Vehicle registration plates of Kansas
The U.S. state of Kansas first required its residents to register their vehicles and display license plates in 1910.
Passenger plates 1910 to present
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed 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 Kansas license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1924 | White lettering on green base | 1234 | |||
 |
1933 | White lettering and border embossed on black base | 12-3456 | |||
 |
1947 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "KANSAS" embossed in black block letters centered at top; "19" embossed in top left corner and "47" in top right corner | none | 1-12345 10-12345 100-1234 |
Coded by county (1, 10 or 100) | |
|
1948 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "KANSAS" embossed in white block letters centered at top; "19" embossed in top left corner and "48" in top right corner | none | 1-12345 10-12345 100-1234 |
Coded by county (1, 10 or 100) | |
 |
1949 | Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "KANSAS" embossed in black block letters centered at top; "19" embossed in top left corner and "49" in top right corner | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in black block letters at bottom | 1-12345 10-12345 100-1234 |
Coded by county (1, 10 or 100) | |
|
1950 | Embossed green numbers on silver plate with border line; "KANSAS 50" embossed in green block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-12345 100-1234 |
Coded by county (1, 10 or 100) | |
 |
1951–3 | Embossed silver numbers on dark blue state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 51" embossed in silver block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in silver block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | First base to use two-letter county codes. Revalidated for 1952 with white tabs, and for 1953 with yellow tabs. |
 |
1954 | Embossed black numbers on white state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 54" embossed in black block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1955 | Embossed silver numbers on black state-shaped plate with border line; "KANSAS 55" embossed in silver block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in silver block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1956 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 56" embossed in black block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1957 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 57" embossed in red block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in red block letters at bottom, offset to right | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1958 | Embossed yellow numbers on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 58" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in yellow block letters at bottom, offset to right | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1959 | Embossed blue numbers on yellow plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 59" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "THE WHEAT STATE" embossed in blue block letters at bottom, offset to right | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1960 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 60" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "CENTENNIAL 1961" embossed in blue block letters at bottom, offset to right | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | Both this and the 1961 base commemorated Kansas' 100 years of statehood. |
|
1961 | Embossed brown numbers on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 61" embossed in brown block letters centered at top | "CENTENNIAL 1961" embossed in brown block letters at bottom, offset to right | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1962 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 62" embossed in white block letters centered at top | none | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1963 | Embossed green numbers on white plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 63" embossed in green block letters centered at top | none | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1964 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 64" embossed in white block letters centered at top | none | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1965 | Embossed white numbers on red plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 65" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1966 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 66" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1967 | Embossed white numbers on Columbia blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 67" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1968 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 68" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
 |
1969 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 69" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1970 | Embossed white numbers on pale green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 70" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "MIDWAY USA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | A/B-12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) | |
|
1975 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 75" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers | "WHEAT CENTENNIAL" embossed in white block letters centered below numbers | A/B C12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) and month of expiration (C) | Some later-issue plates were manufactured without the slogan. |
|
1975–80 | Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with state-shaped border; "KANSAS 76" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers | none | A/B C12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) and month of expiration (C) | |
|
1980–82 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; yellow stalk of wheat screened at far left; "KANSAS" screened in yellow serifed letters centered above numbers | none | A/B C12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) and month of expiration (C) | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1980 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Kansas was so honored. |
|
1982–88 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; gold sunflower screened at top left corner; "KANSAS" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers | none | A/B C12345 (variable number of digits) | Coded by county (A/B) and month of expiration (C) | |
 |
1988–90 | Embossed dark blue digits on white plate; brown stalk of wheat screened in the center; pale yellow band screened across top containing stylized "KANSAS" in the center and three dark blue stripes on either side | none | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to approximately DVD 999 | |
|
1990–93 | DVE 000 to approximately GRR 999 | State name made more legible. | |||
 |
1994–2001 | Embossed blue numbers on light blue, white and light yellow gradient plate; yellow stalk of wheat screened in the center; "KANSAS" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers | none | ABC 123 | GRS 000 to approximately PAZ 999, SMA 000 to approximately SVB 999 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1994 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Kansas was so honored. |
| 2000 | Black digits embossed on white background; screened sunflowers in bottom left corner; stylized "Kansas" screened and centered along top. | ABC 123 | ||||
 |
January 2001–April 2007 | Embossed black digits on sky blue plate; State Capitol screened in the center surrounded by clouds; fading gold band screened at bottom with gold wheat stalks screened at left; "KANSAS" screened in black serifed letters centered above numbers | none | ABC 123 | PBA 000 to approximately SLZ 999, TAA 000 to approximately XUY 499 |
|
 |
April 2007–present | Embossed dark blue numbers on light blue plate; top half of state seal screened in white in bottom right corner; "KANSAS" screened in dark blue serifed letters centered above numbers | none | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 999 HKP (as of March 14, 2015) |
County coding
Kansas has a system of county codes used for identification of the home county of a state resident or company on license plates and state tax forms.[1]
The codes are two letters based on the first letter of and another letter in the name of the county. There is no true convention for the selection of the letters; for example, Bourbon County is the only county that begins with "BO," yet its code is "BB." In most cases, but not all, as noted above, the only county that begins with two particular letters gets those letters. Exceptions are Decatur, Dickinson, Hodgeman, Leavenworth, Logan, McPherson (MC is used for Mitchell), Norton (NO is used for Neosho), Pawnee, and Pottawatomie.
The two-letter code began appearing on Kansas license plates in 1951. From 1930 to 1950, the code was a number based on the order a county ranked in terms of population based on the 1920 United States Census. From 1951 until 1988, the two letters were stamped on the license plate on the far left side, one letter on top of the other. Since then, the letters are on a sticker applied to the upper-left corner of the plate.
There is also a place on the address form of Kansas tax forms to place the county code.
Optional types
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Personalized motorcycle | 2006 to 2010 registration years | Brown on tan with brown buffalo. | various | various | |
|
Personalized passenger | 2006 to 2010 registration years | Brown on tan with brown buffalo and embossed brown border in shape of state reminiscent of historical Kansas license plates and "Home On The Range" slogan. | various | various | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2005 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Kansas was so honored. |
|
Personalized passenger | 2010 to 2015 registration years | Orange with yellow windmills and grass and "America's Heartland" slogan. | various | various | |
References
- ↑ Codes from the 2005-06 Kansas state transportation map (index of counties).
External links
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