Vehicle registration plates of Washington, D.C.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes 1907–17 White serial on black porcelain plate; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” at top none 12345 1 to approximately 65000, with gaps Some serial blocks believed to be reserved for motorcycles.^[3] 1918 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; “DC 18” at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 38-000 1919 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; “D.C. 1919” at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 46-000 1920 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; “D.C. 1920” at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 55-000 1921 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; “D.C. 1921” at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 67-500 1922 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; “D.C. 1922” at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 80-000 1923 Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; “D.C. 1923” at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 112-000 1924 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; “DIST. COL. 1924” centered at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 91-000 1925 Embossed white serial on dark gray plate with border line; “DIST. COL. 1925” centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 114-000 1926 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; “DIST. COL. 1926” centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 112-000 1927 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “DIST. COL. 1927” centered at top none A-1234 E-1 to approximately V-1000 Letters A, B, C, D, H and R used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through 1934.^[4] 1928 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1928” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately W-9000 1929 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1929” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Z-8000 1930 As 1928 base, but with “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1930” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Y-3000 1931 As 1929 base, but with “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1931” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately Z-3000 1932 As 1928 base, but with “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1932” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately W-1000 1933 As 1929 base, but with “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1933” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately X-4000 1934 As 1928 base, but with “DIST. OF COLUMBIA – 1934” at bottom none A-1234 E-1 to approximately X-3000 1935 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA – 1935” at bottom none 123-456 57-001 to approximately 191-000 1936 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” and “1936” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 54-001 to approximately 202-000 1937 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” and “1937” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 193-000 1938 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “1938” and “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 182-000 January 1, 1939 – February 29, 1940 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” and “EX-2-29-40” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 174-000 March 1, 1940 – March 31, 1941 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” and “EX-3-31-41” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 52-000 to approximately 182-000 April 1, 1941 – March 31, 1942 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “EX-3-31-42” and “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 46-001 to approximately 183-000

April 1, 1942 – March 31, 1945 As 1940–41 base, but with “EX-3-31-43” at bottom none 123-456 52-001 to approximately 216-000 Revalidated through March 31, 1944, with black tabs, then through March 31, 1945, with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. April 1, 1945 – March 31, 1946 As 1941–42 base, but with “EX-3-31-46” at top none 123-456 45-001 to approximately 136-000 Only rear plates issued due to ongoing metal shortage.
April 1, 1946 – March 31, 1948 As 1940–41 base, but with “EX-3-31-47” at bottom none 123-456 50-001 to approximately 181-000 Revalidated through March 31, 1948, with white tabs. April 1, 1948 – March 31, 1949 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; “19 D.C. 48” at top none 1234 1 to 9999 Letters B, C, D, H, L, M, R and T used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1955.^[4] 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to approximately N-1000 April 1, 1949 – March 31, 1950 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; “19 D.C. 49” at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to approximately P-7000 April 1, 1950 – March 31, 1951 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “19 D.C. 50” at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to approximately S-5000 April 1, 1951 – March 31, 1952 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “19 D.C. 51” at top none 1234 1 to 9999 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to approximately S-2000 April 1, 1952 – March 31, 1953 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; “19 D.C. 52” at bottom none 1234 1 to 9999 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to approximately P-1000
April 1, 1953 – March 31, 1955 Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; “DIST. OF COLUMBIA” centered at top; “3-31” at top left and “54” at top right “THE NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at bottom 1234 1 to 9999 Revalidated through March 31, 1955, with dark green tabs. 1-2345 1-1000 to
9-9999 A-1234 A-1 to
Z-9999 AB-123 AA-1 to approximately AB-999 April 1, 1955 – March 31, 1956 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “56” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦12♦34 AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99 Serials with B, C, D, H and L as the first letter used on non-passenger vehicles. This practice continued through March 31, 1964.^[4] April 1, 1956 – March 31, 1957 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “57” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦12♦34 AA♦10♦00 to AY♦99♦99; EA♦10♦00 to approximately EA♦99♦99 April 1, 1957 – March 31, 1958 Embossed golden yellow serial on royal blue plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “58” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately SZ♦999 April 1, 1958 – March 31, 1959 Embossed royal blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “59” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WB♦999 April 1, 1959 – March 31, 1960 As 1957–58 base, but with “60” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WK♦999 April 1, 1960 – March 31, 1961 As 1958–59 base, but with “61” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WP♦999 April 1, 1961 – March 31, 1962 As 1957–58 base, but with “62” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999 April 1, 1962 – March 31, 1963 Embossed dark green serial on reflective white plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “63” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately WV♦999 April 1, 1963 – March 31, 1964 Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “64” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top AB♦123 AA♦100 to approximately XJ♦999 April 1, 1964 – March 31, 1965 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; “DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “65” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top 1A234 1A101 to 9Z999 1A23 1A01 to approximately 2T99 April 1, 1965 – March 31, 1966 Embossed black serial on reflective golden yellow plate with border line; “WASHINGTON, D.C.” centered at bottom; “3-31” at top left and “66” at top right “NATION’S CAPITAL” centered at top 1AB23 1AA01 to approximately 2MH99