Massachusetts became the first state to issue manufactured license plates in 1903, with California following suite in 1913. 1920; Photograph courtesy wikipedia.com.
How to get a motorcycle license in California:
- Visit your local CA DMV office in person.
- Complete a Driver's License or Identification Card Application.
- Provide proof of your identity.
- Pass the California motorcycle written test.
- Pass a motorcyclist training program or the motorcycle skills test.
- Pay the $36 motorcycle license/endorsement fee.
For more details, please continue reading!
California offers two classes of motorcycle license: M1 and M2. With an M1 license, you may ride any type of motorcycle with an attached motor, or any motorized scooter. With an M2 classification, you will be permitted to drive a motorized bicycle, a moped, a bicycle with an attached motor, or a motorized scooter only.
CA Motorcycle Learner's Permit
Everyone, regardless of age, first gets a learner's permit to practice driving your motorcycle before the driving test. If you're under 21 years old, you must hold this permit for 6 months before the driving test.
Here is the info you need on your:
- Permit eligibility requirements.
- Required documents and forms.
- Application process.
Eligibility Requirements
To get a California motorcycle permit, you must:
- Be at least 15 1/2 years old.
- EITHER:
- Already have a CA driver's license.
OR - Submit proof that you have completed both driver's education and driver's training.
- Already have a CA driver's license.
- Complete a California Motorcyclist Safety Program (CMSP), if you are under 21 years old.
California Motorcycle License Plate History North Carolina
Documents & Forms
To prepare for your appointment, gather the following paperwork:
- Proof of identity and residency. This could be:
- Your CA driver's license (if you already have one).
OR - Any of the CA DMV's acceptable identity and residency documents, if you do not already have a driver's license.
- Your CA driver's license (if you already have one).
- A completed Driver License or Identification Card Application*.
- Minors will need to have your parent/guardian sign your form.
- Certificates for your:
- CMSP training completion (Form DL 389), if you're under 21 years old.
- Driver's Ed or driver's training programs, if you're 15 1/2 to 17 years old.
*NOTE: The application form is NOT currently available online.
Application Process
Once you've met your eligibility requirements and gathered all required documents, make an appointment with your local CA DMV office. Be ready to:
- Submit all required documents and certificates (see 'Documents & Forms' for a breakdown).
- Complete the Driver License and Identification Card (ID) Application,.
- Pass the following exams:
- A vision test.
- The written driver knowledge test.
- Your motorcycle knowledge test.
- Give your Social Security number.
- Provide your thumbprint.
- Have your photo taken.
- Pay the $36 permit fee.
To pass your exams, study the California Motorcycle Handbook before your appointment. The handbook contains all of the information, rules, and laws that apply to motorcycles. It's also full of helpful hints and tips.
Your $36 learner's permit application fee will be good for 12 months. You may also take the written and skills tests up to 3 times. Note that if your application expires before you pass the tests and are issued a permit, you must start the application process from the beginning.
Permit Restrictions
With your motorcycle learner's permit, you may now practice driving a motorcycle. However, you are not allowed to:
- Drive your motorcycle at night.
- Drive your motorcycle on the freeway.
- Carry any passengers on your motorcycle.
Getting Your Motorcycle License
The process for applying for a California motorcycle license differs slightly depending on your age.
Below are the steps for applicants who are:
- Under 21 years old.
- 21 years old and above.
Under 21
If you're under 21 years old, you may apply for your motorcycle license if you:
- Are at least 16 years old.
- Have held a motorcycle learner's permit for at least 6 months.
- Successfully passed a California motorcycle training program approved by the California Highway Patrol and received a Certificate of Completion of Motorcycle Training (DL389).
If all of the above are true, make an appointment with your local DMV office and:
- Submit your motorcycle learner's permit.
- Hand over the motorcycle class completion certificate (Form DL389).
- This allows the DMV to waive your skills exam. If you've misplaced your certificate, you'll need to take an on-bike skills test before you're issued a license.
The DMV will issue you an interim license valid for 90 days, until you receive your new photo license in the mail.
