Vehicle registration plates of Louisiana

The U.S. state of Louisiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.[1]

Contents

Passenger plates 1963 to present

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1963 Green base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center. "Sportsmen's Paradise" 12 345 The last year that the embossed pelican was featured on Louisiana plates.
January 1, 2002 until December 31, 2003[2] Dark blue on reflective white with red and blue graphics and embossed border. Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial 1803—2003 ABC 123 ? to NEV 999
2005 Black on pink gradient with pelican graphic. Sportsman's Paradise ABC 123 NFV 000 to present Initial plates featured a larger font for the state name.

|2011 |White on Green with forest on bottom |200 Years |ABC 123 | NSF 000 to present | In celebration for the 200 years of state hood. |}

Non-passenger types

Image Type Design First issued Serial format Notes
Boat trailer White base with embossed blue lettering and border. unknown D123456 "Boat trailer" embossed at top.
Commercial "COMMERCIAL" embossed at bottom. A123456
Dealer "DEALER" embossed at bottom. DI12345
Motorcycle "MC" embossed at bottom. 123456
Private Truck "PRIVATE" embossed at bottom. S123456
V123456
W123456
"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened at bottom.
Tractor "TRACTOR" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. 1963 123456
Truck "TRUCK" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. 1966 B123456
Truck "TRUCK" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. 1967 123456

Optional types

Optional types do not use leading zeros in their serials.

Image Type Design First issued Serial format Notes
American Indian A/I 1234
Animal Friendly F/A 1234
Bring Back the Bobwhite 12
Choose Life C/L 1234
Emergency Medical Technician
Firefighter—Retired 123
"In God We Trust" T/G 1234
Louisiana Tech University 123
Marine Corps League 12
Our Environment...Our Future Black on reflective light blue, white, and dark blue with multicolored graphic of pelican at right. 123
E/E 1234
"Preserve Our Hunting Heritage" W/D 1234
Save the Louisiana Black Bear B/B 1234
Sons of Confederate Veterans C/V 1234
Special Olympics 12
Think Safe Kids 12
U.S. Veteran—Marine Corps "USMC" printed diagonally to left of serial M/A 1234
U.S. Veteran—Navy—Retired "NAVY" printed diagonally and "RETIRED" printed horizontally to left of serial 123

Government plates

Image Type Design First issued Serial format Notes
Public "PUBLIC" embossed vertically at left; "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened at bottom. 123456
Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement SF 12

State Police troop codes

From 1965 until 1993, Louisiana State Police troop area codes were used as part of the serial on the plate, invariably in the center of the serial. From 1993 until 1996, stickers were used to show the troop. This was done to give some idea of where the plates were issued. However, registrants who applied via the mail got plates with the "X" code, which was used for Baton Rouge.

Code Troop or area
A Baton Rouge
B New Orleans
C Raceland, (later Gray after troop office was moved in the mid 1970s)
D Lake Charles
E Alexandria
F Monroe
G Shreveport
H Leesville
I Lafayette
K Opelousas
L Covington
M Raceland (eliminated in 1973)
N New Orleans (overflow)
X Baton Rouge/statewide mail

References

  1. ^ Benjamin F. Shearer, Barbara S. Shearer. State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide. Greenwood Press, 2001. ISBN 0313315345. Quote from p. 200: "The state of Louisiana began issuing license plates in 1915."
  2. ^ [1].

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