California's black license plates are back in production (Los Angeles: 2015, buying)

[SHABAZZ310]

If anyone is in the market for the classic black plates, you're in luck...

The black license plates used on California cars from 1963 to 1969 are back, thanks to a piece of legislation sponsored by Los Angeles Assemblyman Mike Gatto and 7,500 paying customers.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced Monday that it has received 7,500 orders for the classic black plates -- which is the minimum required for the state agency to begin production.

Gatto's AB 1658, introduced in 2012, created the California Legacy License Plate Program. The DMV will begin production now. Motorists who've placed orders for the iconic plates will begin receiving them in two to three weeks, Gatto's office said.

California's black license plates are back in production - LA Times

[MItoBH]

Nah, I'll pass. When I move there next year (or sooner), I love the current white plate with California written in red cursive.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by MItoBH

Nah, I'll pass. When I move there next year (or sooner), I love the current white plate with California written in red cursive.

They all have the red cursive on a white background. But there are a number of cool themes to choose from. Like the whale fluke one. And the Tahoe one is nice. This arts commission one is nice, too, with the palm trees on the left side, and the ocean/beach across the bottom.


Good to know, OP! Always good to have a license plate update.

[cb73]

I could see spending the extra money if you have a classic car, but otherwise, they cost too much. I'll keep my $19 ones.

[blam]

i liked the blue ones most but they just recently discontinued

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

I don't see the value in buying a fake classic license plate. But, whatever floats someone's boat.

i also am someone who isn't going to spend any extra money for any kind of plate.

The only vanity plate that I thought was really cool, was when I lived in WA, and there was a lot of activism against nuclear plants back in the late 1970's. His plate said No Nux. That one was cool. Otherwise, I find them entertaining as I drive around and read them, but I'd never spend money on one.

[pecanku]

Here's a thought after reading the postings here: you know how through the years California's license plate numbers and letters on cars have subsequently begun with the number 1 in the late 70's or early 80's, then they began with the number 2 at a later time when the number and letter sequence ran out, in the late 80's or early 90's. With more cars the sequences ran out faster, and the beginning number is currently at 7. 8 and 9 still have many years to follow, but what would happen after that? Maybe the number 0, or start again with the letter A and go all the way to Z? License plates here hold 7 digits, all of which are being used in the pattern.

[recycled]

In another decade or so when DMV runs out of the 7, 8, 9 and 0 followed by three letters and three numbers for license plates, they could do the same thing that occurred back in 1969/1970. The black on yellow and the yellow on black plates of the 1950s & 1960s had 3 letters + 3 numbers. The yellow on blue plate was introduced around 1969/1970 and it had 3 numbers + 3 letters. By simply reversing the order of the numbers & letters, DMV found another 10 years of unique license plate IDs using just 6 characters (3 numbers + 3 letters).

So when DMV runs out of 7, 8, 9 and 0 followed by three letters + 3 numbers, they can simply start with letter A (up to letter Z) followed by 3 letters + 3 numbers. Then run a sequence of four numbers followed by three letters. Then run a sequence of three letters followed by 4 numbers. There are tens of millions of combinations that they can still use with a 7 digit license plate. Somebody could write a thesis on the subject, and in fact they did and that is how the 7 digit license plate was presented in 1980. At the time I remember reading a newspaper article explaining that the 7 digit sequence would last at least a century. 35+ years later and we are still into the first sequence run, so I think the 7 digits will survive for many, many more decades.