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California DMV to Introduce New License Plate Format as Current Series Nears Exhaustion

The state will adopt a 'Numeral Numeral Numeral Alpha Alpha Alpha Numeral' design in 2026 to address the depletion of its decades-old 9-series configuration.

Cars and trucks approach the Bay Bridge toll plaza in Oakland. For the first time in nearly half a century, the California Department of Motor Vehicles is preparing to roll out a new alphanumeric configuration for standard passenger vehicle plates, a quiet but striking milestone in the state’s automotive history.
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File photo: a California license plate on a Toyota Sienna van in 2021.

Overview

  • California's current license plate series, in use since 1980, is projected to end in 2026 with the final plate 9ZZZ999, as confirmed by the DMV.
  • A new alphanumeric format, 'Numeral Numeral Numeral Alpha Alpha Alpha Numeral' (e.g., 000AAA0), will replace the existing sequence for standard passenger vehicles.
  • The change is prompted by faster-than-expected license plate consumption due to a post-pandemic surge in vehicle registrations, including a 8.3% year-over-year increase in Q1 2025.
  • The recent spike in new car registrations is partially attributed to consumer concerns over potential federal tariffs that could increase vehicle prices.
  • Commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, and specialty plates will remain unaffected by the transition as they follow separate numbering systems.