California License Plate Thread

[CentralCAroadgeek]

Also being a license plate collector, I think I should do a history on California license plates. Like when certain plates were issued (i.e. 6VUV series was issued in April). I've only got the time ranges for the constant numbers, I have yet to dwell into the (-AAA---) part of the plates. Sometimes, the month stickers don't really help. For example, my aunt's Camry is registered in the 6GGE series. It has a January sticker, but I've seen another car in the 6GGE series that has a July sticker.

I've also noticed that California plates have a "tweak" once the constant number gets changed (as in the "5" in 5AAA000). Here's what I've noticed:
AAA 000 (?-1969): black plates
000 AAA (1969-Apr 1980): blue plates, narrower dies, different dies for the state name
1AAA000 (Apr 1980-1986*): blue plates
2AAA000 (1982-1992): sunset plates* (1982-Oct 1987), blue-on-white "block" plates (Oct 1987-1992)
3AAA000 (1992-1998**): "block" plates (1992-1995), "script" state name sizes (1995-1998)
4AAA000 (1998-Jan 2003): "Sesquicentennial-150 Years" slogan (1998-2000)
5AAA000 (Jan 2003-2007): What I consider the "normal" script plates. Also, the changes in the border (2007-)
6AAA000 (2007-): Inclusion of the website "dmv.ca.gov" (Autumn 2011-)

*Plates in the 1 series higher than 1SWC series were not issued
**Plates in the 3YAA000-3ZZZ999 series were not issued

Information was provided by the 15Q California page

Hope you enjoyed this read,
~ Daryl

[The High Plains Traveler]

The yellow-on-black plates were introduced in 1963 and had a debossed 63 in the upper right. In my trips out there the past couple of years, I've seen just a couple of vehicles with this series of plates, mainly because plates stay with the vehicle to which they were originally issued and aren't transferred between vehicles.

Prior to the yellow on black plates were the 1956 black on yellow plates, which introduced the ABC-123 series. Those plates actually came with a spot in the upper right with slots to accept a metal registration tab (a raised black area with yellow 56), but instead the state issued stickers. Those tabs had been used on previous series of license plates.

Because everyone's plates expired at the same time, there was no concern about duplicate registration numbers during the transition from the yellow to the black plates. There was only about a two month period when both plates were on the road.

[Brandon]

Got a really silly question in regards to license plates.  Why is it that California (and some other states) have the plates stay with the vehicle?  In Illinois (as an example), the plates are yours, and if you sell or trade the vehicle, you keep your plates.  Even if you move out of state, the plates are yours if you should ever move back.

[blawp]

Probably because it minimizes the number of new plates created.

[bulkyorled]

I think our state is one of the few that actually have good looking OLD ones. Some of the solid color ones from other states they picked nasty colors. The yellow or black ones are neat, didnt care for the blue ones as much but it wasnt a terrible one. And I defend our current white with red letter ones. For a simple one they look nice

[myosh_tino]

And I defend our current white with red letter ones. For a simple one they look nice

...except get rid of the "dmv.ca.gov" on the bottom of the plate.  "The Golden State" or even nothing is better than the web address for the DMV. 

[bulkyorled]

Yea I don't like that states are doing that a bit now. I dunno why some have it and some don't cause my plates are a year old and I didn't get it. I see out of state plates with state or DMV websites on it. No thanks!
I also didnt get the new (retro?) style registration sticker that says just 13 on it, I got 2013. I say retro cause before 2000 it just had the 2 last numbers. I wonder if they'll make that permanent again.

[blawp]

At least DMV.ca.gov is covered by the frame in most cases.

[CentralCAroadgeek]

I personally hate license plate frames. They prevent the plate from being displayed entirely.

In my opinion, the website is nice, but couldn't they use like, the travel website instead. At least it's not like how the website is written on Florida plates.

I haven't really noticed any of the new stickers that simply say "13" instead of showing the full year.

I'd also like to note that the letters "I", "O", and "Q" aren't used in the first and third letter places.

[agentsteel53]

Sometimes, the month stickers don't really help. For example, my aunt's Camry is registered in the 6GGE series. It has a January sticker, but I've seen another car in the 6GGE series that has a July sticker.

I believe the registration time gets reset every time the car changes owners.  So, that second 6GGE must've been resold in July of some year.

[kphoger]

Yea I don't like that states are doing that a bit now. I dunno why some have it and some don't cause my plates are a year old and I didn't get it. I see out of state plates with state or DMV websites on it. No thanks!
I also didnt get the new (retro?) style registration sticker that says just 13 on it, I got 2013. I say retro cause before 2000 it just had the 2 last numbers. I wonder if they'll make that permanent again.

Funny.  I just read this thread this morning.  Then, on my way to work shortly before 12:00, I found myself wondering what was printed on the California plate in front of me.  I thought maybe it was a dealer tag or something like, because I couldn't make out the text.  I had plenty of time to stare at it, as he was hogging the left lane for no reason (I wish I had a rocket launcher), and then I eventually figured out it said dmv.ca.gov.  Then, about four miles later, a car drifted right into the side of a truck right in front of me, and I forgot all about Mister California Lane Hog.  Until I hopped on here again.

[The High Plains Traveler]

I personally hate license plate frames. They prevent the plate from being displayed entirely.

As kind of a side note, when I started driving, California dealerships seemed to exclusively use license plate frames to advertise where the car was bought. Seeing a dealership mark on a decal always marked the car as being from out of state.

[cpzilliacus]

I personally hate license plate frames. They prevent the plate from being displayed entirely.

Agreed.

There was a bill introduced in the North Carolina legislature a year or two ago to outlaw all tag frames that obscure any part of the registration plate (the Tar Heel State, like most states in the South, does not issue a front plate).  It may also have forbidden the use of license plate "covers," which make it hard to read the registration number, though I am not certain about that.

I also believe they may have been motivated to do this because of the pending opening of cashless toll roads (the Triangle Expressway is now open). 

I do not know if the North Carolina bill was enacted or not.

[jwolfer]

Yea I don't like that states are doing that a bit now. I dunno why some have it and some don't cause my plates are a year old and I didn't get it. I see out of state plates with state or DMV websites on it. No thanks!
I also didnt get the new (retro?) style registration sticker that says just 13 on it, I got 2013. I say retro cause before 2000 it just had the 2 last numbers. I wonder if they'll make that permanent again.

I hate the website tags... too many states use them and Florida my home state is the absolute worst.  I can not wait til Florida get new general issue tags.  I like the late 80s/early 90s... with the state in green and letters in what was supposed to be orange but it looked red

[bulkyorled]

I hate the dealer frames too I took mine off right when I got my plates. I put my own frame on but nothing too crazy. A few dealers have nice frames though. Anyone from here would recognize Sage's Nissan from Universal City or Rusnak in Pasadena has nice ones too.

Burbank Community Chevy has kinda nice ones too actually...

[blawp]

I bought my car from Rusnak in TO and they never gave me a frame