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California YOM Information for 1940 to 1946 California Vehicles / License Plates

***Please note:  Plates pictured below are passenger car plates.  Truck / commercial vehicle plates have "PC" or "SC" stacked on the left side of the plate.  These plates are very hard to find and we've heard the DMV will "generally" allow passenger car plates on trucks / commerical vehicles for YOM registration of model-years 1946 and prior.  However, each office appears to do things differently so be prepared that you may be turned down when attempting to register a truck / commerical vehicle with passenger car plates for 1946 and earlier. 

1940 California license plates = New base plates this year

In 1940, California issued new base license plates with a mustard
yellow background and black lettering

For YOM registration of a 1940 model-year vehicle you will need a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1940 plates

1941 California license plates = New base plates this year

In 1941, California issued new base license plates with
a black background and yellow lettering

For YOM registration of a 1941 model-year vehicle you will need a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1941 plates



1941 1942 California License Plates

1942 California license plates = New base plates this year OR 1942 tags on 1941 base plates

In 1942, California issued new base license plates with a
black background and yellow lettering and also issued 1942
metal strip tags / tabs to be used on 1941 plates when metal
became a scarce resource leading up to WWII

For YOM registration of a 1942 model-year vehicle you will need a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1942 plates OR a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1941 plates and a pair of 1942 metal strip tags

1943 California license plates = 1943 "V" tags on 1941 or 1942 base plates

In 1943, California issued a new metal corner tag / tab with a red "V" on a white background

For YOM registration of a 1943 model-year vehicle you will need a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1941 plates OR 1942 plates with a metal "V" corner tab on each plate

1944 California license plates = 1944 windshield sticker with 1941 or 1942 base plates

In 1944, California issued a paper sticker to attach to the inside of the windshield

For YOM registration of a 1944 model-year vehicle you will need a pair of front & rear, matching, DMV clear 1941 plates OR 1942 plates with a 1944 DMV paper windshield sticker

1945 California license plates = New base plate this year

In 1945, California issued a new base license plate with a black background and white lettering and only one (rear) plate was required

For YOM registration of a 1945 model-year vehicle you will need a single, DMV clear 1945 plate

1946 California license plates = 1946 metal tag on 1945 base plate

In 1946, California issued a new metal tag / tab with a black "46" on a yellow background

For YOM registration of a 1946 model-year vehicle you will need a single, DMV clear 1945 plate with a metal "46" tab