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Vehicle license plates of the United States

Updated: Wikipedia source

Vehicle license plates of the United States

In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located. The appearances of plates are frequently chosen to contain symbols, colors, or slogans associated with the issuing jurisdiction. The term license plate is frequently used in statutes, although in some areas tag is informally used. The official three letter DSIT (coinciding with its ISO code) international code attributed to the United States is USA. As of 2014, the federal government and forty states use prison labor to produce their license plates.

Infobox

Size
12 in × 6 in300 mm × 150 mm
Country
United States
Country code
USA
Serial format
Not standard

Tables

· Mounting
Front and rear plates
Front and rear plates
Mounting scheme
Front and rear plates
States and territories
American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Rear plates only
Rear plates only
Mounting scheme
Rear plates only
States and territories
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
Front and rear plates for most vehicles
Front and rear plates for most vehicles
Mounting scheme
Front and rear plates for most vehicles
States and territories
Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming
Mounting scheme
States and territories
Front and rear plates
American Samoa, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Rear plates only
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, West Virginia
Front and rear plates for most vehicles
Idaho, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming

References

  1. "California Vehicle Code section 5200"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070429165113/http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d03/vc5200.htm
  2. Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA375
  3. wisconsindot.gov
    http://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/tribal.aspx
  4. Forensic Investigation of Stolen-Recovered and Other Crime-Related Vehicles
    https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2pWmOINC0UC&pg=PA376
  5. www.adcidl.com
    http://www.adcidl.com/Annex-4-Distinguishing-Sign-of-Vehicles-in-International-Traffic.html
  6. The Seattle Times
    https://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/prison-labor/3/
  7. Used from January 2, 2014 to January 2, 2022
  8. Used from January 1, 2010 to December 2022
  9. Used from April 2008 to December 2020
  10. Used from January 2016 to December 2022
  11. Scdmvonline.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20070823212354/http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/default.aspx
  12. 15q.net
    http://www.15q.net
  13. "SB0045"
    https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0045.html
  14. www.nevadaappeal.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200810163032/https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/government/nevada-dmv-opening-new-license-plate-plant-in-carson-city/
  15. The Sacramento Bee
    https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/back-seat-driver/article211828814.html
  16. Web Bike World
    https://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-license-plate-dimensions/
  17. "House Bill 844 (2008 Regular Session)"
    http://mlis.state.md.us/2008rs/chapters_noln/Ch_523_hb0844T.pdf
  18. ecf.ksd.uscourts.gov
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  19. projects.seattletimes.com
    http://projects.seattletimes.com/2014/prison-labor/3/
  20. www.wral.com
    http://www.wral.com/ncdmv-to-begin-issuing-single-license-plate-sticker-registrations/14670107/
  21. dcplates.net
    http://dcplates.net/Registrations.htm#Registration
  22. Ct.gov
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  24. www.dmvnv.com
    http://www.dmvnv.com/nvreg.htm
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    http://www.dmv.nebraska.gov/dvr/mvreg/nonresidnt.html
  26. www.azdot.gov
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170301093222/https://www.azdot.gov/mvd/VehicleServices/Registration/registration-compliance-violators
  27. revenue.alabama.gov
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  36. Asheville Citizen-Times
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  37. Wisconsindot.gov
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  38. Dor.mo.gov
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  39. "Occupational License Plates"
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  41. www.pacode.com
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  42. Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorneys (#1 in Reviews) DWI Lawyers, Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
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  43. malegislature.gov
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  44. "Dropping Front Plate Requirement Could Save Mass. $2M"
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  45. Nevada DMV – Department of Motor Vehicles
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  48. SEMA
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170301180144/https://www.sema.org/sema-enews/2016/10/nebraska-bill-to-provide-single-license-plate-for-certain-motor-vehicles-signed
  49. Old Cars Weekly
    https://www.oldcarsweekly.com/news/montana-bill-provide-single-license-plate-signed-law
  50. South Dakota Dept of Revenue
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  51. Des Moines Register
