Vehicle registration plates of New Hampshire

Last updated
New Hampshire
New Hampshire 2004 Passenger Plate 174 0348.jpg
Current series
SloganLive Free or Die
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format123 4567
IntroducedJanuary 1999 (1999-01)
Availability
Issued by New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedApril 4, 1905 (1905-04-04)

The U.S. state of New Hampshire first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the New Hampshire Department of Safety through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Contents

Passenger baseplates

1905 to 1972

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. [1] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first New Hampshire license plate that complied with these standards.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1905–11White serial on green porcelain plate; "N.H." centered at bottomnone12341 to approximately 7200
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1912Embossed green serial on white plate; vertical "NH" and "1912" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 5700
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1913White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "NH" and "1913" at left and right respectivelynone12341000 to approximately 7800
1914 New Hampshire License Plate.jpg 1914White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "NH" and "1914" at left and right respectivelynone12341000 to approximately 9700
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1915Green serial on white porcelain plate; "N. H." and "1915" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123451000 to approximately 13500
1916 New Hampshire License Plate.jpg 1916White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "NH" and "1916" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 17600
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1917Green serial on white porcelain plate; "N. H." and "1917" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12345100 to approximately 23100
New Hampshire 1918 license plate - Number 18831.jpg 1918White serial on green porcelain plate; "N H" and "1918" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12345100 to approximately 24700Some later plates manufactured on fiberboard. [2]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1919Dark green serial on white flat metal plate; "N H" and "1919" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12345100 to approximately 30000
1920 NH license plate.JPG 1920White serial on dark green flat metal plate; "N H" and "1920" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12345100 to approximately 35000
1921 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1921Dark green serial on white flat metal plate; "N H" and "1921" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12345100 to approximately 42500
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1922Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "N.H. 1922" centered at bottomnone12345100 to approximately 48500
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1923Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "N H" and "1923" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12.345100 to approximately 60.000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1924Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "N H" and "1924" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12-345100 to approximately 72-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1925Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "N H" and "1925" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12-345100 to approximately 81-000
New Hampshire 1926 license plate.jpg 1926Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; embossed white Old Man of the Mountain graphic at left; "N H" and "1926" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12-345100 to approximately 89-000
New Hampshire 1927 license plate.jpg 1927Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "N H" and "1927" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone12-345100 to approximately 95-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1928Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NH-28" centered at topnone123-456100 to approximately 103-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1929Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "NH-29" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 109-000
1930 New Hampshire.jpg 1930As 1928 base, but with "NH-30" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 111-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1931As 1929 base, but with "NH-31" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 112-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1932As 1928 base, but with "NH-32" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 107-000
1933 NH passenger plate.jpg 1933As 1929 base, but with "NH-33" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 107-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1934As 1928 base, but with "NH-34" at topnone12-345100 to approximately 91-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1935As 1929 base, but with "NH-35" at topnone12-345100 to approximately 94-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1936As 1928 base, but with "NH-36" at topnone12-345100 to approximately 97-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1937As 1929 base, but with "NH-37" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 101-000
1938 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1938–39As 1928 base, but with "NH-38-9" at topnone12-345100 to approximately 98-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1939–40As 1929 base, but with "NH-39-40" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 104-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1940–41As 1928 base, but with "NH-40-41" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 108-000
1942 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1941–42As 1929 base, but with "NH-41-42" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 110-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg
Blank License Plate Shape.svg
1942–44As 1928 base, but with "NH-42-43" at topnone123-456100 to approximately 104-000Revalidated through March 31, 1944, with white rectangular tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1944As 1929 base, but with "NH 44" at topnone12-3451 to approximately 89-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1945Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NH 45" centered at topnone12-3451 to approximately 98-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1946Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NH 46" centered at topnone12-345
123456
1 to approximately 109000
1947 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1947As 1945 base, but with "NH 47" at topnone12-345
123456
1 to approximately 114000
1948 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1948As 1946 base, but with "NH - 48" at topnone12-345
123456
1 to approximately 120000
1949 NH license plate.JPG 1949Embossed forest green serial on white plate with border line; "NH - 49" centered at topnoneA/B123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1950Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NH - 50" centered at topnoneA/B123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1951As 1949 base, but with "NH - 51" at topnoneA/B123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1952As 1950 base, but with "NH - 52" at topnoneA/B123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1953As 1949 base, but with "NH - 53" at topnoneA/B123County-coded
1954 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1954Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "1954" centered at topnoneAB123County-codedFirst use of the full state name.
1955 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1955Embossed forest green serial on white plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "1955" centered at topnoneAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1956Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "1956" centered at topnoneAB123County-codedFirst 6" x 12" plate.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1957Embossed forest green serial on white plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "19" at top left and "57" at top right"SCENIC" centered at topAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1958Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "19" at top left and "58" at top right"SCENIC" centered at topAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1959As 1957 base, but with "59" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1957 baseAB123County-coded
1960 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1960As 1958 base, but with "60" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
1961 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1961As 1957 base, but with "61" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1957 baseAB123County-coded
1962 New Hampshire license plate.jpg 1962As 1958 base, but with "62" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
New Hampshire 1963 Hillsborough County license plate.jpg 1963As 1957 base, but without border line, and with "63" at top right"PHOTOSCENIC" centered at topAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1964As 1958 base, but with "64" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1965As 1957 base, but with "65" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1957 baseAB123County-coded
New Hampshire 1966 license plate.png 1966As 1958 base, but with "66" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
1967 New Hampshire license plate.JPG 1967As 1957 base, but with "67" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1957 baseAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1968As 1958 base, but with "68" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1969As 1957 base, but with "69" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1957 baseAB123County-coded
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1970As 1958 base, but with "70" at top right"SCENIC" as on 1958 baseAB123County-coded
New Hampshire 1971 license plate - Number 5519.jpg 1971As 1957 base, but with "71" at top right"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topAB123County-codedFirst use of the state motto on regular passenger plates. The motto had first been used on vanity plates on the 1970 base.
New Hampshire 1972 license plate - 5519.jpg 1972As 1958 base, but with "72" at top right"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topAB123County-coded

