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Revision as of 02:01, 23 August 2020

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 Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1905 to 1941

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1905–11	Riveted aluminum serial on black plate	none	12345-W	1-W to 21983-W
	1911	Riveted aluminum serial on dark green plate; vertical "1911" at left	none	1234W	1 to approximately 1300W	First dated plate. Issued only to new registrants from August 1 through December 31, 1911.
	1912	Riveted aluminum serial on red plate; vertical "1912" at left	none	12345W	1 to approximately 25000W
	1913	Riveted aluminum serial on dark blue plate; vertical "1913" at left	none	12345W	1 to approximately 34500W
	1914	Embossed black serial on white plate; vertical "1914" at left	none	12345W	1 to approximately 53500W	First embossed plate.
	1915	Embossed white serial on black plate; "W 15" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 79500
	1916	Embossed red serial on white plate; vertical "WIS." and "16" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 115000
	1917	Embossed white serial on dark olive green plate; vertical "WIS." and "17" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 165000
	1918	Embossed black serial on beige plate with border line; "18 W" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 185000
	1919	Embossed yellow serial on dark green plate with border line; "W 19" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 224000
	1920	Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "W 20" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 275000
	1921	Embossed black serial on gray plate; vertical "WIS" and "21" at right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 320-000
	1922	Embossed white serial on dark olive green plate; vertical "WIS" and "22" at right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 360-000
	1923	Embossed red serial on white plate; vertical "WIS" and "23" at right	none	123-456	1 to approximately 419-000
	1924	Embossed white serial on black plate; vertical "WIS" and "24" at right	none	A123-456	Coded by weight class (A)
	1925	Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "25" at bottom right	none	123-456A	Coded by weight class (A)
	1926	Embossed black serial on beige plate; "26" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right	none	A123-456	Coded by weight class (A)
	1927	Embossed white serial on black plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "27" at bottom right	none	123-456A	Coded by weight class (A)
	1928	Embossed black serial on orange plate; "28" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right	none	A123-456	Coded by weight class (A)
	1929	Embossed white serial on green plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "29" at bottom right	none	123-456A	Coded by weight class (A)
	1930	Embossed black serial on gray plate; "30" at bottom left and vertical "WIS" at right	none	A123-456	Coded by weight class (A)
	1931	Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; vertical "WIS" at left and "31" at bottom right	none	123-456A	Coded by weight class (A)
	1932	Embossed blue serial 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 serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 33" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 566-000
	1934	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 34" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 578-000
	1935	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 35" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 610-000
	1936	Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "36 WISCONSIN" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 667-000
	1937	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "37 WISCONSIN" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 714-000
	1938	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1938" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 706-000
	1939	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1939" at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 723-000
	1940	Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1940" at top	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom	123-456	1 to 430-350	First use of the "America's Dairyland" slogan.
		As above, but with taller serial dies and vertical "WIS-40" used as separator			430-351 to approximately 747-000
	1941	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "19 WISCONSIN 41" at bottom	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at top	123-456	1 to approximately 791-000

1942 to 1952

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1942–45	Embossed golden yellow serial 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 serial 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 serial 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 to 1967

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 (dated 1957) issue was the first Wisconsin license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1953–54	Embossed black serial 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 through 1960. Revalidated for 1954 with red tabs.
	1955–56	Embossed green serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "55" at top right	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom	A12-345 AB-1234	First letter corresponds to month of expiration	Two-letter serial format introduced in months where serials in the one-letter format had been exhausted. Revalidated for 1956 with yellow tabs.
	1957–58	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "57" at top right	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom	A12-345 AB-1234	First letter corresponds to month of expiration	First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958 with white tabs.
	1959–60	Embossed dark green serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left; month of expiration and "59" at top right	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at bottom	A12-345 AB-1234	First letter corresponds to month of expiration	Revalidated for 1960 with orange tabs.
	1961–62	Embossed black serial 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	Two letters assigned for each month (A and B for January, C and D for February and so on up to Y and Z for December, with I and O excluded); this practice continued until 1986. Revalidated for 1962 with stickers.
	1963–64	Embossed blue serial 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 serial 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 to present

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1968–72	Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate; month of expiration, "WISCONSIN" and debossed "68" at bottom	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at top	A12-345 AB 1234	First letter corresponds to month of expiration
	1973–79	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; month of expiration, "WISCONSIN" and debossed "73" at bottom	"AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" centered at top	A12-345 AB 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 AB 1234	First letter corresponds to month of expiration	Revalidated until 1993.
File:1986 Wisconsin License Plate.jpg	July 1986 – March 1987	Embossed dark blue serial 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 serial	"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 serials (below). Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today.
	March 1987 – December 1994	As above, but with red serial			BAA-101 to NMD-999	Serial changed from dark blue to red in response to concerns of confusion with Illinois plates of the time.
File:1997 Wisconsin License Plate.jpg	December 1994 – June 2000				NME-101 to approximately WRZ-999	Narrower dies. All plates with red serials replaced by the end of 2014.
File:2007 Wisconsin License Plate.jpg	June 2000 – April 2017	As above, but with black serial, red state name, 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.
File:Wisconsin 2021 passenger car license plate.png	April 2017 – present			ABC-1234	AAA-1001 to AKG-7042 (as of August 22, 2020)

Police

A101 to G841 (as of August 21, 2020)

Fire 10001 to approximately 25890 25891 to approximately 32634 32635 to 92033 (as of August 18, 2020)

Milwaukee Brewers 101 to 999 AAAAAA to ZZZZZZ AAA to ZZZ AGA-AGZ, ALA-ALZ AMA-AMZ, AJA-AJZ AKA-AKZ, AZA-AZZ AAAAA to ZZZZZ AAAA to ZZZZ A to Z AAA 1001 to NSG 5131 (as of August 22, 2020) Commercial A1001 to M1407 (as of August 7, 2020) Mobile Home M/H10001 to M/H61616 (as of August 12, 2020) Endangered Resources 10001A to 48362K (as of August 7, 2020) Menominee Nation A0000 to K8150 (as of August 17, 2020) Minor Part 100001C/A to 226767C/R (as of August 14, 2020)

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	Embossed red serial 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
File:Wisconsin 2000 Bus license plate - 8036 B.jpg	Bus	2004–present	As current passenger base, but with embossed black "BUS" in place of slogan	12345B	1001B to 25890B (as of April 29, 2019)
	Disabled	2000–12	As current passenger base, but with embossed black International Symbol of Access at right	12345D	30001D to 99999D
		2012–present		12345D/S	10001D/S to 51405D/S (as of August 7, 2020)
	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 serial dies introduced 2001 when 100000F was reached.
		2004–08	As current passenger base, but with red serial, 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 318435F (as of December 17, 2019)
	Moped	1992–2003	Embossed green serial on white plate; "WIS", year sticker and "MOPED" at bottom; vertical "APR" in center	12 34	10 01 to 99 99	All moped plates expire on April 30 in even-numbered years.
				A1 23	A1 01 to Z9 99
				12 3A	10 1A to 99 9Z
				A1 2B	A1 1A to E9 9Z
		2003– present	Embossed black serial on white plate; "WISCONSIN" at top; year sticker and "MOPED" at bottom; vertical "APR" at left		F1 1A to Z9 9Z
				A123B	A101A to D102A (as of June 9, 2020)
	Motorcycle	1992–2003	Embossed green serial 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.
				A1234	E101 to Z9999, then A101 to D9999
				AB123	AA101 to KU999
		April 2003 – present	Embossed black serial 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 844 RJ (as of August 1, 2020)
	Motor Home	? to present	As current passenger base, but with embossed black "MOTOR HOME" in place of slogan	A1234	A1001 to K7569 (as of August 7, 2020)
	Temporary	2004–19	Red serial on white cardboard plate; state outline in center; "WISCONSIN TEMPORARY" in blue at top; expiration date written at bottom right	A12 34B	A10 01A to P24 66U (as of August 7, 2018)
	Trailer	? to present	As current passenger base, but with embossed black "TRAILER" in place of slogan	1234 Z/A
	Truck	1987–94	Embossed blue serial on tan plate; "WISCONSIN" at bottom and "TRUCK" at top; debossed "88" at bottom right	A/B12-345	Coded by weight class (A)	Weight classes are as follows: A (4,500 lb and under), B (4,501 to 6,000 lb) and C (6,001 lb and over). In the AB1234 serial format, serials AW1001 through DF9999 were skipped to avoid confusion with Temporary plates. Personalized plates also issued.
		1995–2000	As 1987–2000 passenger base, but with embossed red "TRUCK" in place of slogan
		2000–04	As current passenger base, but with embossed black "TRUCK" in place of slogan, plus sticker for weight class at left	123456	100001 to 999999
		2004–present		AB1234	AA1001 to AV9999; DG1001 to SJ7156 (as of July 24, 2020)

References

1. ^ Turnbull, Andrew. "The Wisconsin Pages: Passenger, 1905-1941". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
3. Wisconsin DMV
4. Turnbull, Andrew. "The Wisconsin Pages: Passenger-Related Types". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
5. ^ "Motorcycle and moped license plates". Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
6. "Wisconsin's new motorcycle plate". LicensePlates.cc. Archived from the original on February 22, 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2014.

External links

• Wisconsin license plates, 1969–present

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