Vehicle registration plates of Mississippi

The U.S. state of Mississippi first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912. Since then, the state has gone through a variety of license plate designs and currently has several different designs for passenger, non-passenger, and optional-issue plates.

Passenger plates 1912 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 Mississippi license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1914–18 White with embossed navy lettering and rim. "MISS" stamped vertically to right of registration number. 12345
1919 Dark green with embossed sea green lettering and rim. "1919" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 12345
1920 Brown with embossed white lettering and rim. "1920" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 12345
1921 White with embossed red lettering and rim. "1921" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 12345
1923 Black with embossed yellow lettering and rim. "1923" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 12345
1924 Blue with embossed white lettering and rim. "1924" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 12345
1925 Yellow with embossed black lettering and rim. "1925" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 123-456
1926 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. "1926" stamped vertically to left of registration number, "MISS" stamped vertically to right. 123-456
1931 Orange with embossed white lettering and rim. "MISS 1931" located below registration number. 123-456
1932 Black with embossed yellow lettering and rim. "MISS - 1932" located below registration number. 123-456
1933 Green with embossed white lettering and rim. "MISS." located above registration number. Locking tab at top incused with white vehicle class letter and "33" for date. 123-456
1935 Black with embossed orange lettering and rim. Locking tab at top for date. 123-456
1936 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. Locking tab at top for date. 123-456
1937 Dark green with embossed white lettering and rim. "MISS." stamped at top center of plate, "37" at top right. Passenger plates stamped with "A" at top left. 123-456
1938 Dark blue with embossed white lettering and rim. "MISS." stamped at top center of plate, "38" at top right. Passenger plates stamped with "A" at top left. 123-456
1939 Yellow with embossed black lettering and rim. "MISS." stamped at top center of plate, "19" at top left and "39" at top right. 123-456
1940 Black with embossed yellow lettering and rim. 123-456
1941 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. The county name is stamped at the top left of the plate, the letters "MISS" arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1942 Blue with embossed yellow lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1943 Black with embossed orange lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456 Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1943 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint.
1944 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456 Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1944 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint.
1945 Black with embossed yellow lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456 Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1945 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint.
1946 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1947 Black with embossed yellow lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1948 Black with embossed white lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1949 Black with embossed orange lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1950 Yellow with embossed black lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number. 123-456
1951 Black with embossed yellow lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1952 Green with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1953 White with embossed maroon lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1954 Black with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1955 Blue with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1956 Black with embossed yellow lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1957 Green with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1958 Orange with embossed black lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1959 White with embossed green lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1960 White with embossed red lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1961 White with embossed black lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. 123-456
1962 White with embossed maroon lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1963 White with embossed blue lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1964 White with embossed red lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1965 Blue with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1966 White with embossed blue lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1967 Black with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1968 Beige with embossed black lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1969 Brown with embossed white lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1970 White with embossed dark blue lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1971 White with embossed dark green lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1972 White with embossed light green lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1973 White with embossed red lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate.
1974 White with embossed blue lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. Coded by weight:
1975 White with embossed red lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. Coded by weight:
  • ABC 123
  • 123 ABC in Hinds, Harrison, Jackson, Washington, and Lauderdale Counties
1976 White with embossed maroon lettering and trim. The county name was stamped on the bottom of the license plate. Coded by weight:
  • ABC 123
  • 123 ABC in Hinds, Harrison, Jackson, Washington, and Lauderdale Counties
1977–83 For the first time, Mississippi began to use graphic designs on its license plates, introducing a magnolia blossom (the state flower and tree) set into the middle of the plate with the words "The Hospitality State" over it, with the state name in all light blue capital letters screened on the top and the county name in red letters on the bottom. The state also began to use stickers to redeem the vehicle registration until the state went to a new design. The entire plate was surrounded by an embossed red rim, and the registration was also embossed. ABC 123 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1977 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Mississippi was so honored.
1983–92 Introduced the "Mississippi" script with the familiar large-serifed "S". It was colored dark red on a white background, with dark blue embossed lettering for the registration letters. The county name was retained at the bottom of the plate, as were the registration stickers in the bottom corners of the plate. ABC 123
1ABC123
1992–97 Kept the script "Mississippi" in dark blue, but set it against a background of sky blue at the top fading into white at the bottom. All other lettering was embossed onto the plate in blue as well. ABC 123 Issued in letter blocks by county. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1992 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Mississippi was so honored.
1997–2002 Kept the script "Mississippi", but in green. It also set the script against a background of yellow, white and green, with a magnolia blossom of the same three colors set in the middle of the design. The county lettering at the bottom was also embossed in green. ABC 123 Issued in letter blocks by county.
2002 – October 2007 Retained the script "Mississippi" design in use since the 1980s, and set it in dark green against a background of trees and water, which represent the large wooded areas of the state and the location of Mississippi on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. Like the preceding issue, it also displayed a magnolia in the center of the license plate, visible between the "123 ABC" registration scheme of numbers and letters. The registration and the county name were embossed in dark green. 123 ABC Issued in letter blocks by county.
October 2007 – 2012 Featuring an image of the Biloxi Light at the center of the plate, on a multicolored background depicting a yellow sunrise behind the lighthouse. ABC 123 Issued in letter blocks by county. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2007 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Mississippi was so honored.
October 2012 – 2017 Featuring an image of a guitar with the words "Celebrating Mississippi's Creative Culture", white background with blue lines from the bottom of the plate. Banner at the top reads "Birthplace of America's Music". State name printed at the top in blue, county name stamped at the bottom. Continues use of the classic "Mississippi" design that has been in use since the 1980s. ABC 123[1] Issued in letter blocks by county.

County coding

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
County Letter blocks beginning with
1982 base 1987 base 1992 base 1997 base 2002 base 2007 base
Adams AD AD-AE
Alcorn AH
Amite AM AM-AN
Chickasaw BX CH
Coahoma CM
DeSoto DA-DH DA-DH
Grenada GN
Hancock EJ KA
Harrison PE-PN HR-HX HA-HI
Hinds NS
Issaquena IS
Jackson JI-JM JG-JI
Jones JW
Lafayette LX-LZ LX-LZ
Lamar LL LL
Lauderdale KT-KV KK LD LA-LB-LC
Lincoln LI-LJ LI-LP
Madison BK MC MA-MD
Marshall MQ-MR
Oktibbeha OK OK PD PD GA KT
Panola PH PA (Batesville), PC (Sardis)
Pearl River PR
Pike PK-PL PK-PL
Quitman RJ QT QT
Rankin EL RA RA-RB
Rental car WR WR
Scott SB
Tallahatchie TL
Tate CN-CP TA-TB TA-TB
Tippah TP TP
Tishomingo TS
Tunica TN
Yalobusha YL
Yazoo AA

Notice: In order to fight people who put tag stickers on older tags or other cars beginning January 2011 and forward all tag sticker numbers will be the tag number. This prevents people from putting the stickers on their other cars. There is a $ 1,000.00 fine to anyone who does put the Tag sticker on the wrong car.

Non-passenger types

Image Type First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Disabled Person DB A1234

Optional types

Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Mississippi University for Women 12W34

References

External links