How California’s new license plate will look after first change in 45 years

California is set to revamp its vehicle license plates in 2026, ending a nearly half-century-old format. The current sequence, a number followed by three letters and three numbers, is running out of combinations due to increased vehicle registrations. The new format will feature three numbers, three letters, and a final number. California is set to revamp its vehicle license plates in 2026, ending a nearly half-century-old format. The current sequence, a number followed by three letters and three numbers, is running out of combinations due to increased vehicle registrations. The new format will feature three numbers, three letters, and a final number.