Vehicle registration plates of Virginia

2008 style Virginia license plate

The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. Plates are currently issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Motor vehicle registration statistics

As of 2008, the DMV has 7,698,416 active registrations, 1,696,795 (22%) of which are special or personalized plates.^[1] In 2008, 1,624,146 pairs of license plates were sold, with 831,361 of them being personalized plates.^[2]

Passenger baseplates 1906 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for road motor vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Virginia license plate that complied with these standards was issued eight years beforehand, in 1948.

First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1906-09	White on black	none	1234	unknown
1910	Red on white	none	1234	unknown
1911	White on blue	none	1234	unknown
1912	White on green	none	1234	unknown
1913	White on red	none	1234	unknown
1914	Blue on white	none	1234	unknown
1915	White on green	none	1234	unknown
1916	Dark blue on orange	none	1234	unknown
1917	Yellow on black	none	12345	unknown
1918	Black on white	none	12345	unknown
1919	White on black	none	12345	unknown
1920	White on green	none	12345	unknown
1921	Dark blue on orange	none	12345	unknown
1922	White on black	none	12345	unknown
1923	White on green	none	12345	unknown
1924	Embossed white numbers on red plate; "VIRGINIA - 24" embossed in white block letters centered at top	none	123456	1 to approximately 217000	Made in New Jersey using that state's dies and design. First use of the full state name.
1925	Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 1925" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 235-000
1926	Embossed golden yellow numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 26" embossed in golden yellow block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 273-000
1927	Embossed red numbers on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" embossed in red block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 293-000
1928	Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" embossed in orange block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 317-000
1929	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 321-000
1930	Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" embossed in orange block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000
1931	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 368-000
1932	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" embossed in white block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 376-000
1933	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 334-000
1934	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 337-000
1935	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 335-000
1936	Embossed orange numbers on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" embossed in orange block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 360-000
1937	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 375-000
1938	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 388-000
1939	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 402-000
1940	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 438-000
1941	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 491-000
1942	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1942" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000	Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "1944 - VA" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 468-000
1945	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 475-000
1946	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000
1947	Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 567-000
1948	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 642-000
1949	Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 698-000
1950	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 783-000
1951	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999	Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.^[3]
1951		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A145-000
1953	Embossed orange numbers on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" embossed in orange block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 940-000
1954	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 999-999
1955	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1955		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A122-000
1956	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1956		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A178-000
1957	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1957		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A223-000
1958	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1958		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A232-000
1959	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1959		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A259-000
1960	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1960		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A240-000
1961	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1961		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A273-000
1962	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1962		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A344-000
1963	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1963		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A425-000
1964	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1964		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A504-000
1965	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1965		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A545-000
1966	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1966		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A626-000
1967	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1967		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A700-000
1968	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1968		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A788-000
1969	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1969		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A857-000
1970	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1970		none	A123-456	A-100 to approximately A966-000
1971	Embossed black numbers on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to A999-999
			ABC 123	AAA 001 to AAD 999
			B12-345	B-1 to approximately B54-000
1972	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA 1972" embossed in white block letters at top	none	ABC-123	AAA-001 to DZZ-999
1973	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top	none	ABC-123	AAA-101 to SZZ-999	Revalidated with stickers until 1984.
1979	Similar to 1973 base, but reflective and with wider dies, and "Virginia" screened in blue serifed letters	none	ABC-123	AAA-101 to ZZZ-999 (see right)	Still currently revalidated. Serials started at UAA-101 and ran to ZZZ-999, followed by AAA-101 through SZZ-999 as 1973 plates were invalidated; letters I, O and Q not used until 1988, when all series with these letters in the first position were issued, followed by all series with T in the first position, and finally all remaining series with I, O or Q in the second and/or third positions (ending with ZZQ-999).^[4]
1993	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "Virginia" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top	none	ABC-1234	ZZZ-9999 to approximately ZXX-1000	Serials progressed backwards, presumably due to the serials on the optional Scenic plate (see Optional types below) progressing forward from AAA-1000. Letters I, O and Q not used; this practice continues today.
1993	As above, but with state name in all capital letters	none	ABC-1234	ZXW-9999 to approximately XYN-1000
July 2002	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top	"400th Anniversary" in red block letters centered at bottom, with a red ship graphic between the two words, plus "1607" to the left and "2007" to the right	ABC-1234	Exclusively from JAA-1000 to JAX-9999; intermittently from JAY-1000 to JDC-9999	Issued in advance of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America. Serials progressed forward from the start of the 'J' series (presumably for Jamestown). The slogan was originally printed on a white sticker, before it started to be screened directly onto the plate at around the JAM series.^[4]
October 2002	As above, but with state name in red		ABC-1234	Intermittently from JAY-1000 to JDC-9999; exclusively from JDD-1000 to KCW-9999
June 2006	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in red serifed letters centered at top; Jamestown 400th Anniversary logo screened in bottom left corner and "2007" in bottom right corner	"JAMESTOWN" screened in blue block letters and "AMERICA'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY" in red serifed letters, both centered at bottom	ABC-1234	KCX-1000 to KNP-9999
January 2008	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top	none	ABC-1234	XXP-9999 to approximately WLM-1000	Return to 1993 base. Serials progressed backwards as before.
March 2014		"VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS" screened in black block letters, plus a red heart for the second 'V', centered at bottom	ABC-1234	VAA-1000 to VSF-9999 (as of October 14, 2016)^[5]	Serials progress forward from the start of the 'V' series (presumably for Virginia).

