Collage of three D.C. plates.

Navigation bar element linking to Pre-1966 Plates pageNavigation bar element linking to general-issue passenger plate pageNavigation bar element linking to low-number plate pageNavigation bar element linking to optional plate page

Navigation bar element linking to non-passenger plate pagenavigation bar element linking to special events plates pagenavigation bar element linking to other plates pageNavigation bar element linking to validation stickers page
Navigation bar element linking to ephemera pageNavigation bar element linking to page about D.C. plates currently being issuedNavigation bar element linking to Capital Traffic page
navigation bar element linking to home pagenavigation bar element linking to miscellaneous topics pagenavigation bar element linking to links pagenavigation bar element linking to glossary pagenavigation bar element linking to page describing this site

Year-by-Year Guide to D.C. Passenger Car License Plates

before 1920
early 1920s
early 1930s
early 1940s
early 1950s
late 1920s
late 1930s
late 1940s
late 1950s

early 1960s
early 1970s
early 1980s
early 1990s
early 2000s
late 1960s
late 1970s
late 1980s
late 1990s
late 2000s

 

1907 plate no. 9711915 plate no. 29770

1907-1917
 Follow this link to read about pre-1918 plates.

1918 plate no. 6-684

1918
 Follow this link to read about 1918 plates.

1919 plate no. 42-162

1919
Follow this link to read about 1919 plates.
1920 plate no. 34-236
1920
Follow this link to read about 1920 plates.
1921 plate no. 26-645
1921
Follow this link to read about 1921 plates.
1922 plate no. 60-511
1922
Follow this link to read about 1922 plates.
1923 plate no. 35-578
1923
Follow this link to read about 1923 plates.
1924 plate no. 63-892

1924
Follow this link to read about 1924 plates.
1925 plate no. 64-876
1925
Follow this link to read about 1925 plates.
1926 plate no. 67-007
1926
Follow this link to read about 1926 plates.
1927 plate no. S 90

1927
As is evident in these 1927 plates there are two die varieties for this year, evidence that the total quantity of plates required was likely procured from (at least) two manufacturers.

Follow this link to read more about 1927 plates.
1927 plate no. G-5593
1928 plate no. U-2439
1928
Follow this link to read about 1928 plates.
1929 plate no. Y-4303
1929
Follow this link to read about 1929 plates.
1930 plate no. G-1501
1930
Follow this link to read about 1930 plates.
1931 plate no. F-1991
1931
Follow this link to read about 1931 plates.
1932 plate no. F-3761
1932
Follow this link to read about 1932 plates.
1933 plate no. 8370
1933
Follow this link to read about 1933 plates.
1934 plate no. K-654
1934
Follow this link to read about 1934 plates.
1935 plate no. 1-882
1935
Follow this link to read about 1935 plates.
1936 plate no. 62
1936 plate no. 201-965
1936
Follow this link to read about 1936 plates.
1937 plate no. 8370
1937 plate no. 68-095
1937
Follow this link to read about 1937 plates.
1938 plate no. 175
1938 plate no. 145-028
1938
 Follow this link to read about 1938 plates.
1939 plate no. 491
1939 (exp. 2-29-40) plate no. 161-752
1939
Used Jan. 1, 1939, through Feb. 29, 1940.
Follow this link to read about 1939 plates.
1940 plate no. 882
1940 plate no. 61-441
1940
Used Mar. 1, 1940, through Mar. 31, 1941.
Follow this link to read about 1940 plates.
1941 plate no. 445
1941 plate no. 73-039
1941
Used April 1, 1941, through March 31, 1942.
Follow this link to read about 1941 plates.
1942 plate no. 8370
1942 plate no. 60-457
1942
Used April 1, 1942, through March 31, 1945.
Follow this link to read about 1942 plates.
1943 plate no. 18
1943 plate no. 111-206
1943
1942 plate validated with a tab to expire 3-31-44.
Follow this link to read about 1943 plates.
1944 plate no. 882
 1944 plate no. 193-651
1944
1942 plate validated with a tab to expire 3-31-45.
Follow this link to read about 1944 plates.
1945 plate no. 2862
1945 plate no. 96-746
1945
Used April 1, 1945, through March 31, 1946.
Follow this link to read about 1945 plates.
1946 plate no. 68
 1946 plate no. 107-817
1946
Used April 1, 1946, through March 31, 1948.
Follow this link to read about 1946 plates.
1987 plate no. 882
 1947 plate no. 143-322
1947
1946 plate validated with a tab to expire 3-31-48.
Follow this link to read about 1947 plates.
1948 plate no. 9-28894

1948
Used April 1, 1948, through March 31, 1949.
Follow this link to read about 1948 plates.

1949 plate no. K-494
1949
Used April 1, 1949, through March 31, 1950.
Follow this link to read about 1949 plates.
1950 plate no. 6-6635
1950
Used April 1, 1950, through March 31, 1951.
Follow this link to read about 1950 plates.
1951 plate no. 7-8444
1951
Used April 1, 1951, through March 31, 1952.
Follow this link to read about 1951 plates.
1952 plate no. 6-6024

