California Is Depleting Its License Plate Numbers Sooner Than Anticipated, But There's a Solution | Carscoops

      The state is set to change its existing license plate format when the current supply of numbers runs out.

      California is approaching the limit of numbers available in its current license plate system, which has taken over 45 years to deplete.

      The upcoming format change will be minor and is unlikely to be noticed by the majority of drivers.

      Since 1980, California’s passenger car license plates have maintained a consistent format: one number, three letters, followed by three numbers (for instance, 1ABC234). However, this well-established combination is nearing its end. Despite a recent increase in car sales, the current plates are expected to be available for the remainder of the year, after which a new solution will need to be implemented. Fortunately, this change is quite simple.

      The state anticipated this situation eventually arising. The early months of 2025 have seen a significant rise in car purchases as well. The California New Car Dealers Association reports that 463,114 vehicles were registered in the first quarter, which reflects an 8.3 percent increase compared to the previous year. It appears that buyers are eager to purchase cars to take advantage of tax incentives or before potential price increases from tariffs.

      Consequently, the DMV is running low on plates in the current format. The San Francisco Chronicle indicates that plates are currently being issued in the range of 9UBA000-9UBZ999. Once the state reaches 9ZZZ999, it will be forced to change the format that has been in place for nearly 50 years. However, there's no need for concern; the state will not prohibit new car registrations when the current plate format is exhausted.

      We contacted the California DMV, and a spokesperson informed Carscoops, “The current sequence, which will conclude with 9ZZZ999, is expected to end sometime in 2026 due to the limited number of available combinations. The next sequence will be formatted as ‘Numeral Numeral Numeral Alpha Alpha Alpha Numeral’ (e.g., 000AAA0).”

      Ultimately, the change will be minor enough that few will notice it. Additionally, it should be mentioned that commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trailers, and other specialty types will remain unaffected, as they utilize a different format.

      Interestingly, the state previously thought it would exhaust the current plate format this year, but it now estimates the switch for early 2026. This shift in projection may correlate with the CNCDA's belief that sales will decline later this year.

      In a report from earlier this month, it stated, “The forecast is uncertain for the remainder of 2025; registrations are now expected to drop by 2.3 percent to 1.71 million for the full year. Anticipated changes in trade policy have complicated the outlook. The spike in purchases in March and April, likely in response to expected tariffs, may be short-lived if vehicle prices surge.”

      While this may sound significant, the change to California's license plate format will not cause much disruption. It is a minor adjustment that most people are unlikely to notice. Hopefully, the transition will be smooth, allowing us to shift our attention back to more pressing matters, such as the ongoing registration fees.