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Ohio
2021
Kentucky
2020
New York
2020
Michigan
2013
California
2012
Idaho
2008
Arkansas
2006
West Virginia
2006
Louisiana
2005
Colorado
2000
Connecticut
2000
Maine
1999
Arizona
1996
Delaware
1969
Hawaii
1991
Massachusetts
1988
New Jersey
2007
Utah
2007
Pennsylvania
2006
Rhode Island
1996
Oregon
1990
New Mexico
1989
Vermont
1985

License Plates by State 2024

License Plates by State 2024

In the United States, getting your driver’s license is only the first step to legally operating a vehicle. There are other costs associated with purchasing and driving a car. You must also purchase insurance, pass an emissions inspection in others, and pay for vehicle registration to obtain a license plate in all states.

You receive a license plate when you register your vehicle in your state. The price that you will pay to register and receive your plate varies by state. Where you display your plates on your vehicle also varies by state and the license plate design.

In some states, only a rear plate is required. Those states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia. The remaining states require front and rear plates for all vehicles. Each state has its own unique design for license plates, all of which are listed in the table below.

In addition to standard-issue plates, residents of each state can pay extra money to receive special plates. There are plates available for different professions, alma maters, sororities, groups, and clubs. A driver can also pay for vanity plates, which allows the driver to choose a personalized combination of numbers and letters.

License Plates by State 2024

Notes:
- License plate serial formats indicate how many digits appear on a given state's license plate, as well as whether each digit is a number or letter and the sequence in which they appear.
- Descriptions pertain to standard-issue passenger vehicle plates. Specialty plates issued for disabled drivers, commercial vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, antique or electric vehicles, police vehicles, or other specific uses frequently differ from the standard format.
- Plate designs that are no longer available, such as California's blue plate with yellow text, are excluded from the table.
- Some states, such as North Carolina, feature more than one standard design or free-of-charge optional alternates. These differ from so-called "vanity" plates, which offer additional designs at an added cost.

