Vehicle registration plates of North Carolina

The U.S. state of North Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.[1]

North Carolina
Current "First in Flight" plate
Current series
SloganStandard:
First in Flight
Alternative from 2015:
First in Freedom
Alternative from 2019:
In God We Trust;
To Be Rather Than to Seem
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC-1234
IntroducedFirst in Flight: 1982 (1982)
First in Freedom: July 1, 2015 (2015-07-01)
In God We Trust: July 1, 2019 (2019-07-01)
Availability
Issued byNorth Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedApril 1, 1913 (1913-04-01)
(county plates from 1907 through June 30, 1909; pre-state plates from July 1, 1909 through March 31, 1913)

Plates are currently issued by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.

Passenger baseplates

1913 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.[2] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1913 White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-13" at bottom none 1234 6801 to approximately 8000 Issued only to new registrants from April 1 through June 30, 1913, with serials following on from those on pre-state-issued plates.[3]
1913–14 Red serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-14" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 13000 Issued to all registrants.
1914–15 White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-15" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 17000
1915–16 Black serial on gray porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-16" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 25000
1916–17 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1917" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 40000 First embossed plate. From the collection of Richard Watson.
1917–18 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1918" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 65-000
1918–19 Embossed white serial on black plate; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1919" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 80-000
1919–20 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "N.C. 6-30 1920" at left none 12-345
123456		 1 to approximately 106000
1920–21 Embossed white serial on brown plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1921" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 131-000
1921–22 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 22" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 213-000
1922–23 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "NC" at right and "6-30-23" centered at bottom none 123456 1 to approximately 181000
1923–24 Embossed maroon serial on light gray plate with border line; "N.C.-6-30-24" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 262-000
1924–25 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 25" at left none 123.456 1 to approximately 320.000
1925–26 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; diagonal "NC" and "6-30-26" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 348-000
1926–27 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NC" monogram and horsepower class at right; "6 30 27" at left none 123-456 1 to approximately 421-000 Horsepower classes were A (over 35 hp), B (31-35 hp), C (26-30 hp) and E (25 hp and under); a block of serials was assigned to each class, with E having the biggest block. This continued through 1928.
1927 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "NC" at left; horsepower class and "27" at right none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 496-000 Issued only from July 1 through December 31, 1927.
1928 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "NC" at right; horsepower class and "28" at left none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 556-000
1929 Embossed white serial on sky blue plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA-1929" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 580-000 First use of the full state name. Horsepower classes same as 1926–28 but no letter used for the 25 hp and under class; for the other classes, the letter was carried at the right of the plate. This happened again in 1930.
1930 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA–1930" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 607-000
1931 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; horsepower class number used as separator; "NORTH CAROLINA–31" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 483-000 Last year of horsepower classes; same as 1926–30 but numbered 1–4 in decreasing order of power.
1932 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–32" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 415-000
1933 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–33" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 464-000
1934 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–34" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 493-000
1935 Embossed silver serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–35" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 518-000
1936 Embossed light green serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–36" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 545-000
1937 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–37" at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 651-000 Serials 100-001 through 200-000 reserved for trucks; this practice continued through 1946.[4]
1938 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–38" at top none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 646-000
1939 Embossed silver serial on maroon plate; "North Carolina 39" centered at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 686-000
