LicensePlates.cc

Washington License Plates

Washington is now screening specialty plates and has been since March 2005. This includes plates such as the WSU alumni plates (which had been embossed since their initial release back in 1997), Vanpool plates, and vanity plates. The color scheme has not changed and the font used on the screened plates very closely resembles the dies used on embossed plates, so they don't stand out as much as the screened plates in some other states.

As of 2008, vanities are available on specials types, with a different Montana-style font. Also, Frank Astalosh reports that Trailer plates are now available for specialty types with numbering starting at 90000. Mike Kraft advises that specialty types for Motorcycle plates are also available with numbering starting at 95000.

Stickers

11 - white on black

12 - white on blue

13 - white on red

14 - white on green

15 - white on black

16 - white on blue

17 - white on red

Standard Passenger Plates

Passenger

CMF0173
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Seven character plates are now in use. The letters I, O, and Q will not be used in the third position on the new 7 character plates. Although I is not used, 3000 AGI series plates were made by mistake, and they were all issued in Snohomish County so as to not to waste the material. AIA-AIZ was issued. AOA-AOZ is being used in the 7 character plates, but it was not used in the original 1987 format. Washington uses the same die for the letter O and 0 (zero.)

ATF series will be skipped.

Low: AAA0000

Highs spotter Paul Petrinovich has AAA0123.

From Andy DeCeunynck - The earliest 7-digit plates were issued in Whitman County (Colfax, Pullman). The series in question started at 700-ZZY, skipped ZZZ plates (which are being issued in blocks of 100 presumably in 10 places throughout the state), and then resumed in the 7-digit regime, going up to AAA0399.

Paul Petrinovich confirms that Whitman Co. got AAA0000 - 0599, then Whatcom Co. got AAA0600 - 6599. The ZZZ series was split between 9 counties.

In the previous 123-ABC format, PIx, POx, PQx, and PUx were skipped, but Washington does issue those letters in the third position. Prior to this, Washington skipped KOx and FXx (plus AOx and AQx in 1987 but O and Q were used in any other position until AWO and AWQ) for unknown reasons. All WXx series were also skipped.

William Jackson - 28 Feb ’24

Non-passenger Plates

Disabled

DP
88159
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Now flat! Series reversed after reaching 99999 D/P.

Motorcycle: D/P 9716

Paul Petrinovich - 29 Nov ’23

Motorcycle

4K7877
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Motorcycle plates use the 0A0000 format after reaching 999999. Issued 0A, then 1A, 2A...9A then 0B.

Mike Gallop - 5 Nov ’23

Temporary

A7126483
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The current high belongs to a type of temp tags that are computer generated by the dealer. Washington is discontinuing its preprinted temp tags in Summer 2011.

Walter Wong observes that this is the first Washington plate type to exceed one million.

Brian Menius - 17 Mar ’24

Trailer

34682AK
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OA-OZ, QA-QZ skipped in trailer plates. The W series was skipped since it was used for small Trailer.

Kyle Wasson - 3 Feb ’24

Trailer - small

AU1178
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These are 4x7" (Motorcycle size) plates for smaller trailers. Full size plates are progressing slower since the introduction of the smaller type.

Note: There are plates of this type in the WW series, so they appear to be higher than the current issues, but WW was the first series used on these plates when they began in 1/87. Upon reaching 9999WW, the series started over at WA, and has been progressing forward from there.

After issuing the entire series 0000WA-9999WZ they have started to issue these plate in the QA series and will continue until the QZ series.

Patrick Kern - 29 Feb ’24

Truck

D50015E
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Seen in Ozone Park, NY

Paul Petrinovich advises that after reaching B99999H, the series progressed to B00000K, skipping the BnnnnnI and BnnnnnJ series.  Only a few BnnnnnM series plates were issued, then the BnnnnnN appeared.

Andy DeCeunynck reports that only the first 6000 BxxxxxM plates were issued (technically, B05999M would be the last one). In Franklin County (Pasco), he observed a truck series of 1000 plates that started at B05500M, went to B05999M and then did B00000N through B00499N.

Apportioned Truck:  57208RP (Flat)  2016-02-09  Willie C, Brock, Jr.

This type began in 1987.  The original series used a PR suffix.  After reaching 99999PR, the series continued in the RP series.   This type went flat around 90nnnPR.

Brett Weisbrot - 16 Mar ’24

Specialty Plates

4-H

4H
00263
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This plate uses the standard specialty plate format with the 4H stacked left of the number.