Download Table Data

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State
Current Style First Issued
Standard Issue Slogan
Standard Issue Digit Color and Plate Design
Serial Number Style
Serial Format
Tennessee2022 (January)www.tnvacation.com
  • Blue with "The Volunteer State" on the left and the outline of the state around "Tennessee" with county name sticker and the Tri-Star logo in the center
  • Screened
  • ABC 1234
  • 123 ABCD alternate with 'In God We Trust' around the Tri-Star logo
Alabama2022 (January 03)Heart of Dixie (in small print)
  • Bay and sky graphic with www.alabama.travel at the bottom
  • Screened
  • 0AB1234 (single-digit counties)
  • 00AB123 (double-digit counties)
  • First 1-2 digits are the county's numerical code
Ohio2021Sunrise in Ohio, county name sticker in black to be centered at bottom
  • Dark blue serial on sunrise scene featuring a skyline, hills, river, wheat, field and a child swinging from the tree, with Wright Flyer, state shape and read banner with "Birthplace of aviation" at top
  • Screened
  • ABC 1234
Kentucky2020Optional issue: In God We Trust
  • Dark blue on light blue gradient with county name sticker below serial and state outline left of serial
  • Screened
  • ABC123
New York2020Excelsior
  • Dark blue on reflective white with Niagara Falls, Adirondack Mountains, the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline, and the Montauk Point Light on the bottom
  • Embossed
  • ABC-1234
Missouri2018 (October 15)Bicentennial
  • Dark blue on white with red and dark blue waves, light gray state seal, and dark blue "1821 * 2021"
  • Embossed
  • Coded by month of expiration: AA1 B2C
Iowa2018 (April)
  • Black numbers on reflective graphic plate with blue sky, white city skyline, farm and wind turbine, and green grass field; "IOWA" screened in white centered at top; county name screened in black centered at bottom
  • Screened
  • ABC 123
Illinois2017 (January)Land of Lincoln
  • Reflective gradient blue-to-white with white Chicago and Springfield skyline and gray Abraham Lincoln graphic at far left; state name screened in black at top
  • Embossed
  • AB 12345 (2017–present)
  • AB1 2345 (2016)
Indiana2017 (January)Optional issue: In God We Trust
  • Dark blue serial on reflective country scene graphic featuring a covered bridge; expiration date, year, county number and recycling symbol in corners clockwise from top left.
  • Optional issue: Black on white with American flag graphic
  • Screened
  • 123A
  • 123AB
  • 123ABC
  • Optional issue: ABC123
Nebraska2017 (January)1867; 2017
  • Black on reflective white with Sower statue from the Nebraska State Capitol
  • Screened
  • ABC 123
  • Or coded by county of issuance:0-A1234 (variable number of digits following letter)
  • 0-AB123 (following exhaustion of above format; variable number of digits following letter)
  • 00-A123 (variable number of digits following divider)
  • 00-AB12 (following exhaustion of above format; variable number of digits following divider)
Oklahoma2017 (January)TRAVELOK.COM
  • Screened black on reflective blue with state-shaped separator; scissor-tailed flycatcher in the middle, mountains on the left, oceans in the background and Explore above the state name
  • Screened
  • ABC-123
District of Columbia2017 (April)End Taxation without Representation; jurisdiction name displayed as "District of Columbia". (2001 Optional issue: www.washingtondc.gov)
  • Blue on reflective white with red flag separator
  • Screened
  • AB-1234
Maryland2016 (September)Maryland Proud
  • Black on reflective white with Maryland flag graphic
  • Embossed
  • 1AB2345
North Dakota2016 (November)Legendary; Peace Garden State
  • Black on light blue gradient fade to sunrise with prairie scene and buffalo graphic
  • Screened
  • 123 ABC
Nevada2016 (November 01)Home Means Nevada
  • Black numbers and state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black serifed letters centered at top
  • Embossed
  • 345·A12
South Carolina2016 (January)While I Breathe, I Hope (Style A), In God We Trust (Style B)
  • Style A: Black on white and blue background with palmetto tree in center,
  • Style B: Black on white with American and South Carolinian flags on the left
  • Screened
  • ABC 123 (Style A)
  • 1234AB (Style B)
South Dakota2016 (January)Great Faces. Great Places.
  • Blue on Mount Rushmore graphic
  • Screened
  • Coded by county of issuance: 0A1 234
  • 0AB 123
  • 00A 123
Wyoming2016 (January)
  • Screened black numbers and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate featuring the Green River Lakes and Squaretop Mountain against a cloudy blue sky; golden yellow rope border around plate
  • Screened
  • Coded by county of issuance:0-12345 (variable number of digits following divider)
  • 0-1234A (following exhaustion of above format; variable number of digits following divider)
  • 00-12345 (variable number of digits following divider)
Virginia2014 (March 01)Virginia is for Lovers
  • Blue on white
  • Embossed
  • ABC-1234
Michigan2013Pure Michigan, 2014 Optional issue: The Mackinac Bridge, 2021 Optional issue: Water-Winter Wonderland
  • Blue on reflective white with blue wave at bottom
  • 2014 optional: Maize on dark blue
  • 2021 optional: White to yellow fade and blue with stylized Mackinac Bridge in background with black characters
  • Embossed
  • ABC 1234
  • ABC 123 (2014 optional)
  • 1ABC23 (2021 optional)
Mississippi2012 (October)"Birthplace of America's Music"
  • Dark blue on brown background with Mississippi State Seal between the letters and the numbers
  • Embossed
  • ABC 1234
Georgia2012 (May)Peach State or GEORGIA with county name or "In God We Trust" sticker
  • Black on reflective white peach graphic in center
  • Screened
  • ABC1234
Texas2012 (June)The Lone Star State
  • Black on white with 5-point star in the upper left corner.
  • Screened
  • ABC-1234
California2012dmv.ca.gov
  • Dark blue on white with red state name graphic and slogan printed in red at the bottom
  • Embossed
  • 1ABC234
Alaska2010 (January)The Last Frontier
  • Blue on gold with state flag
  • Embossed
  • ABC 123