21 and Over
For applicants at least 21 years old, if you hold no other license, you may be required to complete other tests before being allowed to take the skills test. If you currently hold a valid CA license, you can:
- Complete a CHP-approved motorcycle rider training course.
OR - Schedule a motorcycle driving test.
If you elect to complete a state-approved safety course, the DMV-administered skills test will be waived—make sure you save and submit the certificate of completion (Form DL 389).
Transferring an Out-of-State License
Visit any DMV location, or save time by calling ahead for an appointment. You will be required to take a written exam, so studying California's Motorcycle Handbook is strongly encouraged.
When you arrive to apply and take the exam, you must:
- Provide either your original birth certificate or a passport.
- Provide your license.
- Complete the Driver License and Identification Card Application.
- Pay a $36 application fee.
| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | dmv.ca.gov |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Serial format | 1ABC123 |
| Introduced | 2011 |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | California Department of Motor Vehicles |
| History | |
| First issued | January 1, 1914 (pre-state plates and seals from 1905 to December 31, 1913) |
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.[1] 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.[2][3]
- 1Passenger baseplates
- 2Non-passenger plates
Passenger baseplates[edit]
Pre-state plates[edit]
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905–13 | Black on white; 'CAL' at right | 123456 | 1 to 122444 | A 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.[4][5] |
1914 to 1962[edit]
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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[6] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first California license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | white on red porcelain | 123456 | 1 to 122375[7] | Replaced all 1905–13 plates. | |
| 1915 | black on yellow porcelain | 123456 | 1 to 163557[8] | ||
| 1916 | blue on white porcelain | 123456 | 1 to 234317[9] | Validation tabs: 1916 Bear (Front) 1916 Bear (Rear) | |
| 1917 | 234318[10] to 357299[11] | Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 234317 only received the Poppy tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Poppy | |||
| 1918 | 357300[12] to 485000[13] | Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 357299 only received the Bell tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Bell | |||
| 1919 | 485001[14] to 599705[15] | Registered owners of plate numbers 1 to 485000 only received the Star tabs to place on their 1916 plates. Validation tab: Star | |||
| 1920 | white on black | 123-456 | 1 to 527-583 | ||
| 1921 | black on yellow | 123-456 | 1 to 651-640[16] | ||
| 1922 | blue on white | 123456 | 1 to 2000; 70001 to 881909[17] | Serials 2001 through 70000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles. | |
| 1923 | white on black | 123 456 | 1 to ? | ||
| 1924 | white on green | 123-456 | 1 to ? | ||
| 1925 | black on yellow | 123 456 | 1 to 30 00, 250 001 to 999 999 | Serials 30 01 through 250 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles. | |
| A-12 345 | A 1 to F-99 999 | ||||
| 1926 | white on blue | 123 456 | 1 to 40 00, 320 001 to 999 999 | Serials 40 01 through 320 000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles. | |
| A-12 345 | A-1 to G-99 999 | ||||
| 1927 | white on maroon | 1-234-567 | 1 to 50-00; 400-001 to approximately 1-860-000 | First use of the full state name. Serials 50-01 through 400-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles. | |
| 1928 | yellow on blue | 1-234-567 | 1 to 3-000; 450-001 to approximately 2-080-000[18] | Serials 3-001 through 450-000 reserved for non-passenger vehicles. | |
| 1929 | orange on black | 1A-12-34 | Coded by branch office | Letters A through L were used in Northern California, and M through Z in Southern California.[18] | |
| 1930 | black on orange | 1A-12-34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1931 | orange on black | 1A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1932 | black on orange | 1A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1933 | orange on black | 1A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1934 | black on orange | 1A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1935 | orange on black | 1A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1936 | black on orange | 1A 12 34 10 A 123 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1937 | orange on black | 1A 12 34 A/A 12 34 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1938 | black on yellow | 1A 12 34 10 A 123 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1939 | yellow on blue | 1A 12 34 10 A 123 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1940 | black on orange | 1A 12 34 10 A 123 | Coded by branch office | ||
| 1941–44 | yellow on black | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 | ? to ? | Validation tab for 1942: | |
| Validation tab for 1943: | |||||
| Validation sticker for 1944: | |||||
| 1945–46 | white on black | 1A 23 45 12 A 345 | ? to ? | Validation tab for 1946: | |
| 1947–50 | black on yellow | 1A 23 456 12A 3 456 | ? to ? | Validation tab for 1948: | |
| Validation tab for 1949: | |||||
| Validation tab for 1950: | |||||
| 1951–55 | yellow on black | 1A 23 456 12 A 3 456 | ? to ? | Validation tab for 1952: | |
| Validation tab for 1953: | |||||
| Validation tab for 1954: | |||||
| Validation tab for 1955: | |||||
| 1956–62 | black on yellow | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to approximately YRT 999 | Validation 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[edit]
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 current 1ABC123 serial format was introduced 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 used only as the second letter.[18] Some series have not been issued, while others have been reserved for non-passenger and optional plates, such as 1ZZA through 1ZZZ and 3ZZA through 3ZZZ for Livery plates, and 1UAA through 1VZZ for Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and Coastal Protection ('Whale Tail') plates.
It is expected that when 9ZZZ999 is reached, the next serial format will be 123ABC1, maintaining the DMV's practice since the 1960s of reversing serial formats at exhaustion.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963–69 | gold on black, embossed state name | none | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to ZZZ 999 | ||
| 1969–80 | gold on blue, embossed state name | none | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 999 ZZZ | Monthly staggered registration introduced 1976. I, O and Q not used as first letters in the 123 ABC serial format. Narrower serial dies introduced at the beginning of the WLA series in late 1977, in preparation for the 1ABC123 format.[18] | |
| 1980–86 | 1ABC123 | 1AAA000 to 1SWC999 | ||||
| 1982 –late 1987 | blue on reflective white with graphic Art Deco state name | The Golden State | 1ABC123 | 2AAA000 to 2GPZ999 | 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 | blue on reflective white with embossed red state name | none | 1ABC123 | 2GQA000 to 3FMG999 | ||
| early 1994 – early 1998 | blue on reflective white with graphic red state name | none | 1ABC123 | 3GAA000 to 3XZZ999 | The state name was modified twice to increase its size (the third and largest version is shown). | |
| early 1998 – late 2000 | Sesquicentennial - 150 Years | 4AAA000 to 4NOZ999 | ||||
| late 2000 – late 2011 | none | 4NPA000 to 6TPV999 | ||||
| late 2011 – present | dmv.ca.gov | 6TPW000 to 8MQB386 (as of September 23, 2019) |
Non-passenger plates[edit]
| Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amateur Radio | FCC call sign | Issued to holders of FCC amateur radio station licenses, upon request. | |||
| Antique Motorcycle | ANTIQUE M/C 123 | Available upon request for any motorcycle manufactured in 1942 or before. | |||
| Apportioned | 1982 | AP12345 | AP00001 to approximately BP10000 | ||
| 1987 | BP30001 to CP99999; SP00001 to approximately VP70000 | ||||
| 2011 | VP70001 to XP62043 (as of July 22, 2019) | ||||
| Citizens Band | ABC1234 | Were issued upon request for holders of FCC citizens band radio licenses until 1983. Plate numbers and letters represent the call letters assigned by the FCC. | |||
| Disabled Person | 1995 | 12345D/P | 00001D/P to 99999D/P | Before 1995, California issued only placards which were displayed on the dashboard when parking. | |
| late 1990s | D/P12345 | D/P00001 to D/P99999 | |||
| early 2000s | D/PA1234 | D/PA0001 to D/PZ9999 | |||
| 2006 | 1234AD/P | 0001AD/P to 9999ZD/P | |||
| 2011 | D/P123AB | D/P001AA to D/P999ZZ | |||
| 2019 | AB123D/P | AA001D/P to present | |||
| Disabled Person – Motorcycle | 1234D/P | ||||
| Disabled Veteran | 12345D/V | 00001D/V to present | |||
| Exempt – Local | 1963 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | Black plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for district-, city- and county-owned vehicles | |
| 1969 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | Blue plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for district-, city- and county-owned vehicles | ||
| 1987 | E123456 | E100000-E999999 | White plate with blue numbering consisting of letter E in octagon and 6-digit number for district-, city- and county-owned vehicles. 'California' was either in red block or red script font. For 'E0.....' plate, see below | ||
| Exempt – State | 1963 | E12345 | E00000-E99999 | Black plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles | |
| 1969 | E12345 | E00000-E99999 | Blue plate with yellow numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles | ||
| 1987 | E123456 | E000000-E999999 | White plate with blue numbering consisting of letter E in diamond and 5-digit number for state-owned vehicles. 'California' was either in red block or red script font. | ||
| Exempt | 1998 | 1234567 | 1000001 to present | Issued to all exempt vehicles, regardless of ownership. 'CA EXEMPT' screened at top. Some plates were issued as 'E0.....' due to a surplus of prestamped octagon 'E' plates. On these plates the 'E' was to be considered '1'. They still had 'California' in script font. | |
| Foreign Organization | FOREIGN ORGANIZATION 123 | ||||
| Historical Vehicle | 1959 | HISTORICAL VEHICLE 123A | Available upon request for any vehicle manufactured after 1922 that is at least 25 years old. | ||
| Honorary Consul | 1982 | HON CONSUL CORPS 1234 | Issued to Honorary Consuls upon request. | ||
| 1988 | |||||
| Horseless Carriage | 1984 | HORSELESS CARRIAGE 1234 | Available upon request for any vehicle manufactured in 1922 or before, or for motor vehicles with 16 or more cylinders manufactured prior to 1965. | ||
| Livery | 1ABC123 | 1ZZA000 to 1ZZZ999; 3ZZA000 to approximately 3ZZG999 | 'LIVERY' screened at bottom. Issued to limos and fleet vehicles until program eliminated by Senate Bill 611 on September 30, 2014. Plates remain valid but cannot be replaced or reassigned. | ||
| Moped | C123456 | C000001 to present | |||
| Motorcycle | 1983 | 12A1234 | 11A0000 to 24J8456 (as of June 6, 2019) | Letter progresses before prefix number (11A-11Z, 12A-12Z, etc.). I, O and Q not used.[19] | |
| Permanent Trailer | 2001 | 4AB1234 | 4AA1000 to 4SM5864 (as of June 6, 2019) | 'California Perm Trailer' across top. | |
| P/P 1234 | Old Press Photographer plates. New ones say 'California' in cursive at the top. | ||||
| Prorate Plate | N/A | No longer in circulation. Used by interstate fleets to display apportioned stickers. California's stickers are placed in the third well from the top on the left side. | |||
| Special Equipment | S/E123456 | Motorcycle-sized. | |||
| Public Service (state representative) | P/S12345 | ||||
| Tournament of Roses[20] | 1998 | TOFR123 | TOFR1 to present | Used on parade vehicles during the Tournament of Roses parade. | |
| Trailer | 1963 | AB 1234 | AA 1000 to HV 9999 | ||
| 1971 | HX 1000 to TZ 9999 | ||||
| 1983 | 1AB1234 | 1AA1000 to approximately 1BJ9999 | |||
| 1987 | 1BP1000 to approximately 1EU9999 | ||||
| 1994 | 1FC1000 to 1NE8969 (as of August 25, 2019) | ||||
| Truck | 1963 | A 12 345 | A 10 000 to V 99 999 | ||
| 1967 | 12 345 A | 10 000 A to 99 999 J | |||
| 1969 | 00 000 K to 99 999 Z | ||||
| 1975 | 1A12345 | 1A00000 to 2Y05999 | |||
| 1982 | 3A00000 to 3P59999 | ||||
| 1987 | 3P60000 to approximately 5A99999 | ||||
| 1994 | 5T00000? to 6J99999? (sesquicentennial), 5B00000? to 5S99999? and 6K00000? to 8Z99999 (normal script) | Serials with 9 as the first digit issued to tractor trailers. | |||
| 2011 | 12345A1 | 00000A1 to 99999E1 (normal script), 00000F1 to 55312V2 (as of September 18, 2019) | |||
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Plate | Assigned by the DMV or CHP when a number is removed, destroyed, or obliterated. |
Occupational plates[edit]
On each occupational plate type, the full-size number is constant for each distributing entity, while the small suffix (or prefix on the Special Equipment Dealer/Manufacturer plate) varies. Only rear plates are required for each type.
| Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer | D/L/R 1234 1/2/A | |||
| Dismantler | D/S/M 1234 1/2/A | |||
| Manufacturer | M/F/G 1234 1/2/A | |||
| New Vehicle Distributor | D/S/T 1234 1/2/A | |||
| Remanufacturer | R/M/F 1234 1/2/A | |||
| Special Equipment Dealer/Manufacturer | 1A MFG 1234 | Motorcycle-sized. | ||
| Transporter | T/R/N 1234 1/2/A |
Legislative plates[edit]
| Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly Member | A 12 | Issued to current and retired members of the California State Assembly. The number in the serial corresponds to the district represented by the Assembly member. A small 'A' by the number indicates a second vehicle owned by the Assembly member. A small 'R' indicates a retired Assembly member, and a small '1' after the small 'R' indicates a second vehicle owned by the retired Assembly member. | ||
| Representative | U.S. CONGRESS 1 | Issued to current U.S. representatives. A small 'A' by the number indicates a second vehicle owned by the representative, a small 'B' indicates a third vehicle, and so on. | ||
| State Senator | S 12 | Issued to current and retired members of the California State Senate. The number in the serial corresponds to the district represented by the Senator. A small 'S' by the number indicates a second vehicle owned by the Senator. A small 'R' indicates a retired Senator, and a small '1' after the small 'R' indicates a second vehicle owned by the retired Senator. | ||
| U.S. Senator | UNITED STATES SENATE 1 | Issued to current U.S. Senators. A small 'A' by the number indicates a second vehicle owned by the U.S. Senator, a small 'B' indicates a third vehicle, and so on. |
Stickers[edit]
| Image | Type | First issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-Highway Vehicle | Assigned to motor vehicles that are used on roads not publicly maintained (e.g. in State Parks and National Forests). |
California Motorcycle License Plates
Optional types (specialty plates)[edit]
| Image | Type | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Olympics | 1984 | L/A12345 U/S12345 | L/A00000 to present | No longer issued, but still revalidated. | ||
| Arts Council | 1994 | ABC123 123ABC A123A0 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | 'Coastline' design by Wayne Thiebaud.[21][22] | ||
| Bill of Rights | 1990 | 1234 US | ||||
| Breast Cancer Awareness | 2017 | B123A1 | Pink plate with pink ribbon screened at left and 'Early Detection Saves Lives' screened at bottom. | |||
| California Museums (Snoopy) | 2016 | S123A0 | White plate with Peanuts character Snoopy screened at left and 'museums are for everyone' screened at bottom. | |||
| Children's Trust Fund | ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | An embossed heart, hand, star, or plus sign appears to the left of the serial, or can be incorporated into 'vanity' numbers. | |||
| Congressional Medal of Honor 84 —Passenger | 1984 | 12 | Given to Medal of Honor recipients. | |||
| Congressional Medal of Honor 93 —Passenger | 1993 | 12 | Given to Medal of Honor recipients. | |||
| Firefighter—Motorcycle | 00A12 | 00A01 to present. | ||||
| Firefighter—Passenger | 1995 | ABC123 A123A0 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | Only active or retired firefighter can apply for this type of plate. Logo of a firefighter on a blazing background. | ||
