Vehicle registration plates of Oklahoma
The U.S. state of Oklahoma first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.
Passenger baseplates
1915 to 1978
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 Oklahoma license plate that complied with these standards.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1915 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; vertical "OKLA" and "1915" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 4001 to 29000; 31001 to approximately 33500 |
Single series of serials used for all classes of vehicles, with blocks reserved for non-passenger classes. This practice continued in one form or another until 1939.[2] | |
1916 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; vertical "OKLA" and "1916" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 2501 to 35000; 41001 to approximately 60500 |
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1917 | Embossed white numbers on brown plate; vertical "OKLA" and "1917" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | |||
1918 | Embossed yellow numbers on green plate; vertical "OKLA" and "1918" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 18001 to approximately 132000 | ||
1919 | Embossed green numbers on yellow plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1919" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 8001 to approximately 157000 | ||
1920 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1920" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 8001 to approximately 203000 | ||
1921 | Embossed white numbers on brown plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1921" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | |||
1922 | Embossed black numbers on turquoise plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1922" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 11-001 to 250-000; 258-001 to approximately 261-000 |
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1923 | Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1923" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 18-001 to approximately 313-000 | ||
1924 | Embossed white numbers on olive green plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1924" at left and right respectively | none | 123F456 123.456 |
Plates with an 'F' in the serial were issued on Fords. This practice continued until 1929. | ||
1925 | Embossed silver numbers on black plate; silver lines at top and bottom borders; "1925 OKLA" at right | none | 123F456 123.456 |
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1926 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; black lines at top and bottom borders; "OKLA 1926" at bottom | none | 123F456 123-456 |
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1927 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLA 1927" at bottom | none | 123F456 123-456 |
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1928 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; vertical "OKLA" and "1928" at left and right respectively | none | 123F456 123-456 |
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1929 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "OK–29" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 50-001 to approximately 571-000 | ||
1930 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLA–1930" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 597-000 | ||
1931 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLA–1931" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 564-000 | ||
1932 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA-1932" at top | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 464-000 | First use of the full state name. | |
1933 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA-1933" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 481-000 | ||
1934 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA-1934" at top | none | 123A456 | 60A001 to approximately 505A000 | ||
1935 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "1935-OKLAHOMA" at bottom | none | 123A456 | 60A001 to approximately 505A000 | ||
1936 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "1936-OKLAHOMA" at top | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 516-000 | Front and rear plates required; rear plates used an 'R' as the separator in the serial. | |
1937 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "1937-OKLAHOMA" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 528-000 | Front plates used an 'F' as the separator in the serial, while rear plates used an 'R'. | |
1938 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA-1938" at top | none | 123-456 | 60-001 to approximately 546-000 | ||
1939 | Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "OK–39" at bottom, offset to right | none | A/B123 | County-coded (A/B) | ||
1940 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLA–1940" at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1941 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLA—1941" at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1942–43 | Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "OKLA-1942" at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
1944 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA–44" at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1945 | Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA–45" at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1946–47 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA–46" at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | Revalidated for 1947 with yellow tabs. | |
