Ask the DMV: What does the fire logo on the license plate mean?

Q: I recently saw a car that has a firefighter on the license plate. Can you tell me how you get these and what they mean?

A: The plate that you saw is the California Firefighter License Plate and can only be issued to a vehicle currently owned and registered to an active or retired California Firefighter.

The fees collected from Firefighter License Plates are deposited in the California Firefighters Memorial fund, which was created and sponsored by the California Professional Firefighters.

Upon applying for the plates, you will be asked for proof of eligibility, which you can provide by presenting a fire department ID card, an IAFF membership card, or CFF Call Back Association membership card.