1952
Used April 1, 1952, through March 31, 1953.
Follow this link to read about 1952 plates.
1953 plate no. P-3446
1953
 First D.C. plate to include a slogan.
Used April 1, 1953, through Mar. 31, 1954.
Follow this link to read about 1953 plates.
1954 plate no. Y-5678

1954
1953 plate validated with a tab to expire 3-31-55.
 Follow this link to read about 1954 plates.
1955 plate no. AA-74-09
1955
Used April 1, 1955, through March 31, 1956.
Follow this link to read about 1955 plates.
1956 plate no. AA-55-61
1956
Used April 1, 1956, through March 31, 1957.
Follow this link to read about 1956 plates.
1957 plate no. SL-497
1957
Used April 1, 1957, through March 31, 1958.
Follow this link to read about 1957 plates.
1958 photo no. AC-919
1958
Used April 1, 1958, through March 31, 1959.
Follow this link to read about 1958 plates.
1959 plate no. WD-930
1959
Used April 1, 1959, through March 31, 1960.
Follow this link to read about 1959 plates.
plate no. GB-674
1960
Used April 1, 1960, through March 31, 1961.
Follow this link to read about 1960 plates.
1961 plate no. WH-153
1961
Used April 1, 1961, through March 31, 1962.
Follow this link to read about 1961 plates.
1962 plate no. KG-926

1962
First reflectorized D.C. plate.
Used April 1, 1962, through March 31, 1963.
Follow this link to read about 1962 plates.

1963 plate no. MH-937

1963
Used April 1, 1963, through March 31, 1964.
Follow this link to read about 1963 plates.

1964 plate no. 6T464
1964 plate no. 1S53

1964
Used April 1, 1964, through March 31, 1965.

Two general-issue numbering configurations, as pictured, were used due to the supply of available numbers in the first (1A234) having been exhausted before the end of the registration year.

Follow this link to read about 1964 plates.

1965 plate no. 5BM26
1965
 First plate with WASHINGTON, D.C.
Used April 1, 1965, through March 31, 1966.
Follow this link to read about 1965 plates.
1966 (exp. 3-31-67) Passenger plate no. 297-681
1966
 Used April 1, 1966, through March 31, 1968.
Follow this link to read about 1966 plates.
1966 (3-31-67) Passenger plate no. 367-082 validated for 1967 (3-31-68)
1967
1966 plate validated to expire 3-31-68.
Follow this link to read about 1967 plates.
1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 686-746
1968
 Used April 1, 1968, through March 31, 1975.
Click here to reach a page dedicated to this base.
1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 714-862 validated for 1969 (exp. 3-31-70)

1969
1968 plate validated to expire 3-31-70.
Follow this link to read about 1968-73 plates.

1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 816-809 validated for 1970 (exp. 3-31-71)
1970
1968 plate validated to expire 3-31-71.
Follow this link to read about 1968-73 plates.
1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 871-994 validated for 1971 (exp. 3-31-72)
1971
1968 plate validated to expire 3-31-72.
Follow this link to read about 1968-73 plates.
1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 904-674 validated for 1972 (exp. 3-31-73)
1972
1968 plate validated to expire 3-31-73.
Follow this link to read about 1968-73 plates.
1968 (exp. 3-31-69) Passenger plate no. 970-126 validated for 1973 (exp. 3-31-74)
1973
1968 plate validated to expire 3-31-74.
Follow this link to read about 1968-73 plates.
1974 (exp. 3-31-75) Passenger plate no. 310-523
1974
 Issued April 1, 1974, through March 31, 1978.
Click here to reach a page dedicated to this base.
1974 Passenger plate no. 344-561 validated for 1975-76 (exp. 3-31-76)
1975
1974 plate validated to expire 3-31-76.
Follow this link to read about 1974-77 plates.
1974 Passenger plate no. 402-529 validated for 1976-77 (exp. 3-31-77)
1976
1974 plate validated to expire 3-31-77.
Follow this link to read about 1974-77 plates.
1974 Passenger plate no. 463-028 validated for 1977-78 (exp. 3-31-78)
1977
1974 plate validated to expire 3-31-78.
Follow this link to read about 1974-77 plates.
1978 Passenger plate no. 514-991 validated for 1978-79 (exp. 3-31-79)
1978
 Issued April 1, 1978, through Sept. 30, 1984.
Click here to reach a page dedicated to this base.
1978 Passenger plate no. 568-165 validated for 1979-80 (exp. 3-31-80)
1979
1978 plate validated to expire 3-31-80.
Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates.
1978 Passenger plate no. 673-591 validated for 1980-81 (exp. 3-31-81)
1980
1978 plate validated to expire 3-31-81.
Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates.
1978 Passenger plate no. 720-621 validated for 1981-82 (exp. 3-31-82)
1981
1978 plate validated to expire 3-31-82.
Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates.
1978 Passenger plate no. 766-167 validated for 1982-83 (exp. 3-31-1983)
1982
1978 plate validated to expire 3-31-83.
Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates.
1978 Passenger plate no. 814-973 validated for 1983-84 (exp. 3-31-1984)
1978 Passenger plate no. 850-199 validated for 1983-84 (exp. Aug. 1984)

1983
April 1-July 31, 1983:
1978 plate validated to expire 3-31-84.

August 1-Dec. 31, 1983:
1978 plate validated through 1984 months.

Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates and the staggered registration system introduced (for new registrations) as of August 1, 1983.
1978 Passenger plate no. 882-046 validated for 1984-85 (exp. Oct. 1985)
1984 Passenger plate no. 931-332 validated for 1984-85 (exp. Nov. 1985)
1984

Jan. 1-Sept. 30, 1984:
1978 plate validated through 1985 months.

Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 1984:
1984 plate validated through 1985 months.

Follow this link to read about 1978-84 plates and this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 045-654 validated for 1985-86 (exp. Sept. 1986)
1985
1984 plate validated through 1986 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 103-763 validated for 1986-87 (exp. Feb. 1987)
1986
1984 plate validated through 1987 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 241-050 validated for 1987-1988 (exp. May 1988)
1987
1984 plate validated through 1988 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 313-042 validated for 1988-1989 (exp. May 1989)
1988
1984 plate validated through 1989 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 380-766 validated for 1989-1990 (exp. June 1990)
1989
1984 plate validated through 1990 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 415-873 validated for 1990-1991 (exp. Jan. 1991)
1990
1984 plate validated through 1991 months.
Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates.
1984 Passenger plate no. 477-553 validated for 1991-1992 (exp. Jan. 1992)
1991 Passenger plate no. 504-484 validated for 1991-1992 (exp. July 1992)
1991

Jan. 1 through late July 1991:
1984 plate validated through 1992 months.

late July through Dec. 31, 1991 :
1991 plate validated through 1992 months.

Follow this link to read about 1984-91 plates and this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 583-398 validated for 1992-1993 (exp. Nov. 1993)
1992
1991 plate validated through 1993 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 600-114 validated for 1993-1994 (exp. March 1994)
1993
1991 plate validated through 1994 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 678-370 validated for 1994-1995 (exp. June 1995)
1994
1991 plate validated through 1995 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 752-375 validated for 1995-1996 (exp. Aug. 1996)
1995
1991 plate validated through 1996 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 802-349 validated for 1996-1997 (exp. June 1997)
1996
1991 plate validated through 1997 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. 851-903 validated for 1997-1998 (exp. April 1998)
1991 Passenger plate no. AD-0687 validated for 1997-1998 (exp. Nov. 1998)
1997

Jan.-April 1997:
All-number plates validated through 1998 months.

April-Dec. 1997:
New format plates validated through 1998 months.

Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. AG-6134 validated for 1998-1999 (exp. June 1999)
1998
1991 plate validated through 1999 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. AM-4159 validated for 1999-2000 (exp. June 2000)
1999
1991 plate validated through 2000 months.
Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates.
1991 Passenger plate no. AQ-9490 validated for 2000-01 (exp. Jan. 2001)
2000 Passenger plate no. AZ-0407 validated for 2000-01 (exp. Nov. 2001)
2000

Jan. 1-Nov. 3, 2000:
1991 plate validated through 2001 months.

Nov. 4-Dec. 31, 2000:
2000 plate validated through 2001 months.

Follow this link to read about 1991-2000 plates and this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.

2000 Passenger plate no. BG-7529 validated for 2001-02 (exp. Nov. 2002)
2000 Passenger plate no. BG-7529 validated for 2001-02 (exp. Nov. 2002)
2001

Jan.-Oct. 2001:
Embossed plates validated through 2002 months.

Oct.-Dec. 2001:
Flat plates validated through 2002 months.

Follow this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.
2000 Passenger plate no. BL-0245 validated for 2002-03 (exp. April 2003)
2002
2000 plate validated through 2003 months.
Follow this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.
2000 Passenger plate no. BS-1122
2003
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.
Follow this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.
2000 Passenger plate no. BZ-8716
2004
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.
Follow this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.
2000 Passenger plate no. CC-8716
2005
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.
Follow this link to read about the 2000 baseplate.
2006 plate image to be added soon
2006
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.
2007 plate image to be added soon
2007
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.
2008 plate image to be added soon
2008
2000 plate validated with a windshield sticker.

D.C. flag

This page last updated on August 29, 2008

copyright 2008 Eastern Seaboard Press
Information and images on this Web site may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without consent of the owner.
For information, send an e-mail to admin@DCplates.net