| Gold Star Family —Passenger | 2011 | 123ABC | Using previously unused letter blocks. | Given to family of fallen soldiers while in the line of duty. | ||
| Lake Tahoe Version 1 | 1996 | 1ABC123 | No longer issued but still revalidated. | |||
| Lake Tahoe Version 2 | 2011 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |||
| Legacy Plates | 2015 | B123A0 T123A0 | Gold on black reflective plates in the style of the 1963 to 1969 plates. The series originally started at B000A0, and it ended at R999Z0 because the California Museums (Snoopy) license plate started the series at S000A0. The new series of California Legacy plates currently start with T000A0. | |||
| Legion of Valor—Passenger | 123 | A sticker is placed to the right of the license plate number denoting the decoration held by the recipient. Air Force Cross -Air ForceMedal of Honor -ArmyMedal of Honor - Army Distinguished Service Cross -Navy Cross -NavyMedal of Honor - | ||||
| Olympic Training Center Version 1 | 1990 | C/A12345 U/S12345 | No longer issued, but still revalidated. | |||
| Olympic Training Center Version 2 | 1999 | C/A12345 U/S12345 | No longer issued, but still revalidated. | |||
| Olympic Training Center Version 3 | 2000 | C/A12345 U/S12345 | ||||
| Pearl Harbor Survivor —Passenger | 1234 | Pearl Harbor Survivor of World War II | ||||
| Protect Our Coast & Ocean Version 1 | 1997 | 1ABC123 | No longer issued but still revalidated. | |||
| Protect Our Coast & Ocean Version 2 | 2011 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |||
| Purple Heart | 1234PH | |||||
| Purple Heart—Motorcycle | 1234PH | |||||
| POW Ex-Prisoner of War —Motorcycle | POW1234 | |||||
| POW Ex-Prisoner of War 93 —Passenger | 1993 | POW1234 | ||||
| POW Ex-Prisoner of War 00 —Passenger | 2000 | POW1234 | ||||
| Veteran Version 1 | 1994 | ABC123 123ABC | No longer issued but still revalidated. | |||
| Veteran Version 2 | 2012 | 123ABC A123A0 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | |||
| We Will Never Forget | 2002 | 1234MA | ||||
| University of California, Los Angeles | 1994 | ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. | No longer issued, but still revalidated. | ||
| Yosemite National Park | 1996 | 1ABC123 | Using previously unused letter blocks. |
See the Passenger Baseplates section above for the 1982–87 'Golden State' plate, which was briefly issued as the standard passenger base.
Year-of-manufacture plates[edit]
The use of year-of-manufacture (YOM) plates is authorized by Section 5004.1 of the California Motor Vehicle Code. It is a law that allows vintage cars to be registered to use vintage license plates. Any officially manufactured California license plates which were produced prior to 1963 can be used on a currently registered vehicle or trailer of a corresponding model year. If used on the original plate, a sticker or metal tab that corresponds to the year of the vehicle is required.
In July 2009, California extended its YOM program to include passenger vehicles from 1963 to 1969, and commercial vehicles (pick-ups, etc.) through 1972. Any black-and-gold plate from this era may be used on these vehicles, as long as they are 'clear' with the DMV (i.e., not used, reported stolen, or any records found, for the last 10 years). A valid sticker must be attached to the plate corresponding to the year of the vehicle that is to be registered.
