Yes, Oregon has moved to a registration system using only a year sticker on license plates. The state’s Department of Transportation phased out month stickers, meaning your renewal notice and new registration will only show and provide a sticker for the year. If your registration expired in July 2024, your new sticker will display the year 2026, granting a two-year registration period without needing to account for the specific month.
This shift is part of Oregon’s “Registration Year” program, which officially began for most vehicles on January 1, 2020. The primary goal was to simplify the registration process and reduce administrative costs. Under the old system, expiration was spread across all 12 months. The new system aligns expiration dates with the vehicle owner’s birth month or a designated month for businesses, issuing registrations valid for two years at a time.
For vehicle owners, the practical effect is straightforward. You no longer receive or apply a month decal. The single year sticker indicates the expiration year. Your exact expiration date is the last day of your assigned registration month. For instance, a vehicle with a July registration month and a 2026 sticker expires on July 31, 2026. The registration certificate you keep in your vehicle will specify this exact date.
The process for renewing has also been streamlined. Renewal notices are mailed about six weeks before the expiration month. Upon payment, you receive a new year sticker and updated registration card. The transition was automatic for existing vehicles; most owners simply received a notice with a new two-year expiration date the first time they renewed after the change.
Data from the Oregon DMV indicates this change has reduced sticker inventory complexity and mailing errors. A side-by-side comparison clarifies the key differences:
| Feature | Old System (Pre-2020) | Current System (Registration Year) |
|---|
| Stickers Issued | Month and Year | Year Only |
| Registration Period | 1 or 2 years | Standard 2-year period |
| Expiration Date Logic | Specific calendar date | Last day of assigned month |
| Renewal Notice Timing | Based on old expiration date | Based on registration month |
Common questions from vehicle owners are addressed by this framework. There is no need to wait for a specific date within your renewal month to avoid “losing” time, as the period is fixed to the month’s end. The two-year term is applied in full from your expiration date forward. Out-of-state drivers or law enforcement can verify validity by checking the year on the plate sticker and knowing it expires at the month’s end.
If you have not yet renewed since the change, your upcoming notice will reflect the new system. The registration fee now covers a standard two-year period. This policy applies to most passenger vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles. Some commercial and fleet vehicles may have different cycles, but the year-only sticker rule is nearly universal.
The transition has been fully implemented, and all new registrations or renewals now follow this model. The design simplifies the physical plate, reduces state production costs, and provides a longer, more predictable registration cycle for residents. Always refer to your current registration document for your precise expiration date, as it remains the official record of your vehicle's legal status.
