What Are the License Plates of the Most Popular Video Games Like?
Have you ever noticed the license plates on the cars and motorcycles in video games? If you've ever asked yourself this question, you've found the corner of the internet you were looking for. On the rest of the website matriculasdelmundo.com, we show only real, verified data, often sourced from official records. However, in this section, we will exclusively focus on fictional license plates created in the world of video games.
We provide just a few examples, aiming to explain how they work in the most technical way possible. Still, it can be challenging to draw parallels to real-world systems for some of these plates.
Table of Contents
Description of a License Plate in Grand Theft Auto V
The first video game we’re dedicating significant attention to is Grand Theft Auto V by Rockstar Games. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best games ever created for examining license plates. All cars in the game, as well as some motorcycles, use license plates—at least one on the front of the vehicle or truck. These plates can vary and even be customized, as we will see below.
The license plates in GTA V are based on those used in the U.S. state of California. The design is nearly identical, including older versions, and features the same characteristic typeface associated with California. It's important to note that the city of Los Santos in the game is inspired by Los Angeles, located on California's west coast. Below, we showcase all five types of license plates, excluding custom ones.
Types of License Plates Used in the Game
| # | Image | Type | Similar To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ordinary Plate "In Use" | Modern California |
| 2 |  | Ordinary Plate "Older" | Previous California |
| 3 |  | Ordinary Plate with Blue Background | Previous California |
| 4 |  | Ordinary Plate with Black Background | Previous California |
| 5 |  | Special Tax-Exempt Plate | California |
Detailed Description of Plate Functionality
In all cases, the format used is two numbers, three letters, and two numbers: NNLLLNNN (e.g., 12ABC345). This format includes vowels and even the letter Q. The combinations do not follow any specific order and are entirely random, allowing the same plate number to appear on more than one vehicle at the same time. Another detail is that the plate's background color (white, blue, or black) determines the month displayed on the inspection sticker located in the upper left corner. For four-wheeled vehicles, license plates are used on both the front and rear. Trailers, however, only display a plate on the rear, centered.
Inspection Sticker Based on License Plate Type
License plates of Type 1 (first column of the table above) always display the month MAY on their inspection sticker. Type 2 plates show OCT (October). Type 3 plates display DEC (December). Type 4 plates indicate JUN (June). Lastly, Type 5 plates, which are tax-exempt and used by emergency vehicles (police, ambulance, and fire department), do not require an inspection sticker and thus do not display one.
Other Types of License Plates in GTA V
In addition to the license plate types previously shown in GTA V, one of the standout features of this game is the ability to customize nearly all license plates. These plates can be redesigned at any of the in-game workshops, including the Type 5 plates for tax-exempt vehicles. Additionally, through the official mobile app of the game, players can customize their personal vehicles in GTA Online. Personalized plates can be of any of the first four types listed in the table above. In the story mode, most main characters, including Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, have their own personalized license plates.
In addition to these personalized plates, there is another design featured on some static vehicles (such as trailers) in the desert area of Grand Señora. These plates all display the same text: GAMBLER in red letters, which translates to Gambler or Betting Games.
Grand Theft Auto V License Plates from North Yankton
In the introduction to Grand Theft Auto V, the story begins in the region of North Yankton. The license plates used in North Yankton are similar to those used in South Dakota between 2001 and 2006. These GTA V license plates for North Yankton are characterized by a red stripe at the top with the text NORTH YANKTON. They also feature stickers, with the month on the left and an orange sticker on the right. The letter and number combination follows the same format as the standard vehicles in Los Santos. Below is an example of this type of license plate from GTA V.
License Plates in GTA IV - Grand Theft Auto 4
Grand Theft Auto IV, released by Rockstar Games in 2008, features a diverse range of vehicles, though the variety of drivable cars is relatively limited. The license plates in GTA IV are among the least varied in the Grand Theft Auto series. The plates in Grand Theft Auto IV are modeled after the American plates from New York used between 2001 and 2010, replacing "THE EMPIRE STATE" with "LIBERTY CITY STATE." Every vehicle in the game—cars, motorcycles, trucks, emergency vehicles—uses the same single design, displaying "LIBERTY CITY" in capital letters. The only exception is semi-trailers. Although semi-trailers are not drivable or movable in the game, they feature their own unique license plate design: ON-10N EC.
License Plates in GTA San Andreas
Each vehicle in GTA San Andreas has a license plate that holds some unique secrets, explained below. Rockstar's GTA San Andreas, released in 2004, uses license plates inspired by California's standard plates, albeit with slight variations. There is one unified design applied across all regions of the game. The map in GTA San Andreas is divided into three geographical zones: Los Santos, Las Venturas, and San Fierro, each featuring distinct text on their plates.
License Plate Text Based on Region in GTA San Andreas
| # | Image |
|---|---|
| Los Santos |  |
| Las Venturas |  |
| San Fierro |  |
Configuration of License Plates in GTA San Andreas
The license plates in GTA San Andreas are characterized by showing "October" in the upper-left corner, the number 92 (representing 1992) in the upper-right corner, and the name of the region (Los Santos, Las Venturas, or San Fierro) in red at the center. At the bottom, the registration number is displayed prominently, consisting of two letters, three numbers, and two letters. Depending on whether you are playing the original version or the remastered version of GTA San Andreas, the plates might be harder to discern due to graphical differences. There are also special plates, such as personalized plates used in specific missions. Additionally, some license plates appear mirrored due to graphical effects, as shown in the examples below. While the numbering scheme is varied, plate numbers often repeat depending on the region or vehicle type. Motorcycle plates are identical to car plates.
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