Vehicle registration plates of Illinois

Current Illinois license plate

The U.S. state of Illinois first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants had to provide their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to supply plates. Plates were issued annually until 1978.

Early history

Automobile owners in Illinois were first required to register their vehicles with the Secretary of State's office in 1907, paying a one-time registration fee of $2. Registrants were issued a numbered aluminum disc to place on their dashboard, but they had to provide their own license plates. Annual registration commenced in 1909.

The state began to issue license plates in 1911. Front and rear plates were required each year, along with an aluminum dashboard disc whose number matched the serial on the plate. The legislation authorizing the state issuance of license plates also provided for the registration and plating of motorcycles, and issued special licenses and plates to mechanics and chauffeurs.

Serials were all-numeric and originally ran to five digits. When 99999 was reached in 1914 and 1915, serials with one letter and four digits were issued. Six-digit all-numeric serials were introduced in 1916, followed in 1925 by seven-digit serials. Aluminum dashboard discs were discontinued after 1917.

1920 marked the first year that plates were issued to different classes of vehicles. Only two general classes were specified, vehicles carrying less than seven people and those that carried more than seven people or carried freight. Trucks received their own special plate for the first time with a vertical "TRUCK" embossed onto the plate. Four years later, the first plates for trailers were issued.

Modern history

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces 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.[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Illinois license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1955 (dated 1956) issue was 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.

Passenger baseplates

Pre-state plates

Image Dates issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
1907–11 Black on white; vertical "ILL" at right 12345 1 to approximately 38300 Front and rear plates provided by vehicle owner. Most were made of metal or leather. The serial number matched that on the aluminum disc provided to the owner by the state.

1911 to 1978

Image First issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1911 Black on white; vertical "ILL" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 38100 Issued only from July 1 through December 31, 1911.
1912 White on black; "ILL 1912" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 67200 First dated plate. Front plates were perforated in order to allow air to pass through to the vehicle's radiator, while rear plates were solid.
1913 Front: White with border and no background; "ILL 13" at right
Rear: White on dark blue; "ILL 13" at right		 none 12345 1 to approximately 94100 Front plates were stencil-like, again to facilitate passage of air to the vehicle's radiator.
1914 Green on white; "ILL 14" at right none 12345 1 to 99999 Front plates had vertical slits between the characters of the serial; this practice continued until 1919. Letters H, K, P and R used in the A1234 serial format.
A1234 H0001 to approximately R1000
1915 Dark blue on yellow; "ILL 15" at right none 12345 1 to 99999 Letters H, K, P, R, T, U, X and Y used in the A1234 serial format.[2]
A1234 H0001 to approximately Y9999
1916 Black on silver with border line; "ILL 16" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 249000
1917 White on black with border line; "ILL 17" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 339000 Last year in which aluminum dashboard discs were required.
1918 Blue on gray with border line; "ILL 18" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 387000
1919 White on brown with border line; "ILL 19" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 473000
1920 Black on orange with border line; "ILL 20" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 494000
1921 White on black with border line; "ILL 21" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 579000
1922 Black on gray with border line; "ILL 22" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 681-000
1923 White on green with border line; "ILL 23" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 841-000
1924 Deep yellow on black with border line; "ILL 24" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 977-000
1925 White on brown with border line; "ILL 25" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-102-000
1926 White on dark blue with border line; "ILL 26" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-180-000
1927 Black on orange with border line; embossed state shape at right containing debossed "ILL 27" in orange none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-249-000
1928 White on maroon with border line; "ILL 28" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-313-000
1929 Red on black with border line; "ILL 29" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-411-000
1930 White on black with border line; "ILL 30" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-418-000
1931 Black on light green with border line; "ILL 31" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-411-000
1932 Golden yellow on dark blue with border line; "ILL 32" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-301-000
1933 White on dark blue with border line; "ILL 33" at right none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-277-000
1934 Yellow on black with border line; "ILL-34", "ILLINOIS-34" or "ILLINOIS-1934" at bottom (see right) none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-285-000 Plates with serials 1 through 999 had "ILL-34" at the bottom; plates with serials 1000 through 9999 had "ILLINOIS-34"; and plates with serials 10-000 and up had "ILLINOIS-1934". The latter two groups were the first plates to feature the full state name.
1935 Blue on white with border line; "ILL-35", "ILLINOIS-35" or "ILLINOIS-1935" at top none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-351-000 Plates with serials 1 through 999 had "ILL-35" at the top; plates with serials 1000 through 9999 had "ILLINOIS-35"; and plates with serials 10-000 and up had "ILLINOIS-1935".
1936 White on black with border line; "ILL-36", "ILL-1936" or "ILLINOIS-1936" at bottom none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-475-000 Plates with serials 1 through 999 had "ILL-36" at the bottom; plates with serials 1000 through 9999 had "ILL-1936"; and plates with serials 10-000 and up had "ILLINOIS-1936".
1937 Black on yellow with border line; "19 - ILLINOIS - 37" at top none 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-569-000
1938 White on green; "ILLINOIS 38" at bottom none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1579 000
1939 Yellow on black; "ILLINOIS 39" at top none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1639 000
1940 Cream on brown; "ILL 1940" or "ILLINOIS 1940" at bottom none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1723 000
1941 Black on golden yellow; "ILL 1941" or "ILLINOIS 1941" at top none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1827 000
1942 Golden yellow on black; "ILL 1942" or "ILLINOIS 1942" at bottom none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1750 000
1943 Cream on green fiberboard;
"ILL. 43" or "ILLINOIS 43" at top		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1639 000 Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to metal conservation for World War II. Plates continued to be manufactured in this manner until 1948.
1944 Cream on brown fiberboard;
"ILL. 44" or "ILLINOIS 1944" at bottom		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1515 000
1945 Orange on black fiberboard;
"ILL. 45" or "ILLINOIS 1945" at top		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1513 000
1946 White on maroon fiberboard;
"ILL. 46" or "ILLINOIS 1946" at bottom		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1610 000
1947 Off-white on green fiberboard;
"ILL. 47" or "ILLINOIS 1947" at top		 none 1234-567 1 to approximately 1747-000
1948 Black on orange fiberboard;
"ILL. 48" or "ILLINOIS 1948" at bottom		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 1949 000 Last fiberboard plate.
1949 Canary yellow on dark blue;[3]
"ILL 49" or "ILLINOIS 1949" at top		 none 1234 567 1 to approximately 2079 000 First steel plate since 1942.
1950 Ivy green on off-white;[4] "ILL 1950" at bottom none 1234 567 1 to approximately 2287 000 First aluminum plate.
1951 Maroon on unpainted aluminum;[5] "ILL 1951" at top none 1234 567 1 to approximately 2403 000
