The following Article outlines the "story" of the 1956 California License Plate.

If you are interested in running the correct license plate on your 1955 to 1962 car, read the following.  At the bottom of the two page article is a DMV phone number you can call to verify that your license plate is "Clear" before you purchase the plate and maybe spend more money and restore it.

California has an YOM (Year of Manufacture) category for such plates but WILL NOT let you run the plates if the number matches another active plate of the same number on another vehicle, even motorcycles.