State: CA

California state license plates are issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and have been mandatory since 1914. Plates are registered to vehicles rather than drivers and must be renewed annually, with fees tied to vehicle value, age, and location. California offers a large range of specialty, environmental, collegiate, and organizational plates alongside standard passenger plates. Personalized plates have been available since the 1960s and are especially popular due to the state’s size, car culture, and long-standing tolerance for creative combinations.