Texas Has Four Lisence Plate Styles Currently In Use

[Brian556]

I find it odd that there are currently four different styles of license plate currently in use in Texas.

Are there any other states that have a situation similar to this?

I only saw one style in use when in Florida recently. Granted, I wasn't there all that long.

[The Nature Boy]

Are we counting the various specialty plate designs?

[SteveG1988]

NJ has 5 in current use.

1959-1976

1977-1978

1979-1992

1992-2013


2014+ (flat Plate)

[jeffandnicole]

NJ has 5 in current use.

1959-1976

1977-1978

1979-1992

1992-2013

One of the guys in my carpool drives a 93 Mustang GT, and keeps it in superb condition.  He has the 7 digit license plate, shown 4th one down.  New Jersey didn't use this character combination for generic tags for very long, and switched back to the 6 digit combo shown in the 5th picture (they still allow 7 character personalized plates though).

He was recently pulled over by a fairly young state trooper.   We're pretty sure the cop stopped him just to check out the car (he never looked at the registration or insurance, and just briefly glanced at his license).  He asked about the plate though, wondering if it was a personalized tag.  Both he and his dispatcher were completely unfamiliar with that 7 digit combination, as very few cars still have tags from the 1992, 93, 94 timeframe when that type plate was produced.

[formulanone]

California has more and I suppose Washington - since the vehicle "keeps" the same license plate for those states. There's exceptions for certain criteria (moved, damaged, salvaged, unreadable, fleet tags, vanity, et cetera) but it's a good way to figure out the age of the vehicle by the plate, and vice versa.

Florida typically has an overlap where the old and new basic plate style is used concurrently until the old one is phased out. There's some exceptions; Florida will let you keep an old plate with a similarly old car, I've heard from car collectors.

Alabama wants all her old-style plates removed within a twelve-month span. Every general-issue plate requires replacement, and I guess that's for a five-year span. Our 11-month-old plates now lay on a shelf next to all my old tags.

[roadman]

Not counting specialty plates, Massachusetts has two plate styles still in use - the green on white design from the mid-1970s, and the current red on white "Spirit of America" series.  The green on white plates were three numbers and three letters.  The red on white plates were originally three numbers and three letters, then evolved to two numbers and four letters, and now can be almost any combination of letters and numbers - the most recent iteration is two numbers, two letters, and two numbers.  Part of the reason for the large number of combinations is, when a driver orders a vantily or speciality plate, their original registration number is still associated with their car.

Massachusetts is cyrrently trying to convince drivers with the older green on white plates, which are only a single rear plate, to switch to the red on white plates, which are front and rear.  While they allow you to upgrade your plates for free, you have to give up your registration number in favor of a new one.  And this is mandatory, they have no provision in their system to allow you to keep your number on the new plates - even for a fee.  Contrast that with New Hampshire.  Between the 1970s and now, both my uncle and my sister went through at least two NH plate design changes, but always kept the same registration number.

[1995hoo]

If you were to count all the various specialty plates, Virginia has over 200 license plate designs right now ("over 200" per the DMV's website; I'm not about to sit here counting up all the styles). If you were to restrict the count to the designs that existed prior to the specialty-plate program, I believe there would be four: Standard-issue plate (blue on white; it now also has the state's annoying tourism slogan, "Virginia Is for Lovers," across the bottom); "scenic" mountain design; "heritage" with a cardinal (state bird) perched on a dogwood branch (state tree); and "Great Seal" (state's great seal at the center).

Generally Virginia doesn't make you replace your plates unless, when you go for state inspection, the inspector determines your plate is so ratty as to be unreadable from a distance. I know one person to whom this happened; he had the Independence Bicentennial design from 1976 and the front plate had been damaged when a truck backed into it. He wound up having to get new plates. But I still see the old 1980s-era design on the road periodically. The state does allow you to keep the same plate number when you get new plates even if you do not have a personalized plate. About four years ago my parents replaced my mother's car and my father decided the license plates, which they'd had since 1980, looked too beat-up and ratty for a brand-new car, so he got replacements from the DMV with the same plate number. Funny thing is, in 1980 plates had three letters and three numbers, whereas now the standard plates have three letters and four numbers, so people are always scratching their heads trying to figure out the "incomprehensible personalized plate." 

[J N Winkler]

In Kansas, there are two standard plate designs still in circulation--the state seal design (current generation) and the capitol design (previous generation).  In this family we have three cars and the oldest plate we had was a capitol plate attached to a 2005 Toyota Camry soon after it came from the dealer.  A few weeks ago we were mailed a new state-seal plate for it, with a new number, without warning or opportunity to keep the old number.  We suspect the county tag offices are working under a state directive which presumes that plates become life-expired 10 years after issue, to cater for the possibility that a car will not routinely be garaged over the validity period of the plate, and requires issue of a new plate with a new number every 10th year.

I frankly think Kansas' policy of issuing new numbers at the drop of a hat is foolish and will force it to move to seven-digit numbers within a decade or two despite having a very slow-growing population just under 3 million.

