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| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Wild, Wonderful |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Serial format | 0BC 1234 01B 1234 ABC 1234 A1B 1234 (month-coded) |
| Introduced | July 2023 |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | West Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles |
| History | |
| First issued | May 1, 1905 (1905-05-01) |
The U.S. state of West Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2023, plates are issued by the West Virginia Department of Transportation through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.
Passenger baseplates
1905 to 1970
In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico 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. The 1956–57 (dated 1957) issue was the first West Virginia license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1905 | Embossed blue serial on green plate; "W. VA." at right; "LICENSED" and "05" above and below serial respectively | none | 123 | 1 to approximately 200 | |
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1906 | Embossed gray serial on dark blue plate; "W. VA." at right; "LICENSED" and "1906" above and below serial respectively | none | 123 | 201 to approximately 500 | One of the rarest license plates in American history. Less than five of these plates are known to exist. |
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1907–09 | Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W. VA." at right and "LICENSED" centered at top | none | 1234 | 401 to approximately 1100 | |
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1909–10 | Black serial on red porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1909" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top | none | 123 | 1 to approximately 900 | |
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1910–11 | White serial on dark blue porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1910" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 1700 | |
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1911–12 | Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W VA" at left, vertical "1911" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 2500 | |
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1912–13 | White serial on forest green porcelain plate; vertical "1912" and "W. VA" at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 3500 | |
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1913–14 | Yellow serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "JULY 1914" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 6000 | |
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1914–15 | White serial on light blue porcelain plate; vertical "1914 1915" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 10500 | |
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1915–16 | White serial on red porcelain plate; vertical "1915 1916" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 16500 | |
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1916–17 | Navy blue serial on white flat metal plate; vertical "W. VA." and "1916-17" at left and right respectively; "LICENSED" centered at top | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 25000 | |
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1917–18 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 17-18" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 33000 | |
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1918–19 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "W.VA 18-19" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 43000 | |
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1919–20 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 19-20" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 66000 | Valid from July 1, 1919 through December 31, 1920. |
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1921 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1921" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 87000 | |
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1922 | Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1922" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 96000 | |
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1923 | Embossed red serial on white plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1923" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 141-000 | First use of the full state name. |
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1924 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1924" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 165-000 | |
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1925 | Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1925" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 173-000 | |
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1926 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1926" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 211-000 | |
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1927 | Embossed black serial on gray plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1927" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 207-000 | |
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1928 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1928" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 217-000 | |
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1929 | Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1929" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 232-000 | |
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1930 | Embossed black serial on gray plate; "W. VA. – 1930" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 223-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1931" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 213-000 | |
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1932 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1932" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 192-000 | |
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1933–34 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1933" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 214-000 | Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1934 with windshield stickers. |
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1934–35 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-34-35" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 207-000 | |
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1935–36 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-35-36" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 219-000 | |
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1936–37 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-36-37" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 224-000 | |
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1937–38 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-37-38" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 237-000 | |
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1938–39 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-38-39" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 236-000 | |
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1939–40 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-39-40" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 245-000 | |
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1940–41 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-40-41" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 258-000 | |
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1941–44 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 349-000 | Revalidated through June 30, 1943 with white tabs, then through June 30, 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
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1944–45 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-45" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 214-000 | |
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1945–46 | As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-46" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 239-000 | |
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1946–47 | As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-47" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 250-000 | |
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1947–48 | As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-48" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 282-000 | |
