Custom License Plate: Pick your style, write anything and get a high-quality adhesive license plate replica

In 1905, a new car registration law was issued in the state of California. Car owners had to register their vehicles with the Secretary of State, paying $2, they got a round disk issued by the state and a black and white license plate measuring 3.5 x 0.5 inches, which they made themselves.

The "pre-state" era in California ended on December 31, 1913, and now it was necessary to register with the state treasurer. It became necessary to register motorcycles as well. The license plates for the headlights were discontinued. Since 1914, front signs have been legalized, which have become mandatory. The 1914 plates were of high quality and are in excellent condition even now. The 1915 plates were made of thin metal, and they are much more prone to chipping and damage.

In 1923, California ran out of six digits on its plates. New York, the only other state with the same high population, expanded to seven figures

In 1929, there was a complete reformatting of almost all types of plates. The size was increased (mainly in height), and the plates were supplied with taller and more modern stamps.

1940 was marked by major changes in design. The plates were redesigned with strongly rounded corners and new block matrices. This change reduced the amount of steel used and provided savings to postal costs.

In 1956, California became the first state in North America to use the "British" AAA 000 alphanumeric system for passenger car license plates. The new plates have acquired a yellow color and have been reduced to 6" x 12" to meet the standards of the automotive industry. The letters changed from "A" to "M" about twice per year.

In 1963, California license plates reverted to black with yellow symbols. The upper part of the plate had two wells for stickers. On one side of the license plate were stickers of even years, on the other side – odd years.

On October 6, 1969, the background color changed to blue. The character format has reversed the sequence: 000 AAA. For about 18 years there have been several varieties. At first, the license plates were made of steel with large wells for the placement of the stickers with the tightly located name of the state.

In 1975, the wells with stickers were shortened, the stamps were made thinner, and the plates became aluminum.

On December 13, 1982, the Golden Sun base debuted, initially as an inexpensive alternative plate. The one-time additional fee of $5 was called the "reflexology fee".

In October 1987, license plates with the red name of the state and the dark blue color of the series were released. Compared to solar plates, this base turned out to be very simple. The willingness of saving money has caused a reduction in the number of colors. The name of the state remained red because the state legislature had previously passed a law requiring California signs to be "with blue symbols on a white background with the red name of the state."

The modern type of California license plate numbers first began to be issued in October 1993. This is a long-living number. The holes for the stickers were removed and turned into graphic frames at the upper corners of the plate. "MO" and "YR" were printed in the left and right cells, respectively. The look of the word "California" was now handwritten. For three years, the font has been optimized for better readability.

About 10 years ago, California allowed the production of black, blue, and yellow license plates of the 1950-1980 model under the Legacy License Plate program, which is designed mainly for vintage lovers.

People like license plates with this design – why not allow them to install a beautiful plate and at the same time replenish the treasury.

Olympic Games (1984-2000)

In 1984, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Los Angeles. An additional plaque was issued in honor of them, which was offered only for this year, although, as in other states, it could be extended indefinitely. The plate is blue-white-red with the inscription "CALIFORNIA" at the top and white italics "OLYMPICS 1984" at the bottom. The logo of the Games, consisting of three stars above the Olympic rings, is drawn in blue.

From 1990 to 2000, a second version of the plates was produced under the name "Olympics Spirit" to compensate for the construction costs of the "Olympic Training Center".

The Two-Year Bill of Rights (1990)

From July 1990 to December 1991, California offered an additional plaque in honor of the bicentennial of the Bill of Rights sponsored by the California History Commission. This is a basic plate from 1987 with added graphics and a slogan. "CALIFORNIA" is printed in red on top, and the serial number is blue. At the bottom is the legend "THE LAW OF 1791, 1991". The format of the series is 0000- US with a red image of the Liberty Bell used instead of a hyphen. Fewer than 1,000 copies have been produced, and this is the rarest California plate made in at least the last half-century.

Yosemite Nature Conservancy (1993)

The first widespread special plate in California supported Yosemite National Park. The full-fledged graphics showed a stunning view of the Yosemite Valley with granite peaks, waterfalls, and pine forest, all under a clear blue sky. "Yosemite National Park" is written in red at the bottom. At some point, the plate underwent minor changes, the image became brighter and repainted.

University Number (1993)

The University Plate funds scholarships and grants for participating colleges and state universities. UCLA stands for the University of California at Los Angeles. The license plate shows a yellow grizzly walking along a blue line, and under it is the inscription "UCLA", below is the slogan "BRUINS".

Children (1994)

The license plate "Have a heart, be a star, help our children" benefits the Children's Health and Safety Foundation. According to the drawing of the number, its purpose is not quite obvious. A field of blooming Golden Poppies – the official flower of the state - has been added to the bottom of the standard California plate.

Art Council (1994)

Palm trees and a giant sun hovering over a bright blue ocean. The painting titled "Shoreline" was painted by an iconic Californian artist By Wayne Thibault. The "Arts Council" license plate supports art throughout the state. Most of the money goes to finance art education programs.

The Fireman (1995)

The special "Firefighter" plate is only available to active and retired firefighters. The proceeds go to the California Firefighters Memorial Fund. The rectangle to the left of the serial number shows a photorealistic silhouette of a firefighter against a background of flames. The word "Firefighter" is printed in red inside the black stripe at the bottom.

Protection of Lake Tahoe (1996, 2010)

Lake Tahoe, which is located on the border with Nevada, is a popular holiday destination. In the first version, this plate depicts a lake with gray mountains in the background, a yellow-blue sky, and a large bunch of pine needles on the left. The sky and part of the lake are lined with thin white stripes.

California Coastal Commission (1997, 2001, 2011)

The original version, full drawing, with a large blue whale tail against a background of foggy sky and sea, with the words "PROTECTION OF OUR COAST AND OCEAN". The famous marine flora and fauna artist Robert Wiland donated his drawing for use on this issue.

California Memorial (2002)

California was one of the few states that issued special plaques following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The proceeds go to the Antiterrorism Foundation and the California Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Agriculture (2013)

This special plate is funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. On the bottom end, there is a simple slogan "Agriculture". A small rectangular picture shows the sun's rays on a striped green field against a blue sky. At the bottom of the words "FOOD • FIBER, FUEL • FLORA"

Pet Lovers (2013)

The number "Spay Neuter" became famous thanks to the participation of actor Pierce Brosnan, who created a work of art based on his pets. The picture shows a

purple dog with a bone and a yellow cat in dark glasses with red and white rays in the background. About $40 from each plate goes to fund sterilization operations throughout California. This is one of the best tools to prevent overpopulation of pets and euthanasia of millions of unwanted pets in state shelters.

California Museums (2016)

The most recent addition to the specialized library of California is the number "California Museums", a.k.a. "Snoopy". In the drawing, Snoopy (from the Peanuts comic book series) performs his happy dance. Below Snoopy is the logo of the Charles M. Schultz Museum, and next to it is the slogan - "museums for everyone". This plate was nominated for the ALPCA Best Plate Award.

Pink Plate (2016)

A "pink plate" promoting breast cancer awareness adds color to the simplicity of California numbers. The plate depicts a pink ribbon and the slogan "early detection saves lives."