[Brandon]

Illinois only has one style in use, not counting the various specialty plates.  The Secretary of State sends out new plates to be placed on the vehicle when there is a plate changeover.  Most of the time, the new plates will have the same plate number as the previous plates (unless you request a new number).

[SteveG1988]

NJ has 5 in current use.

1959-1976

1977-1978

1979-1992

1992-2013

One of the guys in my carpool drives a 93 Mustang GT, and keeps it in superb condition.  He has the 7 digit license plate, shown 4th one down.  New Jersey didn't use this character combination for generic tags for very long, and switched back to the 6 digit combo shown in the 5th picture (they still allow 7 character personalized plates though).

He was recently pulled over by a fairly young state trooper.   We're pretty sure the cop stopped him just to check out the car (he never looked at the registration or insurance, and just briefly glanced at his license).  He asked about the plate though, wondering if it was a personalized tag.  Both he and his dispatcher were completely unfamiliar with that 7 digit combination, as very few cars still have tags from the 1992, 93, 94 timeframe when that type plate was produced.

NJ used the 7 digit combo for 1993 only, 1994 they went to AB-123C until late 1999, we had a 1997 Escort with ZV-482X for example, bought used in may 1999. 1999 we switched to ABC-12D and around 2010 we went to 12A-BCD. the plate sticker boxes dissapeared in 2006/2007. Mid 2014 we switched to 3M Flat plates with a new font for the numbers, and very little else changed.

[signalman]

NJ has 5 in current use.

1959-1976

1977-1978

1979-1992

1992-2013

One of the guys in my carpool drives a 93 Mustang GT, and keeps it in superb condition.  He has the 7 digit license plate, shown 4th one down.  New Jersey didn't use this character combination for generic tags for very long, and switched back to the 6 digit combo shown in the 5th picture (they still allow 7 character personalized plates though).

He was recently pulled over by a fairly young state trooper.   We're pretty sure the cop stopped him just to check out the car (he never looked at the registration or insurance, and just briefly glanced at his license).  He asked about the plate though, wondering if it was a personalized tag.  Both he and his dispatcher were completely unfamiliar with that 7 digit combination, as very few cars still have tags from the 1992, 93, 94 timeframe when that type plate was produced.

NJ used the 7 digit combo for 1993 only, 1994 they went to AB-123C until late 1999, we had a 1997 Escort with ZV-482X for example, bought used in may 1999. 1999 we switched to ABC-12D and around 2010 we went to 12A-BCD. the plate sticker boxes dissapeared in 2006/2007. Mid 2014 we switched to 3M Flat plates with a new font for the numbers, and very little else changed.

Correct.  The 7 character plates were issued in 1993 from AAA1000-ADJ9999.  I actually know the owner of ADK1000 that you have pictured, and he got it as a vanity.  He's a plate collector, and thought it would be neat to get a 7 character plate from where the passenger issuance stopped.  I was a bit annoyed that I hadn't thought of it.  I guess I could put that in the "things that taunt you" thread.

[PHLBOS]

PA presently has only two standard style plates in active circulation.  The original design features faded blue and yellow borders with a white middle & blue lettering and a long url that first debuted in 2000.  The current design features a shorter url and a dark blue & bolder yellow top & bottom border respectively.  I believe that design rolled out in 2005 or so.

Prior to 2000, PA used to have at least three standard style plates in active circulation: the older gold/orange-and-blue (think old & current NY state) with PENNSYLVANIA embossed on top & KEYSTONE STATE embossed on the bottom, the dark blue You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania style and the dark blue with the reverse order of the older gold/orange plates (KEYSTONE STATE embossed on top, PENNSYLVANIA on the bottom.

The whole reasoning behind the unilateral plate change in 2000; was to reduce the number of varying stylkes of standard-issue plates.

While they allow you to upgrade your plates for free, you have to give up your registration number in favor of a new one.  And this is mandatory, they have no provision in their system to allow you to keep your number on the new plates - even for a fee.  Contrast that with New Hampshire.  Between the 1970s and now, both my uncle and my sister went through at least two NH plate design changes, but always kept the same registration number.

NH must be the exception to the rule because when PA did their unilateral plate change in 2000; the registration numbers changed as well (excluding vanity plates).

[Brian556]

I was not including specialty plates. Texas has an eight-year replacement cycle, which is consistent with the life span of the EG sheeting on the plates.
I regularly see the old space shuttle plates (issued 2000-2008) in very poor condition.

They look like they have been in use for more then eight years. It appears that people are letting then expire. I'm wondering how they are getting away with it. Then again, people regularly don't install the front plate, and the cops don't enforce that, either.

[bulldog1979]

Michigan has 6 plate styles in circulation, with three of them available for new issue.

• 1996-issued Automobile Centennial plate (the first "graphic" plate issued), can be renewed
• 1997-2006 Great Lakes Splendor plate, can be renewed
• 2007-13 blue on white plate, can be renewed
• 2007-present Spectacular Peninsulas plate
• 2013-present Pure Michigan blue on white
• 2013-present Mackinac Bridge plate  (white numbers for 2013 and early 2014 issues only, nowblack numbers)

[Doctor Whom]

Not counting special issues:

In Maryland, the current standard issue for classes A (passenger cars), E (trucks), and M (multipurpose vehicles) is the "War of 1812" issue with an na/annnn registration  serial.  Three variations of the escutcheon plate are still in use for class-A vehicles:  aaa-nnn and no URL, naa-ann and no URL, and naa-ann with the URL.

