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. Pictures of old California license plate stickers & decals, 1964 to 1969: Here is the bottom of the YOM application form – we’ve highlighted in red, the question about the sticker color: If you need an old California license sticker, we have many for sale: Click here to see our California stickers for sale on our ClassicLicensePlates.biz. State of Oregon first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently provided by the Driver & Motor Vehicle Services branch of the Oregon Department of Transportation.Front and rear plates are required on all vehicles except for motorcycles. 1997 – stickers were made with background colors that change every year. Characters printed in black. 1998 through 2000 – standard plates contain the words SESQUICENTENNIAL – 150 YEARS in red block letters at the bottom of the plates. 2001 – standard plate is white with blue characters.
Click here to see our restoration staff in action
Since each set of plates is unique I don't sell direct online with the traditional shopping cart.
You can email me to check stock and I can reserve the specific set for you. I can phone you if you include your number in the email.
I'm not set up for credit card. Payment can be made via check or money order.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I guarantee the plate numbers to be DMV clear for 90 days after purchase,
in other words: the numbers are not in use in the DMV computer.
Since each DMV office seems to interpret the rules differently, I can not guarantee they will not give you a hard time.
Giving taxpayers a hard time is their reason for living.
Most offices do not have a problem with plates restored back to their original colors. Some people have had to go to a different DMV office to get them accepted.
Be prepared to watch them fumble through their own rules and call over several co-workers figure out what to do and understand why you want these funny looking plates anyway.
You might want to slam your hand in a car door before entering the DMV the next time so dealing with them won't seem so bad...
NO.
The DMV is wise to this trick so they won't let you use old standard configurations like the 3 letter / 3 number combo used for most 1956 - 1980 plates.
You will need a sticker to match the year of your car. Use a 1959 sticker on a 1956 plate for example.
Do not try to use sample stickers (they have serial numbers of all zeros).
For 1947 - 1955, they used metal tabs. Tabs were used on front and back from 1948 - 1953, then only on the back in 1954 & 1955.
They may not ask for both tabs. Don't count on it.
YES.
The YOM program extends only to 1980 and older year model auto, commercial, motorcycle or trailer vehicles.
CLICK HERE for the rules and registration form
You will need a matching set of plates no matter how old your car is.
1945 was the only year the DMV issued only 1 plate which continued to 1946 with a yellow tab for the 1945 plate.
The DMV is supposed to send you 2 aluminum tabs for the stickers so you don't spoil the look by putting new stickers on your vintage plates.
These tabs are designed to bolt above or below your plates depending on what fits better. I am told they don't always send these so it wouldn't hurt to ask for them.
No. That is illegal. If I made plates, they would put me in prison where I could... make plates
The DMV site states '1963 and newer YOM plates must be compatible to the vehicle they are being assigned to'
This implies you can put your car plates on 1962 and older trucks. I will refund if they don't allow that.
They are consistently inconsistent in their interpretation on COM plates. Take more valium.
Vintage commercial plates in good shape are hard to find.
Most (not all) 1951 plates were 7 characters arranged as 6 numbers with a letter in the second position (ex: 1A23456).
The DMV started reusing this configuration on commercial plates in the last 30 years, so they have used up most of the numbers again.
This scarcity of DMV clear 1951 plates added to a high demand for years 1951 - 1955 which makes them expensive.
1947 base plates (used 1947 - 1950) are also in high demand and recent motorcycle plates have used many of those number up.
New plates were made in 1945, 1947, 1951, 1956 and 1963
Metal tabs or stickers were used for the years in between the new base plates
1946 California License Plates used a 1945 base plate with a metal 46 tab
1947 California License Plates were a new base plate
1948 California License Plates used 1947 base plates with metal 48 tabs
1949 California License Plates used 1947 base plates with metal 49 tabs
1950 California License Plates used 1947 base plates with metal 50 tabs
1951 California License Plates were a new base plate
1952 California License Plates used 1951 base plates with metal 52 tabs
1953 California License Plates used 1951 base plates with metal 53 tabs
1954 California License Plates used 1951 base plates with a metal 54 tab
1955 California License Plates used 1951 base plates with a metal 55 tab
1956 California License Plates were a new base plate
1957 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1957 sticker
1958 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1958 sticker
1959 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1958 sticker
1960 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1960 sticker
1961 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1961 sticker
1962 California License Plates used 1956 base plates with 1962 sticker
1963 California License Plates were a new base plate
1964 California License Plates used 1963 base plates with 1964 sticker
1965 California License Plates used 1963 base plates with 1965 sticker
1966 California License Plates used 1963 base plates with 1966 sticker
1967 California License Plates used 1963 base plates with 1967 sticker
1968 California License Plates used 1963 base plates with 1968 sticker
CLICK HERE for a list of plate / tag / sitcker colors for every year
CLICK HERE for photo examples of 1947 and 1951 plates to show the DMV clerk
License plates are required for most vehicles owned by California residents. To apply for plates you'll register your vehicle with the DMV. You'll also need to renew your vehicle registration to renew your license plates. On this page, you'll also find information surrendering tags to the DMV, replacing your license plates, and CA license plate lookup.
