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	June 1906 (1906-06)
v t e

The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. As of 2022 ^[update] , plates are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

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] One out of every ten personalized license plates in the United States is registered to a Virginia driver. ^[2] The high take-up of vanity plates in the state is arguably due to the fact that, unlike in many other states, a personalized plate in Virginia costs just $10 more than a randomly-assigned registration plate. In 2008, 1,624,146 pairs of license plates were sold, with 831,361 of them being personalized plates. ^[3]

Passenger baseplates

1906 to 1972

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. ^[4] 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 serial on black porcelain plate; "VA" at right	1234	1 to approximately 4500
	1910	Red serial 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. [5]
	1911	White serial on blue porcelain plate; "VA. 1911" at right	1234	101 to approximately 4000
	1912	White serial on green porcelain plate, "VA. 1912" at right	1234	101 to approximately 6000
	1913	White serial on maroon porcelain plate; "VA 1913" at right	1234	1 to approximately 9000
	1914	Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "VA 1914" at right	12345	1 to approximately 14000	First embossed plate.
	1915	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "VA 1915" at right	12345	1 to approximately 21000
	1916	Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate; "VA 1916" at right	12345	1 to approximately 35000
	1917	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VA 1917" at right	12345	1 to approximately 52000
	1918	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "VA 1918" at right	12345	1 to approximately 71000
	1919	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VA 1919" at right	12345	1 to approximately 88000
	1920	Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "VA 20" at right	123456	1 to approximately 126000
	1921	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VA 21" at right	123-456	1 to approximately 146-000
	1922	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 22" at right	123456	1 to approximately 145000
	1923	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "VA 23" at right	123456	1 to approximately 189000
	1924	Embossed white serial 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 serial on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 1925" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 235-000
	1926	Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 26" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 273-000
	1927	Embossed red serial on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 293-000
	1928	Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 317-000
	1929	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 321-000
	1930	Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000
	1931	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 368-000
	1932	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 376-000
	1933	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 334-000
	1934	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 337-000
	1935	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 335-000
	1936	Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 360-000
	1937	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 375-000
	1938	Embossed black serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 388-000
	1939	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 402-000
	1940	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 438-000
	1941	Embossed white serial on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 491-000
	1942–43	Embossed black serial 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 serial on yellow plate; "1944 - VA" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 468-000
	1945	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 475-000
	1946	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000
	1947	Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 567-000
	1948	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 642-000
	1949	Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 698-000
	1950	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 783-000
	1951–52	Embossed black serial 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. [6] Plates with serials A100-000 and up used narrower serial dies; this practice continued until 1969. [7]
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A145-000
	1953	Embossed orange serial on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 940-000
	1954	Embossed white serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 999-999
	1955	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A122-000
	1956	Embossed white serial 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 serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A223-000
	1958	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A232-000
	1959	Embossed black serial 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 serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A240-000
	1961	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A273-000
	1962	Embossed white serial 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 serial on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A425-000
	1964	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A504-000
	1965	Embossed black serial 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 serial on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A626-000
	1967	Embossed black serial on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A700-000
	1968	Embossed white serial 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 serial 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. [7]
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A857-000
	1970	Embossed white serial on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" at top	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A123-456	A-100 to approximately A966-000
	1971	Embossed black serial 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 serial 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). [8]

1973 to present

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1973–79	Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA" centered at top	none	ABC-123	AAA-101 to NZZ-999; SAA-101 to SZZ-999	Revalidated with stickers until 1984. 'P' series of serials reserved for light trucks, and 'R' series for rental cars (the latter practice continued until the late 1990s). [9]
	1979–92	Embossed dark blue serial 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). [8]
	1993	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; "Virginia" screened in blue 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 serial on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue centered at top	"400th Anniversary" in red 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. [8]
	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 serial on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in red centered at top; Jamestown 400th Anniversary logo screened at bottom left and "2007" at bottom right	"JAMESTOWN" screened in blue and "AMERICA'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY" in red, both centered at bottom	ABC-1234	KCX-1000 to KNP-9999
	January 2008 – February 2014	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue 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, plus a red heart for the second 'V', centered at bottom		VAA-1000 to VZZ-9999; UZZ-9999 to TNM-7113 (as of August 18, 2023)	Serials progressed forward through the 'V' series (presumably for Virginia), then backwards through the 'U' and 'T' 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 serial 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, then 10001 to 960000
		2018		A12345 12345A	Z10001 to Z99999; W10001 to W99999; 10001W to 79606W (as of September 23, 2023)

