Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky

The U.S. state of Kentucky first started requiring its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910.

Passenger plates 1924 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 Kentucky license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1924 Black base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 1924" at right. 123456
1933 Green base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom between "KY" and "33." 123-456 Issued in front/rear pairs for one vehicle.
1937 White base with blue embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom. 12A34
1942 Black base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom. 12345
1944 Black base with yellow embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom. 12345
1948 White base with orange embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom. 12345
1949 Gray aluminum "waffle" hatched base with black embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 12-345
1950 Green aluminum "waffle" hatched base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 12-345
1951 Silver base with dark blue embossed lettering. "Tour" in front of state name at top, county name at bottom. 12-345
1953 Blue base with white embossed lettering. "Tour" in front of state name at top, county name at bottom. 12-345
1956 White base with blue embossed lettering. "Tour" in front of state name at top, county name at bottom. 123-456
1957 Blue base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1958 White base with blue embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1961 Blue base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1965 Blue base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1967 Blue base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1971 Blue base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom. 123-456
1977–83 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KY" embossed in dark blue block letters in top left and top right corners; debossed box for expiration sticker centered at top; county sticker centered at bottom none ABC-123 AAA-000 to approximately GFZ-999
1983–88 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively none ABC-123 JAA-000 to approximately RNV-999
1988–97 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; twin spires of Churchill Downs racetrack screened in blue at the top and a mare and foal screened in light blue in the center; "Kentucky" screened in blue serifed letters centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and numbers "Bluegrass State" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom ABC 123 TAA 000 to ZZZ 999, then AAA 000 to approximately EBP 999 Mare and foal based on the photo The Soul of a Horse, taken by Peter Thomann. The base was withdrawn when Thomann threatened to sue for copyright infringement.
1997–8 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively none ABC-123 EBR-000 to approximately FAE-999 Interim plate based on truck plates of the time, with county name in place of weight class.
1998 – late 2002 Embossed blue numbers on graphic plate with light blue sky, white state-shaped cloud and green rolling hills; "Kentucky" screened in black italic serifed letters centered above numbers; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered below numbers "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened in black italic serifed letters below state name 123 ABC 000 AAA to approximately 700 HYJ
late 2002 – January 2003 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in dark blue block letters centered above numbers; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered below numbers none 123 ABC 701 HYJ to 999 HZZ Interim plates manufactured when stocks of cloud plates ran out before the smiling sun base (below) was introduced.
January 2003 –
July 31, 2005		 Embossed dark blue numbers on graphic plate with blue, white and red gradient sky, green rolling hills, and an anthropomorphic rising yellow sun with a red smile; "KENTUCKY" screened in white serifed letters centered above numbers; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered below numbers "The Bluegrass State" and "It's that friendly." screened in blue serifed letters above and below state name respectively 123 ABC 000 JAA to approximately 999 PSX Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2003 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Kentucky has been so honored. Despite the honor, the plates were widely derided and defaced by residents.[1]
August 1, 2005[2] – mid 2008 Embossed dark blue numbers on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened in the center; screened blue and red Kentucky Tourism logo centered above numbers; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered below numbers "BLUEGRASS STATE" and "UNBRIDLED SPIRIT" screened above and below Kentucky Tourism logo respectively 123 ABC 000 AAA to approximately 900 JCB
mid 2008 – present 901 JCB to 999 TFT (as of March 9, 2015) Narrower dies.

Optional types

Image Type Dates issued Description Serial format Notes
Nature's Finest—monarch butterfly 12 345
Nature's Finest—wren 12345

Non-passenger types

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Motorcycle 2003–9 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and "MOTORCYCLE" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively 1234A 0000A to 9999Z
2009–present AB123 AA000 to present

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Kentucky Frowns on Smiley License Plates". MSNBC.com. July 16, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate". Kentucky.gov. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2015.