Vehicle owners in California must have a registered vehicle with the appropriate license plates. All rear plates must display a validation sticker that is up-to-date. Failure to do so leads to additional fees when renewing a vehicle.
Summary: License Plate Sticker and Tag Renewal. Before your car has expired tags, you'll need to complete your license plate sticker renewal. Click you state to find out how often you'll need to renew your registration/tags, what the registration renewal fees will be, and your renewal grace period (if any) if your tags have already expired. Summary: License Plate Sticker and Tag Renewal. Before your car has expired tags, you'll need to complete your license plate sticker renewal. Click you state to find out how often you'll need to renew your registration/tags, what the registration renewal fees will be, and your renewal grace period (if any) if your tags have already expired.
Sample California License Plate
The license plates remain with the vehicle except for certain plates which may, upon request of the owner and payment of appropriate fees, be reassigned to another vehicle. These license plates are environmental (personalized), special recognition or special interest license plates. Transferring a California License Plate. In 1956, California issued new base license plates with a yellow background and black lettering. Passenger car plates have 3 letters and 3 numbers. Truck / commercial plates have 1 letter and 5 numbers. These plates can be used on 1956 - 1962 model-year California cars and trucks per the DMV's Year of Manufacture program as follows.
Getting a License Plate in California
If you’re living or plan to live in California, you can register your vehicle with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV is the place to register, apply for license plates, and purchase validation stickers.
Remember, California law states that you must have up-to-date license plates with a valid sticker displayed on the rear of your vehicle.
Types of License Plates in California
When you register your vehicle and apply for license plates, you can choose between the state’s standard california license plate or a specialty plate.
- Standard California License Plate: White plate with dark blue letters
- Specialty Plate: See Specialty License Plates in California
Upon registration, you must show your license (not expired). When you receive your license plates, you are expected to place 1 on the front and 1 at the rear.
If you are registering a motorcycle, you may only be required to display 1 license plate on the rear.
Validating Your California License Plates
In addition to registering your vehicle at the DMV, you must also purchase a validation stick to show the month of expiration. This sticker must be placed on the rear plate and be visible at all times.
You will obtain both a month stick and a year sticker. The month sticker should never change and a new year sticker will be given to you upon renewal of your registration.
Personalized License Plates in California
It's not uncommon to see catchy slogans and phrases found on license plates in California. You can personalize your license plate using a combination of numbers, letters, and some special characters.
If you are personalizing standard plates, you must follow these guidelines:
- Limit of 2 to 7 characters
- No slang or offensive words (English or any other language)
- Cannot look like an existing license plate (i.e. interchanging letters and numbers).
The California DMV does not provide a search to see which plates are available. Instead, you can go here to look up California plates for free.
Specialty License Plates in California
There is a wide range of specialty license plates offered by the California DMV. The cost for these plates add an additional $50 (more or less) to your total. Take a look at a few of the specialty plates you can get in California:
- Agricultural License Plates
- Arts Council License Plates
- UCLA Collegiate License Plates
- Firefighter License Plates [for current of retirees]
- Child Health & Safety License Plates
- Pet License Plates
- Wildlife Conservation License Plates
- Historical License Plates
- Special Recognition License Plates
Some of these plates require an application form to be considered. To be eligible, you may have to provide additional documentation. For example, if you are applying for the Firefight License Plates, you would have to provide documentation that shows that you are/were a firefighter.
Applying for California License Plates
Whether you have just moved to California with your car or you are a resident purchasing a new vehicle, you must get your vehicle registered at the DMV within 20 days.
To register your vehicle, you’ll need:
California License Plate Sticker Colors 2018
- Valid Car Insurance
- Application Form
- Money to Pay for Fees
Depending on the vehicle you are registering, you may also need additional documents such as an emissions test or previous title.
Surrendering License Plates in California
In California, you do not surrender your plates to the DMV when you sell your car. Instead, your plates remain with the car and transfer to the new owner (if there is a new vehicle owner).
However, if you have purchased specialty plates, those remain yours and you can have them transferred to your new motor vehicle or simply to hold onto.
If you already have standard plates for your vehicle and wish to upgrade to specialty plates, you will have to surrender your standard plates to do so.
Lost or Stolen California License Plates
Sometimes you may find your license plates missing. If this occurs, you must apply for new plates immediately. You can obtain new plates by submitting a application for replacement then bring it in person or mail it to the DMV.
You will also be required to pay replacement fees:
- Replacement Plate: $21
- Replacement Sticker: $21
To receive your new plates faster (sometimes in the same day) it is best to go to the DMV instead of mailing an application for replacement.
Note: you can obtain a replacement for the monthly stickers absolutely free!
Renewing License Plates in California
Before your the date on your license plate stickers expire, you should go to the DMV and renew your vehicle’s registration. You’ll have to renew your vehicle once per year, and upon renewal you will receive a new year sticker to apply to your license plate.
Depending on the year your vehicle is made, you may also be expected to undergo an emissions test. Changes to legislation occur each year, and with the advancements in car technologies, your car may be subjected to additional fees if it does not keep the air clean.
How to lookup California license plates
Before ordering your personalized license plate, you can look up available license plates in California for free. You’ll be able to find which plate names are available.
As well, if you are looking to purchase a vehicle privately, this license plate search engine gives you VIN information such as vehicle history and previous owners.
Here is a step by step guide on how to lookup a California license plate number and report bad drivers:
- Open a web browser
- Go to FindByPlate.com
- Enter the plate number and select state
- View the report
- View images submitted by the community
- View videos submitted by the community
- Add comments
- Add pictures of the vehicle
- Add videos related to the vehicle
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
California License Plate Generator
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
California License Plate Sticker Colors By Year
July 10-11 Modesto Paso de Las Sierras car rally plate
1976 Dew Drop In, Redwood City, California, booster plate
California License Plate Images
California cardboard movie prop plate dated with 76 sticker
California License Plate Sticker Colors
A couple California exempt movie prop plates used on movie police cars
License Plate Stickers By Year
Plates I am looking for from California:
- 15 California
- Various 76 non passenger California plates not shown on this page.
For more on California license plates, you can follow these links: