Tips for Tagging in California
"Tagging" is taking a photo of a license plate to add to your collection and share with others. When you're travelling, you should be prepared and equipped to spot vanity license plates quickly. When you are a pasenger in a moving vehicle or walking by cars, there isn't much time to determine if a plate is vanity or not!
How to Quickly Spot Vanity Plates
In California, most standard license plates you see will start with a 4-9. Standard license plate numbers are issued based on the year the plate was printed.
- 1, 2, or 3: Issued roughly between 1980 and 1994.
- 4: Issued for vehicles from the late 90s to early 2000s (roughly 1995–2002).
- 5 or 6: Issued during the 2000s and early 2010s (roughly 2003–2013).
- 7: Issued between 2014 and 2016.
- 8 or 9: Issued from 2017 to the present.
So the most common standadrd plates will start with the digit 4 thorugh 9. If you see this starting digit, you can usually ignore the plate! This rule makes it easier to skim plates in a fast moving environment.
Another clue that a plate is vanity is if it has a different color background, license plate style, or frame. Black-background plates, or plates with a unique font or symbolism (like military plates) are more likely to be vanity. For example this California license plate with a blue background and gold lettering was a dead giveaway it was a vanity plate, ready to be tagged. And this California plate has a custom background. Car owners who opt for custom plate backgrounds often do so when they purchase a vanity plate.
Out-of-state plates are also more likely to be vanity. If you spot the state name above the numbers, non-California is more likely to yield a vanity plate for you to tag.
Put This Knowledge To Good Use!
Use these visual cues and numeric knowledge to maximize your tagging efficiency. You should be able to skim at a brisk walk and even running pace, without needing to stop and consider each plate.
Always tag responsibly. Do not take photos of vanity plates as the driver of a moving vehnicle. Be aware of your surroundings when tagging and do not get close to moving traffic!
Our Favorite California Plates
Now that you know how to tag in California, go check out our favorite plates tagged in California!
Share Your Favorite Plates
Did you tag an amazing California vanity plate? You are welcome to submit it to PL8FROG to share your collection with us!