1940 Embossed maroon serial on silver plate; "North Carolina 40" centered at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 705-000
1941 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "North Carolina 41" centered at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 775-000
1942–43 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 42" at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 762-000 Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 44" at top none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 707-000
1945 Embossed black serial on tan plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 45" at bottom none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 703-000
1946 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 46" at top none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 748-000
1947 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 47" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 682-000 Serials 800-001 through 999-999 reserved for trucks and farm vehicles; this practice continued through 1949.[4]
1948 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 48" at top none 123-456 100-001 to approximately 760-000
1949 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 49" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to 800-000 From the personal collection of Richard Watson.
A-12345 W-1001 to approximately W-14000
1950 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 50" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to
760-000		 Serials 760-001 through 999-999 reserved for trucks and farm vehicles; this practice continued through 1955.[4]
A-12345 W-1001 to
W-99999;
R-1001 to approximately R-74000
1951 Embossed red serial on white plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 51" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to
760-000
A-12345 W and R series;
N-1001 to approximately N-39000
1952 Embossed white serial on red plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 52" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to
760-000
A-12345 W and R series;
N-1001 to approximately N-76000
1953 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 53" or "N.C.", slogan and "53" at bottom (see right) none, or "DRIVE SAFELY" between state abbreviation and year 123-456 100-001 to
760-000
A-12345 W, R and N series;
X-1001 to approximately X-46000
1954 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 54" or "N.C.", slogan and "54" at bottom none, or "DRIVE SAFELY" between state abbreviation and year 123-456 100-001 to
760-000
A-12345 W, R and N series;
X-1001 to approximately X-96000
1955 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 55" at bottom none 123-456 100-001 to 760-000
A-12345 W, R, N, X and A series; V-1001 to approximately V-22000
1956 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at top A-1234
AB-1234		 Serials progressed as follows: A-1 through A-9999, AA-1 through AZ-9999, B-1 through B-9999, BA-1 through BZ-9999, etc. Some series ran only to 1000 rather than 9999. This continued through 1972. Letters G, I, O and Q not used; this practice continued through 1968.[4]
1957 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 57" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at top A-1234
AB-1234
1958 As 1956 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 58" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base A-1234
AB-1234
1959 As 1957 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 59" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1957 base A-1234
AB-1234
1960 As 1956 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 60" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base A-1234
AB-1234
1961 As 1957 base, but with "61 NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1957 base A-1234
AB-1234
1962 As 1956 base, but with "62 NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base A-1234
AB-1234
1963 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 63" at top "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at bottom A-1234
AB-1234
1964 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "64" centered at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1965 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "1965" centered at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1966 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "1966" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1967 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "1967" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1968 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "1968" centered at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1969 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "19" at bottom left and "69" at bottom right none A-1234
AB-1234		 Letters G, I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today.[4]
1970 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19" at top left and "70" at top right; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1971 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "71" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none A-1234
AB-1234
1972 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "19" at bottom left and "72" at bottom right none A-1234
AB-1234
1973 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19" at top left and "73" at top right; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none ABC-123 AAA-101 to approximately HVA-999
1974 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "1974" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom none ABC-123 AAA-101 to approximately JBA-999

1975 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes

 1975–78 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; vertical "75" used as separator; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom "FIRST IN FREEDOM" centered at top ABC-123 AAA-101 to approximately PMZ-999 First base to be revalidated with stickers. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1981.[5] Plates from AAA-101 through JAY-999 replaced 1982; all other plates replaced by 1992.

 1978–80 As above, but without "75" and slogan none PNA-101 to approximately SXZ-999

 1980–81 As above, but with "1980" centered at top SYA-101 to approximately XFZ-999

 1981–82 As above, but with "NORTH CAROLINA" at top and "1981" centered at bottom XHA-101 to approximately YJZ-999
1982 As above, but with "1982" centered at bottom YKA-101 to approximately ZRZ-999

 1982 Blue on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic "First in Flight" screened at top ABC-123 ZSA-101 to ZZZ-999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1982 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time North Carolina has been so honored.
ABC-12
ABC-100		 AAA-11 to XZZ-100
1982–85 ABC-123 AAA-101 to JAY-999
1985 – April
2007		 ABC-1234 ANA-1001 to approximately WTF-1975 Second letter in serials strictly N through Z (so AZZ was followed by BNA, BZZ was followed by CNA and so on); this practice continued until ZZZ-9999 was issued in 2010. Since 1999, OBX has been issued as a special series for Dare County.
April 2007 – October 2009 Red on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic "First in Flight" as above ABC-1234 WTF-1976 to approximately ZND-9999 Mainly issued as replacements for earlier "First in Flight" plates with the ABC-123 and ABC-12 serial formats, plus the ABC-1234 format up to JZZ-9999.[5]
October 2009 – December 2010 Blue on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic "First in Flight" as above ABC-1234 ZNE-1001 to ZZZ-9999 Blue serials reintroduced following complaints that the red serials were too hard to read from a distance.
December 2010 – present AAA-1001 to JAA-3404 (as of November 18, 2020) Second letter in serials strictly A through M (so AMZ was followed by BAA, BMZ was followed by CAA and so on); this practice should continue until at least NMZ-9999 is issued.
July 1, 2015 – present Blue on reflective white with quill pen graphic "First In Freedom" screened at top ABC-1234 PAA-1001 to RCF-3013 (as of September 30, 2020) Alternative issue. Includes dates of May 20, 1775 and April 12, 1776 commemorating the adoption of the Mecklenburg Declaration and Halifax Resolves, respectively.[6] Second letter in serials strictly A through M (so PMZ was followed by RAA, and RMZ will be followed by SAA).

 July 1, 2019 – present Blue on reflective white with national flag motif at top "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened at top; "To Be Rather Than to Seem" screened between serial and state name ABC-1234 TAA-1001 to TDF-7412 (as of September 15, 2020) Alternative issue. "To Be Rather Than to Seem" is the English translation of the state motto, Esse quam videri.[7] Second letter in serials likely to be strictly A through M (so TMZ will be followed by VAA, VMZ will be followed by WAA and so on).

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Apportioned Truck 2006–present Embossed blue on white with border line; "N.C. PERMANENT" at top; "APPORTIONED" at bottom LB-1234
MB-1234
NB-1234		 LA-1001 to
MC-9999;
MH-1001 to
present		 Issuing NL series as of September 26, 2020.
Farm Truck Embossed red on white with border line; "COMMERCIAL" at top; "FARM TRUCK–NC" at bottom XB-1234
YB-1234		 XA-1001 to present Issuing YN series as of April 21, 2019.

 For Hire 2006–present Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "FOR HIRE" at top ZB-1234 ZB-1001 to present Issued annually through 2005.[8] Issuing ZM series as of September 27, 2020.
Manufacturer Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "MANUFACTURER" at top MF-1234 MF-1001 to present

Motorcycle 1999–present Embossed blue on white with border line; "N.C." at top 1A2345 1A0001 to present Letter advances before leftmost number (1A-1Z, 2A-2Z, etc.). G, I, O, Q and U not used. Issuing 7Z series as of December 2, 2020.

 Multi-Year Trailer 1993–present Embossed black on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "MULTI YEAR" at bottom AB-12345 AY-10000 to AZ-99999;
AA-10000 to present		 Permanent trailer plate obtained for a one-time fee. Issuing AL series as of August 9, 2020.

 Taxi 2006–present Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "TAXI" at top TB-1234 TA-1001 to present Issued annually through 2005.[8] Issuing TC series as of August 19, 2019.

 Trailer 1995–present Embossed red on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "TRAILER" at top AB-12345 AN-10000 to
AX-99999;
BA-10000 to present		 Issuing CM series as of July 8, 2020.

Temporary plates
  • 1997
  • 2003
  • 2009, motorcycle

References
  1. "Old North Carolina License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Taylor, Eric Robert. "North Carolina Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "North Carolina Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  5. Kretschmer, Rick. "A Pictorial History of North Carolina License Plates: Passenger car plates dated 1975 to present". Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  6. Siceloff, Bruce (July 1, 2015). "Second to none, NC now offers choice of 2 'First' license plates". The News & Observer. Raleigh. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
  7. Stradling, Richard (July 1, 2019). "'In God We Trust' now an option on your next North Carolina license plate". The News & Observer. Raleigh. Retrieved November 26, 2019.
  8. Kretschmer, Rick. "Current and Recent North Carolina License Plates, Part 3". Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives. Retrieved April 10, 2020.

Further reading
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