Vehicle registration plates of Washington, D.C.

The U.S. federal district of Washington, D.C., first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1907, when the district began to issue plates. Plates are issued by the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates 1907 to 1966 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 (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Washington, D.C. license plate that complied with these standards was issued three years beforehand, in 1953 (dated March 31, 1954).

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1907–17White serial on black porcelain plate; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" at topnone123451 to approximately 65000, with gapsSome serial blocks believed to be reserved for motorcycles.1918Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "DC 18" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 38-0001919Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "D.C. 1919" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 46-0001920Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "D.C. 1920" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 55-0001921Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "D.C. 1921" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 67-5001922Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "D.C. 1922" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 80-0001923Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "D.C. 1923" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 112–0001924Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1924" centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 91-0001925Embossed white serial on dark gray plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1925" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 114–0001926Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1926" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 112–0001927Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1927" centered at topnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately V-1000Letters A, B, C, D, H and R used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through 1934.1928Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1928" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately W-90001929Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1929" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately Z-80001930As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1930" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately Y-30001931As 1929 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1931" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately Z-30001932As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1932" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately W-10001933As 1929 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1933" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately X-40001934As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1934" at bottomnoneA-1234E-1 to approximately X-30001935Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - 1935" at bottomnone123-45657-001 to approximately 191–0001936Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "1936" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45654-001 to approximately 202–0001937Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "1937" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45646-001 to approximately 193–0001938Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "1938" and "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45646-001 to approximately 182–000January 1, 1939 – February 29, 1940Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "EX-2-29-40" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45646-001 to approximately 174–000March 1, 1940 – March 31, 1941Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "EX-3-31-41" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45652-000 to approximately 182–000April 1, 1941 – March 31, 1942Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "EX-3-31-42" and "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45646-001 to approximately 183–000April 1, 1942 – March 31, 1945As 1940–41 base, but with "EX-3-31-43" at bottomnone123-45652-001 to approximately 216–000Revalidated through March 31, 1944, with black tabs, then through March 31, 1945, with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.April 1, 1945 – March 31, 1946As 1941–42 base, but with "EX-3-31-46" at topnone123-45645-001 to approximately 136–000Only rear plates issued due to ongoing metal shortage.April 1, 1946 – March 31, 1948As 1940–41 base, but with "EX-3-31-47" at bottomnone123-45650-001 to approximately 181–000Revalidated through March 31, 1948, with white tabs.April 1, 1948 – March 31, 1949Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "19 D.C. 48" at topnone12341 to 9999Letters B, C, D, H, L, M, R and T used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1955.1-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 to approximately N-1000April 1, 1949 – March 31, 1950Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "19 D.C. 49" at bottomnone12341 to 99991-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 to approximately P-7000April 1, 1950 – March 31, 1951Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 D.C. 50" at bottomnone12341 to 99991-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 to approximately S-5000April 1, 1951 – March 31, 1952Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "19 D.C. 51" at topnone12341 to 99991-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 to approximately S-2000April 1, 1952 – March 31, 1953Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 D.C. 52" at bottomnone12341 to 99991-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 to approximately P-1000April 1, 1953 – March 31, 1955Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA" centered at top; "3-31" at top left and "54" at top right"THE NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at bottom12341 to 9999Revalidated through March 31, 1955, with dark green tabs.1-23451-1000 to9-9999A-1234A-1 toZ-9999AB-123AA-1 to approximately AB-999April 1, 1955 – March 31, 1956Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "56" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦12♦34AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99Serials with B, C, D, H and L as the first letter used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1964.April 1, 1956 – March 31, 1957Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "57" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦12♦34AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99April 1, 1957 – March 31, 1958Embossed golden yellow serial on royal blue plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "58" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately SZ♦999April 1, 1958 – March 31, 1959Embossed royal blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "59" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately WB♦999April 1, 1959 – March 31, 1960As 1957–58 base, but with "60" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately WK♦999April 1, 1960 – March 31, 1961As 1958–59 base, but with "61" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately WP♦999April 1, 1961 – March 31, 1962As 1957–58 base, but with "62" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999April 1, 1962 – March 31, 1963Embossed dark green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "63" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999April 1, 1963 – March 31, 1964Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "64" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at topAB♦123AA♦100 to approximately XJ♦999April 1, 1964 – March 31, 1965Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "65" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top1A2341A101 to 9Z9991A231A01 to approximately 2T99April 1, 1965 – March 31, 1966Embossed black serial on reflective golden yellow plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "66" at top right"NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top1AB231AA01 to approximately 2MH99

1966 to present Since November 2000, the standard Washington, D.C. license plate design has featured some form of the slogan "Taxation Without Representation", referring to the circumstance that the district's residents face, in common with U.S. territories, in which they must pay federal income tax but cannot elect a voting member of the United States Congress.