The U.S. state of Washington first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.

, plates are issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The plates have been manufactured by incarcerated workers managed by the Washington State Department of Corrections since 1923. They are primarily produced at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, with some also made at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe.

Passenger baseplates

1915 to 1949 ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesEmbossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "WN" and "1916" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 45000, with gaps (see right)Single series of all-numeric serials used for all classes of vehicles, including trucks, vehicles for hire and dealer vehicles.1916–17Embossed white serial on lavender plate with border line; "WN" at left and vertical "X17" at rightnone123451 to approximately 64000, with gapsThe 'X' indicated the passenger class of vehicles; other letters were used for other classes.1917–18Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "WN" at left and vertical "X18" at rightnone123451 to approximately 96000, with gaps1918–19Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "WN X-19" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 114000Revalidated through February 29, 1920, with white porcelain tabs.1919–20Black serial on yellow and white porcelain plate; "WN X-20" on white section at leftnone123456144001 to approximately 157000, with gapsBoth these plates issued only to new registrants.As above, but fully embossed with border linenone123456157501 to approximately 194000, with gaps1920–21Embossed white serial on green plate; "WN X-21" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 181000, with gaps1921Embossed black serial on gray plate; "WN X:21" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 184000, with gaps1922Embossed white serial on brown plate; "WN X-22" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 195000, with gaps1923Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "WN X:23" at leftnone1234561 to 200000; 300001 to approximately 3190001924Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "WN X:24" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 2530001925Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "WN X-25" at leftnone1234561 to approximately 2820001926Embossed white serial on green plate; "WASHINGTON" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "X26" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 311-000First use of the full state name.1927Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "X27" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 326-0001928Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON-28" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 343-0001929Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON-29" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 394-0001930Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "30 WASHINGTON X" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 380-0001931Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 31" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 348-0001932Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "X 32 WASHINGTON" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 381-0001933Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 33" at topnone123-4561 to approximately 359-0001934Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 34" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 358-0001935Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 35" at bottomnoneA-12345123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)First use of county codes, and last use of 'X' to indicate the passenger class. Six-digit all-numeric serials issued in King County following A-99999; this happened again in 1936.1936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "19 WASHINGTON 36" at bottomnoneA-12345123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)1937Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1937" at topnoneAB-1234County-coded(A or AB)1938Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "1938 WASHINGTON" at topnoneA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)1939Embossed golden yellow serial on green plate with border line; "STATE OF WASHINGTON" at bottom"1889-GOLDEN JUBILEE-1939" at topA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)Commemorated Washington's 50 years of statehood.1940Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1940" at bottomnoneA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)1941Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1941" at topnoneA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)1942–44Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 1942" at bottomnoneA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944As 1942 base, but with "WASHINGTON 1944" at bottomnone123451 to approximately 89000Issued only to new registrants.1945–46Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 1945" at topnoneA-123-456AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)Revalidated for 1946 with windshield stickers.1947–48Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "WASHINGTON 1947" at bottomnoneA·123·456AB·1234County-coded(A or AB)Revalidated for 1948 with windshield stickers.1949Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "WASHINGTON 1949" at topnoneA123·456AB·1234County-coded(A or AB)

1950 to present In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Washington license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1954 plate, introduced in January 1956. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1950Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 50" at bottomnoneA123·456AB·1234County-coded(A or AB)Revalidated for 1951 with silver tabs, for 1952 with windshield stickers, and for 1953 with green tabs.1951–53As above, but with "51" instead of "50"Single plate issued only to new registrants. Revalidated for 1952 and 1953 in the same manner as for 1950 plates. 1954–57Embossed white serial on green plate; "54 WASHINGTON" at bottomnone123-456 ACounty-coded(A or AB)Revalidated for 1955 with silver tabs, for 1956 with white tabs, and for 1957 with green tabs.1956–57As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with narrower serial dies and border lineValidated for 1956 and 1957 in the same manner as for 1954–55 plates.1958–62Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WASHINGTON" centered at bottomnoneABC 123County-codedValidated each year with plate stickers.1963–64Embossed green serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "WASH. 63" centered at bottomnoneABC 123County-coded (until 1981)1965–67As above, but with "WASHINGTON" centered at bottom1968–82As above, but reflective, and with "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to left1982–85As above, but with "WASHINGTON" screened rather than embossedUnused 'E', 'G', 'H' and 'L' series1985–86As above, but with narrower serial diesABC-123Unused 'L' and 'W' series1987 –late1990Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with light blue Mount Rainier graphic and dark blue border line; "Washington" screened in red centered at top"Centennial Celebration" screened in red centered at bottom123-ABC000-AAA to 999-DGPI, O and Q not used as the first letter in this serial format. Seven-year plate replacement schedule phased from January 2001 to December 2014.late1990 –July1998none000-DGQ to 999-JNZJuly1998 –December 31, 2009As above, but without dark blue border line, and with "WASHINGTON" screened in red at top, offset to left"EVERGREEN STATE" screened in red centered at bottom000-JOA to 999-ZZZJanuary 1, 2010 – October 2024ABC1234AAA0000 to CPE8599;CPL1600 to CPN2599; CRH0000 to CTM9999I, O and Q not used as the third letter in this serial format. Seven-year plate replacement schedule discontinued in January 2015.October 2024 – presentAs above, but Un-embossed with navy blue letters.CPE8600 to CPL1599;CPN2600 to CRG9999 CTN0000 to CXT9999 I, O and Q not used in the 'C' series of serials.