As of January 2014, in very rare cases, California has extended custom license plates to allow more than seven digits, but not to exceed nine characters. However, most plates are limited to seven-and-a-half characters (the half-character is a half-space).[citation needed]
In August 2016, California extended the year-of-manufacture license plate program to include vehicles through the 1980 model year.[23]
California Legacy License Plate program[edit]
The California Legacy License Plate program offers vehicle owners the opportunity to purchase replicas of California license plates similar to those issued in the 1960s. California proposed issuing plates similar to those of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The original plan was to restrict the plate colors to what would have been issued to the vehicle when purchased new. After a few months, the program was opened to all model years. Only the 1960s (gold on black) plate reached the required 7,500 minimum orders before January 1, 2015. The 1950s (black on gold) and 1970s (gold on blue) plates did not achieve the required 7,500 minimum orders.[24] The plates were issued from late spring through summer 2015 and are still[when?] available for order from the DMV website. Additional time is required for personalized plates.[25][26]
Temporary registration plates[edit]
California Motorcycle License Plate Placem…
California did not issue temporary license plates for new vehicle purchases until 2019.[27] Prior to 2019, California was unusual among the U.S. states in not requiring any form of temporary license plate. Vehicle dealers were still required to electronically report sales of new vehicles to the DMV, but they were only required to print out a DMV report-of-sale form at the time of sale.[28] Newly purchased vehicles typically drove around for a month or more with nothing but a dealer's advertisement or logo on a paper plate insert where the license plate would go, and the DMV report-of-sale form was instead taped to the windshield. This made the new vehicle essentially 'untraceable' both by plain visual observation by persons, and by automated means such as license-plate reading systems, red light cameras, and automatic number plate recognition. This led to an epidemic of drivers of newly purchased vehicles cheating tolls on bridges and toll roads where a transponder system is used instead of toll booths, causing the state to lose $15–19 million per year. Because of this, new state legislation was adopted in 2016 requiring temporary license plates in California beginning in 2019.[28][29] The DMV's reporting system was modified so that dealers could print out the temporary license plates on special paper.[27]
The law was inspired by the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car with dealer paper inserts, and because it had no temporary plates it was impossible to trace the suspect.[30] California's previous lack of a temporary plate requirement was jokingly known as the 'Steve Jobs loophole' due to the one-time Apple CEO's habit of keeping rolling six-month leases on a series of Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMGs specifically to avoid having to put license plates on the cars.[31] California's previous lack of temporary plates was also taken advantage of by criminals, who knew that a car driving with a dealer ad paper insert was both untraceable and did not raise suspicion.[32]
California Motorcycle License Course
References[edit]
- ^'Archive: California Porcelain License Plates (Part 1 of 2)'. PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4850&lawCode=VEH
- ^http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5200&lawCode=VEH
- ^Minard, Jeff (February 2000). 'California, License Plates of the Golden State'. The ALPCA Register. Vol. 52 no. 3. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 7.
- ^Minard, Jeff (June 2006). 'We're All Ears! California's Automobile Club Pre-States'. Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 24–30.
- ^Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). 'Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size'. Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ^Registered Automobiles (November 1914 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1914.
- ^'Automobile License Plate Collectors Association'. ALPCA. Retrieved August 3, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^Registered Automobiles 1916 (December 1916 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1916. p. 60.
- ^California Automobile Registration 1917 (Volume 1 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1917.
- ^Registered Automobiles (December 1917 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1917.
- ^Registered Automobiles (January-February 1918 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1918.
- ^Registered Automobiles (December 1918 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1918.
- ^Registered Automobiles (January, February and March 1919 ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1919.
- ^'Automobile License Plate Collectors Association'. ALPCA. Retrieved August 4, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^California Automobile Registration 1921 (Volume XVI ed.). Sacramento, California: State of California. 1922.
- ^'Automobile License Plate Collectors Association'. ALPCA. Retrieved August 4, 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ abcdTanner, Eric N. 'California License Plates'. allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^Tanner, Eric N. 'California Motorcycle License Plates'. allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- ^http://bp1.blogger.com/_A6xZ_nscqCM/R3R6F5BcH0I/AAAAAAAAA20/sgMCuY6Ho3c/s1600-h/IMG_0073+copy.jpg4
- ^Knight, Christopher (June 29, 2010). 'Wayne Thiebaud's Pop art license plate design'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ^'Arts Plate'. California Arts Council. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
- ^https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB1429
- ^http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/index
- ^http://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/legacyplates/faqs
- ^http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-california-black-license-plates-20150622-story.html
- ^ ab'Temporary Paper License Plates'. www.dmv.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
- ^ ab'Assembly Bill No. 516'. California. State of California Legislature. July 7, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
- ^'New law will require temporary license plates in California'. www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. July 25, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^Romero, Dennis (July 27, 2016). 'Say Goodbye to New Car Paper Plates'. www.laweekly.com. LA Weekly. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^Gitlin, Jonathan (July 26, 2016). 'California closes the Steve Jobs license plate loophole'. www.arstechnica.com. ars technica. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^'TV reporter becomes the story when she's robbed at Costco while shopping'. www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. November 5, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
External links[edit]
California Motorcycle For Sale
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