California License Plates

In March 2026, the series flipped to the 000AAA1 format.

The only new reverse series plates reported so far have been in the northern part of the state. The central and southern parts are still issuing 9Y plates.

This regular passenger design debuted in 2011 featuring "dmv.ca.gov" along bottom, low 6TPW046.

In March 2026, the standard passenger series switched to the 000AAA0 format after 45 years in the previous 0AAA000 format.

Issued from 1993 through 2011, except for a brief departure when the "Sesquicentennial - 150 Years" slogan was used.

Series low: 1AAA006 2014-11-21 Scott Broady (gold/blue base)

Highest 6 digit: 971 ZZZ 2015-05-26 Chris Cargill (gold/blue base)

The "Sesquicentennial - 150 Years" slogan was only applied from the 4AAA series through the 4NOZ series. After that, plates reverted to having no slogan (see 1993 Series) until 2011, when "dmv.ca.gov" was introduced.

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.

Original numbering format high 8Z99993, second format low 00001A1.

High without website:  99799E1

Low with website:  00036F1

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

Low:  9A04976 on the 1987 base.

AB123 D/P format issued since 2019

D/P 123AB format issued 2011-19

1234A D/P format issued 2005-11

D/P A1234 format issued until 2005

00508D/V reported as a low by John Perez.

Exempt plates are found on vehicles operated by public agencies, such as state and local governments, school districts, etc. "CA EXEMPT" along top of plate. Commonly found on police cars of all types. Numbering originally had E prefix plus 6-digits until approximately 1999, low E007027. E prefix replaced with digit 1 at the time, creating the current 7-digit series.

This Exempt Motorcycle plate replaced the former diagonal and diamond E types in 2008, low 3000231.

Same style as passenger plate, but with "LIVERY" printed in red at the bottom of the plate.

Series progressed from 1ZZZ to 3ZZA.

3 series low: 3ZZA020

Only 3rd position letters C-Z in use; all the A and B prefixes from 21-29 were issued (i.e. 21A through 29B) were issued as blue cycles in the late 1980s.

Previous range low:  11E5389.

Franky Hernandez noted the 21L series in 2013 used a narrower die with wider numbers and letters.

Debuted in 2001-02, trailer plates beginning with 4 are permanent issues, low is 4AA1488. Semi-trailers use these in place of the former Apportioned trailer plate.

Permanent Trailer plates were also available on the Yosemite graphic but are quite rare; Douglas Carmack confirmed 1ZX0017.

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Trailer plates beginning with 1 require annual registration (recreational trailers, fifth wheels, etc.)

On non-perm trailer plates, 1UA - 1ZY series are used for commercial weight fee trailers.  The high is 1XE1140 from Diedrik Edholm on 2013-08-19.

When first issued in 2013, Agriculture suffixes observed varied wildly without obvious high.

296NUG also spotted by Gunther Frostyburger on 2013-07-11.

First available in 2015. Proceeds benefit the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE)'s grant program for museums in California.

S000L0 reported as a low by Alejandro Aliaga.

This redesigned Whale Tail plate debuted August 2, 2011. The previous graphic was retired in the wake of a dispute with artist Wyland, who created the original design. The new design appears similar to the discontinued Wyland design except the tail is not as wide and is drawn at an angle.

1VDZ316 used the original design, but 1VDZ559 was observed on the revised design. Lower 1VDY714 was also observed on the revised design, so there must have been some switching back and forth between the designs briefly.

This California Firefighter license plate can only be issued to a currently registered vehicle owned by an active or retired California firefighter.  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).

Lake Tahoe license plate was redesigned to the "Protect Lake Tahoe" license plate.

Lake Tahoe Truck high - 2Z40692 2025-10-04 Jon Miller

Chris Cargill observed 2Z38003 on a 2012 natural on 2012-11-16.

This optional "Legacy" plate was introduced in 2015 using 1963 retro colors of chrome yellow on a black (now reflective) background starting at B001A0. The numbers after the first and second letter advance, e.g. B999A0 was followed by B001B0.

Legacy Motorcycle plates are in the same format, but beginning with C., high: C125U0 2015-07-14 Jake Bear

Issued only in 1990-91. CALIFORNIA embossed at top, graphic of the Liberty Bell (in red) separating the numbers and "US" with blue screened 1791 BILL OF RIGHTS 1991 at the bottom.  This is one of the rarest plates in California.

Chad observed 0598 US in use 2009-12-09.

Faded 0175 US observed in use 2023-12-31.

The letters "PP" are inside a triangle.

Letter series also used: CAT, PUG, PET, SAT, apparently not issued in sequential order.

Logo of a yellow bear on the left side of the plate, underlined with "UCLA" written underneath. "BRUINS" at bottom of plate highlighted by a yellow background.

These plates are no longer issued.

Yosemite plates used the UB- series, but Art Kraemer reported 1VBA093 on 2012-10-27.  In addition, Chris Cargill spotted 1VBA808 on 2013-09-12 and 1VBB325 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.

Current issuance appears doubtful.

Gold star on the left and GOLD STAR FAMILY at the bottom.

This type available to the general public after 2012 as a replacement for the original Veteran plate listed below. 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.

Legion of Valor in block letters, older plate with block CALIFORNIA embossed at top.

Pearl Harbor Survivor written out stacked on the left. State name in older block letters at top.

Purple Heart badge on the left, "Combat Wounded" on bottom.  These plates were issued in the past with PH suffix, which was followed by PH prefix, then to 00PH01 in 2014.

This old design is no longer being issued; replaced in 2012 with the Honoring Veterans design, listed above.