Say Goodbye to the Old Design! California Unveils New License Plates for 2026

The California Department of Motor Vehicles plans to switch to a new license plate format in 2026 because the current system is likely to run out of possible combos.

The DMV says, “The current 9-series configuration, which will end with 9ZZZ999, is expected to end sometime in 2026 because there are fewer and fewer possible combinations.”

In the new format, the “Numeral Numeral Numeral Alpha Alpha Alpha Numeral” design will be used, like this: 000AAA0.

California’s past of license plates has changed a lot over the years, and this change is just one more example.

Andy Calles, who works at the Ocean Beach site of Hodad’s restaurant, has seen these changes firsthand.

“I’m fifty years old…” “Over the years, I’ve seen some changes,” Calles said.

He is in charge of putting given license plates on the walls of Hodad’s two sites. He thinks that about 2,000 plates have been collected so far.

Calles said, “We like personalized plates because they tell more of a story. Some of these plates are really dirty, and some are really good, positive stories, so we’ve mixed them up to tell different stories.”

Jon Dean, who was eating a burger at Hodad’s next to license plates from other countries, suggested letting people make their own artwork designs because he, like many others, couldn’t remember the assigned plate combo.

In order to prepare for this change, California has come up with a new style that will give people who drive more choices. It should last more than ten years.