1952 Midnight blue on burnt orange;[6] "ILL 1952" at bottom none 1234 567 1 to approximately 2462 000
1953 Ruby red on buff;[7] "ILL 1953" at top none 1234 567 1 to approximately 2580 000 License plates placed under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State.
1954 White on kelly green; "19 ILLINOIS 54" at bottom Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 2700 000 First use of the "Land of Lincoln" slogan.[8]
1955 Orange lettering on blue base; "19 ILLINOIS 55" at top Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 2849 000 Issued in the colors of the University of Illinois.[9]
1956 Ivy green lettering on powder gray base;[10] "19 ILLINOIS 56" at bottom Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 2980 000 First 6" x 12" plate. It is unconfirmed if this plate was issued to honor Illinois Wesleyan University, whose colors are actually green and white, as no period reference has been found.
1957 White lettering on red base; "19 ILLINOIS 57" at top Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 3075 000 Issued in the colors of Illinois State University, in honor of its centennial.[11]
1958 Purple lettering on white base; "19 ILLINOIS 58" at bottom Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 3104 000 Issued in the colors of Northwestern University.[12]
1959 White lettering on brown base; "19 ILLINOIS 59" at top Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 3224 000 Issued in the colors of Quincy College, in honor of its centennial.[13]
1960 Gold lettering on royal blue base; "19 ILLINOIS 60" at bottom Land of Lincoln 1234 567 1 to approximately 3307 000 Issued in the colors of Augustana College and Wheaton College, in honor of their respective centennials.[14]
1961 White lettering on red base; "19 ILLINOIS 61" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 Issued in the colors of North Central College, in honor of its centennial.[15] Letters I, O, Q and Z not used in the AB 1234 serial format.[2]
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately NP 7000
1962 White lettering on orange base; "19 ILLINOIS 62" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 The orange base was specifically chosen for its visibility, but police officers complained that they could not read the white serials, especially at night.[16]
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately PH 8000
1963 Yellow lettering on dark green base; "19 ILLINOIS 63" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 Issued in the colors of Moline-based Deere & Company, in honor of its 125th anniversary.[17]
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately RD 6000
1964 White lettering on purple base; "19 ILLINOIS 64" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 Issued in the colors of McKendree College and Rockford College, the two oldest colleges in Illinois.[18]
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately SD 7000
1965 Green on white; "19 ILLINOIS 65" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 The colors were used to honor Secretary of State Charles Carpentier, who died in office on April 3, 1964.[19] T and U not used as first letters in the AB 1234 serial format; this practice continued until 1969.[2]
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately VE 5000
1966 Red on reflective white; "19 ILLINOIS 66" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 First reflective plate.
AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately WG 3000
1967 Black on reflective white; "19 ILLINOIS 67" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999
AB 1234 AA 100 to approximately SK 2000
1968 Red on reflective white; "19 ILLINOIS 68" at bottom; "18" at top corners Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 Commemorated Illinois' 150 years of statehood.
AB 1234 AA 1 to approximately SW 9000
1969 Dark blue on reflective orange; "19 ILLINOIS 69" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 T added as first letter in the AB 1234 serial format.
AB 1234 AA 1 to approximately TP 4000
1970 Red on reflective yellow with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 70" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999
AB 1234 AA 1 to approximately TW 6000
1971 Black on reflective white with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 71" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999
AB 1234 AA 1 to approximately VT 8000
1972 Blue on reflective white with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 72" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999
AB 1234 AA 1 to approximately WX 1000
1973 Green on reflective white with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 73" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 U added as first letter in the AB 1234 serial format following WY 9999.[2] Total passenger plates issued exceeds five million for the first time.
AB 1234 AA 1 to WY 9999;
UA 1 to approximately UX 2000
1974 Red on reflective white with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 74" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 Three-letter serials used for the first time on a trial basis.[20][21]
AB 1234 AA 1 to WY 9999;
UA 1 to UY 9999
ABC 123 AAA 100 to approximately AML 500[2]
1975 Black on reflective yellow with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 75" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
ABC 123		 *Issued in the colors of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc., in honor of its 50th anniversary.[22][23]
*Three-letter prefix program expanded from about 800 combinations in 1974 to 2,851.[24][25]
1976 Blue on reflective white with red and blue United States Bicentennial graphics Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
ABC 123		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Design chosen following a statewide grade and high school contest; the winner was 10-year-old Kelley Jordan of Normal, Illinois.[26]
1977 Green on reflective white; "19 ILLINOIS 77" at top Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
ABC 123		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Plates issued reach the six million mark.
1978 Black on reflective white with border line; "19 ILLINOIS 78" at bottom Land of Lincoln 123 456
AB 1234
ABC 123		 ?
remakes of previously issued serials		 Last single-year plate, and last year that all license plates in the state expire on the same date.

