Vehicle registration plates of North Dakota

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

Passenger baseplates 1911 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 North Dakota license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1911 Yellow lettering on black base "none" 1234 unknown
1912 Red lettering on white base "none" 1234 unknown
1913 Black lettering on white base "none" 12345 unknown
1914 Blue lettering on yellow base "none" 12345 unknown
1915 Blue lettering on white base "none" 12345 unknown
1916 Yellow lettering on black base "none" 1234 unknown
1917 Blue lettering on white base "none" 12-345 unknown
1918 Red lettering on yellow base "none" 12345 unknown
1919 Olive green lettering on brown base "none" 12345 unknown
1920 Orange lettering on green base "none" 12345 unknown
1921 White lettering on blue base "none" 12345 unknown
1922 Black lettering on yellow base "none" 12-345 unknown
1923 White lettering on green base "none" 12-345 unknown
1924 Black lettering on white base "none" 12-345 unknown
1933 White lettering and border embossed on green base none 123-456 unknown
1956 Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 56" embossed in blue block letters above numbers "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in blue block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 208-000
1957 Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 57" embossed in white block letters above numbers "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in white block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 213-000
1958–61 Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 58" embossed in green block letters above numbers "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in green block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 316-000
1962–65 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" embossed in black block letters offset to left above numbers; "62" embossed in top right corner "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in black block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 355-000
1966–69 Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" embossed in red block letters offset to left above numbers; "66" embossed in top right corner "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in red block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 378-000
1970–73 Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" embossed in blue block letters offset to left above numbers; "70" embossed in top right corner "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in blue block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 416-000
1974–79 Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" embossed in green block letters offset to left above numbers; "74" embossed in top right corner "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in green block letters below numbers 123-456 000-001 to approximately 580-000
1980–82 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers; "80" embossed in top right corner "PEACE GARDEN STATE" embossed in black block letters below numbers ABC 123 AAA 000 to AVP 999
1982–88 As above, but without embossed year in top right corner AVR 000 to approximately AZM 999 Issued concurrently with the Theodore Roosevelt base (below) from 1984.
1984–88 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; blue, white and red graphic featuring Theodore Roosevelt screened at far left; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in blue serifed letters centered below numbers "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in red serifed letters centered above numbers AB123 AA000 to approximately KS999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time North Dakota was so honored. Co-recipient with Nevada.
1989–93 Embossed black numbers on light blue, white and light orange gradient plate; long black bar with "NORTH DAKOTA" in white serifed letters centered below numbers, with "1889" to the left and "1989" to the right Short black bar with "CENTENNIAL" in white serifed letters centered above numbers; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in black block letters centered above short black bar ABC 123
ND 1234		 BAA 000 to approximately CNP 999
1993–present Embossed black numbers on prairie scene with gradient light blue sky, grey mountains and yellow grass; bison in bottom left corner and three wheat stalks in bottom right corner; "NORTH DAKOTA" in white block letters with heavy black outline, centered below numbers "Discover the Spirit" screened in white stylized letters centered above numbers; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in brown block letters centered below state name ABC 123
ND 1234		 DAA 000 to KLK 999 (as of January 12, 2015) Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1993 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time North Dakota was so honored.

Non-passenger types

Image Type Dates issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Motorcycle 1988–94 Embossed black numbers on beige plate; "ND" embossed in top left corner, "88" in top right corner and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom L12345
(variable number of digits)		 L1 to approximately L35000
1994–2010 Embossed black numbers on light blue plate; "ND" embossed in top left corner and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom M12345
(variable number of digits)		 M1 to approximately M93000
2010–present Embossed black numbers on graphic plate similar to current passenger base; "ND" screened in top left corner and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom M12345 M93001 to M99999
12345M
(variable number of digits)		 1M to present

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