California is depleting its supply of license plate numbers.

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      California is projected to exhaust its supply of license plate numbers by the conclusion of 2025. The present format for non-commercial vehicles, which features one number, three letters, and three numbers, was introduced in 1980, and the DMV anticipates that this sequence will be depleted by the end of the year. However, the prospect of running out of license plate numbers is not as dire as it may seem; California officials have already revealed the forthcoming sequence.

      Determining exactly when California will issue its final plate in the current style is quite challenging, but as reported by The Sacramento Bee in June 2024, the California DMV had about 18 months’ worth of license plate numbers in reserve, estimating that the final plates under the current style will be issued by year-end. The sequence, which began with 1AAA000, will be succeeded by its reverse format. The new arrangement will feature three numbers, three letters, and one number, meaning the first potential plates could be formatted as 000AAA1, 001AAA1, or 100AAA1, depending on how the existing “no leading zeroes” rule is applied.

      Ronan Glon

      At some point, a vehicle will be registered with the number 9ZZZ999, and we believe these plates will become quite valuable among collectors. Regardless of when the current system concludes, a new motorist will be allocated the first registration number under the new system, which will likely also be in demand.

      California's present registration format has appeared on various plate designs. In 1980, blue plates with gold lettering were issued. The iconic “Golden State” plates became available in 1982, and the current style has been standard since 1993, though it has seen several minor updates. Will a new appearance accompany the new registration system? We won’t have to wait long for the answer.

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