In DC, the current standard issue is flat, with an aa-nnnn registration serial and "District of Columbia"/"Taxation Without Representation" on top and bottom.  It is possible to order tags without the "Taxation" legend; I believe that they are currently in the EA-nnnn series.  Still on the road are nnn-nnn embossed, aa-nnnn embossed and having various legends, and aa-nnnn flat with "Washington, D.C."/"Taxation Without Representation."  There are probably variations that I've missed.

[6a]

Ohio has five standard issue plates still on the road, although only the most current is issued. (Images shamelessly stolen from 15q.net)

[xcellntbuy]

I believe my former home State of Florida has something like 90+ different designs, more than any other State.  Our license plate experts here are welcome to correct me.

When I applied for a new Georgia plate on my old car that is used for work, I was given a choice, lots of peaches or one big centered peach.  I chose lots of peaches.  When I applied for vanity plates for my Corvette and Firebird, the State gave me one big centered peach for each.

Non-embossed lettered/numbered plates are going to be new for me in Georgia.  All my plates from New York and Florida always had embossing.  It used to be that the only State I had ever seen with the "flat" plates was Delaware.

[SSOWorld]

Wisconsin has the black-text on white with red "Wisconsin" standard for some time now.

California has quite a handful of varieties as they don't do plate replacement as far as I know.  I never had to get California plates (Thank God )

[Brian556]

It seems odd that some states would allow drivers to use plates older than 8 years considering that that is the point at which they start to deteriorate. I thought the whole point of the 8 years life cycle was to keep plates in god shape and readable.

[6a]

It seems odd that some states would allow drivers to use plates older than 8 years considering that that is the point at which they start to deteriorate. I thought the whole point of the 8 years life cycle was to keep plates in god shape and readable.

Ohio hasn't forced people to change because it "costs them extra money"

[1995hoo]

It seems odd that some states would allow drivers to use plates older than 8 years considering that that is the point at which they start to deteriorate. I thought the whole point of the 8 years life cycle was to keep plates in god shape and readable.

I've had the ones on my primary car since 2003 and they're in excellent shape. No reason to replace them. Plus the particular style plate is no longer offered.

I believe my former home State of Florida has something like 90+ different designs, more than any other State.  Our license plate experts here are welcome to correct me.

....

As noted above, the OP wasn't counting all the specialty designs, but even if they were counted, Virginia has over 200 designs.

[The High Plains Traveler]

Not counting specialty plates (those that cost you more when you register your vehicle) or truck or trailer plates, Colorado has four varieties. The first three are on the embossed mountain background, green mountains with white characters: AB1234, ABC123, and ABC1234.  In each case, the letters are issued by county, though a different set of letters were used for the two and three-letter county sets. This letter assignment by county limited the number of possible issues in some counties since the initial issuance of these series in 1977. Now, since 2000 the state has issued the current basic design where the white mountain background is screened on and the characters are green. The combination used for all plates is 123ABC.

Soon, the available combinations will run out and the state will revert to ABC123 plates. However, the original set of plates with this sequence has never been recalled, and so there are still some green mountain plates (mid-1980s) on the road. From what I've read, the new plates will simply skip existing combinations.

Unlike many other states, Colorado plates stay with the owner, not the car. Thus, old plates can be used on successive vehicles owned by the same owner as long as they are readable. I think this results in plates potentially being used longer than in states where the plates stay with the car.

[Brandon]

It seems odd that some states would allow drivers to use plates older than 8 years considering that that is the point at which they start to deteriorate. I thought the whole point of the 8 years life cycle was to keep plates in god shape and readable.

Ohio hasn't forced people to change because it "costs them extra money"

Illinois forces them to change, but the last change cycle was 1983 to 2000.  They used those same plates for almost two decades!  And we've had the same ones since 2000.  Eight year replacement cycle my ass!

[bulldog1979]

It seems odd that some states would allow drivers to use plates older than 8 years considering that that is the point at which they start to deteriorate. I thought the whole point of the 8 years life cycle was to keep plates in god shape and readable.

Ohio hasn't forced people to change because it "costs them extra money"

Illinois forces them to change, but the last change cycle was 1983 to 2000.  They used those same plates for almost two decades!  And we've had the same ones since 2000.  Eight year replacement cycle my ass!

Michigan introduced the old white on blue plates in 1983 and forced everyone to change in 2007. They were on the third numbering scheme after running out of "ABC 123" and "123 ABC" numbers. Supposedly, the only reason they retired the plate series is that it was getting too expensive to put the glass beads into the white paint when the plates were produced at the prison.

[Scott5114]

When Oklahoma introduced the current plate design in 2008, a new plate was made mandatory when your old plate expired. No stickers were issued for 2009, preventing anyone from putting it on their old plate; the 2009 sticker image was simply printed onto the base of the plate.