Vehicle registration plates of Wisconsin

Current Wisconsin license plate

The U.S. state of Wisconsin first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (DMV).

Passenger baseplates 1905 to present

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 Wisconsin license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1905–11 Riveted aluminum numbers on black plate none 12345-W 1-W to 21983-W
1911 Riveted aluminum numbers on dark green plate; vertical "1911" at left none 1234W 1 to approximately 1300W First dated plate. Issued only to new registrants between August 1 and December 31, 1911.[2]
1912 Riveted aluminum numbers on red plate; vertical "1912" at left none 12345W 1 to approximately 25000W
1913 Riveted aluminum numbers on dark blue plate; vertical "1913" at left none 12345W 1 to approximately 34500W
1914 Embossed black numbers on white plate; vertical "1914" at left none 12345W 1 to approximately 53500W First embossed plate.
1915 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "W 15" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 79500
1916 Embossed red numbers on white plate; vertical "WIS." and "16" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 115000
1917 Embossed white numbers on dark olive green plate; vertical "WIS." and "17" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 165000
1918 Embossed black numbers on beige plate with border line; "18 W" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 185000
1919 Embossed yellow numbers on dark green plate with border line; "W 19" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 224000
1920 Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "W 20" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 275000
1921 Embossed black numbers on gray plate; vertical "WIS" and "21" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 320-000
1922 Embossed white numbers on dark olive green plate; vertical "WIS" and "22" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 360-000
1923 Embossed red numbers on white plate; vertical "WIS" and "23" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 419-000
1924 Embossed white numbers on black plate; vertical "WIS" and "24" at right none A123-456 Coded by weight class (A)
1925 Embossed golden yellow numbers on dark blue plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "25" at bottom right none 123-456A Coded by weight class (A)
1926 Embossed black numbers on beige plate; "26" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right none A123-456 Coded by weight class (A)
1927 Embossed white numbers on black plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "27" at bottom right none 123-456A Coded by weight class (A)
1928 Embossed black numbers on orange plate; "28" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right none A123-456 Coded by weight class (A)
1929 Embossed white numbers on green plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "29" at bottom right none 123-456A Coded by weight class (A)
1930 Embossed black numbers on gray plate; "30" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right none A123-456 Coded by weight class (A)
1931 Embossed golden yellow numbers on dark blue plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "31" at bottom right none 123-456A Coded by weight class (A)
1932 Embossed blue numbers on yellow plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 32" at bottom none 123456 1 to approximately 582000 First use of the full state name.
1933 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 33" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 566-000
1934 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 34" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 578-000
1935 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 35" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 610-000
1936 Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "36 WISCONSIN" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 667-000
1937 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "37 WISCONSIN" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 714-000
1938 Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1938" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 706-000
1939 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1939" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 723-000
1940 Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1940" at top "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 123-456 1 to
430-350[2]		 First use of the "America's Dairyland" slogan.
As above, but with taller dies and vertical "WIS-40" used as separator 430-351 to approximately 747-000
1941 Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "19 WISCONSIN 41" at bottom "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 791-000
1942–45 Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate; "19 WISCONSIN 42" at bottom "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at top 123 456 1 to approximately 772 000 Revalidated for 1943 with white tabs, for 1944 with green tabs, and for 1945 with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1946–49 Embossed white numbers on black plate; "EXP WISCONSIN 46" at top "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1 12345
1/0 12345		 Coded by month of expiration (1 or 1/0) Revalidated for 1947 with orange tabs, for 1948 with yellow tabs, for 1949 with green tabs, for 1950 with light blue tabs, for 1951 with white tabs, and for 1952 with golden yellow tabs.
1950–52 As above, but with square corners and thinner dies 1 12345
1 123-456
1/0 12345
1/0 123-456		 Validated for 1950, 1951 and 1952 in the same manner as for 1946–49 plates. Serials for each month continued from where these plates left off.
1953–54 Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "53" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345 Letter corresponds to month of expiration (see right) Letters A, B, C, D, E, H, J, K, L, P, T and V were used for January through December respectively; this practice continued until 1961. Revalidated for 1954 with red tabs.
1955–56 Embossed green numbers on white plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "55" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345
AA-1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration Two-letter serial format introduced in months where serials in the single-letter format had been exhausted. Revalidated for 1956 with yellow tabs.
1957–58 Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "57" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345
AA-1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958 with white tabs.
1959–60 Embossed dark green numbers on white plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "59" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345
AA-1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration Revalidated for 1960 with orange tabs.
1961–62 Embossed black numbers on light yellow plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "61" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345 Letter corresponds to month of expiration Revalidated for 1962 with stickers.
1963–64 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "63" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345 Letter corresponds to month of expiration Revalidated for 1964 with stickers.
1965–67 Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "65" at top right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom A12-345 Letter corresponds to month of expiration Revalidated for 1966 and 1967 with stickers.
1968–72 Embossed black numbers on reflective yellow plate; "WISCONSIN" centered at bottom; month of expiration at bottom left; debossed "68" at bottom right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at top A12-345
AA 1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration
1973–79 Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "WISCONSIN" centered at bottom; month of expiration at bottom left; debossed "73" at bottom right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at top A12-345
AA 1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration
1980 – June
1986		 As 1968–72 base, but with debossed "80" at bottom right "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at top A12-345
AA 1234		 First letter corresponds to month of expiration Revalidated until 1993.
July
1986 – March 1987		 Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "WISCONSIN" screened in dark blue at top left and graphics screened at top right featuring a sailboat and sunset, flying geese, and a farm scene; green and dark blue lines separating state name and graphics from numbers "America's Dairyland" screened in dark blue centered at bottom ABC-123 AAA-101 to
AZZ-999		 Recalled starting in August 1993 and replaced with plates with red numbers (below). Letters I, O and Q not used in serials, this practice continues today.
March 1987 – December 1994 As above, but with red numbers BAA-101 to NMD-999 Numbers changed from dark blue to red in response to concerns of confusion with Illinois plates of the time.
December 1994 – June
2000		 NME-101 to approximately WRZ-999 Narrower dies. All red-numbered plates replaced by the end of 2014.
June 2000 – April
2017		 As above, but with black numbers, state name in red, graphics revised and green line removed "America's Dairyland" screened in red centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AAA to
999-ZZZ		 Baseplate design updated.
April 2017 – present ABC-1234 AAA-1001 to AEC-9999 (as of September 16, 2018)

Optional plates

Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Amateur Radio ? to present As standard passenger base, but with "Amateur Radio" in place of slogan none FCC call sign
Children's Trust Fund ? to present Red on white with multicolored image of child at left. Celebrate Children 12345K 10001K to present
Sesquicentennial of Wisconsin's statehood 1997 – January 1, 1999, with remakes made until August 1, 2008[3] Embossed red numbers on lake scene. 1848 Sesquicentennial 1998 12345T 10001T to 99999T Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new optional license plate of 1997 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Wisconsin has been so honored. Co-recipient with Manitoba.
A1234T A1001T to Z9999T
AB123T AA101T to DW999T

Non-passenger plates

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Bus 2004–present As current passenger base, but with embossed black "BUS" in place of slogan 12345B 1001B to present
Disabled ? to 2012 As current passenger base, but with embossed black International Symbol of Access at right 12345D 10001D to 99999D
2012–present 12345D/S 10001D/S to present
Farm 1994–2004 As 1987–2000 passenger base, but with embossed red "FARM" in place of slogan 123456F 1001F to approximately 130000F All Farm plates expire at the end of February in even-numbered years. Narrower dies introduced 2001 when 100000F was reached.
2004–08 As current passenger base, but with red numbers, plus embossed red "FARM" in place of slogan 130001F to approximately 162000F
2008–present As current passenger base, but with embossed black "FARM" in place of slogan, plus embossed black "FEB" at bottom left 200001F to present
Motorcycle 1992–2003 Embossed green numbers on white plate; "WIS", year sticker and "APR" at bottom 12345 1 to 99999 All motorcycle plates expire on April 30 in even-numbered years.[4]
A1234 E101 to
Z9999, then
A101 to
D9999
AB123 AA101 to
KU999
April 2003[5] – present Embossed black numbers on white plate; "WISCONSIN" at top, "APR" at bottom left and year sticker at bottom right AB 123 KV 101 to
ZZ 999
1234 A 1001 A to
9999 Z
123 AB 101 AA to present
Motorhome ? to present As current passenger base, but with embossed black "MOTOR HOME" in place of slogan A1234 A1001 to present
Trailer ? to present As current passenger base, but with embossed black "TRAILER" in place of slogan 1234 Z/A
Truck 2000–04 As current passenger base, but with embossed black "TRUCK" in place of slogan, plus sticker for weight class (A, B or C) at left 123456 100001 to 999999 May be personalized. Serials AW1001 through DF9999 skipped to avoid confusion with Temporary plates.
2004–present AB1234 AA1001 to AV9999;
DG1001 to present

References

  1. ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. 1 2 "The Wisconsin Pages: Passenger, 1905-1941". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  3. ↑ Wisconsin DMV
  4. ↑ "Motorcycle and moped license plates". Wisconsin DMV. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin's new motorcycle plate". LicensePlates.cc. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
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