1973 to present

In 1977, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that vehicle owners may cover up the mottos that a state places on its license plates. The case began in 1974 when George Maynard, a Jehovah's Witness from Claremont, New Hampshire, and his wife taped over the "Live Free or Die" motto on their plates. Maynard, who argued that the motto violated his religious beliefs, subsequently spent 15 days in jail for refusing to pay the $75 fine imposed for covering up the motto (equivalent to $460in 2023). Justice Burger stated, "The First Amendment protects the right of individuals to hold a point of view different from the majority and to refuse to foster, in the way New Hampshire commands, an idea they find morally objectionable." [3] [4]

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1973 New Hampshire License Plate OWN IT.jpg 1973–74Embossed forest green serial on white plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "73" at top right"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topAB123
A/B1234
County-codedRevalidated for 1974 with stickers. Four-digit serials with stacked county codes introduced in counties that had exhausted their three-digit allocations.
New Hampshire 1979 license plate sticker on 1975 license plate - Number LI541.jpg 1975–76Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom; "75" at top left"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topAB123
A/B1234
County-codedMonthly staggered registration introduced, with each plate expiring in the same month as the registrant's birthday.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1977AB123
AB1234
Narrow dies introduced, allowing for six-character serials with full-size county code letters.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg December 1977 – July
1978
Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" at bottom"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topXB1234XA1 to
XF9999
Interim plates issued only to new registrants. Elements changed from red to green in response to concerns of confusion with Massachusetts plates of the time; unissued red plates were recalled and repainted accordingly before issue.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg July 1978 – December 1978As above, but with elements in green rather than redXG1 to approximately XN7000 [5]
New Hampshire license plate, 1979.png January 1979 – December 1983Embossed forest green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" centered at bottom"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at top1234561 to 999999
New Hampshire 1985 65064A.jpg December 1983 – December 198612345A10000A to approximately 59000G [5]
1986 New Hampshire sample plate.jpg January 1987 – March 1989Embossed forest green serial on reflective white plate; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" screened in pale green centered at top, with a graphic of the Old Man of the Mountain in a circle between the two words"Live Free or Die" screened in pale green centered at bottom1234561 to 999999
New Hampshire license plate, 1989-1998.png March 1989 – December 1998As above, but with dark green serial, state name and graphic"LIVE FREE OR DIE" screened in dark green centered at bottomABC-123AAA-001 to approximately DEX-500 [5]
January 1999 – presentEmbossed dark green serial on reflective graphic plate with Old Man of the Mountain and Cannon Mountain against pale blue sky; screened dark green "New HAMPSHIRE" centered at bottom, with cursive "New" above serifed "HAMPSHIRE""LIVE FREE OR DIE" screened in dark green centered at top123451 to 99999Old Man graphic at right (also the style for vanity plates).
New Hampshire 2004 Passenger Plate 630 019.jpg 123 456999 999 to 100 000Serials progressed backwards. [6] Old Man graphic in center.
New Hampshire 2004 Passenger Plate 174 0348.jpg 123 4567100 0000 to 528 0052 (as of June 15, 2023) [7] Old Man graphic slightly to left of center.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg D1234D1000 to unknownOld man graphic at right. Empty 3"x3" square at left for placement of a decal purchased separately from a legislatively approved organization or charity. [8]

