21.045 California Firefighter License Plates

Firefighter License Plates are available in a sequential series or personalized with two to six characters and may be issued to automobiles, commercial vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles (two to five characters).

License Plate Eligibility Requirements—Only regularly employed or retired firefighters and volunteer firefighters or surviving family member of a deceased firefighter may obtain these license plates; they cannot be purchased by the general public. A surviving family member is the spouse (including a domestic partner, excluding a former spouse) and any child (including an adopted child, stepchild, or recognized natural child) of a deceased firefighter (active, retired, or volunteer) The applicant’s principal duties must be, or have been prior to retirement, within the scope of active firefighting and of providing fire prevention service, fire training, hazardous materials abatement, arson investigation, and emergency medical services.

The applicant’s fire department identification (ID), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), or California Professional Firefighters (CPF) Callback Association membership card must be presented and verified as proof of eligibility.

Note A photocopy of the Firefighter’s Fire Department ID or CPF Callback Association membership must accompany mail applications or applications for license plates being purchased as a gift. After verification, destroy the photocopy.

Original Personalized License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Recognition License Plate Application (REG 17A) form.
• The applicant’s fire department ID, IAFF membership, or CPF Callback Association membership card as proof of their eligibility.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle to the applicant.
• The fees due.

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17A.
• The applicant’s fire department ID, IAFF, or CPF Callback Association membership cards as proof of their eligibility.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle to the applicant.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Exchange—Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized Firefighter License Plates for a fee.

Renewal/Reassignment—Requires an additional fee for renewal or reassignment.

Retention—Requires an additional fee for retention. The firefighter’s surviving spouse may retain the Firefighter License Plates without setting a time limit to transfer the license plate. A family member may also retain one of the license plates as a family heirloom.

The following must be submitted:

• A Statement of Facts (REG 256) form stating the relationship to the Firefighter License Plate owner and/or surviving spouse. In the absence of a surviving spouse or where the spouse dies while in possession of the Firefighter License Plate, a member of the deceased firefighter’s family may retain one of the Firefighter License Plates. Family is defined as a spouse, parent, step-parent, child, grandparent, sibling, stepchild, step grandparent, and stepsibling. They must state the license plate will not be placed on a vehicle and will be kept as a family heirloom.

Transfer of Ownership—The license plate remains with the owner and the transfer is processed as usual. Refer to Chapter 11 for transfer procedures.

21.040 Whale Tail (Coastal Protection and Access) License Plates (VC §5067)

Whale Tail (Coastal Protection and Access) License Plates are available in a sequential series or personalized with two to seven characters and may be issued to automobiles, commercial vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles (two to five characters).

Original Personalized License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17 (PDF)) form.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The fees due.

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17 (PDF).
• Registration card in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Exchange—Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized Whale Tail License Plates for a fee.

Renewal/Reassignment—An additional fee is required for renewal or reassignment of the license plates to another vehicle.

Retention—An additional fee is required for retention of the license plates.

Transfer of Ownership—The license plate remains with the owner and the transfer is processed as usual. Refer to Chapter 11 for transfer procedures.

21.035 California Arts Council License Plates (VC §5074)

Arts Council (Arts) License Plates are available in a sequential series or personalized with two to six characters and may be issued to automobiles, commercial vehicles, and trailers. Arts License Plates are not available for motorcycles.
Original Personalized License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17 (PDF)) form.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17 (PDF).
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicants name.
• The license plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Exchange—Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized Arts Council License Plates for a fee
Renewal/Reassignment—An additional fee is required for renewal or reassignment.
Retention—An annual retention fee is required to retain the personalized license plates if the registration is not renewed.
Transfer of Ownership—The license plates remain with the owner and the transfer is processed as usual. Refer to Chapter 11 for transfer procedures.

21.030 California Agriculture (CalAg) License Plates (VC §5156)

CalAg License Plates are available in a sequential series or personalized with two to six characters and may be issued to automobiles, commercial vehicles, trailers, and motorcycles (two to five characters).

Original Personalized License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The fees due.

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The fees due.

Exchange—Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized CalAg License Plates for a fee.
Renewal/Reassignment—An additional fee is required for renewal or reassignment.
Retention—An annual retention fee is required to retain the personalized license plates if the registration is not renewed.
Transfer of Ownership—The license plates remain with the owner and the transfer is processed as usual. Refer to Chapter 11 for transfer procedures.

21.025 California (CA) 1960s Legacy License Plates (VC §5004.3)

Legacy License Plates are available in sequential configurations of six characters and in personalized configurations of two to seven characters and may be issued to automobiles, commercial vehicles (excluding international registration plan [IRP]), motorcycles, trailer coach (CCH), and permanent trailer identification (PTI).

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form.
  
  
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• License plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Original or Exchange Personalized License Plate application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17.
• The fees due.

Exchange— Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized California Legacy License Plates for a fee.
Renewal/Reassignment —An additional fee is required for renewal or reassignment.
Retention—An additional fee is required for retention.
Transfer of Ownership—The license plates remain with the owner and the transfer is processed as usual. Refer to Chapter 11 for transfer procedures.

21.020 Breast Cancer Awareness License Plates (VC §5108)

Breast Cancer Awareness License Plates are available for automobiles, commercial vehicles, and trailers in configurations from two to six characters and for motorcycles in configurations from two to five characters.

Original Sequential License Plate Application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed Special Interest License Plate Application (REG 17) form.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• License plates currently assigned to the vehicle.
• The fees due.

Original or Exchange Personalized License Plate application—The following must be submitted:

• A completed REG 17.
• Registration in the applicant’s name or the documents required to register the vehicle in the applicant’s name.
• The fees due.

Exchange— Existing personalized license plates may be exchanged to personalized California Breast Cancer License Plates for a fee.

21.015 Bicentennial Bill of Rights License Plates

Bicentennial Bill of Rights License Plates were issued between July 1, 1990, and December 31, 1991, to automobiles, commercial vehicles, and trailers. Bicentennial Bill of Rights License Plates are no longer available for issuance or replacement, but existing license plates may be renewed and may be reassigned as explained in the Reassignment of Special License Plates section in this chapter.

21.010 Antique Motorcycle License Plates

Antique Motorcycle License Plates may be issued for motorcycles manufactured in 1942, or prior. These motorcycles are subject to all regular fees. Antique Motorcycle License Plates are not available as personalized license plates.

21.005 Amateur Radio (HAM) License Plates

Persons holding an unexpired Amateur Radio Station license issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may be issued one set of Amateur Radio (HAM) License Plates for a passenger motor vehicle, commercial vehicle, or motorcycle registered to the licensee. Amateur Radio License Plates are not available for trailers.

Chapter 21 Special License Plates

21.000 Introduction

This chapter contains the requirements for issuance and processing of special license plates. Refer to Appendix 1F for special license plate fees.