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	First issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Disabled person	1993	blue on reflective white with blue screened state name			Embossed International Symbol of Access at left.

Optional types

Virginia offers over 200 optional license plates. Most can be personalized for an additional fee.

Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
Independence Bicentennial	1975–82	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; blue bust of George Washington and thirteen red stars (representing the original colonies) screened in the center; "Virginia" and "1776 Independence Bicentennial 1976" screened in red serifed letters centered at top and bottom respectively	123-456	100-001 to 500-000	Still currently revalidated.
Scenic	July 1992 – present	Embossed dark blue numbers on graphic plate with pale blue sky, light blue mountains, green fields, yellow sand and light blue sea; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top	ABC-1234	AAA-1000 to present
Autumn Leaves	May – October 1997	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; ten orange and yellow gradient leaves behind numbers; "Virginia" screened in black handwritten font centered at top	1234-AAB	1000-AAA to approximately 9999-AAD	Revised design introduced in response to visibility concerns surrounding the original design.^[6]
Autumn Leaves	October 1997 – present	As above, but with leaves around edge of plate	1234-BAB	1000-BAA to present
Patriot	May 1997 – present	Similar to passenger base, but with a graphic of a Revolutionary War fifer at the far right	123ABC	101AAA to present
George Washington Bicentennial	1999 to ?	Dark blue on Flag of the United States with image of Washington.	1234WB	1001WB to ?	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1999 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Virginia has been so honored.

Type codes

Code	Prefix	Suffix
AA	cardinal
AB		I'm Animal Friendly
AC	cardinal	Averett College
AC	cardinal	Averett University
AE	cardinal	Virginia Aviation
AG	cardinal
AJ	cardinal
AK		Alpha Kappa Alpha
AL	Antique (blue/yellow)	Fight Terrorism (A/L)
AM	Texas A&M University
AN		Fight Terrorism (A/N)
AP	Appalachian State University	Alpha Phi Alpha
AP	Appalachian Trail	Alpha Phi Alpha
AQ	Antique (blue/yellow)
AS		National Air and Space Museum
AT	Antique (blue/yellow)	Virginians for the Arts
AU		Auburn University
AW		Antique (blue/yellow)
AX		Alexandria
AY		Antique (blue/yellow)
BA		Wildlife Conservationist - bass
BB		Wildlife Conservationist - bass
BC	Bridgewater College	Breast Cancer
BD		Wildlife Conservationist - bear
BF	Bluefield College	Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BG		Airborne (173 ABN BDE Sky Soldiers)
BH		Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BI		Share the Road
BQ		Antique (blue/yellow)
BR	Blue Ridge Community College	Blue Ridge Parkway
BT		Wildlife Conservationist - brook trout
BU		BoatUS
BV	cardinal
BW		Bowler
BZ	Bronze Star	Bronze Star - Valor

References

↑ Special and Personalized License Plates Report, accessed March 29, 2009
↑ DMV Business Profile, accessed March 29, 2009
↑ Pang, Andrew. "Virginia License Plates from 1906-". licensepl8s.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
1 2 "Virginia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
↑ "Virginia License Plates". LicensePlates.cc. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
↑ Chernicky, David (September 23, 1997). "Autumn Leaves Fall Into Place On Plate". Daily Press. Newport News. Retrieved July 18, 2015.

External links

Virginia License Plates 1969-present

Vehicle registration plates of the United States

States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Federal district	Washington, D.C.

Insular areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

Other registration plates	Native American tribes Designs and serial formats

By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Vehicle registration plates of North America

Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States

Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

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