County coding

From 1949 to 1979, passenger plates in New Hampshire featured a two-letter code indicating the county in which the vehicle was registered, as follows: [9]

County code allocations

CountyLetter blocks
Belknap BA–BZ
Carroll CA–CZ
Cheshire EA–EZ, ZA–ZH (from 1972)
Coös OA–OZ
Grafton GA–GZ
Hillsborough HA–HZ, LA–LZ, IA–IZ (from 1959), JA–JZ (from 1968)
Merrimack MA–MZ, NA–NZ (from 1967)
Rockingham RA–RZ, KA–KZ (from 1955), PA–PZ (from 1968)
Strafford FA–FZ, DA–DZ (from 1970)
Sullivan SA–SZ

Alphabetical cross-reference

Letter blocksCounty
BA–BZBelknap
CA–CZCarroll
DA–DZStrafford
EA–EZCheshire
FA–FZStrafford
GA–GZGrafton
HA–HZHillsborough
IA–IZHillsborough
JA–JZHillsborough
KA–KZRockingham
LA–LZHillsborough
MA–MZMerrimack
NA–NZMerrimack
OA–OZCoös
PA–PZRockingham
RA–RZRockingham
SA–SZSullivan
ZA–ZHCheshire

In addition, XA–XN were used on interim plates issued to new registrants between December 1977 and December 1978, while the serial AC 000 was and still is used on sample plates.

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Commercial1988–89As 1987–89 passenger base"Live Free or Die" centered at bottomAB1234AA0001 to approximately AB9999Possibly discontinued 2007. [10]
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1989–presentAs 1989–98 passenger base"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at bottomAC0001 to approximately AE8800
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Construction Equipment1999–presentAs current passenger base, with Old Man of the Mountain graphic at right; "CONSTRUCT EQUIP" screened vertically over graphic"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at topC/E12345C/E00001 to C/E33447 (as of September 22, 2021)
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Motorcycle1987–94Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; green Old Man of the Mountain graphic screened at top left with 'N' and 'H' on either side; "MOTORCYCLE" screened at bottomnone123451 to 99999
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1994–20041234A1000A to approximately 2000T
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2004–08As above, but without border line2001T to 9999Z
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2008–presentA1234A1000 to V8226 (as of March 17, 2020)
New Hampshire 2001 Trailer Plate TH4125.jpg Trailer? to 2004As 1989–98 passenger base"LIVE FREE OR DIE" centered at bottomTB1234TA0001 to TZ9999
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2004–presentT123456T100000 to T700867 (as of May 29, 2022)Same serial dies as current passenger base.

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References

  1. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. Taylor, Eric Robert. "New Hampshire Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
  3. "Justices uphold right to cover car-tag motto". Chicago Tribune . April 21, 1977. p. 6.
  4. "Foes of Auto Tag Messages Gain". The New York Times . April 21, 1977. p. 18.
  5. 1 2 3 Tanner, Eric N. "New Hampshire Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. Sage, Kit; Tanner, Eric. "licenseplates.cc New Hampshire highs page" . Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  7. "New Hampshire License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  8. "Decal Plates". NH Division of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  9. Reback, Brian P. "New Hampshire - county codes". bprlicenseplates.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  10. Tanner, Eric N. "New Hampshire Truck/Commercial License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021.