Vehicle registration plates of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico
Current series
Slogan	Isla del Encanto
Size	12 in × 6 in; 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC 123
Introduced	March 2023
Availability
Issued by	Driver Services Directorate
History
First issued	1906;119 years ago
	v ; t ; e ;

Last updated January 19, 2025

The U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906.^[1] Only rear plates have been required since 1976.

Passenger baseplates 1930 to present

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.^[2] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Puerto Rico license plate that complied with these standards. However, in 2012 the Puerto Rican government began issuing optional European-style plates that incorporate the design language of the standard-issue plates in a longer and narrower size typically seen in Europe.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1930
1939
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1967
1970
1976	Embossed black on reflective white
1978	Emobssed black serial on white background	none	12A123
January 1987 – December 2001; 2003 – December 2007^[3]	Embossed black on reflective white with fort graphic	Isla Del Encanto	ABC 123	AAA 001 to FCX 999; FLM 501 to HEN 999
January 2002 – 2003	Embossed black on flag graphics	Cincuentenario	ABC 123	FCY 001 to FLM 500
December 2007 – February 2023	Screened black on reflective fort graphic	Isla Del Encanto	ABC 123	HEO 001 to HRR 999; IEJ 001 to approximately KCB 999	Early plates feature a dash between the letters and numbers. Euro-style plates offered at an additional cost.
March 2023 – present	Screened black on reflective white with fort graphic, similar to the 1986 series	Isla Del Encanto	ABC 123	KCC 001 to KOH 563 (as of December 24, 2024)^[4]

Optional plates

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
2009–2012	black on reflective white with green stripes on top and orange stripes on bottom and Mayagüez 2010 logo in the center	Isla Del Encanto Mayaguez 2010	ABC 123	HRS 001 to HVZ 999	Issued for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
2012–2013	a picture of the Puerto Rico Governor's mansion	Puerto Rico does it better Puerto Rico lo hace mejor^[3]	ABC 123	HWA 001 to IEI 999 IQA 001 to IQA 999	European-sized plates optionally offered.
2013–2015	Image of a Puerto Rico Manatee	San Juan Estuary	ABC 123	IAK-001 to IAP-999
2017		100 years of the Senate of Puerto Rico	ABC 123	JCB, JGJ
2017–2018		Puerto Rico Olympic Committee	ABC 123	JJH, PUR-001 to PUR-999
2020–2021		Make A Wish Foundation	ABC 123	JKF-JRD	European-sized plates optionally offered (JQK series).
2022–2023	Celebration of the hit #3,000 of Roberto Clemente	Roberto Clemente	ABC 123	JVF-JVW, JYA-KAD, KAK-KBP	Initial serial font was a 3M typeface. Later plates used.
2021–2022		500 Years of San Juan	ABC 123	JVX-JVZ, KAE-KAJ, KBO-KBS	Initial serial font was a 3M typeface.

Non-passenger plates

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2015	Screened black serial on green to white to red faded background, "PUERTO RICO" in white at bottom, Castillo del Morro graphic over green fields at left	"www.gobierno.pr" in small black type below serial at far right	1234AB

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Nebraska</span> Nebraska vehicle license plates

The U.S. state of Nebraska first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Maine</span> Maine vehicle license plates

The U.S. state of Maine first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, within the office of the Department of the Secretary of State. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Hawaii was a sovereign constitutional monarchy until this government was overthrown in January 1893, but many of its laws were already modeled after those of the United States, including registering dogs and issuing metal tags for them since the 1870s. The Republic of Hawaii which replaced the previous government was annexed as a Territory by the United States in August 1898, and the first automobiles to be shipped to the Hawaiian Islands arrived in 1899. Each of Hawaii's four counties registered vehicles completely autonomously starting with the City & County of Honolulu in 1906, and license plates were homemade / owner-provided. The first government-issued plates were used by both Honolulu and the County of Hawaii in 1915. Maui County first issued plates in 1919, while Kauai County retained homemade plates through 1921; this was the last jurisdiction in the United States to do so. All license plates were standardized throughout the Territory of Hawaii for the first time in 1922. Despite its status as a territory, Hawaii's vehicle registration laws and license plates were the same as the rest of the United States. Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state in August 1959.

