Vehicle registration plates of Virginia
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.[citation needed] The first Virginia license plate that complied with these standards was issued eight years beforehand, in 1948.
Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1906-09 | White on black | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1910 | Red on white | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1911 | White on blue | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1912 | White on green | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1913 | White on red | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1914 | Blue on white | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1915 | White on green | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1916 | Dark blue on orange | none | 1234 | unknown | |
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1917 | Yellow on black | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1918 | Black on white | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1919 | White on black | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1920 | White on green | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1921 | Dark blue on orange | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1922 | White on black | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1923 | White on green | none | 12345 | unknown | |
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1924 | White on red | none | 123456 | unknown | Made in New Jersey using that state's dies and design. First use of full state name "VIRGINIA". |
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1925 | Black on white | none | 123-456 | unknown | |
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1926 | Orange on dark blue | none | 123-456 | unknown | |
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1927 | Embossed red numbers on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" embossed in red block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 293-000 | |
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1928 | Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" embossed in orange block letters centered above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 317-000 | |
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1929 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 321-000 | |
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1930 | Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" embossed in orange block letters centered above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 349-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 368-000 | |
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1932 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 376-000 | |
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1933 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 334-000 | |
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1934 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 337-000 | |
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1935 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 335-000 | |
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1936 | Embossed orange numbers on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" embossed in orange block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 360-000 | |
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1937 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 375-000 | |
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1938 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 388-000 | |
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1939 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 402-000 | |
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1940 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 438-000 | |
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1941 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 491-000 | |
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1942 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1942" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 524-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
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1944 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "1944 - VA" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 468-000 | |
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1945 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 475-000 | |
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1946 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 524-000 | |
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1947 | Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 567-000 | |
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1948 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 642-000 | |
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1949 | Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 698-000 | |
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1950 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 783-000 | |
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1951 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.[3] |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A145-000 | |||||
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1953 | Embossed orange numbers on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" embossed in orange block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 940-000 | |
1954 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 999-999 | ||
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1955 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A122-000 | |||||
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1956 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A178-000 | |||||
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1957 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A223-000 | |||||
1958 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A232-000 | |||||
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1959 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A259-000 | |||||
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1960 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A240-000 | |||||
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1961 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A273-000 | |||||
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1962 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A344-000 | |||||
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1963 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A425-000 | |||||
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1964 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A504-000 | |||||
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1965 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" embossed in black block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A545-000 | |||||
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1966 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A626-000 | |||||
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1967 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A700-000 | |||||
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1968 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" embossed in white block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A788-000 | |||||
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1969 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" embossed in black block letters below numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A857-000 | |||||
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1970 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
A123-456 | A-100 to approximately A966-000 | |||||
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1971 | Embossed black numbers on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" embossed in black block letters above numbers | 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 | |||||
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1972 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA 1972" embossed in white block letters above numbers | none | ABC-123 | AAA-001 to DZZ-999 | |
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1973 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA" embossed in blue block letters centered above numbers | none | ABC-123 | AAA-101 to SZZ-999 | Revalidated with stickers until 1984. |
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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] |
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1993 | Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "Virginia" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers | none | ABC-1234 | ZZZ-9999 to approximately ZXX-1000 | Serials progress backwards. |
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1993 | As above, but with state name in all capital letters | ZXW-9999 to approximately XYN-1000 | |||
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2002 | Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers | "400th Anniversary" in red block letters centered below numbers, 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. 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] |
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2003 | As above, but with state name in red | Intermittently from JAY-1000 to JDC-9999; exclusively from JDD-1000 to KCW-9999 | |||
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2006 | Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in red serifed letters centered above numbers; 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 below numbers | ABC-1234 | KCX-1000 to KNP-9999 | |
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2008 | Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers | none | ABC-1234 | XXP-9999 to approximately WLM-1000 | Return to 1993 base. Serials progress backwards as before. |
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2014 | "VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS" screened in black block letters, plus a red heart for the second 'V', centered below numbers | VAA-1000 to VLV-9999 (as of January 14, 2016)[5] | Serials progress in the forward direction (i.e. from VAA-1000 to WJZ-9999) |
Non-passenger types
Image | Type | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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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.[1] Most can be personalized for an additional fee.
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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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. |
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Autumn Leaves | 1997–98 | 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] |
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1998 to present | As above, but with leaves around edge of plate | 1234-BAB | 1000-BAA to present | ||
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Patriot | 1997 to present | Similar to passenger base, but with a graphic of a Revolutionary War fifer at the far right | 123ABC | 101AAA to present | |
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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
This article is missing information about Error: you must specify what information is missing..(September 2012) |
Code | Prefix | Suffix |
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AA | cardinal | |
AB | I'm Animal Friendly | |
AC | cardinal | Averett College |
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 |
Appalachian Trail | ||
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 | ||
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.
- ^ a b "Virginia License Plates". licenseplates.tropikordia.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ "Virginia License Plates". LicensePlates.cc. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
- ^ Chernicky, David (September 23, 1997). "Autumn Leaves Fall Into Place On Plate". Daily Press. Newport News. Retrieved July 18, 2015.