Vehicle registration plates of Virginia

The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906., plates are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Motor vehicle registration statistics

As of 2008, the DMV has 7,698,416 active registrations, 1,696,795 of which are special or personalized plates. One out of every ten personalized license plates in the United States is registered to a Virginian driver. The high take-up of vanity plates in the state is arguably due to the fact that, unlike in many other states, a personalized plate in Virginia costs just $10 more than a randomly-assigned registration plate. In 2008, 1,624,146 pairs of license plates were sold, with 831,361 of them being personalized plates.

Passenger baseplates

1906 to 1972

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 first Virginian license plate that complied with these standards was issued eight years beforehand, in 1948.
No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
		White serial on black porcelain plate; "VA" at right	1234	1 to approximately 4500
	1910	Red serial on white porcelain plate; "VA. 1910" at right	1234	1 to approximately 2600	First dated plate. Issued only from June 15 through December 31, 1910.
	1911	White serial on blue porcelain plate; "VA. 1911" at right	1234	101 to approximately 4000
	1912	White serial on green porcelain plate, "VA. 1912" at right	1234	101 to approximately 6000
	1913	White serial on maroon porcelain plate; "VA 1913" at right	1234	1 to approximately 9000
	1914	Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "VA 1914" at right	12345	1 to approximately 14000	First embossed plate.
	1915	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "VA 1915" at right	12345	1 to approximately 21000
	1916	Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate; "VA 1916" at right	12345	1 to approximately 35000
	1917	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VA 1917" at right	12345	1 to approximately 52000
	1918	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "VA 1918" at right	12345	1 to approximately 71000
	1919	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VA 1919" at right	12345	1 to approximately 88000
	1920	Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "VA 20" at right	123456	1 to approximately 126000
	1921	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VA 21" at right	123-456	1 to approximately 146-000
	1922	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 22" at right	123456	1 to approximately 145000
	1923	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 23" at right	123456	1 to approximately 189000
	1924	Embossed white serial on red plate; "VIRGINIA - 24" centered at top	123456	1 to approximately 217000	Manufactured in New Jersey to the same design as that state's 1924 plates. First use of the full state name.
	1925	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 1925" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 235-000
	1926	Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 26" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 273-000
	1927	Embossed red serial on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 293-000
	1928	Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 317-000
	1929	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 321-000
	1930	Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000
	1931	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 368-000
	1932	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 376-000
	1933	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 334-000
	1934	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 337-000
	1935	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 335-000
	1936	Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 360-000
	1937	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 375-000
	1938	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 388-000
	1939	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 402-000
	1940	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 438-000
	1941	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 491-000
	1942–43	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1942" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000	Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "1944 - VA" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 468-000
	1945	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 475-000
	1946	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000
	1947	Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 567-000
	1948	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 642-000
	1949	Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 698-000
	1950	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 783-000
	1951–52	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999	Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. Plates with serials A100-000 and up used narrower serial dies; this practice continued until 1969.
	1951–52	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" at bottom		A-100 to approximately A145-000	Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. Plates with serials A100-000 and up used narrower serial dies; this practice continued until 1969.
	1953	Embossed orange serial on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 940-000
	1954	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 999-999
	1955	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1955	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A122-000
	1956	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1956	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A178-000
	1957	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1957	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A223-000
	1958	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1958	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A232-000
	1959	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1959	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A259-000
	1960	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1960	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A240-000
	1961	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1961	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A273-000
	1962	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1962	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A344-000
	1963	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1963	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A425-000
	1964	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1964	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A504-000
	1965	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1965	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A545-000
	1966	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1966	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A626-000
	1967	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1967	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A700-000
	1968	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1968	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A788-000
	1969	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999	All plates now used the narrower serial dies introduced on the 1951–52 base.
	1969	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" at bottom	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A857-000	All plates now used the narrower serial dies introduced on the 1951–52 base.
	1970	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1970	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" at top	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A966-000
	1971	Embossed black serial on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
	1971	Embossed black serial on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" at top	A123-456	A-100 to A999-999
	1971	Embossed black serial on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" at top	ABC 123	AAA 001 to AAD 999
	1971	Embossed black serial on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" at top	B12-345	B-1 to approximately B54-000
	1972	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA 1972" at top	ABC-123	AAA-001 to DZZ-999	Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today.

Optional plates

Virginia offers 333 optional license plates. Most can be personalized for an additional fee.

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Independence Bicentennial		Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; blue bust of George Washington and thirteen red stars screened in the center; "Virginia" and "1776 Independence Bicentennial 1976" screened in red centered at top and bottom respectively	123-456	100-001 to 500-000	Still currently revalidated.
	Great Seal	1982 – present	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white background with Virginia state seal placed in center		500 001 to 770 891	Continuation to Independence Bicentennial
	Scenic	July 1992 – present	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective graphic plate with pale blue sky, light blue mountains, green fields, yellow sand and light blue sea; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue centered at top		AAA-1000 to AFB-9754
	Autumn Leaves	May – October 1997	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; ten orange and yellow gradient leaves behind serial; "Virginia" screened in black centered at top	1234-ABC	1000-AAA to approximately 9999-AAD
	Autumn Leaves	October 1997 – present	As above, but with leaves around edge of plate	1234-ABC	1000-BAA to 1300-BBL	Revised design introduced in response to visibility concerns surrounding the original design.
	Patriot	May 1997 – present	Similar to passenger base, but with Revolutionary War fifer graphic at right	123ABC	101AAA to 562AER
	George Washington Bicentennial	1999 to ?	Dark blue on Flag of the United States with image of Washington.	1234WB	1001WB to ?	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1999 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Virginia has been so honored.