Vehicle registration plates of Arkansas

The U.S. state of Arkansas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911.

Passenger plates 1911 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Arkansas license plate that complied with these standards.

Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1932 Yellow lettering and border embossed on black background, ARK 32 in embossed script at top. 123-456
1944 White lettering on black background, 19 ARK. 44 at top. 00-1234 Fiberboard due to metal shortage during World War II
1955 Black embossed digits on pale green background with black embossed border; ARKANSAS 1956 embossed in black plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in black plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1956 Red embossed digits on white background with red embossed border; ARKANSAS 1957 embossed in red plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in red plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1957 White embossed digits on blue background with white embossed border; ARKANSAS 1958 embossed in white plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in white plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1958 Black embossed digits on white background with white embossed border; ARKANSAS 1959 embossed in black plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in black plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1959 White embossed digits on blue background with white embossed border; ARKANSAS 60 embossed in white plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in white plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1960 Red embossed digits on white background with red embossed border; ARKANSAS 61 embossed in red plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in red plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1961 Blue embossed digits on white background with blue embossed border; ARKANSAS 62 embossed in blue plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in blue plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1962 White embossed digits on blue background with white embossed border; ARKANSAS 63 embossed in white plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in white plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1963 Red embossed digits on white background with red embossed border; ARKANSAS 64 embossed in red plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in red plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1964 Blue embossed digits on white background with blue embossed border; ARKANSAS 65 embossed in blue plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in blue plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1965 Red embossed digits on white background with red embossed border; ARKANSAS 66 embossed in red plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in red plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1966 Blue embossed digits on white background with blue embossed border; ARKANSAS 67 embossed in blue plain text centered between screw holes at top LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in blue plain text centered at bottom 00-1234
1967-74 Red embossed digits on white background with red border; ARKANSAS embossed in red wide plain text centered between screw holes; registration stickers at top corners none ABC 123
1975-77 Red embossed digits on white background with red border; ARKANSAS embossed in red wide plain text centered between screw holes; registration stickers at top corners LAND OF OPPORTUNITY embossed in red plain text centered at bottom ABC 123
1978-88 Red embossed digits on white background; Arkansas screened in stylized blue text centered at top; registration stickers in indentations at top corners Land of Opportunity screened in blue plain text centered at bottom ABC 123
1989-95 Blue embossed digits on white background with red band across top; Arkansas screened in stylized white text centered in red band; registration stickers in indentations at top corners The Natural State screened in red stylized text at bottom ABC 123 ? to ZZZ 999
1996 - February 2006 Red embossed digits on white background; Arkansas screened in stylized dark blue text centered at top; registration stickers in indentations at top corners The Natural State screened in dark blue stylized text at bottom 123 ABC 101 AAA to 999 KPC
March 2006 - present Black embossed digits on sky to white reflective gradient background, with diamond graphic centered on plate under digits; Arkansas screened in stylized white text centered in red band; registration stickers in indentations at top corners The Natural State screened in red stylized text at bottom 123 ABC 001 KPO to present

Non-passenger types

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Amateur Radio On 2006 passenger base, but with "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of "The Natural State" at bottom of plate. various
Ambulance On 1996 passenger base, but with "AMBULANCE" in place of "The Natural State" at bottom of plate. ZAB 123
Apportioned Truck All-embossed black on yellow. C 123456
Dealer—Motorcycle Annual plates 2004: All-embossed black on light blue. 1234 M
Disabled Person Blue on reflective white with blue graphics and "Disabled" legend at bottom. 123456
Motorcycle All-embossed red on reflective white. AB 123
Permanent Trailer All-embossed blue on tan. PT12 345
Transporter All-embossed black on light blue. T/P12345

Optional types

Beginning in 2000, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has released one wildlife-themed plate design each year,[1] to be issued for one calendar year, although remaining stock is sometimes issued past the end of a particular plate design's year of release.

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Arkansas State University ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 2ABC 2AAA to present Issued concurrently.
Arkansas State · Go Red Wolves! ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. ? to present
Arkansas Technical University ? to present Green on reflective yellow. 10ABC 10AAA to present
Cattlemen Foundation ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. C/F ABCD C/F AAAA to present
Choose Life ? to present Black on reflective yellow with blue and red graphics. C/L ABCD C/L AAAA to present
Ducks Unlimited ? to present Black on multicolored background. 1ABCD 1AAAA to present
Emergency Medical Services ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. E/M ABCD E/M AAAA to present
Firefighter ? to present Blue on reflective white with logo and legends displayed on stickers. AB123 ?
Firefighters Memorial ? to present Black on multicolored fire background. F/F ABCD F/F AAAA to present
Golf Association ? to present Red on reflective white with green graphic at right. G/A ABC G/A AAA to present
Harding University c. 2009 to present Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 15ABC 15AAA to present
Henderson State University ? to present Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 7ABC 7AAA to present
Hendrix College ? to present Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 11ABC 11AAA to present
In God We Trust ? to present Black on light blue with multicolored image of Arkansas State Capitol. A/R ABCD A/R AAAA to present
Lyon College c. 2008 to present Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 13ABC 13AAA to present
Ouachita Baptist University ? to present Black on reflective multicolored background. 8ABC 8AAA to present
Purple Heart ? to present Blue on reflective white with multicolored graphic of award. PH1234 ? Earlier plates were issued in a format of PH 1234, without a graphic of the award.
Southern Arkansas University ? to present Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 5ABC 5AAA to present
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 1ABC
|U/A ABC		 1AAA to ?
|U/A AAA to present		 Previously issued 1ABC.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock ? to present Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. 4ABC 4AAA to present
University of Arkansas at Monticello ? to present Black on multicolored background. 9ABC 9AAA to present
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff ? to present Black on multicolored background. 6ABC 6AAA to present
University of Central Arkansas ? to present Blue on reflective white with multicolored graphic elements. 3ABC 3AAA to present
University of the Ozarks c. 2008 to present Black on reflective multicolored graphic. 12ABC 12AAA to present
Wildlife—American black bear 2008 Black on multicolored background. 12AB ?
Wildlife—Diana fritillary butterfly 2009 Black on multicolored background. G/F ABC G/F AAA to present
Wildlife—eastern wild turkey 2003 Black on multicolored background. AB12 ?
Wildlife—elk 2007 Black on multicolored background. 12AB ?
Wildlife—ivory-billed woodpecker 2006 Black on multicolored background. 12AB 01AA to ?
Wildlife—largemouth bass 2002 Black on multicolored background. AB12 ?
Wildlife—mallard 2004 Black on multicolored background. AB12 ?
Wildlife—rainbow trout 2005 Black on multicolored background. AB12 ?
Wildlife—ruby-throated hummingbird 2001 Black on light blue with multicolored image of hummingbird and flower. AB12 ? Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2001 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Arkansas has been so honored.
Wildlife—white-tailed deer 2000 Black on multicolored background. AB12 AA01 to ?

References

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External links