1948 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA–48" at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1949 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "49–OKLAHOMA" at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1950 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "50–OKLAHOMA" at bottom | none | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1951 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "51–OKLAHOMA" at top | none | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1952 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "52–OKLAHOMA" at bottom | none | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1953 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA–53" at top | none | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1954 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "54-OKLAHOMA" at bottom | none | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1955 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "55" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" at top, offset to left | 1-12345 1-A1234 10-1234 10-A123 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1956 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "56" at bottom right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" at bottom, offset to left | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1957 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "57" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" at top, offset to left | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1958 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "58" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" at top, offset to left | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1959 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "59" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" at top, offset to left | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1960 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19" at top left and "60" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" centered at top | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1961 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19" at top left and "61" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" centered at top | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1962 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19" at top left and "62" at top right | "VISIT OKLAHOMA" centered at top | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded (1 or 10) | ||
1963 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "19 OKLAHOMA 63" at top | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | Two-letter county codes introduced. Leading zeros used in numbers below 1000. | |
1964 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 OKLAHOMA 64" at top | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | Leading zeros used in numbers below 1000. | |
1965 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 OKLAHOMA 65" at top | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1966 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "19 OKLAHOMA 66" at top | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1967 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "67" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1968 | Embossed black numbers on reflective orange plate; "68" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1969 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "69" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1970 | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate; "70" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1971 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "71" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Three-letter county codes introduced in some counties that had exhausted their two-letter allocations. | |
1972 | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate; "72" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1973 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "73" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Carried over into 1974 after the plate shop at Oklahoma State Penitentiary was hit by fire during a riot in July 1973, destroying the supply of 1974 plates (below). | |
1973–74 | As above, but with border line | Supplemental plates manufactured by Polyvend Inc. of Arkansas while the prison plate shop was being repaired. | ||||
(1974) | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate; "74" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Most of these plates were destroyed in the prison plate shop fire of July 1973 (above); salvaged plates were not issued. | |
1975 | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "75" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Manufactured by Polyvend Inc. while the prison plate shop was being repaired. | |
1976 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "19 OKLAHOMA 76" at top | "1776 BICENTENNIAL 1976" at bottom | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1977 | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "77" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1978 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "78" at top left | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" at top, offset to right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded |
1979 to present
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979–80 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; "OKLAHOMA" centered at top; debossed sticker boxes in top corners with "79" further debossed in right box | none | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Monthly staggered registration introduced. | |