Optional plates

Virginia offers 333 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 serial 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 serial 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 AFA-4164 (as of July 31, 2023)
	Autumn Leaves	May – October 1997	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; ten orange and yellow gradient leaves behind serial; "Virginia" screened in black centered at top	1234-ABC	1000-AAA to approximately 9999-AAD	Revised design introduced in response to visibility concerns surrounding the original design. [10]
		October 1997 – present	As above, but with leaves around edge of plate		1000-BAA to 1300-BBL (as of January 3, 2019)
	Patriot	May 1997 – present	Similar to passenger base, but with Revolutionary War fifer graphic at right	123ABC	101AAA to 199AEK (as of February 7, 2016)
	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

• 
  1989

Type codes

Code	Prefix	Suffix
AA	cardinal
AB	cardinal	I'm Animal Friendly
AC	cardinal	Averett University (Averett College prior to 2001)
AD	cardinal
AE	cardinal	Virginia Aviation
AG	cardinal
AH	cardinal	Antique (blue/yellow)
AJ	cardinal
AK	cardinal	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
BE		Protect Pollinators
BF	Bluefield College	Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BG		Airborne (173 ABN BDE Sky Soldiers)
BH		Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BI		Share the Road
BJ		Protect Wildlife
BN	cardinal	Wildlife Conservationist − bluebird
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
CB	Chesapeake
CC		Commonwealth College
CD		I'm Animal Friendly
CF	cardinal	Clean Special Fuel
CJ		Virginia Railway Heritage
CL		Remember the USS Cole
		Choose Life
CM		Friends of Coal
CP		Washington Capitals
CR		Credit Unions
CT	Clean Special Fuel
CU		Clemson University
CV		Sons of Confederate Veterans
CW		Colonial Williamsburg
CX	cardinal	Clean Special Fuel
CY	Clean Special Fuel	Clean Special Fuel
CZ	cardinal
DB		Drive Out Diabetes
DC	Danville Community College
DK		Duke University
DL		Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
DR		Drive Smart
DU		Ducks Unlimited
DY	cardinal
EC		East Carolina University
ED		Education Begins at Home
EE		Mountain Empire Community College
EG		Wildlife Conservationist − bald eagle
EH		Wildlife Conservationist − bald eagle
EJ	cardinal
EM		Eastern Mennonite University
EN	cardinal
EP	cardinal
ES		Eastern Shore
ET		Eastern Shore
EW	cardinal
EY	cardinal
FB		Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
FD		Fight Terrorism (F/D)
FG	cardinal	Virginia Farms
FK	cardinal
FL		Wildflowers
FP	Fraternal Order of Police
FT		Fight Terrorism (F/T)
FX		Foxhunting
FY	cardinal
FZ	cardinal
GA	cardinal	Greyhound Adoption
GL	Freemason
GM	George Mason University
GT		Georgia Tech
GV	cardinal
GX	cardinal
HC		Hollins University (Hollins College prior to 1998)
HD		Harley Owners Group
HE		Horse Enthusiast
HN		Horse Enthusiast
HV		Horse Enthusiast
IC		Internet Capital
JB		Parrotheads
JD		Parrotheads
JM	James Madison University	James Madison University
JV	cardinal
JY	cardinal
KC	Knights of Columbus
KF		Kids First
KG		Kids First
KP	cardinal
KV	Korean War Veteran
KX	cardinal
KY	cardinal
LD		Lighthouses
LE		General Robert E. Lee
LF		Lighthouses
LG		Lighthouses
LI		Lighthouses
LJ		Lighthouses
LK		Lighthouses
LM		Lighthouses
LP		Lighthouses
LT		Lighthouses
LV	Lions of Virginia
LW		Police - Heroes Live Forever
LX		Lord Fairfax Community College
LY	cardinal
