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Vehicle registration plates of Texas

Texas vehicle license plates

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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 (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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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]

As of 2024^[update], plates are manufactured at the Wynne UnitinHuntsville, 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]

Passenger baseplates[edit]

1917 to 1974[edit]

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.

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

1975 to present[edit]

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 VHM-1717 (as of June 25, 2024) [7]	Known as the "Texas Classic" plate. Serials issued on both passenger vehicles and trucks.

Non-passenger plates[edit]

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

Temporary tags[edit]

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]

Optional plates[edit]

Texas has more specialty plates than any other state, with 506 available.^[10]

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
	Boy Scouts (Scouts BSA)
	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

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• 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.

External links[edit]

• Texas license plates, 1969–present