Vehicle registration plates of Virginia

Virginia
Current series
Slogan Virginia is for Lovers
Size 12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
Material Aluminum
Serial format ABC-1234
Introduced March 2014 (2014-03)
Availability
Issued by Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issued 1906 (1906)

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 1972

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[3] The first Virginia license plate that complied with these standards was issued eight years beforehand, in 1948.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1906–10 White numbers on black porcelain plate; "VA" at right 1234 1 to approximately 4500
1910 Red numbers on white porcelain plate; "VA. 1910" at right 1234 1 to approximately 2600 First dated plate. Issued only from June 15 through December 31, 1910.[4]
1911 White numbers on blue porcelain plate; "VA. 1911" at right 1234 101 to approximately 4000
1912 White numbers on green porcelain plate, "VA. 1912" at right 1234 101 to approximately 6000
1913 White numbers on maroon porcelain plate; "VA 1913" at right 1234 1 to approximately 9000
1914 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "VA 1914" at right 12345 1 to approximately 14000 First embossed plate.
1915 Embossed white numbers on dark green plate; "VA 1915" at right 12345 1 to approximately 21000
1916 Embossed dark blue numbers on orange plate; "VA 1916" at right 12345 1 to approximately 35000
1917 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VA 1917" at right 12345 1 to approximately 52000
1918 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "VA 1918" at right 12345 1 to approximately 71000
1919 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VA 1919" at right 12345 1 to approximately 88000
1920 Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "VA 20" at right 123456 1 to approximately 126000
1921 Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VA 21" at right 123-456 1 to approximately 146-000
1922 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 22" at right 123456 1 to approximately 145000
1923 Embossed white numbers on dark green plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 23" at right 123456 1 to approximately 189000
1924 Embossed white numbers on red plate; "VIRGINIA - 24" centered at top 123456 1 to approximately 217000 Manufactured in New Jersey to the same design as that state's 1924 plates. First use of the full state name.
1925 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 1925" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 235-000
1926 Embossed golden yellow numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 26" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 273-000
1927 Embossed red numbers on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 293-000
1928 Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 317-000
1929 Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" centered at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 321-000
1930 Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 349-000
1931 Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" centered at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 368-000
1932 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 376-000
1933 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 334-000
1934 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 337-000
1935 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 335-000
1936 Embossed orange numbers on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 360-000
1937 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 375-000
1938 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 388-000
1939 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 402-000
1940 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 438-000
1941 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 491-000
1942–43 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1942" at top 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" centered at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 468-000
1945 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 475-000
1946 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 524-000
1947 Embossed black numbers on unpainted aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 567-000
1948 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 642-000
1949 Embossed black numbers on unpainted aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 698-000
1950 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 783-000
1951–52 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999 Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.[5] Plates with serials A100-000 and up used narrower serial dies; this practice continued until 1969.[6]
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A145-000
1953 Embossed orange numbers on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 940-000
1954 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 999-999
1955 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A122-000
1956 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A178-000
1957 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A223-000
1958 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A232-000
1959 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A259-000
1960 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A240-000
1961 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A273-000
1962 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A344-000
1963 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A425-000
1964 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A504-000
1965 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A545-000
1966 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A626-000
1967 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A700-000
1968 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A788-000
1969 Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" at bottom 123-456 1 to 999-999 All plates now used the narrower serial dies introduced on the 1951–52 base.[6]
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A857-000
1970 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" at top 123-456 1 to 999-999
A123-456 A-100 to approximately A966-000
1971 Embossed black numbers on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" at top 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" at top ABC-123 AAA-001 to DZZ-999 Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today (except 1988–92).[7]

1973 to present

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1973–79 Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA" centered at top none ABC-123 AAA-101 to SZZ-999 Revalidated with stickers until 1984. 'R' series of serials reserved for rental cars; this practice continued until the late 1990s.[6]
1979–92 Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "Virginia" screened in blue centered at top none ABC-123 AAA-101 to ZZZ-999 (see right) Still currently revalidated. Serials UAA-101 through ZZZ-999 issued first, followed by AAA-101 through SZZ-999 as 1973–79 plates were invalidated, then (from 1988) all serials with I, O, Q and T as the first letter, and finally (from 1990) all remaining serials with I, O or Q as the second and/or third letters (beginning with AAI-101 and ending with ZZQ-999).[7]
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 plates below) progressing forward from AAA-1000.
1993 – June
2002		 As above, but with state name in all capital letters ZXW-9999 to approximately XYN-1000
July
2002 – early
2003		 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.[7]
October 2002 – June
2006		 As above, but with state name in red Intermittently from JAY-1000 to JDC-9999; exclusively from JDD-1000 to KCW-9999
June
2006 – December 2007		 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 – February 2014 Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top none ABC-1234 XXP-9999 to approximately WJZ-1000 Return to 1993 base. Serials progressed backwards as before.
March 2014 – present "VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS" screened in black block letters, plus a red heart for the second 'V', centered at bottom VAA-1000 to VZZ-9999; UZZ-9999 to UTU-1000 (as of May 11, 2018)[8] Serials progressed forward through the 'V' series (presumably for Virginia); now progressing backwards through the 'U' series.

Non-passenger plates

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.
Motorcycle 1975 Embossed dark blue numbers on non-reflective white plate with border line; "VA." centered at top 123456 1 to approximately 370000
1979 As above, but reflective 370001 to approximately 960000
1992 As above, but without border line 960001 to 999999; 10001 to present

Optional plates

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

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Independence Bicentennial 1975–82 Embossed blue numbers on reflective 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 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 reflective graphic plate with pale blue sky, light blue mountains, green fields, yellow sand and light blue sea; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue centered at top ABC-1234 AAA-1000 to AEU-9999 (as of June 30, 2018)
Autumn Leaves May – October 1997 Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; ten orange and yellow gradient leaves behind numbers; "Virginia" screened in black handwritten font centered at top 1234-ABC 1000-AAA to approximately 9999-AAD Revised design introduced in response to visibility concerns surrounding the original design.[9]
October 1997 – present As above, but with leaves around edge of plate 1000-BAA to present
Patriot May 1997 – present Similar to passenger base, but with Revolutionary War fifer graphic at 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.

Temporary plates

Type codes

Code Prefix Suffix
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

  1. ↑ Special and Personalized License Plates Report, accessed March 29, 2009
  2. ↑ DMV Business Profile, accessed March 29, 2009
  3. ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  4. ↑ "Virginia Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
  5. ↑ Pang, Andrew. "Virginia License Plates from 1906-". licensepl8s.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 "Virginia Passenger Cars 1933-1972". Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "Virginia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Virginia License Plates". LicensePlates.cc. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  9. ↑ Chernicky, David (September 23, 1997). "Autumn Leaves Fall Into Place On Plate". Daily Press. Newport News. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.