PURPOSE
To inform you about the issuance of previously used license plate patterns and action plans for assisting customers who may be affected by this procedure.

DETAILS
The current pattern (three numbers followed by three letters) for the general issue license plate for passenger vehicles is a pattern that was last used more than twenty years ago. The reuse of this pattern began in September 2004. It is necessary to reuse plate numbers because of the growing vehicle population. The Vehicle Titles and Registration Division (VTR) rotates four patterns for general issue license plates, and this is the first time any of these patterns have been reused since we began issuing multi-year license plates in 1974. Reusing plate patterns allows the state to avoid conversion to a seven-digit license plate, which would create a legibility problem for law enforcement.

Some of the license plate numbers currently being issued are still in the system from an earlier issuance. When a reused license plate number is issued to a vehicle, two records may exist for that plate number if both vehicles are currently registered. A current record will not appear on newly purchased vehicles or for vehicles issued new license plates as replacements if the plate number is run between the interim period of issuance and update of the record into RTS.

COUNTY ACTION
Please work with DTA automobile dealerships in your area to advise customers to carry documentation (such as a copy of the Form VTR-31-RTS) in their vehicles for at least 30 days following purchase of a new vehicle. Customers who are issued license plates as replacements by the county also should be advised to keep a copy of the VTR-500-RTS receipt in their vehicles for at least 30 days. This will assure that the customer has documentation to present to law enforcement if it becomes necessary prior to the update of the vehicle record. VTR continues to research the situation and will provide further information in the near future.

CONTACT
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact your local VTR Regional Office. You may also call Mike Craig, Deputy Director, or me at (512) 465-7570. Thank you very much.

In some cases the Registration and Title Bulletins (RTB) contain attachments. If you require a copy of the original signed RTB and the attachments, please email your request with the RTB number to VTR Info Request/Open Records. Repeat requests are subject to charges in accordance with Open Record policies. A subscription service is also available for an annual fee of $250. Subscribers will automatically receive all RTB mailings as they are issued.