Like in the UK, California's license plates follow the vehicles they originate on, not the owner, so residents can easily pick out cars that have been in continuous California circulation since way back in the last millennium. A car with yellow tags with black lettering was registered between 1956 and 1962, one with yellow tags with black lettering is from circa 1963 to 1969, and one with blue tags with yellow lettering got them sometime from 1970 to 1982. State Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill allowing for the return of those plate styles.
Autoblog , California DMV opens door to reissuing classic license plates, California DMV opens door to reissuing classic license plates
