Understanding the continued expenses, deductibles and donations that define a custom license plate in California
Fees, Deductibles and Donation Requirements for a Custom Plate in California
- In California license plates have been customized since the 1920’s when local firefighters who lived in San Francisco started using license plate frames with “SFFD” on them which let other drivers know they were actually firefighter. In the 1960’s people started stamping license plates themselves to express their beliefs or affiliations. In order to better regulate license plate customization, legislators introduced a bill that would establish guidelines and standards for personalized license plates while keeping an eye towards safety concerns. The legislation passed both houses of the state legislature and was subsequently signed into law by Governor Ronald Reagan on January 17th 1973. This law has held firm ever since, even through changes in technology and license plate styles.
- The license plates displayed here were made by California Car Cover and are the exact license plates that we will produce for your license plate project. Read more about how to order a custom license plate after viewing our license plates.
- Today, because of the 1973 law, license plates in California still have to adhere to certain standards and guidelines when it comes to customization, however they can still be pretty unique because of two amendments proposed and subsequently passed in 1976 and 1984 respectively. This is why license plates issued in California can look as different from one another as each county has its own requirements for what kind of license plates they want stamped or embossed on their official fleet vehicles. Generally speaking though those standards require that any personalized or custom license plates be made out of license plate blanks, license plates dated 1972 or earlier.
- One exception to California’s license plate customization laws is that military license plates are exempt from the specific license plate blank restrictions so long as they meet all other requirements for license plate safety and legibility standards. Military license plates can also be personalized but only with the state seal, again to ensure that the state seal remains visible at all times on any given vehicle. When it comes to changing numbers due to switching one vehicle for another in a fleet of vehicles owned by the military only recently has there been allowance for doing this without having to pay additional fees.
- The license plates displayed here were made by California Car Cover and are the exact license plates that we will produce for license plate projects. Read more about how to order a custom license plate after viewing our license plates.
- In California license plates have been customized since the 1920’s when local firefighters who lived in San Francisco started using license plate frames with “SFFD” on them which let other drivers know they were actually fired fighters. In the 1960’s people started stamping license plates themselves to express their beliefs or affiliations. In order to better regulate license plate customization, legislators introduced a bill that would establish guidelines and standards for personalized license plates while keeping an eye towards safety concerns. The legislation passed both houses of the state legislature and was subsequently signed into law by Governor Ronald Reagan on January 17th 1973. This law has held firm ever since, even through changes in technology and license plate styles.
- The license plates displayed here were made by California Car Cover and are the exact license plates that we will produce for license plate projects. Read more about how to order a custom license plate after viewing our license plates.
- Today, because of the 1973 law, license plates in California still have to adhere to certain standards and guidelines when it comes to customization, however they can still be pretty unique because of two amendments proposed and subsequently passed in 1976 and 1984 respectively. This is why license plates issued in California can look as different from one another as each county has its own requirements for what kind of license plates they want stamped or embossed on their official fleet vehicles. Generally speaking, though those standards require that any personalized or custom license plates be made out of license plate blanks, license plates dated 1972 or earlier.
- The license plates displayed here were made by California Car Cover and are the exact license plates that we will produce for license plate projects. Read more about how to order a custom license plate after viewing our license plates.
- One exception to California’s license plate customization laws is that military license plates are exempt from the specific license plate blank restrictions so long as they meet all other requirements for license plate safety and legibility standards. Military license plates can also be personalized but only with the state seal, again to ensure that the state seal remains visible at all times on any given vehicle.
Conclusion:
When it comes to changing numbers due to switching one vehicle for another in a fleet of vehicles owned by the military only recently has there been allowance for doing this without having to pay additional fees. On July 1st 2015 California license plates will be changed yet again with staggered license plate expiration that will begin with license plates issued after January 1st 2017, then go into effect every two years thereafter until 2024 when license plates are issued on odd years only starting with license plates issued following January 1st 2026. And so the never-ending cycle begins a new!