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]

Passenger plates 1915 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 Louisiana license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1946 White base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center. "19 Louisiana 46" embossed in black at top. 123 456
1951 Teal base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican in center. "Louisiana - 1951" embossed in yellow at bottom. 123 456
1952 Green base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center. "Louisiana 1952" embossed in white at bottom. 123 456
1958 Red base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center. "Sportsmen's Paradise" 123 456
1961 Teal base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican in center. "Sportsmen's Paradise" 123 456
1962 Brown base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center. "Sportsmen's Paradise" 12 345
1963 Green base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center. "Sportsmen's Paradise" 123 456 The last year that the embossed pelican was featured on Louisiana plates.
1972–73 Reflective white base with embossed blue lettering and border. "Sportsman's Paradise" 123A456
1983–84 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; logo of the 1984 World's Fair screened in bottom left corner; "Louisiana" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers "World's Fair" screened in blue serifed letters centered below numbers 123A456 Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
1984–89 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in block letters centered below numbers "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in block letters above numbers 123A456 Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
1989–93 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; screened dark blue graphics of mother pelicans with chicks at top corners; "LoUiSiAna" screened in red and dark blue serifed letters (the 'U', 'S' and 'A' in dark blue) centered below numbers "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in red italic block letters centered above numbers 123A456 Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
1993–2001 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in blue italic block letters centered below numbers ABC 123 AAA 000 to approximately KLK 999
January 1, 2002 – December 31, 2003[2] Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; screened blue compass graphic in the center containing map of the contiguous US with the area of the Louisiana Purchase highlighted; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial 1803-2003" screened in two lines of blue serifed letters centered below numbers ABC 123 KLL 000 to approximately MSN 999 Limited-run plate to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.
2004–05 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in blue italic block letters centered below numbers ABC 123 MSP 000 to approximately NFU 999 Brief return to 1993 base.
February 2005 – 2011 Embossed black numbers on white, yellow and pink gradient plate with border line; screened pelican graphic in the center; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "Sportsman's Paradise" screened in red serifed letters offset to left below numbers ABC 123 NFV 000 to approximately VCS 999 Initial plates featured a larger font for the state name.
January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2012[3] Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line and pale green grass graphic; white pelican within green state icon screened at far left; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "200 YEARS" screened in two lines of black characters centered below numbers; small red banner and black vertical dividing line on either side; left banner contains "1812" and right banner contains "2012" ABC123 VCT000 to approximately WUB999 Limited-run plate to celebrate 200 years of statehood. Pelican and state icon later reduced in size.
January 2013 – 2014 Embossed black numbers on white, yellow and pink gradient plate with border line; screened pelican graphic in the center; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered above numbers "Sportsman's Paradise" screened in red serifed letters offset to left below numbers ABC 123 WUL 000 to approximately XRZ 999 Brief return to 2005 base.
January 2014 – December 2015 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; black bucking horse and rider graphic screened at far left, with "BICENTENNIAL" in black above and, below, "Battle of NEW ORLEANS" in red and "1815-2015" in black; "LOUISIANA" screened in red block letters centered above numbers "www.louisianatravel.com" screened in dark blue block letters centered below numbers ABC123 XSA000 to YPN999 (as of December 10, 2014) Limited-run plate to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.

Non-passenger types

Image Type Design First issued Serial format Notes
Boat trailer White base with embossed blue lettering and border unknown D123456 or K123456[4] "Boat trailer" embossed at top.
Commercial "COMMERCIAL" embossed at bottom. A123456 or N123456[5]
Dealer "DEALER" embossed at bottom. DI12345
Motorcycle "MC" embossed at bottom. 123456
Private Truck "PRIVATE" embossed at bottom. S123456
V123456
W123456, X123456, currently on Y123456 series
"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, now at C123456
Truck "TRUCK" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. 1967 123456
Trailer TRAILER embossed at bottom ? D123456, E123456, L123456

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 0-313-31534-5. Quote from p. 200: "The state of Louisiana began issuing license plates in 1915."
  2. ↑ Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles web site .
  3. ↑ Louisiana Bicentennial Commission web site .
  4. ↑ http://www.licenseplates.cc/highs.php?where=LA
  5. ↑ http://www.licenseplates.cc/highs.php?where=LA

External links