Vehicle registration plates of Washington, D.C.

The U.S. federal district of Washington, D.C. first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1907.

Passenger baseplates 1907 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 vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Washington, D.C. license plate that complied with these standards was issued three years beforehand, in 1953 (dated March 31, 1954).

Since November 2000, the standard Washington, D.C. license plate design has featured the slogan "Taxation Without Representation," referring to the unique circumstance that the district's residents face, in which they must pay federal income tax but cannot elect a voting member of the United States Congress.^[1]

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1940	Embossed black lettering and rims on golden yellow background. "EX-3-31-41" embossed at bottom.		12-345
1951–52	Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "D.C." embossed in black block letters centered at top; "19" embossed in top left corner and "51" in top right corner	none	1234	1 to 9999
			1-2345	1-1000 to 9-9999
			A-1234	A-1 to approximately S-2000
1952–53	Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "D.C." embossed in golden yellow block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "52" in bottom right corner	none	1234	1 to 9999
			1-2345	1-1000 to 9-9999
			A-1234	A-1 to approximately P-1000
1953–55	Embossed dark green numbers on white plate with border line; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA" embossed in dark green block letters centered at top; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "54" in top right corner	"THE NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom	1234	1 to 9999	Validated from April 1, 1954 through March 31, 1955 with dark green tabs.
			1-2345	1-1000 to 9-9999
			A-1234	A-1 to Z-9999
			AB-123	AA-1 to approximately AB-999
1955–56	Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "56" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in white block letters centered at top	AB♦12♦34	AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99
1956–57	Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "57" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in black block letters centered at top	AB♦12♦34	AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99
1957–58	Embossed golden yellow numbers on royal blue plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in golden yellow block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "58" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in golden yellow block letters centered at top	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately SZ♦999
1958–59	Embossed royal blue numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in royal blue block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "59" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in royal blue block letters centered at top	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately WB♦999
1959–60	As 1957–58 base, but with "60" embossed in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" as on 1957–58 base	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately WK♦999
1960–61	As 1958–59 base, but with "61" embossed in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" as on 1958–59 base	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately WP♦999
1961–62	As 1957–58 base, but with "62" embossed in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" as on 1957–58 base	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999
1962–63	Embossed dark green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "63" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in dark green block letters centered at top	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999
1963–64	Embossed black numbers on reflective yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "64" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in black block letters centered at top	AB♦123	AA♦100 to approximately XJ♦999
1964–65	Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "65" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in red block letters centered at top	1A234	1A101 to 9Z999
1964–65			1A23	1A01 to approximately 2T99
1965–66	Embossed black numbers on reflective golden yellow plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in top left corner and "66" in top right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in black block letters centered at top	1AB23	1AA01 to approximately 2MH99
1966–67	Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." embossed in black block letters centered at top; "3-31" embossed in bottom left corner and "67" in bottom right corner	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	123-456	100-001 to 300-000	Validated from April 1, 1967 through March 31, 1968 with stickers.
1967–68	As above, but without embossed "67"		123-456	300-001 to approximately 368-000
1968–74	As 1966–68 plates, but with "WASHINGTON, D.C." at bottom rather than top, and no embossed date or year	"NATION'S CAPITAL" as on 1966–68 plates, but at top	123-456	500-001 to 999-999
1974–78	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; embossed blue U.S. Capitol dome graphic used as separator; screened red stripes above and below numbers; "WASHINGTON, D.C." embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "3-31" embossed in bottom left corner and sticker box debossed in bottom right corner	"BICENTENNIAL" embossed in blue block letters centered at top, with "1776" to the left and "1976" to the right	123-456	100-001 to 500-000	Staggered registration introduced August 1, 1983. All plates replaced between 1984 and 1986.
1978–79	As above, but with "3-31" on sticker in bottom left corner (applied during production)	"NATION'S CAPITAL" embossed in blue block letters centered at top		500-001 to 562-000
1979–84	As above, but without "3-31" sticker			562-001 to 925-000
1984–91	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; screened district flag used as separator; screened red stripes above and below numbers; "Washington, D.C." screened in blue cursive letters centered at bottom; debossed sticker boxes in bottom corners	"A Capital City" screened in blue cursive letters centered at top	123-456	925-001 to 999-999; 010-001 to 501-750
1991 – April 1997		"Celebrate & Discover" screened in blue cursive letters centered at top	123-456	501-751 to approximately 853-000	Slogan changed in honor of the district's bicentennial.
April 1997 – November 2000	As above, but with "Washington, D.C." and sticker boxes at top rather than bottom	"Celebrate & Discover" as above, but at bottom	AB-1234	AA-0000 to AY-9999
November 2000 – October 2001		"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" screened in blue block letters at bottom		AZ-0000 to BA-9999; BC-0000 to approximately BG-1999
January 2001 – January 2002		"WWW.Washingtondc.gov" screened in blue cursive letters centered at bottom		BB-0000 to approximately BB-1999	Alternative issue.
October 2001 – October 2002	As above, but with numbers screened rather than embossed, and without debossed sticker boxes	"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" as above		BG-2000 to BH-9999; BK-0000 to approximately BP-1399
January 2002 – present		"www.washingtondc.gov" screened in blue cursive letters centered at bottom		BJ-0000 to BJ-9999; EA-0000 to present	Alternative issue. EA series began in mid-2010.
October 2002 – July 2013	As above, but with "WASHINGTON, DC" in blue block letters at top	"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" as above		BP-1400 to DZ-9999; EB-0000 to EJ-9999
July 2013 – present	As above, but with "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" in blue block letters at top	"TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" as above		EK-0000 to FH-0100 (as of September 12, 2016)

