Vehicle registration plates of New Mexico

Current New Mexico yucca license plate

The U.S. state of New Mexico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912.

New Mexico is the only state that specifies "USA" on its license plates, so as to avoid confusion with the country Mexico, which it borders to the southwest.

Passenger baseplates

1912 to 1960

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 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first New Mexico license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1912–13	Embossed green numbers on white plate; diagonal "NM" at right	none	1234	1 to approximately 2100
	1914	Embossed white numbers on green plate; vertical "N M 14" at right	none	1234	1 to approximately 3100	First dated plate.
	1915	Embossed white numbers on red plate; vertical "N M 15" at right	none	1234	1 to approximately 4700
	1916	Embossed silver numbers on dark blue plate; vertical "N M 16" at right	none	1234	1 to approximately 8300
	1917	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; vertical "N M 17" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 14500
	1918	Embossed light blue numbers on gray plate with border line; vertical "N M 18" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 19000
	1919	Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; vertical "N M 19" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 17500
	1920–23	Dark blue numbers on white porcelain plate; vertical "NM" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 49000	Revalidated for 1921 with red diamond-shaped tabs, for 1922 with silver octagonal tabs, and for 1923 with yellow star-shaped tabs.
	1924	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "N.M. 1924" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 39-000
	1925	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "N.M. 1925" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 47000	Issued in pairs, for the front and the rear of the vehicle respectively.
	1926	Embossed red numbers on gray plate with border line; vertical "NM" and "26" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 51000
	1927	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "27" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 55-000	First use of the full state name and Zia sun symbol.
	1928	Embossed beige numbers on dark blue plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "28" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 65-000
	1929	Embossed red numbers on light yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "29" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 75-000
	1930	Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "30" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 71-000
	1931	Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "31" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 70-000
	1932	Embossed white numbers on green plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEX 32" at left	"SUNSHINE STATE" at bottom, offset to right	12-345	1 to approximately 65-000
	1933	Embossed red numbers on golden yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "33" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 65-000
	1934	Embossed yellow numbers on red plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "34" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 67-000
	1935	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "35" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 76-000
	1936	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "36" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 86-000
	1937	Embossed maroon numbers on turquoise plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "37" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 91-000
	1938	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "38" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 92-000
	1939	Embossed black numbers on orange plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "39" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	none	12-345	1 to approximately 93-000
	1940	Embossed yellow numbers on red plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "1540" above and "1940" below; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"CORONADO CUARTO CENTENNIAL" at top	12-345	1 to approximately 96-000	Commemorated the 400th anniversary of the expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.
	1941	Embossed red numbers on golden yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "41" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	12-345	1 to approximately 99-000	First use of the "Land of Enchantment" slogan.
	1942–43	Embossed black numbers on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "42" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	12-345 123456	1 to approximately 102000	Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944	Embossed white numbers on black plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "44" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	12-345	1 to approximately 79-000
	1945	Embossed white numbers on blue plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "45" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	12-345	1 to approximately 88-000
	1946	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "46" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	12-345	1 to approximately 94-000
	1947	Embossed yellow numbers on maroon plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "47" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1948	Embossed white numbers on azure plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "48" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1949	Embossed azure numbers on waffle-textured white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "49" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1950	As 1948 base, but with "50" in the center of the Zia sun symbol	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1948 base	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1951	As 1949 base, but on smooth metal, and with narrower dies and "51" in the center of the Zia sun symbol	"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1949 base	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1952	Embossed red numbers on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "52" at top left	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1953	Embossed white numbers on red plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "53" at top left	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1954	Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "54" at top left	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1955	Embossed golden yellow numbers on maroon plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "55" at top left	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1956	Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "56" at bottom left and bottom right	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered at top	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1957	Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "57" at bottom left and bottom right	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered at top	1-12345 10-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
	1958	Embossed red numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 1/0-1234	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)	Single-digit county plates had the slogan centered, while double-digit county plates had the slogan offset to the right. This practice continued until 1972. Single-digit county plates additionally had "19" embossed at the bottom left.
	1959–60	Embossed golden yellow numbers on maroon plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "59" at bottom right	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 2-A1234 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)	Single-digit county plates additionally had "19" embossed at the bottom left. One-letter, four-digit serials issued in Bernalillo County after 2-99999 was reached. Revalidated for 1960 with white stickers on maroon tabs.