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  52. "Iowa Legislature – BillBook"
    https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=86&ba=HF540
  53. Cincinnati Enquirer
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  54. Jalopnik.com
    https://jalopnik.com/you-will-soon-no-longer-need-a-front-license-plate-in-o-1834254595
  55. "Alaska State Legislature"
    https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Text/32?Hsid=HB0166C
  56. "Utah S.B. 45 License Plate Revisions"
    https://le.utah.gov/~2024/bills/static/SB0045.html
  57. "SENATE BILL 1180 – Idaho State Legislature"
    https://legislature.idaho.gov/sessioninfo/2025/legislation/s1180/
  58. "Nebraska Legislature - Legislative Document"
    https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=59072&docnum=LB97&leg=109
  59. Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles
    http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/citizen/vehicles/plate_search.asp
  60. "URSOVAIN: Va. has most vanity plates"
    https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21742618
  61. snopes.com
    http://www.snopes.com/autos/law/noplate.asp
  62. Gen
    https://gen.medium.com/shthpns-the-never-ending-free-speech-fight-over-vanity-license-plates-a16e89ea6ef7
  63. Reason.com
    https://reason.com/2019/08/30/new-hampshire-woman-can-keep-her-pb4wego-vanity-plate/
  64. "License Plates at Auction: Still a Wild Market in Delaware"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080905124952/http://maineantiquedigest.com/articles_archive/articles/apr06/f-license0406.htm
  65. "Delaware couple pays $325K for tag No. 14"
    http://www.delawareonline.com/story/money/2016/02/15/delaware-license-plate-no-14-sells-325000/80407162/
  66. NPR.org
    https://www.npr.org/2018/08/25/641835446/delaware-license-plate-sells-for-410-000
  67. www.cbsnews.com
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-675000-license-plate/
  68. delawareonline
    https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/local/2018/08/20/delaware-black-and-white-tag-number-20-sells-auction/1040267002/
  69. "The Delaware 3000"
    http://www.thedelaware3000.org/
  70. State of Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles
    http://www.dmv.ri.gov/plates/overview/
  71. Washington Post
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/09/18/its-a-numbers-game/b9bf8b6d-4fba-4a65-9fa9-0d34858a07eb/
  72. nwitimes.com
    https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/low-digit-plates-at-all-time-low/article_78bd4e5e-5718-54f8-9758-6fbc7169d876.html
  73. webserver.rilin.state.ri.us
    http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE31/31-3/31-3-39.HTM
  74. Justia Law
    http://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2011/rs/title47/rs47-491/
  75. Justia Law
    http://law.justia.com/codes/idaho/2010/title49/t49ch4sect49-405.html
  76. Texas Amateur Radio Operator License Plate application form & notes Archived July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (Open
    http://rts.texasonline.state.tx.us/NASApp/txdotrts/SpecialPlateOrderServlet?grpid=80&pltid=132
  77. "Florida, the license plate state: Will it offer ones for Bulldogs and War Eagles?"
    https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/17/florida-state-license-plates-offer-ones-bulldogs-and-war-eagles/4481614002/
  78. "55"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20080509170816/http://www.gulftel.com/firstfreedom/55.htm
  79. New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
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  80. "The Cargo Letter [400th Edition] April 2004"
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  81. "Issue of Columbine License Plate Sparks Abortion Protest", Rocky Mountain News, April 9, 2001, Pg. B7
  82. The Gazette
    https://www.hometownsource.com/stillwater_gazette/opinion/columnists/whiskey-plates-a-reminder-not-to-drink-drive/article_41b28d25-27cd-5899-93a0-168d081ebf9f.html
  83. USA Today
    https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2011-05-09-confederate-license-plates-civil-war_n.htm
  84. alabama.gov
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170824222119/https://revenue.alabama.gov/motor-vehicle/license-plate-information/specialty-license-plates-all-vehicles/sons-of-confederate-veterans/
  85. Huffington Post
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/23/confederate-flag-license-plates_n_7647208.html
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  87. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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  90. nola.com | The Times-Picayune
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    http://cnsmaryland.org/2015/11/13/despite-looming-confederate-plate-recall-flag-enthusiast-remains-dedicated/
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  94. Dor.ms.gov
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  95. Fox News
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  100. "A Long List of Other Ways Southern States Officially Endorse the Confederacy"
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  102. "NYS DMV – Custom Plates – Professions"
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  103. Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles
    https://dmv.vermont.gov/sites/dmv/files/documents/VD-169-Vermont_License_Plates.pdf
  104. "Placas especiales"
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  112. Washington Diplomat
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