1981–82 | Embossed green numbers and state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; debossed sticker boxes in top corners with "81" further debossed in right box | "OKLAHOMA IS OK" centered at top | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1983–88 | Embossed green numbers and state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; yellow band screened at bottom with a yellow sun and "Oklahoma" in black serifed letters in the middle; sticker boxes debossed in bottom corners | "is OK!" screened in black serifed letters centered below state name, giving "Oklahoma is OK!" | ABC-123 | County-coded | Commonly known as the "sunbelt" plate. Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1989–94 | Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate; battle shield of the Osage Nation screened in the center; "OKLAHOMA" screened in black cursive letters centered at top | "OK!" screened in tan cursive letters centered between state name and battle shield | ABC 123 | County-coded | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1989 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Oklahoma was so honored. Co-recipient with Nova Scotia. Serials in each county continued from where the 1983–88 plates left off, with leading zeros added in numbers below 100. Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1994–2008 | Similar to 1989–94 base, but with debossed area in center containing redrawn battle shield graphic, and state name in larger serifed letters | "NATIVE AMERICA" screened in red serifed letters centered at bottom | ABC 123 | County-coded | Serials in each county continued from where the 1989–94 plates left off, with the 123 ABC format introduced in counties that had exhausted their ABC 123 allocations. Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
123 ABC | ||||||
January 2009 – December 2016 | Screened red numbers on reflective white plate; Allan Houser's "Sacred Rain Arrow" sculpture (outside the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa) screened against cloudy blue sky at left and blue bar screened at bottom; "OKLAHOMA" screened in dark blue serifed letters centered at top | "NATIVE AMERICA" screened in white block letters in center of blue bar, with white Osage Nation battle shield at right | 123ABC | 001AAA to approximately 999QJX | Replaced all 1981–2008 plates. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2009 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Oklahoma was so honored. County coding discontinued; the county of issuance has been printed on the month revalidation sticker since 2010. C not used as the first letter in this serial format. | |
January 2017 – present | Screened black on reflective blue with state-shaped separator; scissor-tailed flycatcher in the middle, mountains on the left, oceans in the background and "Explore" above the state name | Travelok.com | ABC-123 | AAA-001 to ITL-999 (as of September 6, 2018) |
County coding
The order of the numeric county codes used from 1952-61 was based on the populations of each county according to the 1950 United States Census, and the order of the codes used in 1962 was based on the populations of each county according to the 1960 Census.[2]
County | Numeric codes, 1952-61 | Numeric codes, 1962 | 2-letter codes, 1963-82 | 3-letter codes, 1971-82 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adair | 46 | 46 | AD, AR | |
Alfalfa | 62 | 62 | AL | |
Atoka | 51 | 57 | AT | |
Beaver | 73 | 69 | BV | |
Beckham | 29 | 35 | BK, BE | |
Blaine | 45 | 49 | BL | |
Bryan | 25 | 27 | BR, BY | |
Caddo | 16 | 20 | CA, CD | |
Canadian | 26 | 26 | CN, CX | CNN, CXX, CCN |
Carter | 14 | 12 | CR, CE | CRR |
Cherokee | 37 | 36 | CZ | CZZ |
Choctaw | 32 | 39 | CW | |
Cimarron | 77 | 77 | CI | |
Cleveland | 11 | 7 | CL, CV, CY, CF | CLL, CVV, CFF, CYY, CLE, CLV, CLY |
Coal | 71 | 74 | CO | |
Comanche | 4 | 3 | CC, CH, CM, CB, CP | CCC, CCB, CCH, CMH |
Cotton | 66 | 65 | CT | |
Craig | 39 | 37 | CG | CGG |
Creek | 10 | 11 | CK, CJ, CU | CKK |
Custer | 30 | 28 | CS | CSS |
Delaware | 47 | 45 | DL, DE | |
Dewey | 68 | 70 | DW | |
Ellis | 75 | 75 | EL | |
Garfield | 5 | 5 | GA, GR, GF, GB, GL | |
Garvin | 24 | 22 | GV, GN | |
Grady | 17 | 18 | GD, GY | GDD |
Grant | 64 | 64 | GT | |
Greer | 59 | 60 | GE | |
Harmon | 70 | 73 | HM | |
Harper | 76 | 71 | HP | |
Haskell | 54 | 58 | HK | |
Hughes | 31 | 40 | HG | |
Jackson | 33 | 17 | JA, JK, JS, JX | |
Jefferson | 60 | 63 | JE | |
Johnston | 63 | 61 | JN | |
Kay | 6 | 6 | KA, KY, KK | KAY |
Kingfisher | 55 | 54 | KF | |
Kiowa | 38 | 41 | KW | |
Latimer | 67 | 67 | LA | |
Le Flore | 15 | 19 | LE, LF, LR | |
Lincoln | 28 | 31 | LN, LL | |
Logan | 27 | 32 | LG, LO | |
Love | 72 | 72 | LV | |
Major | 65 | 66 | MA | |
Marshall | 69 | 68 | MR | |
Mayes | 35 | 30 | ME, MY | |
McClain | 48 | 47 | ML, MN | |
McCurtain | 22 | 25 | MC, MT | |
McIntosh | 40 | 48 | MO | |
Murray | 61 | 55 | MU | |
Muskogee | 3 | 4 | MK, MG, MS, MB | MKK |
Noble | 57 | 56 | NB | |
Nowata | 56 | 53 | NW | |
Okfuskee | 43 | 51 | OK | |
Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | XA-YZ | XXA, XXY-XXZ |
Okmulgee | 8 | 14 | OM, OL | OML |
Osage | 19 | 16 | OS, OA, OE, OG | OSG |
Ottawa | 21 | 21 | OT, OW | OTT |
Pawnee | 53 | 52 | PW | |
Payne | 7 | 8 | PA, PY, PF | PYY |
Pittsburg | 12 | 15 | PB, PS | PPB |
Pontotoc | 23 | 23 | PN, PC | |
Pottawatomie | 9 | 10 | PT, PE, PD | PTT |
Pushmataha | 58 | 59 | PM | |
Roger Mills | 74 | 76 | RM | |
Rogers | 36 | 29 | RG, RE, RO, RR | |
Seminole | 13 | 24 | SM, SE | |
Sequoyah | 34 | 34 | SY, SH | |
Stephens | 18 | 13 | ST, SP, SN | STE |
Texas | 52 | 43 | TX, TS | |
Tillman | 42 | 42 | TL | |
Tulsa | 2 | 2 | ZA-ZZ | ZZA-ZZP |
Wagoner | 44 | 38 | WG, WN | |
Washington | 20 | 9 | WA, WH, WS, WI | |
Washita | 41 | 33 | WT | |
Woods | 49 | 50 | WD | |
Woodward | 50 | 44 | WW, WE, WB |
Optional plates
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"State Parks" – Pavilion | 2004–present | Black on multicolored background. | O/P 1234 | O/P 1 to present | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2004 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Oklahoma was so honored. |
References
- ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- 1 2 "Oklahoma License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.