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.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1915	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "LA" and "1915" embossed vertically at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 10500
1916	Embossed white numbers on green plate; stylized "LA" and "16" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 16000
1917	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; stylized "LA" and "17" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 27000
1918	Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "18" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 40000
1919	Embossed black numbers on light green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "19" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 50000
1920	Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; stylized "LA" and "20" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 54000
1921	Embossed black numbers on gray plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "21" embossed at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 79000
1922	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" embossed at left	none	123456	1 to 20000; 100001 to approximately 105000	Separate bases issued for vehicles up to 23 hp and for vehicles above this power; this practice continued until 1930. In all years, the base with low-numbered serials (starting from 1) was issued on the vehicles above 23 hp.^[2]
1922	Embossed maroon numbers on white plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" embossed at left	none	123456	20001 to 100000
1923	Embossed black numbers on gray plate with border line; "LA 23" embossed at left	none	123456	1 to 30000
1923	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "LA 23" embossed at left	none	123456	30001 to approximately 116000
1924	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "LA 24" embossed at right	none	123456	1 to 30000
1924	Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "LA 24" embossed at right	none	123456	30001 to approximately 143000
1925	Embossed red numbers on gray plate with border line; "LA 25" embossed at right	none	123456	1 to 40000
1925	Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; "LA 25" embossed at right	none	123456	40001 to approximately 179000
1926	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1926" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 40-000; 200-001 to approximately 205-000
1926	Embossed maroon numbers on white plate with border line; "LA-1926" embossed in maroon block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	40-001 to 200-000
1927	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "LA-1927" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 50-000
1927	Embossed black numbers on cream plate with border line; "LA-1927" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	50-001 to approximately 224-000
1928	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1928" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 70-000
1928	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "LA-1928" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	70-001 to approximately 232-000
1929	Orange base with embossed black block lettering and border; "LOUISIANA 1929" embossed at bottom and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456		First use of the full state name.
1929	Black base with embossed yellow block lettering and border; "LOUISIANA 1929" embossed at bottom and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456		First use of the full state name.
1930	Green base with embossed yellow block lettering and border; "LOUISIANA-30" embossed at bottom and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456
1931	Black base with embossed white lettering and border; "LOUISIANA–1931" embossed at top and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456
1932	Red base with embossed white block lettering and border and pelican at center; "LOUISIANA" embossed at top, vertical "1932" at right and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123 456		First base to feature a pelican in any form.
1933	Orange base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican at center; "LA–33" embossed at top	none	123 456
1934	Navy base with embossed white lettering and border; "LA" and "34" embossed above and below pelican at center	none	123 456
1935	Black base with embossed yellow lettering and border; "35" and "LA" embossed above and below pelican at center	none	123 456
1936	Orange base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican at center; "LOUISIANA–1936" embossed at top	none	123 456
1937	Red base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican at center; "LOUISIANA–1937" embossed at bottom	none	123 456
1938	Red base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican at center; "LOUISIANA–1938" embossed at top	none	123 456
1939	Black base with embossed golden yellow lettering and border and pelican in center; "LOUISIANA–1939" embossed at bottom	none	123 456
1940	Golden yellow base with embossed black lettering and border and state shape in center; "LOUISIANA–1940" embossed at top	none	123 456
1941	Gray base with embossed black lettering and border and state shape in center; "LOUISIANA–1941" embossed at bottom	none	123 456
1942–43	Red base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican at center; "LOUISIANA–1942" embossed at top	none	123 456		Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944	Yellow base with black lettering and pelican in center; "LOUISIANA - 1944" centered at top	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 380 000	Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to ongoing metal conservation.
1945	Black base with embossed white block lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 45" embossed at top	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 341 000
1946	White base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 46" embossed in black at top	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 337 000
1947	Unpainted metal base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 47" embossed in black at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 356 000
1948	Blue-green base with embossed white block lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 48" embossed in white at top	none	123 456
1949	Yellow base with embossed black block lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 49" embossed in black at bottom	none	123 456
1950	Royal blue base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican decal in center; "19 LOUISIANA 50" embossed in yellow at bottom	none	123 456
1951	Teal base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican in center; "LOUISIANA–1951" embossed in yellow at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 566 000
1952	Green base with embossed white lettering and border and pelican in center; "19 LOUISIANA 52" embossed in white at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 590 000
1953	Teal base with embossed yellow lettering and border and pelican in center; "LOUISIANA-1953" embossed in yellow at bottom	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 638 000
1954	Yellow base with embossed green lettering and border and pelican in center; "LOUISIANA-YAMS" embossed at bottom center between "19" and "54"	none	123 456	1 001 to approximately 700 000
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	As above, but without embossed years	"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 31, 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 2, 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^[3]	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 1, 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	ZPA 000 to ZZZ 999
January 2016 – present	As 2005–11 base	"Sportsman's Paradise" as from 2005–11	123 ABC	000 AAA to 999 BME (as of June 23, 2017)

Non-passenger types

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.
Boat Trailer	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
Motorcycle	Similar to 1993–2001 passenger base; "MC" embossed at bottom	1995	123456
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.
Trailer	As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan	c. 1993	A123456	Rest of E series issued; currently issuing L series.

Optional types

Optional types do not use leading zeros in their serials.

Type	Design	Serial format
American Indian		A/I 1234
Animal Friendly		F/A 1234
Bring Back the Bobwhite		12
Chez Nous Autres	French spelling "Louisiane" printed instead of English spelling "Louisiana"	C/Z 123
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 1964 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

↑ 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."
↑ "Louisiana License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
↑ Louisiana Bicentennial Commission web site .

External links

Vehicle registration plates of the United States
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal district	Washington, D.C.
Insular areas	American Samoa The Marianas Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands
Other registration plates	Native American tribes Designs and serial formats
By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Vehicle registration plates of North America
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States
Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

State of Louisiana
Baton Rouge (capital)
Topics	Index History Music Louisianians Constitution Governors Lieutenant Governors Secretaries of State Attorneys General Legislature Supreme Court Congressional districts Symbols Tourist attractions
Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Media Newspapers Radio TV Politics
Regions	Acadiana Ark-La-Tex Central Louisiana Florida Parishes Greater New Orleans Northwest Louisiana North Louisiana Southwest Louisiana
Cities	Alexandria Baton Rouge Bossier City Hammond Houma Kenner Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe Natchitoches New Iberia New Orleans Opelousas Ponchatoula Ruston Shreveport Slidell Sulphur
CDPs	Chalmette Harvey LaPlace Marrero Metairie Moss Bluff Terrytown
Metros	Alexandria Baton Rouge Hammond Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux Lafayette Lake Charles Monroe New Orleans Shreveport–Bossier City
Parishes	See: List of parishes in Louisiana

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