Non-passenger types

Type	Design	Serial format	Notes
Annual Special Permit	Annual plates; unique design each year.	1234-65 TC-1234 TT-123^[a]	2009: black on blue 2010: white on green 2011: black on magenta 2012: white on black 2013: black on white 2014: black on orange 2015: black on yellow
Apportioned		AP-1234^[a]
Bus		B-12345^[a]
Commercial vehicle		C 12345
Dealer	Annual plates; unique design each year.	DLR-1234^[a]	2005: white on red 2006: white on blue 2007: black on yellow 2008: black on pink 2009: black on teal 2010: white on light blue 2011: black on yellow 2012: white on dark green
Dealer	Annual plates; unique design each year.	DLR12345	2013: black on blue 2014: black on maroon
D.C. Government Fleet		GT-1234^[a] -^D_C 1234^[b] -^D_C 12345^[b]	7-digit plates began in August 2013.
District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority		^WAS_A 1234 ^DC_W 1234	D.C. Water plates replaced WASA plates in October 2011.
Livery		L-1234^[a]
Manufacturer	Annual plates; unique design each year.	MFR-1234^[a]
Motorcycle		1234M MC123 ^M_T 1234 ^M_R 1234 ^M_C 1234	^M_T series began in 2002. ^M_R series began in 2010 but was not issued to completion. ^M_C series began in 2012.
Rental vehicle		R-12345^[a]	Rental plates have generally been phased out in favor of regular passenger or commercial plates
Taxi		H-12345 12345-H^[a]	H suffix series began in 2011.
Temporary registration	Orange-red on white cardboard.	12345DA K 12345 N 12345	K series began in 2007. N series began in 2011.
Temporary registration — motorcycle	Black on white cardboard.	MM 1234
Trailer	White with blue letter/number	T 12345	Generally used for truck trailers
WMATA Transit police	White with black lettering	12345	The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority issues these to itself replacing standard passenger plates on WMATA-owned transit police cars

Optional types

Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Notes
Passenger—low number		Annual plates; unique design each year 2001 to present.	1 12 123 1234	Serials issued: 1 to 1250
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority			^AK_A 1234
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity			^AP_A 1234
Anacostia River environmental protection			^EN_V 1234
Bad Boys Club			^BB_C 1234
Blue Knights			unknown
The Children First Foundation	October 23, 2013–present		^CF_F 1234
D.C. Firefighters Local 36			^FF_A 1234
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority			^DS_T 1234
Disabled American Veteran			DAV123 DAV 123 DAV-1234
Disabled American Veteran—Disabled			♿DAV 123 DV♿-1234 DV♿-123^[a]
Florida A&M University			^FA_M 1234
Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge			^FO_P 123 ^FO_P 1234
George Washington University			unknown
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity			^KA_P 1234
Morehouse College Alumni			^MC_A 1234
National Association of Black Scuba Divers			^UA_S 1234
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Alumni			^AT_U 1234
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity			^QU_E 1234
Porsche Club of America			^PC_A 1234
Prince Hall Family (Order of the Eastern Star)			^OE_S 1234
Prince Hall Masonic Family			^PH_A 1234
Purple Heart Veteran			^P_H-1234^[a]
Spirit of Faith Christian Center			^SO_F 1234
University of Michigan			^UM_I 1234
St. John's College			^SJ_C 1234
Veterans of Foreign Wars			^VF_W 1234
Washington Nationals	June 2013–present		^NA_T 123
White Stars			unknown

Political types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Notes
	Richard Nixon First Inaugural
	Jimmy Carter First Inaugural
	Ronald Reagan First Inaugural
	City Council

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k The flag of the District of Columbia is used as a serial divider.
^ ^a ^b The flag of Washington, D.C., is appended at the front of the license plate.

References

^ Chan, Sewell (November 5, 2000). "Message Gets Rolling; D.C. Government Enlists Residents' Vehicles In Campaign for Congressional Representation". The Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved August 6, 2008.

External links

[serial-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k The flag of the District of Columbia is used as a serial divider.

[append-3] The flag of Washington, D.C., is appended at the front of the license plate.

[wapo-2000-11-05-1] Chan, Sewell (November 5, 2000). "Message Gets Rolling; D.C. Government Enlists Residents' Vehicles In Campaign for Congressional Representation". The Washington Post. p. C01. Retrieved August 6, 2008.

[1]

[a]

[b]

v t e Vehicle license plates of the United States
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Federal district	Washington, D.C.
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v t e Vehicle registration plates of North America
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