# DeLorean’s registered license plate is actually “3CZV657” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [August 3, 2021, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957 "2021-08-03T10:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/1 "2021-08-03T10:37:09Z")
Many trivia sites mention this ‘fact’. But where are they getting this from? Can you see this in the films? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/2 "2021-08-03T11:11:13Z")
> **[Back to the Future (1985) - Trivia - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088763/trivia/?item=tr0798694)** > > Back to the Future (1985) - The DeLorean time machine is a licensed, registered vehicle in the state of California. While the vanity license plate used in the film says "OUTATIME", the DeLorean's actual license plate reads 3CZV657. > The DeLorean time machine is a licensed, registered vehicle in the state of California. While the vanity license plate used in the film says “OUTATIME”, the DeLorean’s actual license plate reads 3CZV657 California has a 7 character limit on license plates. The film plate uses 8. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/3 "2021-08-03T13:25:47Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > Many trivia sites mention this ‘fact’. But where are they getting this from? From the California DMV. > [@blueslipper](#): > > Can you see this in the films? No. As **running coach** mentions, on the film the car’s license plate is OUTATIME, a fictional plate that has more characters than a real CA license plate is allowed. ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/4 "2021-08-03T18:39:26Z")
As I am not in California I cannot verify this. Can you please verify for me that the DeLoreans number plate is actually 3CZV657. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/5 "2021-08-03T19:21:13Z")
There’s no easy way to verify it without the actual car used as a prop in the film. How would you verify it without access the the actual car? ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/6 "2021-08-03T19:28:41Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > Many trivia sites mention this ‘fact’. Could you link to one of these trivia sites? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/7 "2021-08-03T22:03:23Z")
Do you have conflicting information? How in the world do you think I’d be able to verify this? And why? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/8 "2021-08-03T22:13:56Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There’s no easy way to verify it without the actual car used as a prop in the film. How would you verify it without access the the actual car? The registered plate number is supposedly in the production notes for one of the movies. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/9 "2021-08-03T22:56:34Z")
An point I always noticed that I never see pointed out by many people is that time spelled backwards is “EMIT” and that Doc Brown’s first name is Emmett, the way that word would be pronounced. His name is time backwards. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/10 "2021-08-03T23:08:42Z")
Seems unlikely, unless the car has been reregistered since the films were made. The \<1 digit\> \<3 letters\> \<3 digits\> format is sequential, and the first digit goes up slowly. The car I bought in November 1988 started with 2L. The one I bought in April 1990, one month before Part III’s release and very likely after filming was complete, started with 2N. 3C won’t have come up in the normal sequencing until the early to mid 1990s. Last data point - the car I bought in Dec. 2000 starts with 4P ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/11 "2021-08-03T23:09:07Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Could you link to one of these trivia sites? @running_coach linked to the trivia section for the film on [IMDB.com](http://IMDB.com) in post #2. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/12 "2021-08-03T23:23:22Z")
> [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](#): > > The \<1 digit\> \<3 letters\> \<3 digits\> format is sequential, and the first digit goes up slowly. Exactly. I moved to CA in 1985 and my plate was 1L. And it was blue with yellow letters. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/13 "2021-08-04T00:24:03Z")
There is no one Back to the Future DeLorean. Three cars were used for filming, which fans apparently refer to as the A, B, and C cars today. There was also a fiberglass car which was used for some shots. The A car was the primary car used for filming. After filming it was used for promotional purposes and was then left on Universal’s lot for visitors to see. It was not properly maintained and ended up in pretty sad shape. About 10 years ago the car was restored, and now sits in the Petersen Automotive Museum. It currently has an “OUTATIME” license plate on it. The car sat for years and was not road worthy for much of that time, so it is rather unlikely that Universal maintained the original license and registration for it. The B car was the stunt car, and ended up being destroyed in the third film. What was left of the car (basically just a shell) ended up on display in the Planet Hollywood in Hawaii. When that closed, the remains of the car sat for many years and ended up being purchased a few years ago by a collector. Since it is basically now just a custom metal frame with the car’s body parts attached to it, it definitely no longer has a valid license plate on it. I couldn’t find any pictures of the back of it to see if it even has a license plate on it at this point. The C car was cut in half and was used for filming close-up shots inside the car. You definitely can’t drive half a car around so this one also cannot have a current license plate. I could not find any pictures of the back of this car online, only one sad picture of half a car sitting in storage. 3CZV657 may have been the plate that was on one of those three cars when Universal purchased them, but it’s definitely not the plate that is currently on any of them. The A car is the only one of the three that could even be driven at this point. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/14 "2021-08-04T00:33:39Z")
A car [![](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/sites/default/files/media/Culture/Museums/petersen-automotive-museum-delorean-rear.jpg?width=2600&fit=bound&quality=72&auto=webp) ](https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/sites/default/files/media/Culture/Museums/petersen-automotive-museum-delorean-rear.jpg?width=2600&fit=bound&quality=72&auto=webp) B car [![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d112c4e9fcdbd000181f492/1612975967928-48C87LRUVUPMETWWBK3P/Crash+Car+with+Train6.jpg) ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d112c4e9fcdbd000181f492/1612975967928-48C87LRUVUPMETWWBK3P/Crash+Car+with+Train6.jpg) C car [![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d431fcf61328c0001161e8b/1582896287005-9KWRGOA4FTXQCEGW2L82/c+car.png) ](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d431fcf61328c0001161e8b/1582896287005-9KWRGOA4FTXQCEGW2L82/c+car.png) ---
**Author:** ![blueslipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@blueslipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueslipper)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/15 "2021-08-04T01:37:55Z")
Thanks for all replies. I rewatched all three movies and searched images online and cannot find this licence plate. But [25 Cool BACK TO THE FUTURE Car Facts You Didn't Know [Lists] - The Geek Twins](http://www.thegeektwins.com/2014/05/25-cool-back-to-future-car-facts-you.html?m=1) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/16 "2021-08-04T01:40:24Z")
🙄 OMG ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/17 "2021-08-04T01:51:56Z")
Link not working. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/18 "2021-08-04T01:55:45Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > I rewatched all three movies and searched images online and cannot find this licence plate. Have you read the thread? The license plate was never used in the movie, and probably has never been displayed on any of the cars made up in time machine mode. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/19 "2021-08-04T03:00:17Z")
> [@blueslipper](#): > > Thanks for all replies. I rewatched all three movies and searched images online and cannot find this licence plate. > But [www.thegeektwins.com/2014/05/25-cool-back-to-future-car-facts-you.html?m=1](http://www.thegeektwins.com/2014/05/25-cool-back-to-future-car-facts-you.html?m=1) Entertaining compendium of fact-like pronouncements - my favorite is the one that starts “Because of a law by Jimmy Carter…” Got to love facts, especially the ones “you don’t know”. But, to the OP, it’s considered good manners around here when you start a thread to explain what you mean; some might find it helpful if you’re talking about a car in a movie to name that particular movie. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957/20 "2021-08-04T03:12:47Z")
> [@Hatchie](#): > > Entertaining compendium of fact-like pronouncements (click on photo for all three panels) [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV87cPxg-YMGTJmGPkBsN5GLY6Etoi6PSgfOexdM_VI_pbbACmb0G19Syz854vd6oYMzBp9gahV38NilrO1OmMoSSmEUVZQHPktJzze53mfZuFqu68fs=w600-h278-p-k "New item by Joe Wentworth") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/Le4m9MAd4kovDFps7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delorean-s-registered-license-plate-is-actually-3czv657/947957.md?page=2)