Vehicle registration plates of West Virginia

West Virginia
Current series
Slogan	Wild, Wonderful
Size	12 in × 6 in; 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	0BC 1234; 01B 1234; ABC 1234; A1B 1234; (month-coded)
Introduced	July 2023
Availability
Issued by	West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issued	May 1, 1905
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Last updated March 30, 2024

The U.S. state of West Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2023^[update], plates are issued by the West Virginia Department of Transportation through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.

Passenger baseplates

1905 to 1970

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 1956–57 (dated 1957) issue was the first West Virginia license plate that complied with these standards.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1905	unknown	none	123	1 to approximately 200
1906	Embossed gray serial on dark blue plate; "W. VA." at right; "LICENSED" and "1906" above and below serial respectively	none	123	201 to approximately 500
1907–09	Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W. VA." at right and "LICENSED" centered at top	none	1234	401 to approximately 1100
1909–10	Black serial on red porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1909" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top	none	123	1 to approximately 900
1910–11	White serial on dark blue porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1910" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top	none	1234	1 to approximately 1700
1911–12	Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W VA" at left, vertical "1911" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top	none	1234	1 to approximately 2500
1912–13	White serial on forest green porcelain plate; vertical "1912" and "W. VA" at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top	none	1234	1 to approximately 3500
1913–14	Yellow serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "JULY 1914" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top	none	1234	1 to approximately 6000
1914–15	White serial on light blue porcelain plate; vertical "1914 1915" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top	none	12345	1 to approximately 10500
1915–16	White serial on red porcelain plate; vertical "1915 1916" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top	none	12345	1 to approximately 16500
1916–17	Navy blue serial on white flat metal plate; vertical "W. VA." and "1916-17" at left and right respectively; "LICENSED" centered at top	none	12345	1 to approximately 25000
1917–18	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 17-18" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 33000
1918–19	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "W.VA 18-19" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 43000
1919–20	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 19-20" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 66000	Valid from July 1, 1919 through December 31, 1920.
1921	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1921" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 87000
1922	Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1922" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 96000
1923	Embossed red serial on white plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1923" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 141-000	First use of the full state name.
1924	Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1924" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 165-000
1925	Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1925" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 173-000
1926	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1926" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 211-000
1927	Embossed black serial on gray plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1927" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 207-000
1928	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1928" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 217-000
1929	Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1929" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 232-000
1930	Embossed black serial on gray plate; "W. VA. – 1930" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 223-000
1931	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1931" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 213-000
1932	Embossed white serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1932" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 192-000
1933–34	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1933" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 214-000	Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1934 with windshield stickers.
1934–35	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-34-35" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 207-000
1935–36	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-35-36" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 219-000
1936–37	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-36-37" centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 224-000
1937–38	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-37-38" centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 237-000
1938–39	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-38-39" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 236-000
1939–40	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-39-40" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 245-000
1940–41	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-40-41" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 258-000
1941–44	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000	Revalidated through June 30, 1943 with white tabs, then through June 30, 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–45	Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-45" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 214-000
1945–46	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-46" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 239-000
1946–47	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-47" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 250-000
1947–48	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-48" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 282-000
1948–49	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-49" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 312-000
1949–50	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-50" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 339-000
1950–51	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-51" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 365-000
1951–52	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-52" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 377-000
1952–53	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-53" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 379-000
1953–54	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-54" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 399-000
1954–55	As 1944–45 base, but with "WEST VIRGINIA 54" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 418-000
1955–56	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA 56" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 436-000
1956–57	Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "57" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 461-000	First 6" x 12" plate.
1957–58	Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 469-000
1958–59	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "59" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 478-000
1959–60	Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "60" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 471-000
1960–61	Embossed white serial on dark red plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "61" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to 141-826^[2]
1960–61	As above, but with elements debossed	none	123-456	141-827 to approximately 476-000
1961–62	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "62" at bottom right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 488-000
1962–63	Debossed yellow serial on reflective blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "63" at bottom right	"1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 490-000	Both this and the 1963–64 base commemorated West Virginia's 100 years as a separate state.
1963–64	Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "64" at bottom right	"1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 521-000
1964–65	As 1962–63 base, but with "65" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 522-000
1965–66	As 1963–64 base, but with "66" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 558-000
1966–67	As 1962–63 base, but with "67" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 582-000
1967–68	As 1963–64 base, but with "68" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 603-000
1968–69	As 1962–63 base, but with "69" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 625-000
1969–70	As 1963–64 base, but with "70" at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 591-000

1970 to present

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1970–75	Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; sticker box at bottom right	"MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top	0B-1234 AB-1234	First character corresponds to month of expiration (see right)	1 through 9 indicated January through September respectively, and O, N and D indicated October, November and December respectively. This system remains in use today.
1976–82	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; yellow state shape with blue outline screened at left behind serial; "WEST VIRGINIA" screened in dark blue centered at bottom	Dark blue bar screened at top with "Wild, Wonderful" in white in the center	0B-1234 AB-1234	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Early plates for August through December manufactured by Polyvend Inc. of Arkansas.^[3]
1982 – December 1994	As above, but without blue outline around state shape		0BC-123 ABC-123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Two-letter series introduced for each month as one-letter series were exhausted. These series progressed as follows: both letters A through M only, then first letter N through Z and second letter A through M, then first letter A through M and second letter N through Z.
January 1995 – December 2000	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and serial	"Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom, with three stripes (two dark blue and one gold) screened on either side	0B 1234 0BC 123 01B 123 AB 1234 ABC 123 A1B 123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Series reset to A for all months; progression is as before but with two-letter series progressing in standard order (AA–AZ, BA–BZ etc.). Series S and SA–SZ reserved for optional Scenic plates. Number-letter series introduced October 2015 as two-letter series started to be exhausted.
December 2000 – early 2006		"Wild, Wonderful" as before, plus "www.callwva.com" in dark blue between state name and serial, cutting off thin gold stripe in the middle
early 2006 – July 2023		"Wild, Wonderful"
July 2023 – present	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with state outline as separator; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and serial	"Wild, Wonderful"	012 345B A12 345B

Optional plates

Type	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
Scenic	1996–present	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective graphic plate with mountain scene featuring white and orange sky, pale blue mountains and dark blue forest; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top	"Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom	0S 1234 0SC 123 AS 1234 ASC 123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Similar monthly serial formats to standard passenger base, but with series progressing S, then SA, SB, SC etc. "www.callwva.com" appeared between state name and serial during the early and mid-2000s.
9/11	2002–present	Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "West Virginia" screened in white against national flag motif at top; "September 11, 2001" screened in black centered at bottom	"We will not Forget..." screened in black at left	9/11 12345	9/11 0001 to present
Sesquicentennial	2012–present	Screened dark blue serial on reflective gradient gold plate; state seal at left and state shape at right; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top	"Wild & Wonderful for 150 Years!" screened in dark blue centered at bottom	S/Q123456	S/Q000001 to present	Commemorates West Virginia's 150 years as a separate state.

Related Research Articles

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

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References

↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
↑ Tanner, Eric N. "West Virginia License Plate Variations". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
↑ Turnbull, Andrew. "West Virginia "Map" Bases: A Primer, 1976-1995". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved November 19, 2020.

External links

West Virginia license plates, 1969–present

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

[2] Tanner, Eric N. "West Virginia License Plate Variations". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.

[3] Turnbull, Andrew. "West Virginia "Map" Bases: A Primer, 1976-1995". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved November 19, 2020.

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