District of Columbia license plates (United States)

Try a plate

Type any District of Columbia registration — valid plates render below, on their real designs.

Try the API

Everything on this page — formats, validity, colours, the renders themselves — is one request away.

GET /v1/plates/us-dc/match?plate=…

GET /v1/plates/us-dc/match?plate=FJ-8455

{ "plate": "FJ-8455",
  "valid": true, "exact": true,
  "matches": [{ "id": "us-dc-alternate-design",
    "render_url": "…svg?serial=FJ-8455" }] }

Get API access

standard plates 3

the default series issued to private road vehicles

District of Columbia

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2013–2017 documented from 2013 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

End taxation

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2017 → today documented from 2017 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

Alternate design

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2018 → today documented from 2018 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

motorcycle plates 1

reduced-size series for motorcycles where format/design differs

Motorcycle

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~2021 → today documented from 2021 — the format is likely older issued for: motorcycle

taxi plates 1

for-hire vehicles where separately serialized or colored

Taxi

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

2017 → today issued for: car, van

trailer plates 1

trailers and semi-trailers where separately serialized

Trailer

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~1974 → today documented from 1974 — the format is likely older issued for: trailer

specialty plates 1

optional-design programs on standard serials (US state programs)

Specialty index

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

2017 → today issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle

dealer plates 1

trade/garage plates bound to a business, not a vehicle

Dealer

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~2017 → today documented from 2017 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle, trailer

temporary plates 1

short-validity plates (transit, awaiting registration)

Temporary

In the sample, L stands for any letter.

2024 → today issued for: car, van, truck, bus, motorcycle, trailer

government plates 1

civil government fleets with distinct series

Government

In the sample, 9 for any digit.

~2017 → today documented from 2017 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus