Vehicle registration plates of Texas

Texas
Current series
Name	Texas Classic
Slogan	The Lone Star State
Size	12 in × 6 in; 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC-1234
Introduced	July 2012
Availability
Issued by	Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issued	July 1, 1917; (pre-state plates from 1907 to June 30, 1917)

The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, with serial numbers assigned by their county of residence, until the state began to issue plates in 1917.[1]

Plates are currently issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles, trailers and antique vehicles.[2]

Passenger baseplates

1917 to 1974

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.[3] The first Texas license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1955 plate, introduced towards the end of that year.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1917–22	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TEX" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 767000	Validated for 1917, 1918 and 1919 with round seals, and for 1920, 1921 and 1922 with rectangular seals.
1923–24	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" at both left and right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 999-999	Validated for 1924 with rectangular seals.
1925	Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" and "1925" at left and right respectively	none	123-456	1 to approximately 935-000	First dated plate.
1926	Embossed black serial with star separator on gray plate with border line; vertical "TEX-26" at right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 997-000
1927	Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectively	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1927		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately A69-000
1928	Embossed white serial with star separator on dark brown plate with border line; vertical "TEX-28" at right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-114-000
1929	Embossed orange serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1929" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-195-000
1930	Embossed dark blue serial with star separator on golden yellow plate with border line; "TEXAS–1930" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-358-000
1931	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at right	none	1-2345	1 to 9-9999
1931		none	A1-2345	A0-0000 to approximately P5-0000
1932	Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999	Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944.[4]
1932		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately V19-000
1933	Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1933		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately F90-000
1934	Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1934		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately F35-000
1935	Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1935		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately F64-000
1936	Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right	"CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to 999-999	Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas.
1936		"CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately K31-000
1937	Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1937		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately K83-000
1938	Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1938		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately K88-000
1939	Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1939		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately N18-000
1940	Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1940		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately V06-000
1941	Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at top	none	123-456	1 to 999-999
1941		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately V70-000
1942–44	Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 999-999	Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1942–44		none	A12-345	A00-000 to approximately Y79-000
1945	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-45" at top, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately H/L4000
1946	Embossed cream serial on black plate; "TEXAS-46" at top, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately J/B7000
1947	Embossed white serial on black plate; "TEXAS-47" at bottom, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately J/U7000
1948	Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-48" at top, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately K/U7000
1949	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-49" at bottom, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately L/Y8000
1950	Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-50" at top, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/E3000
1951	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-51" at top, offset to right	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/R8000
1952	As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 52" at top	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately P/J2000
1953	As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 53" at top	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately P/J4000
1954	As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 54" at top	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately P/X9000
1955	As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 55" at top	none	A/B1234	A/A10 to approximately R/E9999
1955	As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with "TEXAS 55" centered at top	none	AB1234	RF10 to approximately SD3000
1956	Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS 56" centered at top	none	AB1234	AA10 to approximately SV6000
1957	Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS 57" centered at top	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately UR-3000
1958	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 58" centered at top	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately TT-6000
1959	As 1957 base, but with "TEXAS 59" centered at top	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately UK-3000
1960	As 1958 base, but with "TEXAS 60" centered at top	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately UN-7000
1961	Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "61" at top right	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately UY-9000
1962	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "62" at top right	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately VZ-4000
1963	Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" and "1963" centered at top and bottom respectively	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately WS-7000
1964	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectively	none	AB-1234	AA-10 to approximately YT-1000
1965	Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 TEXAS 65" at top	none	ABC 123	BBB 10 to approximately PHG 999	Vowels and Q not used in serials; this practice continued through 1974.[4]
1966	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "19 TEXAS 66" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately PYK-999
1967	Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 67" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately RKN-999
1968	Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "68" at bottom left and bottom right	"HEMISFAIR" centered at bottom	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately RSM-999
1969	Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 69" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately RWV-999
1970	Embossed blue serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 70" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately SDN-999
1971	Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "TEXAS 71" at top, offset to right	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately SWD-999
1972	Embossed green serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 72" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately TKK-999
1973	Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 73" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately VDD-999
1974	Embossed red serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 74" at top	none	ABC-123	BBB-10 to approximately VMG-999

1975 to present

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1975	Black on reflective white, star separator	none	ABC-123	AAA-10 to approximately MMV-500	Letters I and O not used in serials; this practice continued until 1990. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1978.
1976–81	As above, but with state-shaped separator		ABC-123	MMV-501 to ZZZ-999
1982–84	As above, but with state-shaped separator		123-ABC	001-AAA to 999-HEW
1985–86	Dark blue on reflective white, screened red state-shaped separator	Sesquicentennial	123-ABC	001-HEX to 974-PAY	Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas.
1986–89	As above, but with bolder state name	none	123-ABC	975-PAY to 999-ZZZ
1990	As above, but with bolder state name	none	ABC-12D	BBB-01B to BKW-99Z	Vowels and Q not used in serials (as from 1965–74); this practice continues today.
1990–91	Dark blue and red on reflective white, state flag screened to left of state name	none	ABC-12D	BKX-01B to GTX-99Z
1992 – December 28, 1995		The Lone Star State	ABC-12D	GTY-01B to TKT-99Z
December 29, 1995 – mid 1996	State outline within abstract graphic.	150 Years of Statehood	ABC-12D	VJL-01K to WSJ-99F	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new standard-issue license plate of 1995 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Texas has been so honored. Co-recipient with Pennsylvania.
mid 1996 – February 1998	As 1990–95 base	The Lone Star State	ABC-12D	TKV-01B to VJL-99J; WSJ-01G to ZZZ-99Z	Some late 'Z' series plates made on next series' graphic sheeting, with state flag to right of state name.
February 1998 – mid 2000	As above, but with state flag to right of state name	The Lone Star State	A12-BCD	B01-BBB to J99-GPZ	Some early 'B' series plates made on previous series' graphic sheeting, with state flag to left of state name. Issued concurrently with the Space Shuttle base (below) from February 2000 until supplies were exhausted.[5]
February 2000 – November 2004	Dark blue serial on reflective plate with graphic scene featuring a cowboy, oil fields, a Space Shuttle, stars and the moon; screened red state-shaped separator	The Lone Star State	A12-BCD	J01-GRB to Z99-ZZZ
November 2004 – October 2005			123-ABC	001-BBB to 999-HWL
October 2005 – September 2007	As above, but with a slightly smaller cowboy, the state flag added within the state-shaped separator, the national flag added to the Space Shuttle, and seven larger stars above the shuttle		123-ABC	001-HWM to 999-ZZZ	The seven larger stars honored the astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003, which occurred over Texas.
September 2007 – June 2009			ABC-123	BBB-001 to approximately VLX-999
July 2009 – June 2012	First standard-issue non-embossed license plate issued in Texas; features the Davis Mountains against a sky backdrop, with a lone star and streaks of red and blue in the upper-left corner; state motto is retained on the bottom	The Lone Star State	AB1-C234	BB0-B001 to DZ9-Z999
July 2012 – present	New "Texas Classic" black lettering on white sheeting design with double security thread in the sheeting	The Lone Star State	ABC-1234	BBB-0001 to PCS-9839 (as of January 25, 2021)	Serials issued on both passenger vehicles and trucks.

Non-passenger plates

Type	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued
Apportioned Tractor	2013	As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "APPORTIONED" between state name and serial	The Lone Star State	R12-3456	R00-0001 to present
Apportioned Truck/Bus	2013		The Lone Star State	K12-3456	K00-0001 to present
Disabled	1986	Embossed dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in red centered at top	none	1AB CD	1BB BB to approximately 1WS ZZ
	2005	Screened dark blue on reflective white; state flag within state shape at top right; "TEXAS" in blue centered at top	The Lone Star State	1AB CD	1WW BB to approximately 1YP ZZ
	2007		The Lone Star State	1ABCD	1YTBB to 1ZZZZ; 1BBBB to approximately 1FNZZ
	2012	As "Texas Classic" passenger base	The Lone Star State	1ABCD	1GWBB to present
Truck	1985	As 1985 Sesquicentennial passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial	Sesquicentennial	123-4AB	000-1CR to 299-9KK
	1986	As above, but without slogan and years	none	123-4AB	300-0KK to 999-9ZZ
	1991			AB1-234	AA0-001 to ZZ9-999
	1997			1AB-C23	1BB-B01 to 4LL-Z99
	2000	As Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial	The Lone Star State	1AB-C23	4LM-B01 to 9ZZ-Z99
	2004			12A-BC3	01B-BB1 to 99L-XZ3
	2005	As revised Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial		12A-BC3	01L-YB3 to 99Z-ZZ9
	2009			123-4AB	000-1AA to approximately 500-0BF
	2009	As sky passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial	The Lone Star State	AB1-2345	AA0-0001 to approximately CB1-0000

Optional plates

Texas has more specialty plates than any other state, with 506 available.[6]

Image	Type	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	4-H
	A Fine Cause
	Adopt-A-Beach
	Air Force Association
	Animal Friendly

References

"Old Texas License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
"Application for Antique License Plate (Form VTR-54)" (PDF). Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
Tanner, Eric N. "Texas Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
Palmer, Jim. "Dating Texas Passenger Car License Plates Issued Since 1975". LicensePlateInfo.com. Retrieved May 9, 2019.
https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/license-plates/specialty-license-plates?limitstart=0

External links

Texas license plates, 1969–present

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[1] "Old Texas License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.

[2] "Application for Antique License Plate (Form VTR-54)" (PDF). Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

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

[allaboutlicenseplatesTX-4] Tanner, Eric N. "Texas Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

[5] Palmer, Jim. "Dating Texas Passenger Car License Plates Issued Since 1975". LicensePlateInfo.com. Retrieved May 9, 2019.

[6] ttps://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/license-plates/specialty-license-plates?limitstart=0

Vehicle registration plates of the United States
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal district	Washington, D.C.
Insular areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Other registration plates	Canal Zone Native American tribes Designs and serial formats
By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Vehicle registration plates of North America
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States
Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

State of Texas
Austin (capital)
Topics	Architecture Climate (Climate change) Cuisine Geography Government Healthcare History Languages Law Literature Mass media Newspapers Radio TV National Historic Landmarks Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks National Register of Historic Places Sites Sports Symbols Texans Tourist attractions Transportation	Seal of Texas
Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Gambling Politics
Regions	Ark‑La‑Tex Big Bend Boca Chica Blackland Prairies Brazos Valley Central Texas Coastal Bend Concho Valley Cross Timbers East Texas Edwards Plateau Golden Triangle Hill Country Llano Estacado Northeast Texas North Texas Osage Plains Panhandle Permian Basin Piney Woods Rio Grande Valley Southeast Texas South Plains South Texas Texoma Trans-Pecos West Texas
Metropolitan areas	Abilene Amarillo Austin–Round Rock Beaumont–Port Arthur Brownsville–Harlingen College Station–Bryan Corpus Christi Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington El Paso Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land Killeen–Temple Laredo Longview Lubbock McAllen–Edinburg–Mission Midland Odessa San Angelo San Antonio–New Braunfels Sherman–Denison Texarkana Tyler Victoria Waco Wichita Falls
Counties	See: List of counties in Texas