The U.S. state of New Mexico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912. As of 2024, plates are issued by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department through its Motor Vehicle Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1961.

Alaska first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1921, while still an organized incorporated territory of the United States. It was admitted to the Union as the 49th state in January 1959.

The U.S. state of Alabama first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911.

The U.S. state of Montana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913. As of 2024, plates are issued by the Montana Department of Justice through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. state of North Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.

The U.S. state of North Dakota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911. As of 2024, plates are issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. state of Pennsylvania first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1906, when the state began to issue plates.

The U.S. unincorporated territory of Guam first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1916.

The U.S. state of South Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917. As of 2023, plates are issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Rhode Island</span> Rhode Island vehicle license plates

The U.S. state of Rhode Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1904. Plates are currently issued by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue 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.

The U.S. state of South Dakota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.

The U.S. state of Vermont first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. state of Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1906. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1912, when the province began to issue plates.

The Canadian territory of Yukon first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1914. Only rear plates have been required since 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Arkansas</span> Arkansas vehicle license plates

The U.S. state of Arkansas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911. Prior to 1911, plates were issued by cities.

References

↑ Tanner, Eric; Bittner, Bob (August 2018). "Puerto Rico Passenger Plates 1906-1918". Plates Magazine. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
1 2 "Puerto Rico: Passenger". allaboutlicenseplates.com.
↑ "Puerto Rico License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved January 8, 2025.

External links

Media related to License plates of Puerto Rico at Wikimedia Commons
Plateshack.com - Puerto Rico Y2K

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[1] Tanner, Eric; Bittner, Bob (August 2018). "Puerto Rico Passenger Plates 1906-1918". Plates Magazine. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.

[2] Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.

[allaboutlicenseplatesPR-3] 1 2 "Puerto Rico: Passenger". allaboutlicenseplates.com.

[:0-4] "Puerto Rico License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved January 8, 2025.

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v t e Vehicle license plates of the United States
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal district	Washington, D.C.
Territories	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Other registration plates	Canal Zone Native American tribes Designs and serial formats
By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

v t e Vehicle registration plates of North America
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States
Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

v t e Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
San Juan (capital)
Metropolitan areas	Aguadilla Arecibo Guayama Mayagüez Ponce San Juan–Bayamón–Caguas
Municipalities	Adjuntas Aguada Aguadilla Aguas Buenas Aibonito Añasco Arecibo Arroyo Barceloneta Barranquitas Bayamón Cabo Rojo Caguas Camuy Canóvanas Carolina Cataño Cayey Ceiba Ciales Cidra Coamo Comerío Corozal Culebra Dorado Fajardo Florida Guánica Guayama Guayanilla Guaynabo Gurabo Hatillo Hormigueros Humacao Isabela Jayuya Juana Díaz Juncos Lajas Lares Las Marías Las Piedras Loíza Luquillo Manatí Maricao Maunabo Mayagüez Moca Morovis Naguabo Naranjito Orocovis Patillas Peñuelas Ponce Quebradillas Rincón Río Grande Sabana Grande Salinas San Germán San Juan San Lorenzo San Sebastián Santa Isabel Toa Alta Toa Baja Trujillo Alto Utuado Vega Alta Vega Baja Vieques Villalba Yabucoa Yauco
Islands	Caja de Muertos Cardona Cayo Icacos Culebra Desecheo Gatas Isla de Cabras Isla de Jueyes Isla de Mona Isla de Ratones, Cabo Rojo Isla de Ratones, Ponce Isla del Frío Isleta de San Juan Magueyes Monito Morrillito Puerto Rico Vieques
Geography	Bahía de Ponce Cerro de Punta Cerro Maravilla Cordillera Central El Tuque El Yunque Flamenco Beach Las Salinas Mayagüez Bay Portugués River San Juan Bay
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