Vehicle registration plates of Virginia

The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. Plates are currently issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

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. In 2008, 1,624,146 pairs of license plates were sold, with 831,361 of them being personalized plates.

Passenger baseplates 1906 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for road motor vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the state's first license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1906-09	White on black	none	1234	unknown
	1910	Red on white	none	1234	unknown
	1911	White on blue	none	1234	unknown
	1912	White on green	none	1234	unknown
	1913	White on red	none	1234	unknown
	1914	Blue on white	none	1234	unknown
	1915	White on green	none	1234	unknown
	1916	Dark blue on orange	none	1234	unknown
	1917	Yellow on black	none	12345	unknown
	1918	Black on white	none	12345	unknown
	1919	White on black	none	12345	unknown
	1920	White on green	none	12345	unknown
	1921	Dark blue on orange	none	12345	unknown
	1922	White on black	none	12345	unknown
	1923	White on green	none	12345	unknown
	1924	White on red	none	123456	unknown	Made in New Jersey using that state's dies and design. First use of full state name "VIRGINIA".
	1925	Black on white	none	123-456	unknown
	1926	Orange on dark blue	none	123-456	unknown
	1927	Embossed red numbers on green plate with border line; "VIRGINIA - 27" embossed in red block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 293-000
	1928	Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1928" embossed in orange block letters centered above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 317-000
	1929	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1929" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 321-000
	1930	Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1930" embossed in orange block letters centered above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000
	1931	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1931" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 368-000
	1932	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA · 1932" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 376-000
	1933	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1933" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 334-000
	1934	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1934" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 337-000
	1935	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1935" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 335-000
	1936	Embossed orange numbers on dark blue plate; "VIRGINIA - 1936" embossed in orange block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 360-000
	1937	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1937" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 375-000
	1938	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1938" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 388-000
	1939	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1939" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 402-000
	1940	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1940 - VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 438-000
	1941	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 41" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 491-000
	1942	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA - 1942" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000	Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "1944 - VA" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 468-000
	1945	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 - VIRGINIA - 45" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 475-000
	1946	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA - 1946" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 524-000
	1947	Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "19 VIRGINIA 47" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 567-000
	1948	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1948 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 642-000
	1949	Embossed black numbers on aluminum plate; "VIRGINIA 1949" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 698-000
150px	1950	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1950 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 783-000
	1951	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 51" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999	Revalidated for 1952 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A145-000
	1953	Embossed orange numbers on blue plate; "19 VIRGINIA 53" embossed in orange block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 940-000
150px	1954	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1954" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 999-999
	1955	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1955 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A122-000
	1956	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 56" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A178-000
	1957	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1957" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A223-000
150px	1958	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1958 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A232-000
150px	1959	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 59" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A259-000
150px	1960	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1960" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A240-000
	1961	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1961 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A273-000
	1962	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 62" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A344-000
	1963	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1963" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A425-000
	1964	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1964 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A504-000
	1965	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 VIRGINIA 65" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A545-000
	1966	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "VIRGINIA 1966" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A626-000
	1967	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "1967 VIRGINIA" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A700-000
	1968	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 VIRGINIA 68" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A788-000
	1969	Embossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA 1969" embossed in black block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A857-000
	1970	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "1970 VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
				A123-456	A-100 to approximately A966-000
	1971	Embossed black numbers on white plate, with or without border line; "19 VIRGINIA 71" embossed in black block letters above numbers	none	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
File:1972 Virginia License Plate.jpg	1972	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "VIRGINIA 1972" embossed in white block letters above numbers	none	ABC-123	AAA-001 to DZZ-999
150px	1973	Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "VIRGINIA" embossed in blue block letters centered above numbers	none	ABC-123	AAA-101 to SZZ-999	Revalidated with stickers until 1984.
File:VA 1983.jpg	1979	Similar to 1973 base, but reflective and with wider dies, and "Virginia" screened in blue serifed letters	none	ABC-123	AAA-101 to ZZZ-999 (see right)	Still currently revalidated. Serials started at UAA-101 and ran to ZZZ-999, followed by AAA-101 through SZZ-999 as 1973 plates were invalidated; letters I, O and Q not used until 1988, when all series with these letters in the first position were issued, followed by all series with T in the first position, and finally all remaining series with I, O or Q in the second and/or third positions (ending with ZZQ-999).
File:Virginia license plate 1994.jpg	1993	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "Virginia" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers	none	ABC-1234	ZZZ-9999 to approximately ZXX-1000	Serials progress backwards.
150px	1993	As above, but with state name in all capital letters			ZXW-9999 to approximately XYN-1000
150px	2002	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers	"400th Anniversary" in red block letters centered below numbers, 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. The slogan was originally printed on a white sticker, before it started to be screened directly onto the plate at around the JAM series.
150px	2003	As above, but with state name in red			Intermittently from JAY-1000 to JDC-9999; exclusively from JDD-1000 to KCW-9999
150px	2006	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in red serifed letters centered above numbers; Jamestown 400th Anniversary logo screened in bottom left corner and "2007" in bottom right corner	"JAMESTOWN" screened in blue block letters and "AMERICA'S 400TH ANNIVERSARY" in red serifed letters, both centered below numbers	ABC-1234	KCX-1000 to KNP-9999
150px	2008	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers	none	ABC-1234	XXP-9999 to approximately WLM-1000	Return to 1993 base. Serials progress backwards as before.
	2014		"VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS" screened in black block letters, plus a red heart for the second 'V', centered below numbers		VAA-1000 to VLP-9999 (as of January 1, 2016)

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	First issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
150px	Disabled person	1993	blue on reflective white with blue screened state name			Embossed International Symbol of Access at left.

Optional types

Virginia offers over 200 optional license plates.[1] Most can be personalized for an additional fee.

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
File:VA 1976.jpg	Independence Bicentennial	1975–82	Embossed blue numbers on 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 serifed letters centered at top and bottom respectively	123-456	100-001 to 500-000	Still currently revalidated.
	Autumn Leaves	1997–98	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; ten orange and yellow gradient leaves behind numbers; "Virginia" screened in black handwritten font centered at top	1234-AAB	1000-AAA to approximately 9999-AAD	Revised design introduced in response to visibility concerns surrounding the original design.
		1998 to present	As above, but with leaves around edge of plate	1234-BAB	1000-BAA to present
	Patriot	1997 to present	Similar to passenger base, but with a graphic of a Revolutionary War fifer at the far right	123ABC	101AAA to present
	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.

Type codes

Code	Prefix	Suffix
AA	cardinal
AB		I'm Animal Friendly
AC	cardinal	Averett College
		Averett University
AE	cardinal	Virginia Aviation
AG	cardinal
AJ	cardinal
AK		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
BF	Bluefield College	Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BG		Airborne (173 ABN BDE Sky Soldiers)
BH		Tiger Swallowtail - State Insect
BI		Share the Road
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

External links

• Virginia License Plates 1969-present