The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906.

As of 2022[update], plates are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

[1] One out of every ten personalized license plates in the United States is registered to a Virginia driver.

[3] 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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.

[4] The first Virginia license plate that complied with these standards was issued eight years beforehand, in 1948.