Vehicle registration plates of California

The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
Front and rear plates are required on most types of vehicle in California, including all passenger vehicles. On motorcycles and some other non-passenger types, only rear plates are required. On all vehicle types, registration validation stickers are also required, to be displayed on the rear plate, except that truck tractors and commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more shall display them on the front plate.
Since 1947, California license plates have been manufactured by inmates at Folsom State Prison.
The current serial format of the license plate, 1ABC123, has been in use since 1980. After this format is exhausted, California plans to adopt a mirrored format: 123ABC1.

Passenger baseplates

1914 to 1962

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first California license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued
	1914	white on red porcelain	123456	1 to 122375	Replaced all 1905–13 plates.
	1915	black on yellow porcelain	123456	1 to 163557	Brass Seal: Hexagon
	1916	blue on white porcelain	123456	1 to 234317	Validation tab: 1916 Bear 1916 Bear
	1917	blue on white porcelain	123456	234318 to 357299	Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 234317 only received the Poppy tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Poppy
	1918	blue on white porcelain	123456	357300 to 485000	Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 357299 only received the Bell tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Bell
	1919	blue on white porcelain	123456	485001 to 599705	Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 485000 only received the Star tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Star
	1920	white on black	123-456	1 to 527–583
	1921	black on yellow	123-456	1 to 651-640
	1922	blue on white	123456	1 to 2000; 70001 to 881909	Serials 2001 through 70000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1923	white on black	123 456	1 to ?
	1924	white on green	123-456	1 to ?
	1925	black on yellow	123 456	1 to 30 00, 250 001 to 999 999	Serials 30 01 through 250 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1925	black on yellow	A-12 345	A 1 to	Serials 30 01 through 250 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1926	white on blue	123 456	1 to 40 00, 320 001 to 999 999	Serials 40 01 through 320 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1926	white on blue	A-12 345	A-1 to	Serials 40 01 through 320 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1927	white on maroon	1-234-567	1 to 50–00; 400-001 to approximately 1–860–000	First use of the full state name. Serials 50-01 through 400-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1928	yellow on blue	1-234-567	1 to 3–000; 450-001 to approximately 2-080-000	Serials 3-001 through 450-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.
	1929	orange on black	1A-12-34	Coded by branch office	Letters A through M were used in Northern California, and N through Z in Southern California.
	1930	black on orange	1A-12-34	Coded by branch office
	1931	orange on black	1A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1932	black on orange	1A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1933	orange on black	1A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1934	black on orange	1A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1935	orange on black	1A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1936	black on orange	1A 12 34 10 A 123	Coded by branch office
	1937	orange on black	1A 12 34 A/A 12 34	Coded by branch office
	1938	black on yellow	1A 12 34 10 A 123	Coded by branch office
	1939	yellow on blue	1A 12 34 10 A 123	Coded by branch office
	1940	black on orange	1A 12 34 10 A 123	Coded by branch office
		yellow on black	1A 23 45 12 A 345	1A 1 to ?	Citizens that got the 1941 base plate in 1941 got this tab for revalidation. Validation tab for 1942:
		yellow on black	1A 23 45 12 A 345	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1943: It was issued due to metal conservation for World War II.
		yellow on black	1A 23 45 12 A 345	1A 1 to ?	Validation sticker for 1944: It was issued due to metal conservation for World War II.
		white on black	1A 23 45 12 A 345	1A 1 to ?	Only rear plates issued. Validation tab for 1946:
		black on yellow	1A 23 456 12A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1948:
		black on yellow	1A 23 456 12A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1949:
		black on yellow	1A 23 456 12A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1950:
	1951–55	yellow on black	1A 23 456 12 A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1952:
	1951–55	yellow on black	1A 23 456 12 A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1953:
	1951–55	yellow on black	1A 23 456 12 A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1954:
	1951–55	yellow on black	1A 23 456 12 A 3 456	1A 1 to ?	Validation tab for 1955:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1957:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1958:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1959:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1960:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1961:
	1956–62	black on yellow	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999	Validation sticker for 1962:

