1976 was the year that California started staggered registrations
1975 stickers had been issued for the calendar year 1975, with no month stickers to go with them
In 1976, drivers received month stickers based on the center two characters of their plate
In January of 1976, a driver would get an expiration somewhere between July of 1976 and June of 1977
Therefore, only half of California's vehicles got 1976 stickers
The system was based on the B and 2 from a type ABC 123 or 123 ABC configuration
Thanks to Scott Broady of San Francisco, California for the information
1969 style plates were updated with 1976 expiration stickers in 1975
Two different widths on the embossed blue California plates are shown above with a close up below with the wider version first issued in 1975
The plate on the left is a later issue to a new registrant in 1975, and made of aluminum instead of steel like the one on the right
The aluminum plates started at 701 LXU and went through 999 WKZ according to the ALPCA Archive
January 1977 expiration on 69 style California plate
1976 sample tabs on 63 and 69 sample plates
The 1963 series black, steel, plates, has '63' stamped in the upper right hand corner of these plates. This area of the plate was covered by a year sticker in 1964. 1963 series was the last of the California steel license plates. Some of the last, very late, 1969 issues of the 1963 series steel plates were made of aluminum. 1967 Model Year Novelty License Plate, White with Red Numbers $ model year novelty license plate. If you look closely, there are some very tiny spots of red inside the 9 (please click on image to see a larger picture); there are some very small paint flaws, we will send the best one we have. 1997 – stickers were made with background colors that change every year. Characters printed in black. 1998 through 2000 – standard plates contain the words SESQUICENTENNIAL – 150 YEARS in red block letters at the bottom of the plates.
Shown here with 76 and 77 expiration stickers, this style of plate was first issued in 1963
According to License Plate County Codes of the United States and Canada by Tom Boyd, Eric Tanner and William Davis,'For the initial allotments of base plates issued in 1963, specific blocks of letters were assigned for issue by individual counties.'
The KMX plate was issued in San Diego County, while the UPD plate was a later issue with no direct county correlation
The 1963 plates came with the upper right sticker well debossed with a 63 and without it, as shown above from a backside view
California Commercial For Hire Weight Fee Truck withtab issued in November of 1975 for expiration in November of 1976
1976 California quarterly commercial expiration tabsused on 1963 and 1969 commercial plates. Example shown below
1969 version of the California commercial license plates with December 1976 and August 1977 year long expirations
1975 version with longer California embossing at the top of California commercial plates
The one of the left has a January 1977 year long expiration meaning it was used through 1976, and the seven digit plate on the right was used from July 1. 1976 to July 30, 1977
The seven digit plates were later issues after they exhausted the 6 digit issues
California vanity plates with February and September 1976 expirations utilizing the two different die types.
1963 style base used at car dealership in California with 1976 tab. 1969 dealer type utilized also during 1976
March 1977 expiration issued in 1976 on 69 California dealer license plate. Month stickers were probably not used until 1982 on dealer plates
Someone may have peeled off a stack of stickers on this one to get to the 1977 year sticker
California trailer plates used in 1976 and into 1977. There is a 1976 expiration sticker buried underneath the 1977 one
The plate on the left is a 1963 vintage trailer plate, while the one on the right is a 1975 issue with the wider California embossing at the top
The plate on the left is a 1963 vintage trailer plate, while the one on the right is a 1975 issue with the wider California embossing at the top
The tab was issued in September of 1975 for expiration in September of 1976.
The Horseless Carriage plate on the right was issued from 1970 through 1983, and stickered each year of use.
1976 California disabled person's license plate.
Plates for the disabled had serial numbers that ended in DP
1976 expiration on California Consul Corps plate
1963 and 1969 style County/City exempt plates, as noted by the E in the octagon
These were in use on local government and local law enforcement vehicles in 1976
1963 and 1969 style California state vehicle plates show a diamond E monogram to the left
These were used through 1976 on all state vehicles including California State Patrol cars
California amateur radio operator license plate with a September 1977 expirations
The 1976 expiration sticker is also underneath the 77 sticker
Two types of dark yellow on blue California motorcycle bases
The plate on the left has one large single sticker box for the November and 1976 expiration stickers
The plate on the right has two sticker boxes for the separate stickers
You can also see the difference in the dies with a more rounded C used on the CAL of the plate on the right
July 1977 expiration issued in 1976 California motorcycle license plate
1963 California motorcycle base with tab issued inAugust of 1975 for expiration in August of 1976
The 1977 Cotton-Farm trailer tab would have used on California cotton farm trailer plates in 1976. Registrations were renewed every three years
The previous expiration was 1974. The 1977 expiration covered 1975, 1976 and 1977
California special equipment plate of the style first issued in 1969
These permanent plates were unstickered and used through 1976
Prorated waffle style plates with 1976 California prorate tab
1976 California boat registration stickers
These 3'x 3' stickers were affixed one sticker to each side of the vessel, 3 inchesaft of and in line with the actual registration number
1976 Riverside, California Bicentennial booster attachment
June 1976 sticker placed on top of the California Off Highway (All Terrain vehicles) registration sticker for ATV's
Plate placed on city owned vehicles in Los Angeles,California in 1976
April 1976 expiring Pasadena, California commercial business license plate
This small shield like plate went on the vehicles ofindividuals living in the Del Monte Forest/Pebble Beach Resort area ofthe Monterey Peninsula in California
I am assuming these were used aspasses into a gated community
July 10-11 Modesto Paso de Las Sierras car rally plate
1976 Dew Drop In, Redwood City, California, booster plate
California cardboard movie prop plate dated with 76 sticker
A couple California exempt movie prop plates used on movie police cars
California License Plate Month Sticker
Plates I am looking for from California:
California License Plate Sticker 2020
- 15 California
- Various 76 non passenger California plates not shown on this page.
For more on California license plates, you can follow these links: