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 in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1907, when the district began to issue plates.[1]

Washington, D.C.
Current series
SloganEnd Taxation Without Representation
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatAB 1234
IntroducedAugust 2017 (2017-08)
Availability
Issued byDistrict of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedOctober 1, 1907 (1907-10-01)
(pre-district plates from 1903 to September 30, 1907)

Plates are currently issued by the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV). Front and rear plates are required on all vehicles except for motorcycles.

Passenger baseplates

1907 to 1966

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico 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.[2] The first Washington, D.C. license plate that complied with these standards was issued three years beforehand, in 1953 (dated March 31, 1954).

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1907–17 White serial on black porcelain plate; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" at top none 12345 1 to approximately 65000, with gaps Some serial blocks believed to be reserved for motorcycles.[3]
1918 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "DC 18" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 38-000
1919 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "D.C. 1919" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 46-000
1920 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "D.C. 1920" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 55-000
1921 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "D.C. 1921" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 67-500
1922 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "D.C. 1922" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 80-000
1923 Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "D.C. 1923" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 112-000
1924 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1924" centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 91-000
1925 Embossed white serial on dark gray plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1925" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 114-000
1926 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1926" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 112-000
1927 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DIST. COL. 1927" centered at top none A-1234 E-1 to approximately V-1000 Letters A, B, C, D, H and R used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through 1934.[4]
1928 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1928" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately W-9000
1929 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1929" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Z-8000
1930 As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1930" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Y-3000
1931 As 1929 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1931" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Z-3000
1932 As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1932" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately W-1000
1933 As 1929 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1933" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately X-4000
1934 As 1928 base, but with "DIST. OF COLUMBIA - 1934" at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately X-3000
1935 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - 1935" at bottom none 123-456 57-001 to approximately 191-000
1936 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "1936" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 54-001 to approximately 202-000
1937 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "1937" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 193-000
1938 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "1938" and "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 182-000
January 1, 1939 – February 29, 1940 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "EX-2-29-40" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 174-000
March 1, 1940 – March 31, 1941 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" and "EX-3-31-41" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 52-000 to approximately 182-000
April 1, 1941 – March 31, 1942 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "EX-3-31-42" and "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 183-000
April 1, 1942 – March 31, 1945 As 1940–41 base, but with "EX-3-31-43" at bottom none 123-456 52-001 to approximately 216-000 Revalidated until March 31, 1944 with black tabs, then until March 31, 1945 with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
April 1, 1945 – March 31, 1946 As 1941–42 base, but with "EX-3-31-46" at top none 123-456 45-001 to approximately 136-000 Only rear plates issued due to ongoing metal shortage.
April 1, 1946 – March 31, 1948 As 1940–41 base, but with "EX-3-31-47" at bottom none 123-456 50-001 to approximately 181-000 Revalidated until March 31, 1948 with white tabs.
April 1, 1948 – March 31, 1949 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "19 D.C. 48" at top none 1234 1 to 9999 Letters B, C, D, H, L, M, R and T used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1955.[4]
1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999
A-1234 A-1 to approximately N-1000
April 1, 1949 – March 31, 1950 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "19 D.C. 49" at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999
1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999
A-1234 A-1 to approximately P-7000
April 1, 1950 – March 31, 1951 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 D.C. 50" at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999
1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999
A-1234 A-1 to approximately S-5000
April 1, 1951 – March 31, 1952 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "19 D.C. 51" at top none 1234 1 to 9999
1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999
A-1234 A-1 to approximately S-2000
April 1, 1952 – March 31, 1953 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 D.C. 52" at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999
1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999
A-1234 A-1 to approximately P-1000
April 1, 1953 – March 31, 1955 Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "DIST. OF COLUMBIA" centered at top; "3-31" at top left and "54" at top right "THE NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at bottom 1234 1 to 9999 Revalidated until 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
April 1, 1955 – March 31, 1956 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "56" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦12♦34 AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99 Serials with B, C, D, H and L as the first letter used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1964.[4]
April 1, 1956 – March 31, 1957 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "57" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦12♦34 AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99
April 1, 1957 – March 31, 1958 Embossed golden yellow serial on royal blue plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "58" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately SZ♦999
April 1, 1958 – March 31, 1959 Embossed royal blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "59" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WB♦999
April 1, 1959 – March 31, 1960 As 1957–58 base, but with "60" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WK♦999
April 1, 1960 – March 31, 1961 As 1958–59 base, but with "61" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WP♦999
April 1, 1961 – March 31, 1962 As 1957–58 base, but with "62" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999
April 1, 1962 – March 31, 1963 Embossed dark green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "63" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999
April 1, 1963 – March 31, 1964 Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "64" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately XJ♦999
April 1, 1964 – March 31, 1965 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "65" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top 1A234 1A101 to 9Z999
1A23 1A01 to approximately 2T99
April 1, 1965 – March 31, 1966 Embossed black serial on reflective golden yellow plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." centered at bottom; "3-31" at top left and "66" at top right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top 1AB23 1AA01 to approximately 2MH99

1966 to present

Since November 2000, the standard Washington, D.C. license plate design has featured some form of 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.[5]

