The California Department of Motor Vehicles has introduced a new license plate format for the first time in 46 years, as the state runs out of combinations for its long-standing sequence. The shift comes as the DMV has reached the end of its previous numbering system, with the last combination, 9ZZZ999, nearing issuance.
Since 1980, California has used a seven-character sequence consisting of one number, three letters, and three numbers. The agency stated that this system has now been exhausted. The new format adopts a "mirrored" sequence: three numbers, three letters, and one number. According to a DMV spokesperson, each configuration offers over 100 million plate combinations, and this new system is projected to serve the state for approximately 40 years, based on historical data.
Drivers across California have begun reporting sightings of the new license plate format. Reports have emerged from various regions, including the Bay Area and Southern California. The DMV had announced its intention to switch formats several years ago, anticipating the transition would occur in late 2026 or early 2027.
While the 9ZZZ999 plate has not yet been issued, the DMV still has over 110,000 plates with the old format remaining. These are stored at DMV and auto club offices throughout the state. California's license plates are manufactured at Folsom State Prison, where inmates produce approximately 45,000 plates daily. In addition to the standard plate, California offers 14 special interest plates and allows personalized plates with two to seven characters. Last year, the state was involved in a case where it sought to recall a personalized plate, "IAMISIS," due to concerns it could be misconstrued as an acronym for a terrorist group.