1961 to present

Image(s)	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1961–64	Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 2-A1234 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
	1965–69	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 2-A1234 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)	Single-digit county plates had "65" embossed at the bottom left.
	1969–71	As above, but with "NEW MEXICO USA" at bottom				Single-digit county plates initially had "19" embossed at the bottom left.
	1972–74	Embossed red numbers on white steel plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO USA" centered at bottom; "72" at bottom left	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered at top	ABC-123	AAA-001 to BCT-999	Letters I, O, Q, U and V not used in serials from 1973 onwards.[2]
	1974	Red numbers on white paper plate; Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "74" at bottom right			BCW-001 to BFC-999	Temporary plates issued due to steel shortage.
		As 1972–74 plates, but aluminum rather than steel, and with "74" at bottom left				Replacements for paper plates.
	1974–76	As 1972–74 plates, but aluminum rather than steel			BFD-001 to BTM-999
	1976–78	Embossed red numbers on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "72" at bottom left; stamped indentation at top center for county-name sticker	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered between numbers and state name	ABC-123	BTN-001 to CCW-999
	1978–82	As above, but yellow rather than white, and without "72"			CCX-001 to EGZ-999
	1982 – mid 1988	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "New Mexico" screened in red centered below numbers; stamped indentation at top center for county-name sticker	"Land of Enchantment" screened in red centered at bottom	ABC-123	EHA-001 to KAJ-999	'F' series not used.[2]
	mid 1988 – late 1990	As above, but with "USA" added after state name			KAK-001 to LKL-999
	late 1990 – early 1991	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; light blue yucca graphic screened at bottom left and Native American zigzag bands screened at top corners; "New Mexico USA" screened in red centered below numbers; stamped indentation at top center for county-name sticker	"Land of Enchantment" screened in light blue centered at bottom	ABC-123	LKM-001 to approximately LLL-999	Replaced all 1972–90 plates. Letter E not used in 123-ABC serial format (in addition to I, O, Q, U and V).[2] County-name stickers discontinued sometime after 1996.
	early 1991 – mid 1997			123-ABC	001-AAA to approximately 999-KFG
	mid – late 1997	As above, but without yucca graphic and slogan	none	123-ABC	001-KFH to approximately 999-KHM	Erroneously made on trailer base.
	late 1997 – early 1999	As 1990–97 plates	"Land of Enchantment" as on 1990–97 plates	123-ABC	001-KHN to approximately 999-LRK
	early 1999 – present	As above, but with smaller dies and no stamped indentation at top center			001-MAA to 999-WKA (as of July 9, 2018)

Optional plates

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1999–2010	Embossed red numbers on white, yellow and orange gradient plate; green, yellow, orange and red hot air balloon graphic screened at left with red Zia sun symbol on yellow section; "NEW MEXICO USA" screened in yellow centered at bottom	"Land of Enchantment" screened in yellow centered above state name	NM1234	NM0001 to NM9999
				1NM234	0NM001 to 9NM999
				12NM34	00NM01 to 99NM99
				123NM4	000NM1 to 999NM9
				1234NM	0001NM to 9999NM
				AB 123	AA 001 to BZ 999
				ABC123	CAA001 to LGP999
	2010–16	Embossed yellow numbers on turquoise plate with border line; yellow and red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; "NEW MEXICO" screened in white centered below numbers	"CENTENNIAL 1912-2012" screened in white centered at top; "LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" screened in yellow centered at bottom	ABC-123	LGR-001 to NZT-499	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2010 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time New Mexico was so honored.
	2016–present	As above, but with "NEW MEXICO USA" below numbers, and without Centennial slogan	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as above, but at top		NZT-500 to PPY-999 (as of September 6, 2018)
	2017–present	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; green and red chili peppers screened at left; "New Mexico USA" screened in red centered below numbers	"CHILE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD" screened in yellow centered at top; "Land of Enchantment" screened in green centered at bottom	ABCD12	AAAA01 to AGTJ99 (as of September 6, 2018)	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2017 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time New Mexico was so honored.

Non-passenger plates

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Truck	1961–63	Embossed green numbers and Zia sun symbol separator on reflective white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
		1964–65	Embossed black numbers and Zia sun symbol separator on reflective yellow plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
		1966–70	Embossed navy blue numbers and Zia sun symbol separator on reflective white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
		1971–74	Embossed white numbers and Zia sun symbol separator on reflective pale green plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO USA" at bottom	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
		1975–77	Embossed red numbers and Zia sun symbol separator on reflective yellow plate with border line; "N.M." in top left corner; "75" in bottom right corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at bottom, offset to left	AB-1234	AA-0001 to CA-5000
		1977–78	As 1978–82 passenger plates, but with "75" at bottom left corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1978–82 passenger plates		CA-5001 to CJ-9999
		1978–82	As 1978–82 passenger plates, without "75"			CK-0001 to GD-9999
		1982–88	As 1982–88 passenger plates, with "New Mexico" below numbers	"Land of Enchantment" as on 1982–90 passenger plates		GE-0001 to approximately KT-9999
		1988–90	As 1988–90 passenger plates, with "New Mexico USA" below numbers			KW-0001 to approximately MG-4000	Truck plates discontinued 1991; passenger plates issued to trucks since.

County coding, 1947–74

New Mexico established a numeric county-code system for its passenger and truck plates in 1947. Santa Fe County was assigned code 1, while the remaining counties were assigned codes 2 through 31 in order of the number of registered vehicles in the county. Following shifts in these numbers, codes 2 through 31 were re-allocated in 1948, after which they remained constant.^[2] Los Alamos County was created in 1949, and subsequently assigned code 32.

The codes were discontinued on passenger plates in 1972, and on truck plates in 1975. From 1976 until sometime after 1996, the county of issuance was displayed on a sticker at the top of the plate.

Cibola County was created in 1981, after the codes had been discontinued.

References

External links

• History of New Mexico License Plates
• New Mexico license plates 1969-present