Low: 4/H00005 2014-10-03 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 2 Jun ’23

Central Washington University

CWU
2062
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Low: C/W/U0001 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos reports a new background for this plate. Skyline view of Ellensburg no longer on plate. Stylized watermark of CWU logo now on background with mountain caricature graphic on bottom of plate. The changeover is around 1600.

Kyle Wasson - 12 Jun ’23

Eastern Washington University

EWU
9144
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Seen in Spokane Valley

Another new design: Plate is all red with WASHINGTON on top and Eastern Washington University on bottom in white text. Middle of plate is black with EWU logo on the left and the E/W/U stack in the middle with the plate # (also in white text).

Earlier new design - includes the popular EWU Eagle logo featured on the previous series, with silhouettes of cheering fans in the background and the words National Champions inscribed in red on the bottom.

Low: E/W/U0027 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 6 Mar ’24

Gonzaga University

GU
03331
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Kyle Wasson - 24 Dec ’23

Helping Kids Speak

MM
02849
FREEMASON
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Sponsored by the Free Masons for charities to help children with speech problems.

Standard embossed font appears to have started at M/M2000. This is also what happened when the L/E/M and P/F plates reached 2000.

From Andy DeCeunynck: I have now seen three plates below 2000 that are in the standard embossed font. The Masonic/Kid Speak plates started in 2004 and most were issued in the first couple years so these are likely replacements of the original flat plates.

Kyle Wasson - 27 Sep ’23

Keep Kids Safe

KS
03009
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Paul Petrinovich - 21 Mar ’22

Law Enforcement Memorial

LEM
119N
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As with Professional Firefighter plates (below), LEM plates now have the newer font that looks more like embossed Washington plates.

Upon reaching L/E/M 7999, the series changed to 0000 L/E/M since L/E/M 8000 - 9999 is reserved for Trailer and Motorcycle. The series LEM 9000-9999 has been issued and has restarted at 9000LEM.

Low: 0733L/E/M

Motorcycle high: 9088 L/E/M 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 18 Sep ’23

Lighthouse

LH
07989
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Low:  L/H00001  Paul Petrinovich Motorcycle:  L/H95003  2014-09-28  Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 18 Jun ’23

Love My Pets

PT
05006
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Kyle Wasson - 30 Mar ’22

Music Matters

MU02350
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Unlike most other Washington optional plates, the "MU" prefix is not stacked. Low: MU00001 spotted in Bellevue on 2015-05-04 by Paul Petrinovich

Kyle Wasson - 10 Sep ’22

Preserve Our National Parks

NP
18062
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Kyle Wasson - 19 Oct ’23

Professional Firefighter

PF
10127
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Mike Kraft reports that these screened plates now have a new font with characters that more closely resemble the dies Washington uses on embossed plates.

New redesigned PF plates start at PF 04301 and have flames in the background.

Low: P/F00001

Motorcycle: P/F95408 (old red style) 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Paul Petrinovich - 6 Oct ’23

Seattle Mariners

SM
00990
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Low: S/T00001 2015-04-01 Walter Wong

These plates are screened and use a font similar to typical Washington plate dies. This plate may no longer be available, but higher numbers are still gradually appearing.

Kyle Wasson - 24 Jan ’24

Seattle Seahawks

SH
21304
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Plate S/H00026 and the driver were shown on the news since that is the first plate issued to the general public. Plates S/H00002-S/H00025 were auctioned off for charity. Over 1900 plates were issued the first day.

Low: S/H00001 spotted and photographed by Ian Slade.

Motorcycle: S/H95145 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Trailer: S/H99020 2014-07-25 Nick Gallegos

Nick Gallegos - 18 Dec ’23

Seattle Sounders

FC
02885
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F/C00001 reported as a low by Nick Gallegos on 2015-04-07

Motorcycle: F/C95004 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Kyle Wasson - 8 Jul ’23

Seattle University

SU
00200
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First available on 2015-01-02.

Kyle Wasson - 25 Jan ’23

Share the Road

BK
07404
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Low: B/K00011 2015-09-09 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 11 Jun ’23

Skiing and Snowboarding

SN
03238
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Kyle Wasson - 4 Dec ’22

State Flower

SF
01335
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Rhododendron (State Flower)

New in 2013.

Nick Gallegos - 3 Dec ’23

State Parks

PK
10912
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Low: P/K00007 Paul Petrinovich

Trailer: P/K90172 2014-08-29 Nick Gallegos

Nick Gallegos - 16 Jul ’23

University of Washington

8866B
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Seen in Spokane Valley

The W graphic is the same, but the lettering on this latest high is very similar to the lettering on Montana plates.  Probably started at 2500A.  Paul Petrinovich reports that the narrow font plates were a mistake, using the vanity plate font.  They will be reissued with the correct font.