Montana2010 (January)Treasure State, Optional issues: replica 1989 Centennial base, replica 1991 "Big Sky" base, replica 2000 base, replica 2006 "Big Sky Country" base
  • White on blue with white state outline
  • Optional issues:
  • Centennial: Blue on white with gold and maroon graphics,
  • Big Sky: Black on light blue gradient with multicolor state outline,
  • 2000 base: Black on light blue with blue and tan graphics,
  • Big Sky Country: Black on light blue gradient with multicolor state outline
  • Screened
  • Coded by county of issuance:0-12345A or 00-1234A
  • Optional issues: - Centennial: ABC123
  • - Other: Coded by county of issuance:0-12345A or 00-1234A
Minnesota2009 (July)Explore Minnesota.com, 10,000 Lakes
  • Black on reflective white with lake scene graphic
  • Screened
  • 123-ABC
  • ABC-123
  • Numbers and letters switch sides on a seven year cycle
Idaho2008Famous Potatoes
  • Black on reflective white with red gradient and dark blue mountain scene
  • Screened
  • Coded by county of issuance:A 123456 (variable number of digits following space)
  • 0A 12345 (variable number of digits following space)
  • 0A B1234 (following exhaustion of above format)
  • 0A BC123 (following exhaustion of above format)
  • 0A 1B234 (following exhaustion of above format)
  • 0A 1234B (following exhaustion of above format)
  • 00A 1234 (variable number of digits following space)
Kansas2007 (April)
  • Black characters on a light blue gradient with state seal graphic as the background, county code sticker on the top left and registration sticker on the top right.
  • Screened 2018-onward
  • Embossed 2007-2018)
  • 123 ABC
New Jersey2007Garden State
  • Black on yellow gradient fade
  • Screened
  • D12-ABC (2010–present)
  • ABC-12D (2007–2010)
Utah2007Greatest Snow on Earth (2007), Life Elevated (2007), In God We Trust; United We Stand (2017)
  • Dark blue on skier graphic (Greatest Snow),
  • Dark blue on graphic of Delicate Arch (Life Elevated),
  • Dark blue on white background flag graphic (2017)
  • Embossed
  • A12 3BC (2007)
  • 1A2BC (2017)
Arkansas2006The Natural State
  • Black on a diamond background, representing Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murfreesboro
  • Embossed
  • ABC 12D
Pennsylvania2006visitPA.com
  • Blue on white with yellow and blue bars
  • Embossed
  • ABC-1234
West Virginia2006Wild, Wonderful
  • Blue on white with state name in dark blue bar
  • Embossed
  • Coded by month of expiration: 0AB 123 (1 through 9 for January through September
  • respectively)
  • ABC 123 (O
  • N
  • and D for October
  • November
  • and December
  • respectively)
Louisiana2005Sportsman's Paradise
  • Black on yellow-pink gradient with pelican graphic in center
  • Embossed
  • ABC 123 (through 2016)
  • 123 ABC (2016–present)
Florida2003 (December)myFLORIDA.com with county name or "Sunshine State" (2008 optional release uses slogan "In God We Trust")
  • Green on reflective white with state map and citrus orange graphic
  • Embossed
  • ABC D12 (2009–present)
  • 123 ABC (2006 to 2009)
  • A12 3BC (2003 to 2009)
  • 123 4AB (2008 optional issue)
Wisconsin2000 (June)America's Dairyland
  • Black on reflective white with stylized lake and farm graphic
  • Embossed
  • ABC-1234 (2017–present)
  • 123-ABC (2000–2017)
Colorado2000
  • Dark green on reflective white gray and green Rocky Mountains scene graphic. Some versions have full color
  • Embossed
  • ABC-D12
Connecticut2000Constitution State
  • Dark blue on blue and white gradient fade
  • Embossed
  • AB•12345 (2015–present)
  • 1AB•CD2 (2013–2015)
  • 1ABCD2 (2013)
  • 123•ABC (2000–2013)
New Hampshire1999 (January)Live Free or Die
  • Green on Old Man of the Mountain graphic
  • Embossed
  • 123 4567 (2000–present)
  • 123 456 (1999)
Maine1999Vacationland
  • Black on reflective white with a chickadee and pine tassel graphic at left
  • Embossed
  • 1234 AB (variable number of digits preceding space)
Washington1998 (July)Evergreen State
  • Dark blue on white with light blue Mount Rainier graphic
  • Embossed
  • ABC1234 (2010–present)
  • 123-ABC (1987–2010)
Arizona1996Grand Canyon State
  • Dark green on desert landscape
  • Screened 2008-onward
  • Embossed 1996-2008)
  • CEA 1DB
Rhode Island1996Ocean State (bottom), Beautiful Rhode Island (top 2020-on)
  • Dark blue on stylized gray and white ocean wave graphic (1996-2020), White on dark blue with the Reliance in the upper left corner (2020-onward)
  • Screened 2020-onward
  • Embossed 1996-2020
  • 123456 (2007–present)
  • AB-123 and 12345 (1996–2007)
  • 1AB-234 (2020–present)
Hawaii1991Aloha State
  • Black on reflective white with rainbow graphic
  • Embossed
  • Coded by county of issuance:ABC 123
  • where first letter is A-G
  • J
  • N
  • P
  • or R-Y (City and County of Honolulu)
  • HAB 123/ZAB 123 (Hawai‘i County)
  • KAB 123 (Kaua‘i County)
  • LAB 123/MAB 123 (Maui County)
Oregon1990
  • Dark blue on Douglas Fir tree and mountain graphic
  • Embossed
  • 123 ABC (2004–present)
  • ABC 123 (1990–2004)
New Mexico1989Land of Enchantment, 2010 alternate adds New Mexico USA along bottom
  • 1989: Red on yellow with turquoise yucca graphics and red Zia sun symbol,
  • 2010 alternate: Yellow on turquoise with large yellow and red Zia sun symbol
  • Embossed
  • 123-ABC (1989)
  • ABC-123 (2010)
Massachusetts1988The Spirit of America
  • Red on reflective white
  • Embossed
  • Coded by month of expiration:12A 345
  • 1ABC 23
  • 1AB 234
  • 123 AB4
  • 12A B34
  • 1234 AB
  • 123 ABC
Vermont1985Green Mountain State
  • White on green with small white tree in top left corner
  • Debossed
  • ABC 123 (1990–present)
  • 12AB3 (1989)
  • 1AB23 (1988)
  • 123A4 (1986–1987)
  • 1A234 (1985)
North Carolina1982, 2015 (January), 2019 (July)First in Flight (1982), First in Freedom (2015), In God We Trust / To Be Rather Than To Seem (2019)
  • Blue on reflective white. First in Flight version features Wright Flyer graphic
  • Embossed
  • ABC-123 (1982–1985)
  • ABC-1234 (1985-onward)
Delaware1969The First State
  • Gold on navy blue
  • Screened
  • 123456 (variable number of digits)
showing: 51 rows

License Plates by State 2024

Sources