Non-passenger plates ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotesDisabled1990-98Similar to 1990-98 passenger plates, but with man in wheelchair on right12345D/PD/P12345-D/P999991999-2010Similar to 1998-2010 passenger plates, but with man in wheelchair on right12345D/PD/P00001-D/P99999 2010–presentSimilar to 2010–present passenger plates, but with man in wheelchair on left; plate also became screenedD/P12345D/P00001-present Motorcycle1968–76Debossed white on green with border line; "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to leftAB-123 AA-000 to approximately Validated until 2000.1976–86 Embossed green on white with border line; "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to left123456000001 to approximately 297000Validated until 2000.1987–99Similar to 1987–98 passenger plates, but with "Washington" offset to left and no slogan123456400000 to approximately 6019991999–2008Similar to current passenger plates, but without slogan602000 to 9999992008–present1A23450A0000 to presentTrailer – large1987–90As 1987–90 passenger plates1234-AB0000-JA to approximately 9999-KC1990–99As 1990–98 passenger plates0000-KD to approximately 9999-MH 1999–2016As current passenger plates0000-MI to 9999-ZZ 2016–present12345AB00000AA to present Truck1987–90As 1987–90 passenger plates12345-A00000-H to 11999-T1990–95As 1990–98 passenger plates12000-T to 99999-Z1995–99A12345BA00000A to A18999E 1999–presentAs current passenger platesA19000E to presentApportioned Combination1988–94As 1987–90 style passenger plates with "Apportioned" in red text at bottom12345AB1994–99As 1990–98 style passenger plates with text "APPOR. COMBINATION" in red on yellow sticker at bottom12345AB 1998–99As above except black band around edge has been omitted12345AB 2000–presentAs 1998–present style passenger plates with text "APPOR. COMBINATION" in red on yellow sticker at bottom or with text "APPORTIONED COMBINATION" in red printed at bottom12345AB Rental Car1990–1998As 1990–1998 passenger plates. Discontinued after used to target and rob tourists. First three digits sometimes reflect rental car company (ex. NCR= National Car Rental.)AAA0000

County coding CountyOne- or two-letter code,1935–57Three-letter codes,1958–81 King A AAA–AZZ, OAA–OZZ, IAA–IRZ, IUA–IZZ, UCA–UKZ Pierce B BAA–BZZ, TBA–TFZ Spokane C CAA–CKZ, CNA–CTZ, CVA–CVK (1963–81), CVL–CZZ, SLA–SMZ Snohomish D DAA–DRZ, DVA–DVR Yakima E EAA–EKZ Whatcom F FAA–FFM Clark G GAA–GCZ, GEA–GNP Grays Harbor H HAA–HDW Kitsap I KSA–KUB, KVA–KZF Thurston J JAA–JEK Chelan K KAA–KDH Lewis L LAA–LDG Skagit M MAA–MDS Cowlitz N NAA–NFP Walla Walla O WWA–WYZ Whitman P PAA–PCF Clallam Q CLA–CMZ, PDA–PDF Benton R RAA–REU Kittitas S SAA–SBM Lincoln T TAA–TAN Okanogan U UAA–UBK Pacific V VAA–VAW Stevens W WAA–WBD Mason X XAA–XAZ Jefferson Y YAA–YAN Klickitat Z ZAA–ZBD Adams AD YYA–YYR Asotin AN ZZA–ZZZ, ZYA–ZYL Columbia CO CUA–CUG Douglas DO DSA–DST Franklin FN FNA–FSF Ferry FY FYA–FYE Garfield GA GDA–GDF Grant GT GTA–GVW Island IS CVA–CVK (1958–62); ISA–ITZ (1963–81) Pend Oreille PO PEB–PES Skamania SA SKA–SKK San Juan SJ SJA–SJK Wahkiakum WA WMA–WMF

Specialty plates