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1948–49 | As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-49" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 312-000 | |
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1949–50 | As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-50" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 339-000 | |
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1950–51 | As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-51" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 365-000 | |
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1951–52 | As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-52" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 377-000 | |
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1952–53 | As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-53" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 379-000 | |
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1953–54 | As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-54" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 399-000 | |
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1954–55 | As 1944–45 base, but with "WEST VIRGINIA 54" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 418-000 | |
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1955–56 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA 56" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 436-000 | |
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1956–57 | Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "57" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 461-000 | First 6" x 12" plate. |
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1957–58 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 469-000 | |
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1958–59 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "59" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 478-000 | |
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1959–60 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "60" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 471-000 | |
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1960–61 | Embossed white serial on dark red plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "61" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to 141-826 | |
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As above, but with elements debossed | 141-827 to approximately 476-000 | ||||
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1961–62 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "62" at bottom right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 488-000 | |
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1962–63 | Debossed yellow serial on reflective blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "63" at bottom right | "1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 490-000 | Both this and the 1963–64 base commemorated West Virginia's 100 years as a separate state. |
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1963–64 | Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "64" at bottom right | "1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 521-000 | |
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1964–65 | As 1962–63 base, but with "65" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 522-000 | |
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1965–66 | As 1963–64 base, but with "66" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 558-000 | |
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1966–67 | As 1962–63 base, but with "67" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 582-000 | |
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1967–68 | As 1963–64 base, but with "68" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 603-000 | |
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1968–69 | As 1962–63 base, but with "69" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 625-000 | |
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1969–70 | As 1963–64 base, but with "70" at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 591-000 |
1970 to present
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1970–75 | Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; sticker box at bottom right | "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top | 0B-1234 AB-1234 |
First character corresponds to month of expiration (see right) | 1 through 9 indicated January through September respectively, and O, N and D indicated October, November and December respectively. This system remains in use today. |
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1976–82 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; yellow state shape with blue outline screened at left behind serial; "WEST VIRGINIA" screened in dark blue centered at bottom | Dark blue bar screened at top with "Wild, Wonderful" in white in the center | 0B-1234 AB-1234 |
First character corresponds to month of expiration | Early plates for August through December manufactured by Polyvend Inc. of Arkansas. |
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1982 – December 1994 | As above, but without blue outline around state shape | 0BC-123 ABC-123 |
Two-letter series introduced for each month as one-letter series were exhausted. These series progressed as follows: both letters A through M only, then first letter N through Z and second letter A through M, then first letter A through M and second letter N through Z. | ||
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January 1995 – December 2000 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and serial | "Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom, with three stripes (two dark blue and one gold) screened on either side | 0B 1234 0BC 123 01B 123 AB 1234 ABC 123 A1B 123 |
First character corresponds to month of expiration | Series reset to A for all months; progression is as before but with two-letter series progressing in standard order (AA–AZ, BA–BZ etc.). Series S and SA–SZ reserved for optional Scenic plates. Number-letter series introduced October 2015 as two-letter series started to be exhausted. |
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December 2000 – early 2006 |
"Wild, Wonderful" as before, plus "www.callwva.com" in dark blue between state name and serial, cutting off thin gold stripe in the middle | ||||
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early 2006 – July 2023 | "Wild, Wonderful" | ||||
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July 2023 – present | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with state outline as separator; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and serial | 012 345B A12 345B |
Optional plates
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Scenic | 1996–present | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective graphic plate with mountain scene featuring white and orange sky, pale blue mountains and dark blue forest; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top | "Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom | 0S 1234 0SC 123 AS 1234 ASC 123 |
First character corresponds to month of expiration | Similar monthly serial formats to standard passenger base, but with series progressing S, then SA, SB, SC etc. "www.callwva.com" appeared between state name and serial during the early and mid-2000s. |
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9/11 | 2002–present | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "West Virginia" screened in white against national flag motif at top; "September 11, 2001" screened in black centered at bottom | "We will not Forget..." screened in black at left | 9/11 12345 | 9/11 0001 to present | |
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Sesquicentennial | 2012–present | Screened dark blue serial on reflective gradient gold plate; state seal at left and state shape at right; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top | "Wild & Wonderful for 150 Years!" screened in dark blue centered at bottom | S/Q123456 | S/Q000001 to present | Commemorates West Virginia's 150 years as a separate state. |
References
- Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- Tanner, Eric N. "West Virginia License Plate Variations". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- Turnbull, Andrew. "West Virginia "Map" Bases: A Primer, 1976-1995". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved November 19, 2020.