1963 to present

All plates from 1963 until present are still valid, provided they are displayed on the vehicle to which they were originally issued and the vehicle has been continuously registered. Along with the pre-1963 plates above, these plates can be used for the year-of-manufacture program, with appropriate year sticker.
The current 1ABC123 serial format was introduced in 1980. In this format, the ABC123 portion of the serial progresses from AAA000 to ZZZ999, before the leading digit advances by one and the progression begins again. All letters are used, although I, O and Q are only used as the second letter. Series 1SWD000 through 1TZZ999 and 1WAA000 through 1YZZ999 have not been issued, while others have been reserved for non-passenger and optional plates, such as 1ZZA through 1ZZZ and 3ZZA through 3ZZG for Livery plates, and 1UAA through 1VZZ for Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Coastal Protection plates.
When 9ZZZ999 is reached, the next serial format will be 123ABC1, maintaining the DMV's practice since the 1960s of reversing serial formats at exhaustion. The current sequence used since 1980 is expected to run out in late 2025, earlier than previously projected. Certain three-letter strings that may be regarded as sensitive, such as KKK and DIE, are excluded. Furthermore, the letters I, O and Q are not used for the first or third alphabetical characters.

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
		embossed gold on black, embossed state name and debossed "63" on top right sticker box	none	ABC 123	AAA 000 to ZZZ 999	The oldest still allowed on the road today, but some older license plates have been seen.
	1970	embossed gold serial on blue, state name on top	none	123 ABC	000 AAA to 999 ZZZ	Monthly staggered registration introduced 1976. I, O and Q not used as first letters in the 123 ABC serial format. Narrower serial dies introduced at the beginning of the WLA series in late 1977, in preparation for the 1ABC123 format.
	1980	embossed gold serial on blue, state name on top	none	1ABC123	1AAA000 to 1SWC999	Monthly staggered registration introduced 1976. I, O and Q not used as first letters in the 123 ABC serial format. Narrower serial dies introduced at the beginning of the WLA series in late 1977, in preparation for the 1ABC123 format.
	1982	blue on reflective white with graphic Art Deco state name	The Golden State	2ABC123	2AAA000 to 2GPZ999	Extra-cost optional plate until 1987, when it briefly became the standard passenger base after the 1969 blue base was discontinued. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1983 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time California has been so honored. This plate design was seen in the opening credits of the television drama L.A. Law, which aired on NBC from 1986 to 1994. The validation sticker corresponded to the year of each episode's air date.
	1987	blue on reflective white with embossed red state name	none	1ABC123	2GQA000 to 3FMG999	3FMH-3FZZ not issued
	1993	blue on reflective white with graphic red state name	none	3ABC123	3GAA000 to approximately 3JZZ999	The state name changed from an embossed state name to a graphic state name. Wells for month and year stickers are no longer debossed.
	1995	blue on reflective white with graphic red state name	none	3ABC123	3KAA000 to 3XZZ999	3ZZA-ZZG for livery 3Y and all other 3Z series unissued The state name was modified to increase its size
	1998	blue on reflective white with graphic red state name	Sesquicentennial - 150 Years	4ABC123	4AAA000 to 4NOZ999	3ZZA-ZZG for livery 3Y and all other 3Z series unissued The state name was modified to increase its size
	2001	blue on reflective white with graphic red state name	none	1ABC123	4NPA000 to 6TPV999	3ZZA-ZZG for livery 3Y and all other 3Z series unissued The state name was modified to increase its size
	2012	blue on reflective white with graphic red state name	dmv.ca.gov	1ABC123	6TPW000 to 9XKA345	3ZZA-ZZG for livery 3Y and all other 3Z series unissued The state name was modified to increase its size

Non-passenger vehicle plates

Occupational plates

On each occupational plate type, the full-size number is constant for each distributing entity, while the small suffix varies. Only rear plates are required for each type.

