Vehicle registration plates of Minnesota

The U.S. state of Minnesota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1909.

Passenger plates 1909 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 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Minnesota license plate that complied with these standards.

Since 1989, Minnesota law has required license plates to be replaced every seven years, due to deterioration of the reflective material.^[1]

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1909	Silver numbers on orange plate; vertical "MINN" and "1909" in silver at left and right respectively	none	1234	1 to approximately 7000
	1910	Gold numbers on black plate; vertical "MINN" and "1910" in gold at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 12000
	1911	White numbers on dark blue porcelain plate; vertical "MINN" and "1911" in white at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 20000
	1912–14	Black numbers on silver plate; vertical "MINN" in black at left and "1912", "1913" and "1914" at right	none	12345	1 to approximately 67000
	1915–16	Red numbers on silver plate; vertical "MINNESOTA" at left and "1915", "1916" and "1917" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 139000
	1917	As above, but with vertical "MINN" in red at left			139001 to approximately 191000
	1918–20	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at left and "1918", "1919" and "1920" embossed at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 325000
	1920	As above, but with only "1920" embossed at right			325001 to approximately 333000
	1921	Embossed black numbers on sky blue plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "21" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A142-000	Weight classes introduced, with A used for vehicles weighing 2,000 lb or less, and B for vehicles above 2,000 lb. This practice continued until 1940.
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B160-000
	1922	Embossed black numbers on off-white plate; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "22" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A176-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B175-000
	1923	Embossed brown numbers on gray plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in brown at right; "23" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A224-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B173-000
	1924	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at left; "24" embossed in bottom right corner	none	123-456A	1A to approximately 242-000A
				123-456B	1B to approximately 222-000B
	1925	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "25" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A268-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B256-000
	1926	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at right; "26" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A249-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B302-000
	1927	Embossed light green numbers on dark green plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in light green at right; "27" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A258-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B293-000
	1928	Embossed black numbers on tan plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "28" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A243-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B326-000
	1929	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at right; "29" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A245-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B379-000
	1930	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "30" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A196-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B428-000
	1931	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at right; "31" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A130-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B453-000
	1932	Embossed golden yellow numbers on maroon plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in golden yellow at right; "32" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A111-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B457-000
	1933	As 1930 base, but with "33" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A94-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B475-000
	1934	As 1931 base, but with "34" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A89-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B499-000
	1935	As 1932 base, but with "35" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A72-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B545-000
	1936	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in white at right; "36" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A58-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B612-000
	1937	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "37" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A40-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B664-000
	1938	Embossed silver numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in silver at right; "38" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A25-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B674-000
	1939	Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "MINN" embossed vertically in black at right; "39" embossed in bottom left corner	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A15-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B696-000
	1940	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN - 1940" or "MINNESOTA 1940" (see right) embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 734-000	The abbreviated state name was embossed on plates with serials of up to four digits (1 through 9999), and the full state name on plates with five- or six-digit serials. This practice continued until 1949.
	1941	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINN - 1941" or "MINNESOTA 1941" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 763-000
	1942–43	Embossed red numbers on cream plate with border line; "MINN - 1942" or "MINNESOTA 1942" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 748-000	Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944	Embossed white numbers on navy blue plate with border line; "MINN - 1944" or "MINNESOTA 1944" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 641-000
	1945	As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1945" or "MINNESOTA 1945" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 633-000
	1946	As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1946" or "MINNESOTA 1946" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 660-000
	1947	As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1947" or "MINNESOTA 1947" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 717-000
	1948	As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1948" or "MINNESOTA 1948" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 801-000
	1949	Embossed black numbers on waffle-textured silver plate; "MINNESOTA" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at top	"CENTENNIAL" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom, with "1849" to the left and "1949" to the right	123-456	1 to approximately 871-000	Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Minnesota Territory.
	1950	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "50" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in white block letters centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 962-000
	1951	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "51" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in black block letters centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-005-000
	1952	Embossed blue numbers on gold plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "52" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 994-000
	1953	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "53" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in white block letters centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-040-000
	1954	Embossed blue numbers on cream plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "54" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-075-000
	1955	Embossed yellow numbers on maroon plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "55" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top	AA 1234	First letter corresponds to congressional district of issue	First 6" x 12" plate. Letters A, B, C, E, F, G, H, J and K were used to indicate the nine congressional districts of the time, in that order.
				LA 1234 MA 1234	LA 1000 to approximately MD 9999	Mail-order issues.
	1956–57	Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "56" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top	1A 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1957 with gold tabs.
				MA 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1958–59	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "58" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top	1A 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1959 with green tabs.
				MA 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1960–61	Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "60" in bottom right corner	Embossed black bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white	1A 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
				MA 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1962–64	Embossed maroon numbers on reflective white plate with border line; embossed maroon bar centered at bottom containing debossed "MINNESOTA" in white; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "62" in bottom right corner	Embossed maroon bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white	1A 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1963 with green tabs, and for 1964 with yellow tabs.
				MA 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1965–67	Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "65" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top	1AB 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1966 and 1967 with stickers.
				MAB 123	MAA 100 to approximately MLC 999	Mail-order issues.
	1968–70	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; embossed blue bar centered at bottom containing debossed "MINNESOTA" in white; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "68" in bottom right corner	Embossed blue bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white	1AB 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1969 and 1970 with stickers.
				MAB 123	MAA 100 to approximately MNN 999	Mail-order issues.
	1971–73	Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "71" in bottom right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top	1AB 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1972 and 1973 with stickers.
				MAB 123	MAA 100 to approximately MPA 999	Mail-order issues.
	1974–77	Embossed orange numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in orange block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "74" in top right corner	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in orange block letters centered at top	AB 1234	AA 1000 to approximately PW 3999
	1977	Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top	"10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	AAA 001 to CGZ 999
	1978–82	Embossed blue numbers on reflective graphic plate featuring a lake scene with pale blue and white water, pale blue sky, green island and trees, and a small green canoe; "Minnesota" screened in light blue serifed letters centered at top	"10,000 lakes" screened in light blue serifed letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	CHA 001 to approximately FOR 999
	1982–87			ABC-123; state icon used as dash	LAA-001 to approximately RME-999
	1987–93	As 1978–87 base, but with darker colors	"EXPLORE" screened in blue serifed letters to left of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota"; "10,000 lakes" screened in same letters centered at bottom	123-ABC; state icon used as dash	001-AAA to approximately 999-HZK	Replaced all 1977–87 plates.
	1993–97				001-HZL to approximately 999-PYW	White section of water now fades into the light blue band at the bottom containing the "10,000 lakes" slogan.
	1997–2000			ABC-123; state icon used as dash	AAA-001 to DBZ-999	Material changed from steel to aluminum.
	2000 – June 2008				DCA-001 to XZZ-999; SAA-001 to SZZ-999	White section of water increased in size; fade to light blue at bottom now occurs behind the "10,000 lakes" slogan. W, Y and Z not used as first letters in serials; S issued after X.
	June 2008 – June 2009	As 1987–2008 base, but with screened black numbers and state name in a different serifed font	"EXPLORE" and "10,000 lakes" as on 1987–2008 base, but in a different serifed font	123-ABC; dark blue state icon used as dash	001-AAA to 999-XMU (as of July 31, 2017)	Serials with B as the first letter reserved for mail-order issues. F and S not used as first letters.
	June 2009 – present		As before but with ".com" added to right of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota.com"

References

External links

• Minnesota license plates 1969-present