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 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Louisiana license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1954 (dated 1955) and 1955 (dated 1956) issues were both six inches in height by twelve inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1915	Navy base with embossed white block lettering. "LA" to left of registration; "19" embossed at right.		123456
	1919	Lime green base with embossed black block lettering and border. Stylized "LA 19" embossed at left.		123456
	1928	Off-white base with embossed black block lettering and border. "LA - 1928" embossed at bottom.		123456
	1930	Green base with embossed yellow block lettering and border. "FRONT" and "REAR" embossed at left.		123 456
	1931	Black base with embossed white lettering and border. "FRONT" and "REAR" embossed at left.		123 456
	1933	Orange base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican at center.		123 456
	1934	Navy base with embossed white lettering and border. "LA" and "35" embossed above and below pelican at center.		123 456
	1935	Black base with embossed yellow lettering and border. "LA" and "35" embossed above and below pelican at center.		123 456
	1936	Orange base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican at center.		123 456
	1939	Black base with embossed golden yellow lettering and border and pelican in center.		123 456
	1940	Golden yellow base with embossed black lettering and border and map of Louisiana in center.		123 456
	1941	Gray base with embossed black lettering and border and shape of state of Louisiana in center.		123 456
	1944	Yellow base with black lettering and pelican in center.		123 456		Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1945	Black base with embossed white block lettering and border and pelican in center. "19 Louisiana 45" embossed at top.		123 456
	1946	White base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center. "19 Louisiana 46" embossed in black at top.		123 456
	1947	Unpainted metal base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center. "19 Louisiana 47" embossed in black at bottom.		123 456
	1950	Royal blue base with embossed yellow lettering and border with pelican decal in center. "19 Louisiana 50" embossed in yellow at bottom.		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
	1954	Yellow base with embossed green lettering and border and pelican in center. "LOUISIANA-YAMS" embossed at bottom center between "19" and "54."		123 456
	1955	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "LOUISIANA 1955" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 740 000
	1956	Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 56" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 801 000
	1957	Embossed golden yellow numbers on purple plate with border line; embossed golden yellow pelican in the center; "LOUISIANA 1957" embossed in golden yellow block letters at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 865 000
	1958	Embossed white numbers on red plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 58" embossed in wide white block letters at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	123 456	1 001 to approximately 880 000
	1959	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 59" embossed in wide white block letters at top	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at bottom	123 456	1 001 to approximately 910 000
	1960	Embossed golden yellow numbers on purple plate with border line; embossed golden yellow pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 60" embossed in wide golden yellow block letters at bottom	"LSU CENTENNIAL" embossed in wide golden yellow block letters at top	123 456	1 001 to approximately 934 000
	1961	Embossed golden yellow numbers on dark green plate with border line; embossed golden yellow pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 61" embossed in wide golden yellow block letters at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow golden yellow block letters at top	123 456	1 001 to approximately 948 000
	1962	Embossed white numbers on brown plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 62" embossed in wide white block letters at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	123 456 1234567	1 001 to approximately 1006000	Plates with seven-digit serials omitted the pelican. This occurred again in 1963.
	1963	Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; embossed white pelican in the center; "19 LOUISIANA 63" embossed in wide white block letters at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	123 456 1234567	1 001 to approximately 1036000	Last base to feature the embossed pelican.
	1964–65	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom; "64" embossed in bottom left corner and "65" in bottom right corner	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1966–67	Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom; "66" embossed in bottom left corner and "67" in bottom right corner	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1968–69	Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide green block letters centered at bottom; "68" embossed in bottom left corner and "69" in bottom right corner	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow green block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1970–71	Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide red block letters centered at bottom; "70" embossed in bottom left corner and "71" in bottom right corner	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow red block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1972–73	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide blue block letters centered at bottom; "72" embossed in bottom left corner and "73" in bottom right corner	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow blue block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1974–75	Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide black block letters centered at bottom; "74" embossed in top left corner and "75" in top right corner	"BAYOU STATE" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1976–77	As above, but without embossed years
	1978–83		"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow black block letters at top
	1983–84	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; logo of the 1984 World's Fair screened in bottom left corner; "Louisiana" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top	"World's Fair" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1984–89	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1989–93	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective 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 at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in red italic block letters centered at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1993 – December 2001	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate, with or without border line; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in blue italic block letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	AAA 000 to approximately KLK 999	Known as the "Lipstick" base. All 1974–93 plates were replaced with this design during 1995–96.
	January 1, 2002 – July 2004	As 1993–2001 base, but with a screened blue compass graphic in the center containing a map of the contiguous US with the area of the Louisiana Purchase highlighted	"Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial 1803-2003" screened in two lines of blue serifed letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	KLL 000 to approximately MSN 999	Limited-run plate to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase.
	July 2004 – February 2005	As 1993–2001 base	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" as from 1993–2001	ABC 123	MSP 000 to approximately NFU 999
	February 2005 – January 2011	Embossed black numbers on reflective white, yellow and pink gradient plate with black border line; screened pelican graphic in the center; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top	"Sportsman's Paradise" screened in red serifed letters at bottom, offset to left	ABC 123	NFV 000 to approximately VCS 999	Initial plates featured a larger font for the state name.
	January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2012[2]	Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with pale green grass graphic and black border line; white pelican within green state icon screened at far left; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top	"200 YEARS" screened in two lines of black characters centered at bottom; small red banner and black vertical dividing line on either side; left banner contains "1812" and right banner contains "2012"	ABC123	VCT000 to approximately WUG999	Limited-run plate to celebrate 200 years of statehood. Pelican and state icon later reduced in size.
	January 2013 – January 2014	As 2005–11 base	"Sportsman's Paradise" as from 2005–11	ABC 123	WUH 000 to approximately XRZ 999
	January 2014 – December 2015	Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; logo of the Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial Commission (featuring a bucking horse and rider) screened at far left; "LOUISIANA" screened in red block letters centered at top	"www.louisianatravel.com" screened in dark blue block letters centered at bottom	ABC123	XSA000 to approximately ZOZ999	Limited-run plate to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.
	January 2016 – present	As 2005–11 base	"Sportsman's Paradise" as from 2005–11	ABC 123	ZVA 001 to ZWP 999 (as of February 10, 2016)

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	Design	First issued	Serial format	Notes
	Boat Trailer	Embossed blue on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "BOAT TRAILER" at top	unknown	D123456	Likely to have begun at D500000.
		As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "BOAT TRAILER" in place of slogan	c. 1993	D123456 K123456
	Commercial	As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "COMMERCIAL" in place of slogan	c. 1993	A123456 N123456
	Dealer	As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "DEALER" in place of slogan		DI12345
	Motorcycle	Embossed red on white with border line; "LA." at bottom; "MOTORCYCLE" at top	1983	123456
		Similar to 1993–2001 passenger base; "MC" embossed at bottom	1995
	Private Truck	Embossed green on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "PRIVATE" at top	1978	A123456	T, R and part of S series issued.
		As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "PRIVATE" in place of slogan	c. 1993		Rest of S series issued, followed by V and part of W.
		As 1993–2001 passenger base, with screened "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" slogan	c. 2004		Rest of W series issued, followed by X; currently issuing Y series.
	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	Embossed red on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "TRAILER" at top	mid 1980s	A123456	D series issued up to D499999 (higher numbers reserved for Boat Trailer), followed by part of E series.
		As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan	c. 1993		Rest of E series issued; currently issuing L series.

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.

References

External links

• Louisiana license plates 1969-present
• Louisiana License Plates

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