Image	Type	First issued	Serial format	Notes
	Dealer	1970	DEALER 1234 1/2/A
	Dealer	1987	D/'L/R' 12345 1/2/A
	Dealer	1987	D/'L/R' 12345 1/2/A
	Dealer	1993	D/'L/R' 12345 1/2/A
	Dealer	2011	D/'L/R' 12345 1/2/A	-
	Dismantler		D/'S/M' 1234 1/2/A
	Manufacturer		M/'F/G' 1234 1/2/A
	New Vehicle Distributor		D/'S/T' 1234 1/2/A
	Remanufacturer		R/'M/F' 1234 1/2/A
	Special Equipment Dealer		DLR 1A 12345	Motorcycle-sized.
	Special Equipment Manufacturer		1A MFG 1234	Motorcycle-sized.
	Transporter		T/'R/N' 1234 1/2/A

Optional types (specialty plates)

See the Passenger Baseplates section above for the 1982–87 "Golden State" plate, which was briefly issued as the standard passenger base.

Year-of-manufacture plates

The use of year-of-manufacture plates is authorized by 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 can be used 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.
As of July 2024, YOM program extends only to 1980 and older year model auto, commercial, motorcycle and trailer vehicles, as long as they are "clear" with the DMV. A valid sticker must be attached to the plate corresponding to the year of the vehicle that is to be registered.
In August 2016, California extended the year-of-manufacture license plate program to include vehicles through the 1980 model year.

California Legacy License Plate program

The California Legacy License Plate program offers vehicle owners the opportunity to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1960s. California proposed issuing plates similar to those of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The original plan was to restrict the plate colors to what would have been issued to the vehicle when purchased new. After a few months, the program was opened to all model years. Only the 1960s plate reached the required 7,500 minimum orders before January 1, 2015. The 1950s and 1970s plates did not achieve the required 7,500 minimum orders. The plates were issued starting from late spring through summer 2015 and, as of 2025, are still available for order from the DMV website. Additional time is required for personalized plates. These plates use a newer reflective black coating in contrast to the original dull black paint. Additionally, original 1960s plates utilize a wider die for the characters, originally designed for 6-character plates. New Legacy plates utilize the narrower dies of modern 7-digit plates.

Temporary license plates

Prior to 2019, California was the last U.S. state to not require the display of any form of temporary license plate on new vehicles. New motor vehicle dealers were still required to electronically report sales of new vehicles to the DMV, but they were only required to print out a DMV report-of-sale form on regular paper at the time of sale. The dealer was then only required to attach the DMV report-of-sale form to the inside of the car windshield in the lower right corner. Before 2019, it was common for a newly purchased vehicle to be driven around for a month with nothing but a dealer's advertisement or logo on paper plate inserts in the mounting brackets where the owner was supposed to promptly install front and rear license plates when they arrived in the mail from the DMV.
California's lack of a temporary license plate requirement was mocked as the "Steve Jobs loophole," due to the Apple founder's habit of continuously signing a series of six-month leases of Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMGs on a rolling basis for the specific purpose of avoiding the state requirement of having to install permanent license plates on his cars. The DMV report-of-sale forms were printed in regular type not intended to be read at a distance, meaning that it was legible only to persons leaning closely over the windshield when the car was standing still. This made the new vehicle untraceable through casual visual observation by passerby, as well as automated means such as license-plate reading systems, red light cameras, and automatic number plate recognition. Thus, drivers of newly purchased vehicles who deliberately failed to carry a FasTrak electronic toll collection transponder could evade toll collection, causing the state to lose $15–19 million per year. Vehicle owners who failed to immediately attach permanent metal license plates upon receipt might eventually get cited one way or another for that infraction, but there was no way at that point to retroactively link such vehicle owners to unpaid tolls. This loophole was also deliberately exploited by criminals, who knew that a car with dealer paper inserts was untraceable and in and of itself would not raise suspicion.
The hit-and-run death of a pedestrian who was struck by an unidentifiable car with dealer paper inserts sparked the enactment of new legislation in 2016 to require temporary license plates in California beginning in 2019. The DMV's reporting system was modified to enable dealers to print out temporary license plates on special paper, and dealers are now required to attach such temporary paper plates to a vehicle that does not already have license plates. The series that the temporary license plates use is AB12C34, and it applies to all newly purchased vehicles in the state of California since 2019.