Walter Wong reports the narrow font has returned on the new purple design.

Low:  W 0001A  2013-04-08  Paul Petrinovich  (This plate belongs to Bill Gates' father!)

A new redesigned UW plate was introduced 2013-11-29. The plate will begin being issued the following week.  It has a purple background and the W is gold (School Colors) The last W 1234A plate will be W8699A and the first new one will be W 8000A.  These will also be available on motorcycle plates like the WSU plates are.  Lower numbers will appear on the new base since holders of the previous base have the option of updating to the new base with their previous number.

Nick Gallegos - 9 Mar ’24

Volunteer Firefighter

VF
02016
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Low: V/F00001 Paul Petrinovich

Motorcycle: V/F 03055 2014-09-28

Paul Petrinovich - 27 Apr ’23

Washington State University

WSU
514T
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The formats WSU1234 and 1234WSU have been exhausted, hence this new format.

The registration number appears on the left side of the plate, followed by the logo, then the stacked WSU on the right.

WSU came out with a new plate in January 2012. It is a simple crimson (red) plate with white lettering and the WSU Cougar logo on the right side. The last plate on the original style was K975, and the first crimson plate was K976.

Low: W/S/U0001 Paul Petrinovich

Paul Petrinovich advises that when Y999WSU is reached, the plates will start over at W/S/U000A. Z000W/S/U series is used for motorcycle plates, although Paul saw Z097W/S/U on a car. The DOL confirmed that some Z plates were being issued to cars, and that Z500W/S/U to Z999W/S/U is reserved for motorcycles.

As expected, after Z499W/S/U came W/S/U001A.

Kyle Wasson - 28 Feb ’24

Western Washington University

WWU
2185
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Nick Gallegos reports a new design featuring a blue background with viking head replacing ship and yellow lettering. New base has regular flat font.

Kyle Wasson - 11 Aug ’20

Wildlife - Bear

WB
07681
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The current high has the personalized font, which could be a mistake or an intentional change.

Low: W/B00008 2014-07-03 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 8 Jan ’24

Wildlife - Deer

WD
03390
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W/D00003 reported as a low by Paul Petrinovich.

Kyle Wasson - 25 Jan ’23

Wildlife - Eagle

WW
11987
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Trailer: W/W90114 2008-02-24 Frank Astalosh

Motorcycle: W/W95391 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Andy reports that this is the first Specialty plate to go over 6000.

Low: W/W00007 2013-10-15 Paul Petrinovich

Kyle Wasson - 2 Jan ’23

Wildlife - Elk

WE
10712
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The current high has the personalized font, which could be a mistake or an intentional change.

Nick Gallegos - 26 Dec ’23

Wildlife - Whale

EW
14000
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Kyle Wasson - 5 Mar ’24

Military Veteran Plates

Air Force

AF
05795
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Low: A/F00001 Paul Petrinovich

Motorcycle: A/F95121 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Kyle Wasson - 26 Sep ’20

Army

AR
17104
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Low: A/R00021 Paul Petrinovich

Motorcycle: A/R95387 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Nick Gallegos - 18 Dec ’23

Coast Guard

CG
01752
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Low: C/G00021 Paul Petrinovich

Paul Petrinovich - 31 Jan ’23

Disabled Veteran

DV21720DISABLED VETERAN
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These plates are now screened and use a font similar to typical Washington plate dies. The change to no spacing between the letters and numbers was around 7800DV. The next series after 9999DV will be DV00000.

Kyle Wasson - 18 Nov ’23

Gold Star Family

GS
01202
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This is a new issue for families who have lost loved ones in a war - first issued in Jan. 2009.

Paul Petrinovich - 30 Apr ’23

Marine Corps

MC
09635
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Low: M/C00001 Paul Petrinovich

This type has been using the narrow font that has appeared on some of the graphic plates and is normally used for most of the graphic plate vanities, but now it is back to the regular font.

Motorcycle: M/C95303 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Paul Petrinovich - 30 Aug ’23

National Guard

NG
01006
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Low: N/G00011 Paul Petrinovich

Kyle Wasson - 30 Mar ’23

Navy

NA
09103
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Low: N/A00017 Paul Petrinovich

Motorcycle: N/A95204 2014-09-28 Paul Petrinovich

Paul Petrinovich - 21 Jun ’23