California Running Out of License Plate Numbers; New System Incoming
2025-04-23
California is projected to exhaust its current license plate number system by the end of 2025. The existing 1-3-3 format (one number, three letters, three numbers), in use since 1980, will be replaced. The California DMV has announced a new 3-3-1 format (three numbers, three letters, one number), with plates like 000AAA1 anticipated. The last plate of the old system, likely 9ZZZ999, will become a collector's item, as will the first plate of the new system. A redesign of the plate itself may also accompany the change.