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.
Until around 2005, California used a reverse, or debossed, beaded edge. It was gradually phased out over the next few years in favor of a beveled edge, but still sometimes appears.
The 1ABC123 serial format was used on California's passenger license plates from 1980 to 2026. After 9ZZZ999, California adopted a new, mirrored format in March 2026: 123ABC1, maintaining the DMV's practice of flipping serial formats when they run out.
Passenger baseplates Pre-state plates ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotesBlack on white; "CAL" at right1234561 to 122444A one-time $2.00 fee is paid to register the vehicle, and the motorist must have a license plate made to hang from the rear of the vehicle (front plate also required starting in 1911). These plates were valid from the date of issuance until no longer needed for that car. The seal (disc) that the motorist received from the state with the registration number, along with the license plate(s), was supposed to remain with the vehicle upon transfer to a new owner, but that did not always happen. These early plates were valid through December 31, 1913.
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 (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first California license plate that complied with these standards.
ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issued1914white on red porcelain1234561 to 122375Replaced all 1905–13 plates.1915black on yellow porcelain1234561 to 163557Brass Seal: Octagon 1916blue on white porcelain1234561 to 234317Validation tab: 1916 Bear (Front) 1916 Bear (Rear) 1917234318 to 357299Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 234317 only received the Poppy tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Poppy 1918357300 to 485000Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 357299 only received the Bell tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Bell 1919485001 to 599705Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 485000 only received the Star tabs to place on their 1916 plates.Validation tab: Star 1920white on black123-4561 to 527–5831921black on yellow123-4561 to 651-6401922blue on white1234561 to 2000; 70001 to 881909Serials 2001 through 70000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.1923white on black123 4561 to ?1924white on green123-4561 to ?1925black on yellow123 4561 to 30 00, 250 001 to 999 999Serials 30 01 through 250 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.A-12 345A 1 to 1926white on blue123 4561 to 40 00, 320 001 to 999 999Serials 40 01 through 320 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.A-12 345A-1 to 1927white on maroon1-234-5671 to 50–00;400-001 to approximately 1–860–000First use of the full state name. Serials 50-01 through 400-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.1928yellow on blue1-234-5671 to 3–000;450-001 to approximately 2-080-000Serials 3-001 through 450-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles.1929orange on black1A-12-34Coded by branch officeLetters A through M were used in Northern California, and N through Z in Southern California.1930black on orange1A-12-34Coded by branch office1931orange on black1A 12 34Coded by branch office1932black on orange1A 12 34Coded by branch office1933orange on black1A 12 34Coded by branch office1934black on orange1A 12 34Coded by branch office1935orange on black1A 12 34Coded by branch office1936black on orange1A 12 3410 A 123Coded by branch office1937orange on black1A 12 34 12 34Coded by branch office1938black on yellow1A 12 3410 A 123Coded by branch office1939yellow on blue1A 12 3410 A 123Coded by branch office1940black on orange1A 12 3410 A 123Coded by branch officeyellow on black1A 23 4512 A 3451A 1 to ?Citizens that got the 1941 base plate in 1941 got this tab for revalidation.Validation tab for 1942: Validation tab for 1943: It was issued due to metal conservation for World War II.Validation sticker for 1944: It was issued due to metal conservation for World War II.white on black1A 23 4512 A 3451A 1 to ?Only rear plates issued.Validation tab for 1946: black on yellow1A 23 45612A 3 4561A 1 to ?Validation tab for 1948: Validation tab for 1949: Validation tab for 1950: 1951–55yellow on black1A 23 45612 A 3 4561A 1 to ?Validation tab for 1952: Validation tab for 1953: Validation tab for 1954: Validation tab for 1955: 1956–62black on yellowABC 123AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999Validation sticker for 1957: Validation sticker for 1958: Validation sticker for 1959: Validation sticker for 1960: Validation sticker for 1961: 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 1ABC123 serial format began 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 (third character in 1ABC123 format or fifth character in the new 123ABC1 format). Series 1SWD000 through 1TZZ999, 1WAA000 through 1ZYZ999, 3FMH000 through 3FZZ999, 3YAA000 through 3ZYZ999, and 3ZZH000 through 3ZZZ999, have all not been issued, while others have been reserved for non-passenger and optional plates, such as 1ZZA000 through 1ZZZ999 and 3ZZA000 through 3ZZG999 for Livery plates, and 1UAA000 through 1VZZ999 for Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Coastal Protection ("Whale Tail") plates.
The 123ABC1 serial format began in March 2026, following the exhaustion of the previous format.
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.
ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesembossed gold on black, embossed state name and debossed "63" on top right sticker boxnoneABC 123AAA 000 to ZZZ 999The oldest still allowed on the road today, but some older license plates have been seen.1969embossed gold serial on blue, state name on topnone123 ABC000 AAA to 999 ZZZMonthly staggered registration introduced 1976. I, O and Q not used as first letters in the 123 ABC serial format. Narrower serial dies introduced starting with 000 WLA in late 1977, in preparation for the 1ABC123 format.19801ABC1231AAA000 to 1SWC9991982blue on reflective white with graphic Art Deco state nameThe Golden State2AAA000 to 2GPZ999Extra-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. This is also the design which appears on the DeLorean in the 'Back to the Future' films, with the registration 'OUTATIME'. The validation sticker corresponded to the year of each episode's air date. 1987blue on reflective white with embossed red state namenone2GQA000 to 3FMG999 3FMH-3FZZ not issued.1993blue on reflective white with graphic red state namenone3GAA000 to approximately 3JZZ999The state name changed from an embossed state name to a graphic state name. Wells for month and year stickers are no longer debossed.1995none3KAA000 to 3XZZ999 3ZZA-3ZZG for livery 3Y and all other 3Z series unissued. The state name was modified to increase its size.1998SESQUICENTENNIAL - 150 YEARS4AAA000 to 4NOZ999Slogan added to celebrate 150 years since California's statehood.2001none4NPA000 to 6TPV999Slogan removed. Same as 1995 base.2011dmv.ca.gov6TPW000 to 9ZZZ999DMV web address added as a slogan.2026123ABC1000AAA1 to approximately 487BJY1 New serial format, following exhaustion of the 1ABC123 format.
Non-passenger vehicle plates