Vehicle registration plates of the United States Virgin Islands

Last updated
The United States Virgin Islands
Current series
SloganTransfer Centennial
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
(coded by island of issuance)
IntroducedApril 11, 2016 (2016-04-11) [1]
History
First issued1917 (1917)

The U.S. unincorporated territory of the United States Virgin Islands first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917.

Contents

Passenger baseplates

1917 to 1967

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 U.S. Virgin Islands also adopted these standards in 1956, having issued plates 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width (with non-standard mounting holes) since 1952. [3]

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1929Off-white on blacknone123
123
1932White on dark bluenone123
123
1933White on maroonnone123
123
1934White on dark bluenone123
123
1935Dark blue on whitenone123
123
1936Yellow on rednone123
123
1937Yellow on blacknone123
123
1938Black on whitenone123
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1939White on maroonnoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance'C' was used on St. Croix, and 'T' on St. Thomas and St. John. This practice continued until 1975.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1940White on blacknoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1941Blue on whitenoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1942–44White on bluenoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuanceRevalidated for 1943 with yellow tabs, and for 1944 with windshield stickers.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1945White on bluenoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1946Blue on ivorynoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1947Off-white on blacknoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1948Blue on ivorynoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1949Silver on blacknoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1950Black on yellownoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1951Black on orangenoneC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1952Yellow on greenTropical PlaygroundC-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1953Green on yellowTropical PlaygroundC-123
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1954Green on whiteTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1955Red on whiteTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1956Blue on whiteTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1957 graphic.png 1957Blue on yellowTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1958 graphic.png 1958Green on whiteTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1959Red on whiteTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1960 graphic.png 1960White on blueTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1961 graphic.png 1961Brown on orangeTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1962Off-white on greenTropical PlaygroundC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1963 graphic.png 1963White on blueVacation AdventureC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1964 graphic.png 1964White on redVacation AdventureC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1965Green on yellowVacation AdventureC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1966 graphic.png 1966White on blackVacation AdventureC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
Virgin Islands US license plate 1967 graphic.png 1967White on blueVacation AdventureC-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance

1968 to present

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1968White on blackAmerican ParadiseC-12345
T-12345
Coded by island of issuanceRevalidated for 1969 and 1970 with plate stickers.
Virgin Islands US license plate 1970 graphic.png 1969–70As above, but without "68"
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, ST. CROIX 1971 license plate - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1971–74White on dark blueAmerican ParadiseC-12345
T-12345
Coded by island of issuanceRevalidated for 1972, 1973 and 1974 with plate stickers.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, ST. JOHN 1975 license plate - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1975–77White on lime greenAmerican ParadiseC-12345
T-12345
J-123
Coded by island of issuance'J' code introduced for St. John. Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with windshield stickers; plates continue to be revalidated in this manner today.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ST. JOHN 1978 license plate Flickr - woody1778a.jpg 1978–80Blue on reflective whiteAmerican ParadiseC-12345
T-12345
J-123
Coded by island of issuanceMonthly staggered registration introduced 1980.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1981–87Green on reflective whiteAmerican ParadiseC-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expirationThe last digit of the serial corresponded to the expiration month (1 for January, 2 for February and so on up to 0 for October). [4] This practice continued until 2000.
US Virgin Islands License plate 1988.png 1988–93Red on reflective whiteAmerican ParadiseC-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expiration
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS ST. CROIX 1993-1999 license plate Flickr - woody1778a.jpg Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1994–99Red on reflective white with background image of islandsAmerican ParadiseC-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expirationSome of these plates had a light blue background.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 2000–05Black on reflective yellow with background image of islandsOur Islands, Our HomeCAB-123CAA-001 to
CCD-999
TAB-123TAA-001 to
TCE-999
JAB-123JAA-001 to
JAG-500
United States Virgin Islands license plate 2015.jpg 2006 – April 10, 2016Black on beach scene graphic America's Caribbean CAB 123CCE 001 to CET 999
TAB 123TCF 001 to TEX 999
JAB 123JAG 501 to JAO 999
Blank License Plate Shape.svg April 11, 2016 – presentWhite on blue ocean background with orange island mapsTransfer CentennialCAB 123CEY 001 to presentCommemorates the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the islands from Denmark to the United States.
TAB 123TEY 001 to present
JAB 123JAQ 001 to present

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References

  1. Gilbert, Ernice (April 10, 2016). "About The Controversial Centennial License Plate". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Kustermann, Michael (March 2012). "United States Virgin Islands 1950's - 1960's". WorldLicensePlates.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "Virgin Islands License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg