Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Texas
Vehicle registration plates of Texas
Texas vehicle license plates
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]
 | This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: missing images and info in some tables. (October 2020) |
Quick Facts Current series, Name ...
 | |
| 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 (2012-07) |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Manufactured by | Wynne Unit, Huntsville, Texas |
| History | |
| First issued | July 1, 1917 (1917-07-01) (pre-state plates from 1907 through June 30, 1917) |
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As of 2024[update], plates are manufactured at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas, and are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV).[2] Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles, trailers and antique vehicles.[3]
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.[4] The first Texas license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1955 plate, introduced towards the end of that year.
More information Image, Dates issued ...
| Image | 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 |
|
| 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 | |
| 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.[5] |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| 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 | |
 |
As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with "TEXAS 55" centered at top | 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, and resumed in 1990.[5] |
 |
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 |
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1975 to present
More information Image, Dates issued ...
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1975 | Black on reflective white, star separator | none | AAA-(0)00 | AAA-10 to approximately MMV-500 | I and O excluded, but A, E, U and Q are used. This continued until 1990.
Monthly staggered registration introduced 1978. |
 |
1976–81 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | MMV-501 to ZZZ-999 | |||
 |
1982–84 | 000-AAA | 001-AAA to 999-HEW | |||
 |
1985–86 | Dark blue on reflective white, screened red state-shaped separator | Sesquicentennial | 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 | 975-PAY to 999-ZZZ | ||
 |
1990 | BBB-00B | BBB-01B to BKW-99Z | Vowels and Q not used in serials (as from 1965 to 1974); this practice continues from then on. | ||
 |
1990–91 | Dark blue and red on reflective white, state flag screened to left of state name | none | BKX-01B to GTX-99Z | ||
 |
1992 – 1995/12/28 | The Lone Star State | GTY-01B to TKT-99Z | |||
 |
1995/12/29 – mid 1996 |
State outline within abstract graphic. | 150 Years of Statehood | 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 – 1998/2 |
As 1990–95 base | The Lone Star State | 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 | B00-BBB | B01-BBB to J99-GPZ | Some early 'B' series plates made on previous series' graphic sheeting, with state flag to left of state name. Sticker wells at top removed in late 1998, near the end of the 'C' series (plates were validated with windshield stickers from 1994 onwards). Issued concurrently with the Space Shuttle base (below) from February 2000 until supplies were exhausted.[6]
The leftmost letter is the slowest-changing. | |
 |
2000/2 - 2004/11 | 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 | J01-GRB to Z99-ZZZ | ||
 |
2004/11 - 2005/10 | 000-BBB | 001-BBB to 999-HWL | Should not be confused with 1982-89 series, which have no graphics design and could contain AEIOUQ. | ||
 |
2005/10 - 2007/9 | 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 | 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.
Shold not be confused from 1975-82, which has no graphics design and could contain AEIOUQ. | ||
 |
2007/9 - 2009/6 | BBB-000 | BBB-001 to approx. VLX-999 | |||
 |
2009/7 - 2012/7 | 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 | BB0-B000 | BB1-B001 to DZ9-Z999 | Left characters moves slowest, regardless of if it's a letter or a digit. |
|
2012/7 - Present | Black lettering on white sheeting design with double security thread in the sheeting | The Lone Star State | BBB-0000 | BBB-0001 to VFF-9236 (as of 2024-04-14)[7] | Known as the "Texas Classic" plate. Serials issued on both passenger vehicles and trucks. |
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More information Image, Type ...
| Image | Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apportioned
Tractor / Truck / Bus |
1975 - c. 1999 | R00-000 | For each year:
R00-000 to approx. R68-000. |
Single-year plates, issues around 68,000 plates every year on average from 1975 to 1999. | |||
| c. 1999-c. 2007 | R0B-B00 | R1B-B00 to R9Z-Z99 | multi-year plates from then on. | ||||
| c. 2007 - c. 2008 | R00-000 | R00-001 to R99-999 | |||||
| c. 2008 - 2013 | RB0-B00 | RB1-B00 to approx. RR9-Z99 | |||||
| Apportioned Tractor | 2013 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "APPORTIONED" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | R00-0000 | R00-0001 to R71-8529 (as of 2024-02-15) | ||
| Apportioned Truck/Bus | K00-0000 | K00-0001 to approx. K18-0000 (as of late 2023) | |||||
| Disabled | 1986 | Embossed dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in red centered at top | none | 0BB  BB |
1BB BB to approximately 9WS 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 | 1WW BB to approximately 9YP ZZ | ||||
| 2007 | 0BBBB |
1YTBB to 9ZZZZ; 1BBBB to approximately 9FNZZ | |||||
| 2012 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base | The Lone Star State | 1GWBB to 1WBCF (as of 2024-02-08)[7] | ||||
| Exempt | 1958 | 2400 to 249-999 | |||||
| 1975 | Embossed black on white with star separator, "TEXAS" centered at top; "EXEMPT" between state name and serial | none | 000-000 | 250-001 to approximately 285-000 | |||
| c. 1977 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | 285-001 to approximately 556-000 | ||||
| c. 1988 | As above, but elements dark blue rather than black | none | 556-001 to approximately 831-000 | ||||
| c. 2000 | Embossed dark blue on reflective white with screened red state-shaped separator; "TEXAS" in red centered at top; "EXEMPT" in dark blue between state name and serial | none | 831-001 to approximately 850-000 | ||||
| c. 2002 - 2006/12 | Screened dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in dark blue centered at top; "EXEMPT" in red between state name and serial | none | 850-001 to 899-999 200-000 to approx. 299-999 | ||||
| 2007/1 - 2014 | 000-0000 | 100-0000 to approximately 117-9999 | |||||
| 2013 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "EXEMPT" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 118-0000 to 158-5686 (as of 2024-02-23) | ||||
| Truck | 1975/1 | AA-(00)00 | AA-10 to ZZ-9999 | No I, O, DV, TT, TX, VD, XA-XZ used. | |||
| 1983/11 | (0)000-AA | 100-AA to 9999-CQ | |||||
| 1985/2 | As 1985 Sesquicentennial passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | Sesquicentennial | 000-0AA | 000-1CR to 299-9KK | |||
| 1986/11 | As above, but without slogan and years | 300-0KK to 999-9ZZ | |||||
| 1991/1 | AA0-000 | AA0-001 to ZZ9-999 | Not to be confused with 1975-83 series, which are all black-on-white | ||||
| 1997/11 | 0BB-B00 | 1BB-B01 to 4LL-Z99 | |||||
| 2000 | As Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 4LM-B01 to 9ZZ-Z99 |
||||
| 2004/2 | 00B-BB0 | 01B-BB1 to 99L-XZ3 |
|||||
| 2005 | As revised Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | 01L-YB3 to 99Z-ZZ9 |
|||||
| 2009/5 | 000-0AA | 000-1AA to approximately 500-0BF | Not to be confused with 1983-85 series, which are all black-on-white. | ||||
| 2009/7-2012/7 | As sky passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | AA0-0000 | AA0-0001 to approximately CB1-0000 |
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Temporary tags are issued to unregistered vehicles and to vehicles registered in states that do not have a reciprocity agreement with Texas. These tags are printed on paper and are used mainly by dealers. As of 2022[update], four types are available: three are valid for 72 hours, 144 hours, and 30 days respectively; the fourth is the "one-trip" tag, which is issued only to unladen vehicles traveling from a single origin to a single destination (either of which must be in Texas) and is valid for 15 days.[8]
In February 2022, it was reported that as many as 1.2 million fraudulent temporary Texas tags were sold in the United States in 2021. Due to inadequate security standards in the dealer application process in Texas, fraudulent individuals posing as dealers could purchase licenses for less than $800. This gave them access to the Texas DMV database, which they could use to print temporary tags and sell them online for profit. Most drivers who purchased the tags did so to make their vehicles untraceable when committing crimes, or to avoid paying tolls and registration fees.[9]
Texas has more specialty plates than any other state, with 506 available.[10]
More information Image, Type ...
| Image | Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-H Club | |||||
| A Fine Cause | |||||
| Adopt-A-Beach | |||||
| Aerospace Commission | |||||
| Air Force Association | |||||
| Animal Friendly | |||||
| Be A Blood Donor | |||||
| Be An Organ Donor | |||||
| Big Bend National Park | |||||
| Buffalo Soldier Museum | |||||
| Cancer Survivor | |||||
| Columbia Remembered | |||||
| Conquer Cancer | |||||
| Dallas Cowboys | |||||
| Dallas Mavericks | |||||
| Don't Tread On Me | |||||
| Emergency Medical Services | |||||
| Enjoy Texas Music | |||||
| Fight Terrorism | |||||
| God Bless America | |||||
| Houston Texans | |||||
| Hunt Texas | |||||
| Kansas Jayhawks | |||||
| Keep Texas Beautiful | |||||
| Knights of Columbus | |||||
| March of Dimes | |||||
| Master Gardener | |||||
| Mission Valley | |||||
| Mothers Against Drunk Driving | |||||
| NASCAR | Discontinued[11] | ||||
| Native Texan | |||||
| Oil and Gas | |||||
| Olympic Spirit | |||||
| Proud For Kids | |||||
| Realtor | |||||
| Rifle Association | |||||
| Rotary Club | |||||
| Save Water, Texas! | |||||
| Share the Road | |||||
| State Parks | |||||
| Southern Methodist University | |||||
| Stop Child Abuse | |||||
| Texas Pride | |||||
| Texas Trees | |||||
| Trails! | |||||
| United States Air Force | |||||
| United We Stand | |||||
| YMCA |
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- "Old Texas License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- "Plates and Prisoners". Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
- "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.
- "Texas License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- "Temporary Vehicle Registration". Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- Dienst, Jonathan; Copenhagen, Courtney (February 11, 2022). "Changes At Texas DMV Could Lead to Fewer Temporary Texas Paper Plates in NY". WNBC. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
- https://www.myplates.com/discontinued-plates/ Retrieved March 11, 2024
- The History of Texas License Plates – 80th Anniversary Edition (PDF). Austin, Texas: Texas Department of Transportation. March 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 October 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2024. An extensive history and catalog of Texas license plates.