Looking for vanity plates? See our Specialty Plates page.
Looking for disability plates? See our Disability Placards & Plates page.
If you register your vehicle in CA, you are required to display license plates with valid date stickers, showing that your registration is up to date.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issues license plates and expiration stickers when you register your vehicle and renew your registration.
California License Plates & Tags
The current standard California license plate is white with dark blue lettering. Of course, license plate designs are subject to change.
Vehicles registered in California must display valid license plates as evidence of current registration:
- Passenger vehicles display 2 license plates:
- 1 plate on the front of the car.
AND - 1 plate on the back of the car.
- 1 plate on the front of the car.
- Other vehicles, such as motorcycles, usually have only 1 license plate.
The CA DMV will issue the appropriate number of license plates when you register your vehicle.
To be valid, your license plate must have:
- A sticker showing what month your registration expires.
AND - A sticker, showing what year the registration expires.
Year stickers are issued each time you renew your registration, whereas month stickers do not change.
2021 Registration Sticker California Color
Specialty CA License Plates
The California DMV offers a wide range of specialty license plates, including:
- Personalized license plates.
- The online ordering system will perform a license plate lookup to determine the availability of your letter/number combination.
- Special interest plates, for example:
- Collegiate plates.
- State or national park plates.
- Legacy license plates using designs from past CA plates.
- Special license plates, such as:
- Historical vehicle license plates.
- Antique motorcycle plates.
- Recognition license plates, including:
- Pearl Harbor survivor plates.
- Purple Heart recipient plates.
- Disability plates and placards.
Detailed information about these license plates, including fees and application procedures, is available on the California DMV site.
Detailed information about these license plates, including fees and application procedures, is available on our following pages:
Temporary License Plates
The California DMV does not issue temporary license plates.
When you buy a new vehicle, the dealer will give you the appropriate paperwork so that you can legally drive your car.
The DMV also offers several temporary registration permits to transport unregistered vehicles.
CA Vehicles Requiring License Plates or Tags
The CA DMV issues license plates or registration decals for:
- Passenger vehicles.
- Commercial vehicles.
- Recreational vehicles.
- Motorcycles.
- Trailers.
- Off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
- Tow dollies.
- Bicycles.
- Only in counties or cities that require the licensing of bicycles.
How to Apply for a CA License Plate
To receive a CA license plate, you must register your vehicle with the DMV.
Yellow Tag California Registration Year
If you are new to the state, you must register your out-of-state vehicle within 20 days of becoming a California resident.
Vehicle registration generally requires:
- A registration application.
- Registration fees.
- Proof of car insurance.
You may also need your previous title and registration, a smog check, or other vehicle verification.
See our CA car registration page for complete details.
Renew a License Plate in California
To renew your license plate, you must renew your vehicle registration. The CA DMV requires you renew your registration once every year.
When you renew, you will receive an updated year decal that you MUST affix to your license plate.
NOTE: A smog check may be required for renewal.
To learn more, see our CA registration renewal page.
How to Replace CA Plates & Tags
If your license plate or year decal is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a replacement either by mail or in person. You will need:
- The Application for Replacement Plates, Stickers, Documents (Form REG 156).
- Payment for the replacement fee:
- License plate: $22.
- Sticker: $22.
- The damaged item, if applicable.
Submit your materials:
- By mail to:Department of Motor Vehicles
Vehicle Registration Operations
P.O. Box 942869
Sacramento, CA 94269 - In person at a California DMV office. Make an appointment to reduce your wait time at the DMV.
If you need a replacement month sticker, you can:
- Call the DMV at (800) 777-0133.
OR - Get one in person from a DMV office. Remember to make an appointment for a quicker trip.
Replacement month stickers are free.
Surrender California License Plates
In general, CA license plates are not surrendered to the DMV. They stay with the vehicle when it is bought or sold.
If you have a specialty license plate, it stays with you (the 'plate-holder') to be transferred to your next car if you choose to do so. Exceptions occur only with certain plates in the case of death, such as with disability license plates.
NOTE: If you have a standard plate but then choose to apply for a specialty license plate, you will exchange your standard plate when you pick up your specialty plate from the DMV.
More details about specialty license plate retention and surrender are available on the CA specialty plate page.
Fees for Plates & Tags in California
The following fees apply to standard CA license plates:
- New standard plate (registration fee): Fee varies based on your vehicle and location. Use the CA registration fee calculator for an estimate.
- Plate renewal (registration renewal): Fees vary. You can estimate your renewal fee using the fee calculator.
- Replacements:
- License plate: $22.
- Year sticker: $22.
- Month sticker is free.
License Plate Lookup in CA
You can check the availability of a plate letter and number combination when you order a personalized plate online. However, the CA DMV does not have a general license plate lookup service.
If you have a concern about a vehicle, contact the police. They will look up the plate and find the registered owner themselves.
Forms
This form is provided by your state's agency/department.
Please select one of the below to continue:
Email the link to this form