REGULAR-ISSUE PASSENGER PLATES - updated 10/08/05 - updated 12/24/05 A Capital City base - These 6-digit plates first replaced the old "Nations Capital" baseplate. Celebrate & Discover base - 123-456 style - These 6-digit plates replaced the "Capital City" baseplate pictured above. Celebrate & Discover base - AA-1234 style - After the above style was exhausted, the number system changed to 2-letter, 4-numeral as pictured here. Taxation Without Representation base - At plate #AZ-0000, this new slogan was adopted after a push by city officials to bring attention to DC's status as a non-voting member of Congress. Taxation - flat base - Following the recent trend of producing flat instead of embossed plates, DC rolled out this new-style plate around #BG-2000. Website base - For those residents that objected to the "Taxation Without Representation" slogan, DMV made available plates with DC's website in place of the slogan. These were issued in the "BB" series for embossed plates and the "BJ" series for the flat plates. Most of the "BB" series plates can be found on unmarked FBI, Secret Service, and other Federal Govt vehicles that do not get US Government plates. Finally, a photo of the "BJ" series plate! See explanation above. Block "DC" style - early in the "BP" series, the state name changed from the script font. Windshield sticker - DC now uses windshield stickers as the sole means of renewing plates. This is an example of one. Note the plate number at the top. The zone number is used for parking purposes within the city limits. New plate sticker - with the switch to windshield stickers, motorists are being given this generic sticker to place on their plates. I don't believe it is mandatory as I have seen numerous plates without the sticker.
LOW NUMBERED PLATES
Plates numbered 1250 and below are reserved for issuance by the Mayor and City Council. These are frequently issued to friends or other political allies of the current administration. Celebrate & Discover - Prior to 2001, low-numbered DC plates were essentially the same as regular passenger plates except for the additional DC flag (thanks to Shaun Snyder for this photo). 2001-2002 - After years of basically mirroring the regular issue plates, low numbered plates underwent a drastic change in March of 2001. 2002-2003 - The above design was short-lived, being replaced in March of 2002 with this all-new, flat design. Though hard to see, there is a stylized flag in the background. (Thanks to Shaun Snyder for this photo). 2003-2004 - This design made its debut in March of 2003. The font has changed this year - "Washington, DC" is less fancy, while the slogan is more stylized. 2004-2005 - Well, DC can't find any money to fill its potholes, but they can find enough to re-design their "special" plates each year. Sadly, they just keep getting uglier each year, too. 2004-2005 - As low as you can go! It's been said for many years that the mayor has not used his #1 plate, preferring a regular-issue plate for security reasons. I'm not sure if he changed his mind this year, or if this is someone totally unrelated. It was on an Acura, though, obviously not the mayor's official car. - 2005-2006 - Another re-design - sorry, not the best photo! OTHER INTERESTING PLATES Celebrate & Discover AA-1234 style - Unlike most states, DC starts all plate combinations with "0000" - looks strange when you first see it! The *very* first Taxation plate issued! Celebrate & Discover - a very rare single letter plate. Taxation base - Another great single-letter plate (Thanks to Shaun Snyder for this photo). Taxation base - And another single-letter plate (Thanks to Shaun Snyder for this photo, as well). - 2007 sticker - VERY few vehicles have plate stickers - usually only secret service and other protective vehicles. That's it for now - please check back later!
- updated 10/08/05
- updated 12/24/05