California uses the letters I, O, and Q in the second alpha position, but not in the first or third.
These blue plates were then discontinued. Plate numbers in the '1' series after this point were not used and are now being issued on some special-issue California bases. This plate also uses the redesigned blue-on-white month sticker, introduced with exp. 1986 plates and still in use today. California 1988 passenger issue. In 1982, California plates were made white with blue lettering, and an optional sun graphic was added behind the state name. This plate was awarded “Plate of the Year” by the Automobile. Extra-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. Late 1987 – early 1994. California DMV's resources hub for all vehicle license plate and decal types: disabled person plates, special interest plates, clean air vehicle decals, and more.
Stickers
11 - black on red
12 - black on green
13 - black on orange
14 - black on blue
15 - black on yellow
16 - black on red
17 - black on green
Chris Cargill reports that California started the present sticker color rotation in 1978 with Green stickers. The rotation was Green - White - Orange - Blue - Yellow - Red. White was removed from the rotation after 1997.
He has also seen two different validation stickers being used for late 2012 and on 2013 registrations. Version one is as it's been before with a 4-digit year (2012 - 2013), but he has seen two-digit validations (12 - 13) and there is now an explanation. The difference is the 4-digit version has the random serial numbers on the sticker that CA DMV has always used. The 2-digit sticker has the license plate number printed as the serial number. The 2-digit stickers are issued by the self-serve renewal vending machines at the DMV offices. Every other method of renewal uses the 4-digit stickers.
Isaac Wilson IV reports 2-digit printed validation stickers do NOT have the plate number on them; they have the same standard Lnnnnnnn format as the four-digit stickers. 2014 stickers start with P, while 2015s start with Z.
Chris Cargill reports that California's Black with Yellow letter plates are coming back as a special issue, and will be issued similar to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe plates (special order, etc). The latest word is they will be 6 digits using a Connecticut style numbering sequence (but in reverse letters on either end, numbers in the middle, as above), such as A12 34B. We'll see if that sequence sticks when they hit the road.
1976 was the year that California started staggered registrations
1975 stickers had been issued for the calendar year 1975, with no month stickers to go with them
In 1976, drivers received month stickers based on the center two characters of their plate
In January of 1976, a driver would get an expiration somewhere between July of 1976 and June of 1977
Therefore, only half of California's vehicles got 1976 stickers
The system was based on the B and 2 from a type ABC 123 or 123 ABC configuration
Thanks to Scott Broady of San Francisco, California for the information
1969 style plates were updated with 1976 expiration stickers in 1975
Two different widths on the embossed blue California plates are shown above with a close up below with the wider version first issued in 1975
The plate on the left is a later issue to a new registrant in 1975, and made of aluminum instead of steel like the one on the right
The aluminum plates started at 701 LXU and went through 999 WKZ according to the ALPCA Archive
January 1977 expiration on 69 style California plate
1976 sample tabs on 63 and 69 sample plates
Shown here with 76 and 77 expiration stickers, this style of plate was first issued in 1963
According to License Plate County Codes of the United States and Canada by Tom Boyd, Eric Tanner and William Davis,'For the initial allotments of base plates issued in 1963, specific blocks of letters were assigned for issue by individual counties.'
The KMX plate was issued in San Diego County, while the UPD plate was a later issue with no direct county correlation
The 1963 plates came with the upper right sticker well debossed with a 63 and without it, as shown above from a backside view
California Commercial For Hire Weight Fee Truck withtab issued in November of 1975 for expiration in November of 1976
1976 California quarterly commercial expiration tabsused on 1963 and 1969 commercial plates. Example shown below
1969 version of the California commercial license plates with December 1976 and August 1977 year long expirations
1975 version with longer California embossing at the top of California commercial plates
The one of the left has a January 1977 year long expiration meaning it was used through 1976, and the seven digit plate on the right was used from July 1. 1976 to July 30, 1977
The seven digit plates were later issues after they exhausted the 6 digit issues
California vanity plates with February and September 1976 expirations utilizing the two different die types.
1963 style base used at car dealership in California with 1976 tab. 1969 dealer type utilized also during 1976
March 1977 expiration issued in 1976 on 69 California dealer license plate. Month stickers were probably not used until 1982 on dealer plates
Someone may have peeled off a stack of stickers on this one to get to the 1977 year sticker
The plate on the left is a 1963 vintage trailer plate, while the one on the right is a 1975 issue with the wider California embossing at the top
The tab was issued in September of 1975 for expiration in September of 1976.
The Horseless Carriage plate on the right was issued from 1970 through 1983, and stickered each year of use.
1976 California disabled person's license plate.
Plates for the disabled had serial numbers that ended in DP
1976 expiration on California Consul Corps plate
1963 and 1969 style County/City exempt plates, as noted by the E in the octagon
These were in use on local government and local law enforcement vehicles in 1976
1963 and 1969 style California state vehicle plates show a diamond E monogram to the left
These were used through 1976 on all state vehicles including California State Patrol cars
California amateur radio operator license plate with a September 1977 expirations
The 1976 expiration sticker is also underneath the 77 sticker
Two types of dark yellow on blue California motorcycle bases
The plate on the left has one large single sticker box for the November and 1976 expiration stickers
The plate on the right has two sticker boxes for the separate stickers
You can also see the difference in the dies with a more rounded C used on the CAL of the plate on the right
July 1977 expiration issued in 1976 California motorcycle license plate
1963 California motorcycle base with tab issued inAugust of 1975 for expiration in August of 1976
The 1977 Cotton-Farm trailer tab would have used on California cotton farm trailer plates in 1976. Registrations were renewed every three years
The previous expiration was 1974. The 1977 expiration covered 1975, 1976 and 1977
California special equipment plate of the style first issued in 1969
These permanent plates were unstickered and used through 1976
Prorated waffle style plates with 1976 California prorate tab
1976 California boat registration stickers
These 3'x 3' stickers were affixed one sticker to each side of the vessel, 3 inchesaft of and in line with the actual registration number
1976 Riverside, California Bicentennial booster attachment
June 1976 sticker placed on top of the California Off Highway (All Terrain vehicles) registration sticker for ATV's
Plate placed on city owned vehicles in Los Angeles,California in 1976
April 1976 expiring Pasadena, California commercial business license plate
This small shield like plate went on the vehicles ofindividuals living in the Del Monte Forest/Pebble Beach Resort area ofthe Monterey Peninsula in California
I am assuming these were used aspasses into a gated community
July 10-11 Modesto Paso de Las Sierras car rally plate
1976 Dew Drop In, Redwood City, California, booster plate
California cardboard movie prop plate dated with 76 sticker
A couple California exempt movie prop plates used on movie police cars
Plates I am looking for from California:
- 15 California
- Various 76 non passenger California plates not shown on this page.
California License Plate Month Sticker
For more on California license plates, you can follow these links: