Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 2021

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Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 2020 Events of 2021 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 2022

Each of the 50 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 2020. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Changes were made to many license plates issued by the states and territories of the United States. The state of Arizona abandoned their seven character license plates in favor of six characters. [7] The shortage of aluminum also caused delays in shipping new Arizona plates to vehicle owners. [8] In Arkansas the format changing to three letters followed by two numbers and a letter. [9] Delaware added an optional horseshoe crab license and "Bicycle Friendly" plates to the list of optional plates available there. [10] [11] The District of Columbia added five new graphic license plates for veterans (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard). [12] Florida change the format of its regular issue passenger plates to be to be two numbers followed by four letters. [13] The Polynesian Voyaging Society was honored with a plate in Hawaii. [14] The dies used on Guam plates were changed so that the characters would be bolder, and the format was changed to be two letters and a number followed by a space and then three letters. [15] The availability in Idaho of Corvette, Elk Foundation, NRA, and Rotary plates were discontinued because of lack of sales. [16] In Illinois the Temporary Registration Permits, that are applied to all new vehicles, were updated to include two characters in the middle as well as the vehicle serial number and manufacturer. [17] "End ALS" license plates became available in Indiana. [18] The number zero was finally allowed on Iowa license plates. [19]

Other changes included Kentucky issuing a new graphic plate for amateur radio operators as well as those who were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal or the Combat Infantryman Badge. [20] [21] The Louisiana State University football team was honored with a license plate for their 15-0 season. [22] Maine continued to allow the use of the front bicentennial plate because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it severely curtailed what could be emblazoned on a personalized plate because of many registrants offensive combinations of characters. [23] [24] Massachusetts implemented a change to prevent multiple types of plates from having the same serial number. [25] Plates with the slogan "In God We Trust" were the subject of a lawsuit in Mississippi. [26] Like some other states, Montana experienced shortages of aluminum and was considering temporarily issuing plates without aluminum backing in plastic sleevers. [27] Nebraska expanded their graphic license plate program to include wildlife plates. [28] Optional plates in Nevada, which could only be purchased over the counter until now, became available for purchase online. [29] North Carolina implemented a rolling plate replacement program, but later had to suspend the program later in the year because of the worldwide shortage of aluminum. [30] [31] Rhode Island eliminated the space in the middle of their passenger license plates, and efforts were made to prevent duplicate registration numbers being issued to different specialty plates. [32] [33] Wisconsin began to issue an optional license plate recognizing utility workers. [34] Washington (state) issued 60 day temporary plates because of production delays for its plates. [35] The Eastern Box Turtle and natural gas plates were issued by West Virginia. [36]

Passenger baseplates

Passenger  car  plates
ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Alabama
Alaska 2020 License Plate.jpg Alaska Embossed blue serial on reflective golden yellow plate, screened state flag in the center, "ALASKA" screened in blue centered at top."THE LAST FRONTIER" centered embossed in blue, at bottom.ABC 123
Blank License Plate Shape.svg American Samoa Black on reflective graphic featuring Fatu Rock"MOTU O FIAFIAGA" centered at top1234
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Arizona
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Arkansas Embossed black serial on reflective gradient sky blue and white plate, diamond graphic screened in the center, "Arkansas" screened in dark red centered at top."The Natural State" screened in dark red centered at bottom123 ABC
Blank License Plate Shape.svg California Embossed blue on reflective white, with graphic red state name centered at top."dmv.ca.gov" centered screened in red, at bottom.1ABC123
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Colorado Embossed dark green on reflective graphic plate with white and grey mountains against dark green backgroundNoneABC-D12
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Connecticut Embossed dark blue serial on reflective gradient sky blue and white plate with dark blue border line, "Connecticut" screened in dark blue centered at top, screened dark blue state shape at top left."Constitution State" centered at bottom, in dark blue.AB·12345
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Delaware "THE FIRST STATE" centered screened at top in buff
Blank License Plate Shape.svg District of
Columbia 		"END TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION" screened in blue, centered at bottom.AB-1234
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Florida
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Georgia
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Guam
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Hawaii
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Idaho
Illinois 2020-2021 License Plate.png Illinois
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Indiana
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Iowa
Kansas License Plate Standard Flat September 2019.jpg Kansas Screened black serial on reflective light blue plate; top half of state seal screened in white at bottom right; "KANSAS" screened in dark blue centered at top"Ad Astra Per Aspera" inside the State Seal,

Latin for "To The Stars Through Difficulties"

123 ABCBegan at 000 LJX
Kentucky Embossed dark blue serial on white and light blue gradient plate; small Kentucky Tourism logo"In God We Trust" screened in blue centered between logo and serial123 ABC
ABC 123
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Louisiana
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Maine
Maryland license plate, 2016-series (7DC0657).png Maryland State name screen-printed centered at top, waving state flag graphic screen-printed on bottom half, with serial embossed in black.None1AB2345
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Massachusetts
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Michigan
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Minnesota
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Mississippi
Blank License Plate Shape.svg
Missouri Passenger Car License Plate 2020.png Missouri
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Montana
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Nebraska
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Nevada
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Hampshire
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Jersey
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Mexico
NY-2010-License-Plate.jpg New York Dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on white plate; "New York" at top with gold and blue stripes at sides; Niagara Falls and New York City images at bottom"EXCELSIOR" in gold, with blue outline, centered at bottomABC-1234'K' seriesPlate design chosen by online vote.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg North Carolina
Blank License Plate Shape.svg North Dakota
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Northern Mariana
Islands
Ohio 2021 license plate Montgomery County.jpg Ohio
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Oklahoma
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Oregon
Pennsylvania 2017 license plate.jpg Pennsylvania
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Puerto Rico
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Rhode Island
Blank License Plate Shape.svg South Carolina Screened black serial on white and blue background with state flag motif at center While I Breathe, I Hope. ABC 123LZD 101 to SVI 852
Blank License Plate Shape.svg South Dakota
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Tennessee
Texas Passenger Car License Plate 2020.png Texas "The Lone Star State" centered at bottom
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Utah
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Vermont
Virginia 2021 license plate.jpg Virginia Dark blue serial on reflective white plate; "VIRGINIA" screened in blue centered at top."VIRGINIA IS FOR LO♥ERS®" centered at bottom, with "Virginia.org" offset to lower right.ABC-1234
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Washington
Blank License Plate Shape.svg West Virginia
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Wisconsin Embossed red serial number on reflective white plate;"America's Dairyland" screened in red centered at bottomABC-1234AAA-1001 to AJR-6200
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Wyoming