Image(s) Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
April 1, 1966 – March 31, 1967 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." centered at top; "3-31" at bottom left and "67" at bottom right "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at bottom 123-456 100-001 to 300-000 Validated from April 1, 1967 through March 31, 1968 with stickers.
April 1, 1967 – March 31, 1968 As above, but without "67" 300-001 to approximately 368-000
April 1, 1968 – March 31, 1974 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "WASHINGTON, D.C." centered at bottom "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top 123-456 500-001 to 999-999
April 1, 1974 – March 31, 1978 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; embossed blue U.S. Capitol dome graphic used as separator; screened red stripes above and below serial; "WASHINGTON, D.C." centered at bottom; "3-31" at bottom left and debossed sticker box at bottom right "1776 BICENTENNIAL 1976" at top 123-456 100-001 to 500-000 Monthly staggered registration introduced August 1, 1983. All plates replaced between 1984 and 1986.
April 1, 1978 – March 31, 1979 As above, but with "3-31" on sticker at bottom left (applied during production) "NATION'S CAPITAL" centered at top 500-001 to 562-000
April 1, 1979 – September 1984 As above, but without "3-31" sticker 562-001 to 925-000
October 1984 – July
1991		 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; screened district flag used as separator; screened red stripes above and below serial; "Washington, D.C." screened in blue centered at bottom; debossed sticker boxes in bottom corners "A Capital City" screened in blue centered at top 123-456 925-001 to 999-999;
010-001 to 501-750		 Plates with all-numeric serials validated until April 2016.[6] Slogan changed in 1991 in honor of the district's bicentennial.
July 1991 –
April
1997		 "Celebrate & Discover" screened in blue centered at top 501-751 to approximately 853-000
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 at bottom AZ-0000 to BA-9999;
BC-0000 to approximately BG-1999
January 2001 – January 2002 "WWW.Washingtondc.gov" screened in blue centered at bottom BB-0000 to approximately BB-1999 Alternative issue.
October 2001 – October 2002 As above, but with serial 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 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 at top "TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" as above BP-1400 to DZ-9999;
EB-0000 to EJ-9999
July
2013 –
August
2017		 As above, but with "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" in blue at top EK-0000 to FN-3999
August
2017 – present		 As above, but with "WASHINGTON, DC" at top as from 2002–13 "END TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" screened in blue at bottom FN-4000 to GH-2000 (as of July 31, 2020)

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Notes
Annual Special Permit Annual plates; unique design each year. 1234-65
TC-1234
TT-123[lower-alpha 1]		 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 As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan AP-1234
Bus As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial B-12345
Commercial As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial C-12345
Dealer Annual plates; unique design each year. DLR-1234[lower-alpha 1] 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
DLR12345 2013: black on blue
2014: black on maroon
D.C. Government Fleet GT-1234[lower-alpha 1]
-DC 1234[lower-alpha 2]
-DC 12345[lower-alpha 2]

7-digit plates began in August 2013.

District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority WASA 1234
DCW 1234		 D.C. Water plates replaced WASA plates in October 2011.
Livery As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial L-1234
Manufacturer Annual plates; unique design each year. MFR-1234[lower-alpha 1]

Motorcycle 1234M
MC123
MT 1234
MR 1234
MC 1234		 MT series began in 2002.
MR series began in 2010 but was not issued to completion.
MC series began in 2012.
Rental vehicle As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial R-12345 Many rental vehicles now use passenger or commercial plates.
Taxi As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial H-12345
12345-H		 00001-H onwards issued from early 2011 following H-99999.
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 As passenger base, with district flag used as separator in serial T-12345 Generally used on 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 plates
Image 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 AKA 1234
Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity APA 1234
Anacostia River environmental protection ENV 1234
Bad Boys Club BBC 1234
Blue Knights unknown
The Children First Foundation October 23, 2013–present CFF 1234
D.C. Firefighters Local 36 FFA 1234
Delta Sigma Theta sorority DST 1234
Disabled American Veteran DAV123
DAV 123
DAV-1234
Disabled American Veteran—Disabled ♿DAV 123
DV♿-1234
DV♿-123[lower-alpha 1]
Florida A&M University FAM 1234
Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge FOP 123
FOP 1234
George Washington University unknown
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity KAP 1234
Morehouse College Alumni MCA 1234
National Association of Black Scuba Divers UAS 1234
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Alumni ATU 1234
Omega Psi Phi fraternity QUE 1234
Porsche Club of America PCA 1234
Prince Hall Family (Order of the Eastern Star) OES 1234
Prince Hall Masonic Family PHA 1234
Purple Heart Veteran PH-1234[lower-alpha 1]
Spirit of Faith Christian Center SOF 1234
University of Michigan UMI 1234
St. John's College SJC 1234
Veterans of Foreign Wars VFW 1234
Washington Nationals June 2013–present NAT 123
White Stars unknown

Political types
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Notes
Richard Nixon First Inaugural 1969
Jimmy Carter Inaugural 1977
Ronald Reagan First Inaugural 1981
City Council

Notes
  1. The flag of the District of Columbia is used as a serial divider.
  2. The flag of Washington, D.C., is appended at the front of the license plate.
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References
  1. "Old District of Columbia License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Taylor, Eric Robert. "District of Columbia Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "District Of Columbia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved September 27, 2017.
  5. 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.
  6. "1984 Capital City Baseplate". DCplates.net. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
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