This type is no longer being issued since standard Handicapped plates have reverted to the original Passenger base with the wheelchair symbol on the left.

Christopher F. - 9 Apr ’08

Now uses the serifed dies. We are not 100% sure of the design of this plate.

Dave Edmondson - 10 Dec ’15

Standard passenger base with "Emergency Vehicle" screened caption, not off-white like Local Gov't or blue like State Gov't plates

Heriberto Tapia - 4 Oct ’22

Earlier plates had the wide dies, this has the serifed dies.

Dave Edmondson - 10 Dec ’10

Tour Bus

Dave Edmondson - 8 Apr ’09

"INDEPENDENT DEALER" (in all capital letters) on bottom.

Christopher F. - 6 Aug ’07

Seen in Fairfax County

Most local government vehicles have the "L" suffix. All of them have "OFFICIAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT USE ONLY" on the bottom. The original numbering format for the standard Local Government plate was 12-345L. Early Local Government plates have the wide dies, while the later ones have the narrow dies. The standard Local Government plates expanded to 7 characters after the original format reached 99-999L.

Bearguy reports what appears to be a "Clean Fuel" version of a Local Government plate, as suggested by the CF prefix and the fact that it was on a Ford Escape Hybrid. The plate number was CF-10131 on the standard Local Government plate in tan with blue characters. Bradley Gallagher reports a similar plate, 10168CY on a Ford Escape Hybrid owned by Arlington Co. The CF prefix plates reported by Bear Guy were owned by Fairfax Co.

CNG plates are also in use for Local Government vehicles using compressed natural gas in the CNG-nnnL series.

Local Goverment Motorcycle plates are in the same colors as the full size version. Dave Edmondson reports 1712L on 2008-11-06.

Heriberto Tapia - 30 Sep ’22

Based on this picture from Plateshack, it really does say "VIRGINIA" twice on this plate.

Eric Forman - 7 Feb ’15

Andrew Turnbull - 29 Jan ’23

Motorcycle tags used to be in the 900000s, then five digits, and then six digits beginning with 3 or 4. The six-digit sequence is shared with handicapped and great-seal tags.

260MAC - Mountain Scene high 2010-03-21 Dave Edmondson

Handicapped MC - Q502 (wheelchair embossed to right of serial) 2009-07-11 Tom Castelli

Temporary MC - V373 490 2009-11-05 Bradley Gallagher

Print on Demand Temporary MC: 7653G 2011-08-01 Dave Edmondson

Andrew Turnbull - 29 Jan ’23

Non-permanent farm vehicle: F 81-nnn

Austin C. - 22 Jul ’22

T/L suffix is stacked on right side. This series follows the series ending at 999-999T/R

There is also a smaller Permanent Trailer series the same size as Motorcycle, and with the same dies. The high is 4331 Z/L.

Permanent Trailer plates on rental trailers now have orange stickers with "R" on them.

Austin C. - 3 May ’22

Dave Edmondson - 30 Dec ’15

We are not 100% sure of the design of this plate. Do you have a picture to share?

Chris Martin - 24 Apr ’23

Uses white on orange Rental Car stickers.

Tom Castelli - 22 Jun ’09

Standard State Government plates have a light blue background with blue characters. Most state government vehicles have the "S" suffix. All of them have "OFFICIAL STATE USE ONLY" on the bottom. Early State Government plates have the wide dies, while the later ones have the narrow dies. Bearguy reports State Government plates in the standard format, except with narrow dies, for cars using compressed natural gas. These plates are in the CNG-nnnS series and he spotted CNG-283S.

Chris Martin - 24 Apr ’23

Has "FOR HIRE" on bottom. "H" prefix is constant.

The H500000 series is apparently for limousines and the like. Taxis are H100000 (with year sticker) or 100000H (permanent.) H131121 is the high for the stickered type. 101905H is the high for the permanent type.

Another "FOR HIRE" type reported by Dave Edmondson has a design like the passenger state seal tags, except with "FOR HIRE" embossed on the bottom. Started with HAA suffix. The high for that type is 118-HAD.

Adam Garstka - 19 Apr ’21

There is now special card stock with scoring for the bolt holes.

The previous style was Red on White cardboard, issued in pairs. Jumped from C series to E, then F.

Dealers were required to switch to the POD tags (instead of the cardboard ones) effective May 1, 2011.

"Multi-Use" blue on white cardboard Temporaries are issued by the DMV.

Multi-Use high: 153-352M New series, seemingly after 999-999 reached. Smaller font size: numbers are now the same size as the 30 day Temp plates.

A new type of Temporary just started to appear in March 2010. This type has dark green characters on a white background and uses the letter "Q" in the first position. We don't know yet how this type differs from the far more common red type.

Green high: Q276-409 2010-11-17 Kyle Wasson

"Print on Demand" Temporary: nnnnnA 2012-05-21 Bradley Gallagher

Most "POD" plates display the Virginia DMV logo, but a few display the dealer logo.

The series appears to have used A and B, and then the Gnnnnn series, skipping C-F. Then the K series was used, with K in the prefix and suffix position. Now it appears that the series jumped from K to Z. Some other letters have appeared in the prefix and suffix position so far. It appears nnnnnC followed the Z series, and now the nnnnnA series is in use.

Chris Scott - 28 Apr ’23

"TOW TRUCK" in capital letters embossed on top.

Dave Edmondson - 7 Jun ’09

For trucks over 7,500 lbs gvwr; small trucks have passenger-car plates.

Separate series for tractors; embossed "VA TRACTOR P" across top -

Y/A52-002 2010-08-20 Dave Edmondson

Dave Hanlon - 14 Mar ’19

Dave Edmondson - 18 Oct ’12

Cardinal Handicapped high - U5397 (wheelchair symbol on right) 2007-11-01 Christopher F.

Fred - 18 May ’22

The actual name for this plate is Chesapeake Bay.

Eric Forman - 1 Feb ’23

Original series used TP (Don't Tread on Me = Tea Party) then TE, then TG, now TJ.

Martin Houle - 15 Dec ’22

First available in 2002, original format was 1234 F/T; second format was 1234 A/L; third format was 1234 F/D; fourth format was 1234 A/N; fifth format was 1234 F/R; sixth format was 1234 P/D, now issuing 1234 P/T.

There is also a Motorcycle version of this issue with a stacked F/W suffix embossed to right of serial. Same 9/11 logo as the passenger car version, screened to left of serial.

High - 357 F/W 2009-06-17 Tom Castelli

Chris Martin - 17 Apr ’19

Chris Cargill reports seeing Great Seal 900-900 on 2005-12-28. This was undoubtedly issued to a person with connections!

Dave Edmondson reports 151-HAE as a Great Seal (For Hire)

Mike Russo spotted 000-020 on a Great Seal, which could be a low number, or a personalized made to look like a low number.

G.T. Steene - 23 Dec ’22

Original numbering format: 1234CD

Walter Pilley - 26 Dec ’13

The Y suffix seems to have appeared after the initial run reached 99999J.

Dave Edmondson - 5 Dec ’14

Series started with 1001KF

Kyle Wasson - 18 Apr ’10

(BAD not seen)

Original Leaves Type High 9087-AAD

Leaves Handicapped - M1nnnn

As with the other common optional issues, handicapped plates are issued with wheelchair at left and a one-letter, 5-number serial. Leaves uses the M series.

Lucas Kannou - 15 Jan ’23

From Bearguy: No apparent order on these any more. Have seen LF, LT, LP, LJ, LH, LG, LI, LK, LM, MA, ME, and now MG! VA-DMV says they can't tell me what order they were released. It is unknown if they used MB, MC, and/or MD in between since none have been seen yet, but MC is being used on United We Stand plates, so it is possible only those plates are using MC.

Adam Garstka - 18 Oct ’18

This plate is known as the "Scenic" plate.

Low: ABK-1168

The Scenic Mountains optional issue is issued in the J12345 format with a wheelchair embossed to the left of the serial.

Mountains - Handicapped: J18529

As with the other common optional issues, handicapped plates are issued with wheelchair at left and a one-letter, 5-number serial. Mountains uses the J series.

G.T. Steene - 1 Jan ’23

Adam Garstka - 16 May ’14

Dave Edmondson - 7 Feb ’16

Progression: nnnnUW, nnnnUS, nnnnMC, now nnnnUP.

United We Stand - Motorcycle (stacked prefix screened, serial embossed) - U/W 933

Kyle Wasson - 7 Aug ’14

"1699" and "1999" (both in italics) are screened on the lower left and right corners, respectively, with "WILLIAMSBURG" (in capital letters) screened on the bottom.

WA and WG were used on this type, which is no longer issued.

Bradley Gallagher - 11 Jan ’12

D/V now appearing screened in red using the same font as Virginia’s stacked dies. Series now seems to be using a standard Virginia optional plate format of 0000XX and allowing personalized/vanity tags on this type.

G.T. Steene - 1 Jun ’23

No longer issued; most recent design uncertain. Do you have a picture?

Skipper Horner - 23 May ’10