Non-passenger plates

Non-passenger  plates  
ImageRegionTypeDesign and sloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Illinois 2020 B Truck License Plate.png IllinoisB TruckLand of Lincoln1234567This series started at about 2870000.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automobile License Plate Collectors Association</span> Organization of license plate collectors

The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1954 and holding its first meeting/convention in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1955. It serves as a way for license plate collectors to trade plates, distribute news, and provide historic information to members.

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

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

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

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

| size = 12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm | material = Aluminum | serial_format = 1ABC123 | current_start_date = 1994
(current version, with website, introduced 2012) | designer = | issuer = California Department of Motor Vehicles | manufacturer = | start_date = January 1, 1914
(pre-state plates and seals from 1905 to December 31, 1913) }} The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

All of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates dated for the year 1942, and due to metal conservation for World War II, 1943 and 1944 for most states. In 1942, automobile production in the United States was halted for the duration of World War II, and many automobile factories were converted to munitions or other war-oriented industrial manufacturing purposes until 1946.

Each of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1956.

Each of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1957.

Each of the 50 constituent states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1976.

In 1911 Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oregon joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 26 states and 2 territories that were issuing license plates and 10 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1913 Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and Montana and Nevada entered the prestate era. There were now 35 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 8 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1915 Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 44 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 2 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1916 Guam and Nevada joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 45 states and 4 territories that were issuing license plates and 1 other state requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1917 South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 47 states and 5 territories that were issuing license plates and 1 other state requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

Massachusetts became the first state to officially issue vehicle license plates in 1903. New York continued to require their residents to register their vehicles with the state, but the owner had to supply their own license plate. Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia all began to require vehicle registration with the vehicle owners also supplying their own plate. Each of the other states of the United States of America plus several of its territories did not require or issue license plates during 1903.

In 1904 Rhode Island became the second state, joining Massachusetts, to issue its own license plates, and the states of Iowa and Maryland began to require owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1905 the states of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia all began to issue their own license plates. The prestate era of plates began in the states of California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakoya, Tennessee. This year saw the most changes during the prestate era. Eight states were now issuing plates and another 17 required their owners to provide their own plates.

In 1906 Pennsylvania and Virginia joined the list of those providing license plates to vehicle owners, and the prestate era began in Washington (state). There were now 10 states that were issuing license plates and 17 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1907 the District of Coumbia joined the list of states providing license plates to vehicle owners, and the prestate era began in Illinois and Missouri. There were now 11 states and territories that were issuing license plates and 18 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

In 1909 Minnesota joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and North Carolina and Utah entered the prestate era. There were now 15 states and territories that were issuing license plates and 17 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

At this early point in the history of license plates in the United States of America, none of the 45 states, territories, or the District of Columbia, was issuing its own plates. The state of New York remained the only state that required vehicle owners to register their automobiles. The system of using the owner's initials as the registration number, begun in 1901, remained in effect. This would change in 1903 when a number was assigned to each owner to display on their vehicle. Across the country the increases in the number of automobiles was being noticed, and there were many cities, like Chicago, that had already begun to require their owners to register their vehicles.

References

  1. ↑ Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN   9781886777002.
  2. ↑ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN   1-56311-975-7.
  3. ↑ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ↑ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN   0-8092-7205-9.
  5. ↑ Fox, James K. (2019). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Brattleboro, Vermont: Echo Point Books & Media. ISBN   9781635617900.
  6. ↑ Fox, James K. (2019). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Brattleboro, Vermont: Echo Point Books & Media. ISBN   9781635617900.
  7. ↑ Dragon, Richard (April 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 2. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 44.
  8. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 37.
  9. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 32.
  10. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 32.
  11. ↑ Dragon, Richard (December 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 6. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  12. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 32.
  13. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  14. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  15. ↑ Dragon, Richard (April 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 2. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 46.
  16. ↑ Dragon, Richard (October 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 5. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 36.
  17. ↑ Dragon, Richard (April 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 2. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 44.
  18. ↑ Dragon, Richard (October 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 5. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 36.
  19. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 33.
  20. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 3e.
  21. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  22. ↑ Dragon, Richard (April 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 2. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 45.
  23. ↑ Dragon, Richard (June 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 3. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  24. ↑ Dragon, Richard (December 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 6. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  25. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 39.
  26. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 39.
  27. ↑ Dragon, Richard (December 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 6. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  28. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 33.
  29. ↑ Dragon, Richard (October 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 5. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 37.
  30. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 32.
  31. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 39.
  32. ↑ Dragon, Richard (February 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 1. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 33.
  33. ↑ Dragon, Richard (August 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 4. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 39.
  34. ↑ Dragon, Richard (June 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 3. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 40.
  35. ↑ Dragon, Richard (October 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 5. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
  36. ↑ Dragon, Richard (October 2021). "notes from the states". Plates Magazine. Vol. 67, no. 5. Montezuma, Iowa: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 38.
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