History

• Automobile licenses first appeared as a county- or city-issued registration, approved in 1901. By 1905, the state legislature recognized the need for a state-level registration and licensing process, and the secretary of state took over the process. The round metal tags carried individual numbers. Owners were required to display the tag on the vehicle and to paint the numbers on the back of the vehicle in three-inch tall black letters against a white background. In 1914, the first actual license plate--white characters displayed on a brick-red rectangle--was issued. The old "tag" developed into a metal tab at the top of the plate, serving as validation of the registration.
  
  

Significance

• License plates show registration of the vehicle. The number-letter combination reflects vehicle class, except in the case of personalized plates. The license plate aids in identification of ownership and provides law enforcement agencies a means to trace a vehicle. An annual sticker affixed to the metal license plate indicates the most recent year of registration.
  
  

Size

• Vehicle license plates for automobiles, commercial vehicles and trailers measure 12 inches wide and 6 inches high, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Motorcycle plates were resized as of July 1, 1970 to measure 7 inches by 4 inches.
  
  

Types

• Standard automobile plates bear seven characters in a combination of numbers and letters. These plates are issued sequentially. Personalized plates display a consumer-specified series of letters, or letters and numbers. Special interest plates carry a design honoring a particular organization or event and a portion of the cost often benefits the named group. Use a Special Interest License Plate Application to order personalized or special interest plates, or order personalized plates online at the DMV website (see Resources). Personalized and special interest plates may transfer to another vehicle upon submission of another application form.
  
  

Misconceptions

• While consumers may desire a particular personalized plate, DMV reserves the right to decline any order that may be offensive or misleading. A link on the DMV website permits the consumer to check availability of a particular combination but does not guarantee acceptance of the order.
  
  

Fun Fact

• Since 1951, vehicles made prior to 1922 qualify for a special "Horseless Carriage" commemorative license plate. In 1975, a "Historic Vehicle" plate received approval for vehicles built after 1922 and at least 25 years old.