MA		Lighthouses
ME		Lighthouses
MG		Lighthouses
MH	cardinal
MI		Lighthouses
ML		Marine Corps League
MP	cardinal
MR		US Marine Corps
MU	cardinal
MX	cardinal
MY		Support Our Troops
NA		Oceana Naval Air Station
NB		Natural Bridge
NC	cardinal
NE		Natural Bridge
NH	cardinal
NJ	cardinal
NK	cardinal
NL	cardinal
NN	cardinal	Northern Neck
NO		Northern Neck
NR		National Rifle Association
NT		Washington Nationals
NV	Northern Virginia Community College	Naval Aviator
NX	cardinal
NY	cardinal	United States Navy
NZ	cardinal
OD	Old Dominion University
PD		Fight Terrorism (P/D)
PF	Professional Firefighter	Professional Firefighter
PH	Purple Heart
PK	cardinal
PL	cardinal
PN		Poquoson
PO		Poquoson
PS	Penn State University	Virginia Community Peacebuilding
PT		Fight Terrorism (P/T)
PV		Piedmont Virginia Community College
RU		Radford University
SB		Sweet Briar College
SF	US Marine Corps	Surfrider Foundation
SL	Protect Sea Life
SN		Shenandoah National Park
TD		Tidewater Community College
TE		Don't Tread on Me
TG		Don't Tread on Me
TH		Tobacco Heritage
TI		Friends of Tibet
TJ		Don't Tread on Me
TK		Wildlife Conservationist − turkey
TM		Don't Tread on Me
TN		University of Tennessee
TP		Don't Tread on Me
TR		Don't Tread on Me
TS		Don't Tread on Me
TU		Don't Tread on Me
TX		Don't Tread on Me
UA	cardinal	Unlocking Autism
UB		War of 1812
UE		Don't Tread on Me
UF		University of Florida
UG		Don't Tread on Me
UH		Don't Tread on Me
UJ	cardinal	Don't Tread on Me
UL	cardinal	Don't Tread on Me
UM	cardinal
UP		United We Stand
US		United We Stand
UT		Don't Tread on Me
UU	cardinal	Don't Tread on Me
UV		University of Virginia
UW	cardinal	United We Stand
UX	cardinal	Don't Tread on Me
UY	cardinal	Don't Tread on Me
UZ	cardinal
VA		Virginians for the Arts
VB	Virginia Beach	Virginia Beach
VE	cardinal
VG	cardinal
VH	Virginia Highlands Community College
VJ	cardinal
VP		Virginia Tech - Mountains
VR		Virginia Realtors
VT	Virginia Tech	Iraqi Freedom Veteran
VU		Virginia Union University
VV	Vietnam Veterans of America	Vietnam Veteran
VX	cardinal
VY	cardinal
VZ	cardinal
WA		Williamsburg 300th Anniversary
WB		George Washington Bicentennial
WD	cardinal	Wildlife Conservationist − white-tailed deer
WG		Williamsburg 300th Anniversary
WH	cardinal
WI		Wildlife Conservationist − white-tailed deer
WL		Wildlife Conservationist − mallard
WN	cardinal
WZ	cardinal
XB		Don't Tread on Me
XD		Don't Tread on Me
XK		Don't Tread on Me
XL		Don't Tread on Me
XN		Don't Tread on Me
ZA	cardinal
ZD	cardinal
ZF	cardinal
ZH	cardinal
ZK	cardinal
ZL	cardinal
ZN	cardinal
ZP	cardinal
ZR	cardinal
ZS	cardinal
ZT	cardinal
ZU	cardinal
ZV	cardinal
ZW	cardinal
ZY	cardinal
ZZ	cardinal

References

1. Special and Personalized License Plates Report, accessed March 29, 2009
2. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21742618
3. DMV Business Profile, accessed March 29, 2009
4. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
5. Taylor, Eric Robert. "Virginia Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
6. Pang, Andrew. "Virginia License Plates from 1906-". licensepl8s.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
7. Kretschmer, Rick. "Virginia Passenger Cars 1933-1972". Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
8. Tanner, Eric N. "Virginia Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
9. Kretschmer, Rick. "Virginia Passenger Cars 1973-Present". Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
10. 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