Vehicle registration plates of Puerto Rico

Last updated
Puerto Rico
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
Country codeUSA
Current series
SloganIsla del Encanto
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
Material Aluminum
Serial formatABC 123
IntroducedMarch 2023 (2023-03)
Availability
Issued byDriver Services Directorate
History
First issued1906;119 years ago (1906)

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

Contents

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.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1930-1931 Puerto Rico license plate.jpg 1930
Puerto Rico Army license plate 1939-1940.jpg 1939
Puerto Rico license plate 1950 graphic.png 1950
Puerto Rico license plate 1951 graphic.png 1951
Puerto Rico license plate 1952 graphic.png 1952
Puerto Rico license plate 1953 graphic.png 1953
Puerto Rico license plate 1954 graphic.png 1954
Puerto Rico license plate 1955 graphic.png 1955
Puerto Rico license plate 1956 graphic.png 1956
Puerto Rico license plate 1957 graphic.png 1957
Puerto Rico license plate 1958 graphic.png 1958
Puerto Rico license plate 1967 graphic.png 1967
PUERTO RICO 1970-1973 license plate - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1970
PUERTO RICO 1976 -TRAFICANTE LICENSE PLATE - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1976Embossed black on reflective white
1978 Puerto Rican license plate.png 1978Emobssed black serial on white backgroundNone12A123
Puerto Rico 1987 car license plate "Isla Del Encanto".jpg January 1987 – December 2001;
2003 – December 2007 [3]
Embossed black on reflective white with fort graphicIsla Del EncantoABC 123AAA 001 to FCX 999;
FLM 501 to HEN 999
Puerto Rico Flag Design License Plate (Low Res).png January 2002 – 2003Embossed black on flag graphicsCincuentenarioABC 123FCY 001 to FLM 500
Puerto Rico 2008 Screened License Plate.jpg December 2007 – February 2023Screened black on reflective fort graphicIsla Del EncantoABC 123HEO 001 to HRR 999;IEJ 001 to JCA 999; JCE 001- JGI 999; JGL 001 - JJF 999; JJI 001 - JKD 999; JLU; JRE 001 - JUJ 999; JRX; JUM 001 - JVJ 999Early plates feature a dash between the letters and numbers. Euro-style plates offered at an additional cost and were issued in the following series: ITA - ITE; IXV - IXZ; JEG; JGA - JGB; JKA; JLU; JRX.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg March 2023 – presentScreened black on reflective white with fort graphic, similar to the 1986 seriesIsla Del EncantoABC 123KBV 001 to KSL 999 (as of August 30, 2025) [4] Optional European style plates were offered in the following series: JVQ-JVT; KCZ; KHR-KHS; KIL-KIO; KMX-KMZ; KOQ-KOR; KRD-KRE, KRU-KRW. "KBU" series reserved for Modified Classic Vehicle plates.

Optional plates

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Puerto Rico -- License plate "Mayaguez 2010".JPG 2009–2012Black on reflective white with green stripes on top and orange stripes on bottom and Mayagüez 2010 logo in the centerIsla Del Encanto Mayaguez 2010ABC 123HRS 001 to HVZ 999Issued for the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games
Puerto Rico lo Hace Mejor License Plate.jpg 2012–2013A picture of the Puerto Rican Governor's mansionPuerto Rico does it better
Puerto Rico lo hace mejor [3]
ABC 123HWA 001 to IEI 999European-sized plates optionally offered in the following series: IAA-IAJ; IQR 001- IQR 999.
SanJuanEstuaries.jpeg 2013–2015Image of a Puerto Rico ManateeSan Juan EstuaryABC 123IAK-001 to IAP-999
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2017100 years of the Senate of Puerto RicoABC 123JCB 001 - JCD 999, JGJ 001 - JGK 999
Puerto Rico Olympics committee.jpeg 2017–2018 Puerto Rico Olympic Committee ABC 123JJG 001 - JJH 999, PUR-001 to PUR-999
PR Make a Wish Plate.jpg 2020–2021 Make A Wish Foundation ABC 123JKE-JRDEuropean-sized plates optionally offered (JLV-JLX;JQK-JQL; JRW series). "JNU" series was reserved for Classic Vehicle plates and "JNV" series was reserved for Modified Classic Vehicle plates.
Roberto Clemente Puerto Rico Plate.jpg 2022–2023Celebration of the hit #3,000 of Roberto Clemente Roberto Clemente ABC 123JVK-JVP; JVQ, JVW; JWA-KAD, KAK-KBNInitial serial font was a 3M typeface. Later plates used. European-styled plates were offered using the following series: JRY - JRZ; JUK - JUL; some JVQ series.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2021–2022500 Years of San JuanABC 123JVU-JVV, JVX-JVZ, KAE-KAJ, KBO-KBTInitial serial font was a 3M typeface.

Non-passenger plates

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Puerto Rico 2015 license plate "Taxi turistico".jpg 2015Screened 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 right1234AB

See also

References

  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.
  3. 1 2 "Puerto Rico: Passenger". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved July 27, 2025.
  4. "Puerto Rico License Plates". licenseplates.cc. Retrieved January 8, 2025.