1979 to present

Image First issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1979 Dark blue on reflective white; state name screened in dark blue at top Land of Lincoln 123 456 1 to
999 999		 First multi-year base, and first to feature monthly staggered registration. Manufactured in Texas using that state's number dies, and issued in the colors of Illinois College in honor of its sesquicentennial.[27] Vanity plates introduced 1980. Replaced 1984–86.
AB 1234 AA 1 to ZZ 9999
1982 ABC 123 XAA 1 to ZZZ 999
1984 Dark blue on reflective white with light and dark blue stripes; state name screened in dark blue at top left Land of Lincoln ABC 123 AAA 1 to ZZZ 999
123 456
AB 1234		 Reissues of 1979–82 serials
1995 A 12 345 B 1 to Z 99 999
(see right)		 Letters B, C, D, F, J, S, T, Y and Z used in this serial format.
1996 A 123 456 B 100 000 to approximately Y 677 000 (see right) Narrower dies. Letters B, C, D, F, J, T and Y used in this serial format. All plates on this base replaced 2001–02.
July 2001 Reflective gradient white-to-blue fade with Abraham Lincoln graphic at center; state name screened in blue at top Land of Lincoln 123 4567 100 0001 to 999 9999 Design selected by voters on the state's web site.
123 456
AB 1234
ABC 123
A12 345
A12 3456		 Reissues of 1979–2001 serials
2006 A12 3456 A10 0001 to Z99 9999 (see right) Letter progressed as follows: G, X, A, H, K, L, N, P, R, S, V, E, Y (70 0000 to 99 9999), Z and Q. I and O were not used, while M, U and W were reserved for Municipal, State Owned and Disabled plates respectively.
2016 AB1 2345 ZZ1 1001 to approximately ZU9 3000 (see right) Two-letter series progressed as follows: ZX, ZZ, ZY, ZV and ZU. This was to avoid conflicting with serials of the same format on the upcoming 2017 base (below).
January 2017 Reflective gradient blue-to-white with white Chicago and Springfield skyline and gray Abraham Lincoln graphic at far left; state name screened in black at top Land of Lincoln AB1 2345 AA1 1001 to AF9 9999 Mandatory ten-year plate replacement to be phased in with this base.[28] I and O not used in two-letter series.
AB 12345 AG 11001 to AP 99999 Portions of the new design are expected to be revised because of the difficulty in reading characters over the face of Lincoln.[29]
AQ 11001 to BC 11896 (as of September 27, 2018) Lincoln's portrait was faded from black and dark gray to light gray in order to improve the readability of the plate. Issue started circa January 2018.

Non-passenger plates

Image Type Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1923 Truck White on green with border line; "TRUCK" embossed vertically at left; "ILL" over "23" embossed at right 111-119 1 to 72726 Format used 1922 - 1929
1951 B Truck (Rear Plate) Maroon on Aluminum; "ILL" and "1951" at top center; "REAR" embossed vertically at left B 123
B1234
B12 345
B123 456		 B 1 to ? Front plate similar.
1984 B Truck Red on reflective white with red stripes; state name screened in red at top left; "B TRUCK" embossed vertically at right 12 345
123 456
123 AB
1234 AB		 various Replaced in 2003
2003 B Truck Dark blue on reflective white with light blue Abraham Lincoln graphic at center; state name screened in red at top; "B TRUCK" screened vertically at right 1234 A
12 345 A
1234567		 various, plus remakes of previous issued serials Will be replaced soon[30]
2003 Motorcycle Similar to 2001 Abraham Lincoln passenger base AB 1234 AA 101 to DV 9999 Letters I, O and Q not used.

Special plates

Image Type Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1987 Midwest Governor's Conference White on pale blue Used for 30–60 days.
1992 LPGA Chicago Challenge Black on yellow Used for 30–60 days.

