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It’s official: romance with a California car is so intense that we are literally about to run out of license plate numbers.
After nearly 45 years of reliable old format (one number, three letters, three numbers) (1ABC234) – California DMV is preparing for a historic switch-up. Starting next year, the newly registered vehicles will feature a fresh sequence of three numbers, three letters and one number (something like 123ABC4).
Why now? Describing the perfect storm of rapidly tracked car sales and a bit of geopolitical drama. Thanks to fear of rising vehicle prices caused by the trade war (yes, tariffs will be attacked again), Californians are snapping new cars at record rates. The California New Car Dealer Association reported a jump of 8.3% of new vehicle registrations in early 2025 compared to last year. That surge caused DMV plate stock to be pushed into the highway lanes towards depletion a year earlier than expected.
For context, California’s current numbering system returned in 1980 with “1AAA000.” It was designed to crank out more than 158 million unique combinations, but 13.2 million cars (and counting) are dry even in their large stockpiles. Currently, the plates are issued in the 9UBA000-9UBZ999 range and are steadily racing towards the finish line of the 9ZZZ999.
No, you won’t be stuck suddenly without a plate. The DMV has the following systems lined up and ready to roll: It’s not an innovative redesign, it’s a simple reshuffle. (However, seriously, can you bring home a retro 80’s sunset plate already?)
In short, California’s automotive culture doesn’t slow down anytime soon, but the next license plate may look a little different.
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