D.C. Plates of 1965-1973

1965: The Confusion Begins
It's no wonder that D.C. plates of various types issued (or revalidated) annually beginning in early 1965 have confused observers and collectors for decades. The relative scarcity of non-passenger plates of this era hasn't helped to make understanding what happened during the ensuing nine years any easier. Left Standard passenger plates were made with the wide dies and colored background characteristic of earlier plates. Center A diplomatic staff plate that shares characteristics of earlier and later plates. Right A sign of things to come: the plain black-on-white color scheme evident in this commercial plate would be used almost exclusively for the next decade. The new, slender dies were used until late 2001.

It could easily be argued that the most confusing era of Washington, D.C. license plates, especially when non-passenger plates are considered, is the nine-year period that began in April 1965. From the introduction of most types through the mid-1960s passenger and non-passenger plates were more similar than they were different. Colors, sizes, and periods of use were, in most cases, identical. That all changed, however, in early 1965, and the seemingly haphazard periods during which non-passenger plates were issued for the next nine years is a source of confusion for many D.C. plate observers.

Washington, D.C. Passenger and Non-Passenger Plates: 1965-1973

The images below are offered to try to illustrate which plates and stickers were used during each registration year between 1964 (exp. 3-31-65), the last in a sequence of consecutive years during which passenger and non-pass. plates were replaced simultaneously and shared color schemes, and 1974 (exp. 3-31-75, the new "Bicentennial" base) when they were again rejoined. In the interim, from April 1965 through March 1974, the replacement of passenger and non-passenger plates was staggered.

Six non-passenger types are not addressed on this page because they do not fit into any of the three classifications used below. Dealer, motorcycle dealer, trailer dealer, and transporter plates were replaced annually throughout this period and shared the same color scheme: blue on yellow in even-numbered registration years, the opposite in odd-numbered years. Please see our Motor Vehicle Business Types page for images and more information. The other types addressed not included below are motorcycle and personalized ("vanity").

Reserved-number plates are also not addressed on this page. Information about the design and replacement timing of reserved plates during this era may be found on a separate page.

	Passenger	Passenger-Format Types: Diplomat, Diplomatic Staff (WN prefix), Medical Doctor (MD), Rental (R)	Non-Passenger Format Types: Bus (B prefix), Commercial (C), Hire (H), Livery (L), Trailer (T)
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973

	This page last updated on December 31, 2017
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