References

  1. ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Illinois License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Mail Out First Auto License Plates". Christopher Progress. Christopher, IL. December 16, 1948. p. 1. The plates were made of steel this year instead of the substitute materials used during the war years. They have a dark blue background and canary yellow numerals.
  4. ↑ "Auto License Plates Go On Sale Tomorrow". Chicago Tribune. August 25, 1949. p. 23. The 1950 Illinois license plates will have ivy green numerals on an off-white base . . . . Passenger car plates will be made of rust resistant aluminum, said [State Secretary] Barrett.
  5. ↑ "Illinois License Plates For 1951, Maroon on Silver". The Daily Register. Harrisburg, IL. September 29, 1950. p. 6. Secretary of State Edward J. Barrett announced today that 1951 Illinois license plates will feature maroon numbers on an unpainted aluminum background, which is silverish in color.
  6. ↑ "Auto License Plates Go On Sale Tomorrow". Chicago Tribune. December 3, 1951. p. E7. The Illinois plates for 1952 will be of midnight blue on a burnt orange background.
  7. ↑ "Illinois Auto Plates In '53 To Be Red On Buff". Chicago Tribune. May 26, 1952. p. 2. Illinois' 1953 auto license plates will be ruby red figures on a buff background, Secretary of State Edward J. Barrett announced yesterday.
  8. ↑ "Order Lincoln Slogan on '54 License Plates". Chicago Tribune. July 22, 1953. p. 1.
  9. ↑ "'55 State Auto Plates To Be Blue, Orange". Chicago Tribune. August 3, 1954. p. 6. The plates will have a navy blue background with orange numerals. Samples of materials used for Illini football uniforms were provided by Coach Ray Eliot of the University of Illinois so the plates can be of matching colors.
  10. ↑ "1956 Auto Tag Color Scheme: Gray and Green". Chicago Tribune. August 10, 1955. p. 12. Illinois' 1956 automobile license plates will be powder gray with ivy green numerals.
  11. ↑ "1957 Illinois Licenses Make Artists See Red". Chicago Tribune. December 17, 1956. p. 18. He said, there was nothing to prevent a combination of red lettering on a white background, but that the university preferred white on red.
  12. ↑ "Purple And White Auto Plates For Illinois in 1958". Chicago Tribune. August 16, 1957. p. 1. As a tribute to Northwestern University the 1958 automobile license plates will have purple numbers on a white background.
  13. ↑ "Quincy College". Chicago Tribune. August 20, 1958. p. 20. Secretary of State Carpentier's recent announcement that the 1959 motor vehicle license plates will honor Quincy College is a fine outward expression of the realization by our legislators and citizens of the importance and quality of the many small colleges in our state.
  14. ↑ "Illinois Auto Tags For 1960 Will Be Gold, Royal Blue". Chicago Tribune. July 14, 1959. p. B7. Royal blue and gold, in honor of Augustana and Wheaton Colleges will be the color combination of Illinois motor vehicle license plates, the secretary of state's office announced Monday.
  15. ↑ "North Central Colors To Be On Licenses". Chicago Tribune. June 6, 1960. p. 16. The colors are those of North Central [College], and were chosen in honor of that school's centennial. Illinois license plates each year carry the colors of a college or university in the state.
  16. ↑ "White, Orange To Be License Colors In 1962". Chicago Tribune. July 25, 1961. p. B5. The secretary of state's office said the color combination was chosen from a list of 22 recommended by the University of Illinois engineers who prompted the change this year to the numeral-letter system. . . . The colors are not those of a college or university as has been the custom of recent years. No college or university requested its colors be used in 1962.
  17. ↑ "New Hues For Illinois Auto Plates". Chicago Tribune. November 9, 1962. p. 1. Birgitte Lundstrom, blue-eyed beauty from Sweden, displays yellow and green Illinois license plates for 1963. Colors were chosen to honor John Deere Farm Machinery Company, which is observing 125th anniversary this year.
  18. ↑ "Our Town: New License Plates Are Pretty Purple - but on Orange Cars?". Chicago Tribune. December 15, 1963. p. A1. The purple license plates with white lettering were chosen by the secretary of state to honor Illinois' oldest colleges. They are McKendree college, Lebanon, founded in 1828, and Rockford college, Rockford, founded in 1847.
  19. ↑ "Here Is an Exclusive Look at the Midwest's Official License Plate for Next Year". Chicago Tribune. September 7, 1964. p. C14.
  20. ↑ "Put your name on plate". Dolton Pointer. Dolton, IL. July 17, 1974. p. 14.
  21. ↑ "Three-Letter Prefix Plates Now Available". The Herald. Harvard, IL. August 7, 1974. p. 2.
  22. ↑ "Caterpillar 50 Years Old". The Morris Daily Herald. Morris, IL. February 7, 1975. p. 2A.
  23. ↑ "License Plate Mailing Under Way". Star-Tribune. Harvey, IL. November 14, 1974. p. 39.
  24. ↑ "Drivers Can Write Own License Plates for '75". Register-Mail. Galesburg, Illinois. July 20, 1974. p. 5.
  25. ↑ Manning, Mary Lou (December 20, 1974). "Special licenses play number game". The Daily Gazette. Sterling-Rock Falls, Illinois. p. 4.
  26. ↑ Soencer, Sandy (June 27, 1974). "Normal girl submits winning license design". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, IL. p. 3.
  27. ↑ "Blue-white license plate color honors I. C.". Jacksonville Courier. Jacksonville, IL. December 22, 1978. p. 3.
  28. ↑ "Illinois Launches License Plate Replacement Program After Rusting Issue". CBS Chicago. November 15, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  29. ↑ Robbins, Brian (April 15, 2017). "Revisions already coming to new Illinois license plates". Peoria Journal Star. Gatehhouse Media. Retrieved October 14, 2017. The fact is, the ink on some of them that are out there now should have been darker. That was actually a manufacturer’s error, and the cost is going to be picked up on that.
  30. ↑ http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/news/2016/november/161115d1.pdf
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