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. Plates are currently issued by the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. Only rear plates have been required since 1952.[1]

Louisiana

Current series
Slogan	Sportsman's Paradise
Size	12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	123 ABC
Introduced	February 2005 (2005-02) (issued continuously since January 1, 2016)
Availability
Issued by	Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Public Safety Services Office of Motor Vehicles
History
First issued	January 1, 1915 (1915-01-01)

Passenger baseplates

1915 to 1963

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Louisiana license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1915	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "LA" and "1915" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 10500
	1916	Embossed white serial on green plate; stylized "LA" and "16" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 16000
	1917	Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; stylized "LA" and "17" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 27000
	1918	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "18" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 40000
	1919	Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "19" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 50000
	1920	Embossed white serial on maroon plate; stylized "LA" and "20" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 54000
	1921	Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "21" at left	none	12345	1 to approximately 79000
	1922	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" 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 through 1929. In all years, the base with low-numbered serials (starting from 1) was issued on the vehicles above 23 hp.[3]
		Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" at left	none		20001 to 100000
	1923	Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "LA 23" at left	none	123456	1 to 30000
		Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "LA 23" at left	none		30001 to approximately 116000
	1924	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA 24" at right	none	123456	1 to 30000
		Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "LA 24" at right	none		30001 to approximately 143000
	1925	Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; "LA 25" at right	none	123456	1 to 40000
		Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "LA 25" at right	none		40001 to approximately 179000
	1926	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1926" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 40-000; 200-001 to approximately 205-000
		Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; "LA-1926" centered at bottom	none		40-001 to 200-000
	1927	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "LA-1927" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 50-000
		Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "LA-1927" centered at bottom	none		50-001 to approximately 224-000
	1928	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1928" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to 70-000
		Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "LA-1928" centered at bottom	none		70-001 to approximately 232-000
	1929	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1929" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456	1 to 70-000; 234-001 to approximately 268-000	First use of the full state name.
		Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1929" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none		70-001 to 234-000
	1930	Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA-30" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456	1 to approximately 254-000
	1931	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1931" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456	1 to approximately 249-000
	1932	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at top; vertical "1932" at right and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office[3]	First base to feature a pelican in any form.
	1933	Embossed black serial with pelican separator on orange plate with border line; "LA–33" centered at top	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1934	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark blue plate with border line; "LA" and "34" above and below pelican respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1935	Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "35" and "LA" above and below pelican respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1936	Embossed light blue serial with pelican separator on olive green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1936" centered at top	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1937	Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on maroon plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1937" centered at bottom	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1938	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1938" centered at top	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1939	Embossed orange serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1939" centered at bottom	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1940	Embossed dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on orange plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1940" centered at top	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office
	1941	Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1941" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 406-000
	1942–43	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1942" centered at top	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 384-000	Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944	Black serial with pelican separator on yellow fiberboard plate; "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	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 45" at top	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 341-000
	1946	Embossed black serial with pelican separator on white plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 46" at top	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 337-000
	1947	Embossed black serial with pelican separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 47" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 356-000
	1948	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 48" at top	none	123-456	1-001 to 380-000; 400-001 to approximately 410-000
	1949	Embossed black serial with pelican separator on yellow plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 49" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to 380-000; 435-001 to approximately 485-000
	1950	Embossed yellow serial on royal blue plate with border line; pelican decal used as separator; "19 LOUISIANA 50" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to 490-000; 550-001 to approximately 615-000
	1951	Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1951" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 566-000
	1952	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 52" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 590-000
	1953	Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA-1953" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 638-000
	1954	Embossed blue serial with pelican separator on beige plate with border line; "19" at bottom left and "54" at bottom right	"LOUISIANA-YAMS" centered at bottom	123-456	1-001 to approximately 700-000
	1955	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1955" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 740-000	First 6" x 12" plate.
	1956	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 56" at top	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 801-000
	1957	Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1957" at bottom	none	123-456	1-001 to approximately 865-000
	1958	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 58" at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top	123-456	1-001 to approximately 880-000
	1959	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark blue plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 59" at top	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at bottom	123-456	1-001 to approximately 910-000
	1960	Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 60" at bottom	"LSU CENTENNIAL" at top	123-456	1-001 to approximately 934-000
	1961	Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 61" at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top	123-456	1-001 to approximately 948-000
	1962	Embossed white serial with pelican separator on brown plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 62" at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" 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 serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 63" at bottom	"SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top	123-456 1234567	1-001 to approximately 1036000	Last base to feature the embossed pelican.

1964 to present

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1964–65	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "64 LOUISIANA 65" at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1966–67	Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "66 LOUISIANA 67" at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1968–69	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "68 LOUISIANA 69" at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1970–71	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "70 LOUISIANA 71" at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1972–73	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "72 LOUISIANA 73" at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1974–75	Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at bottom; "74" at top left and "75" at top right	"BAYOU STATE" centered at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1976–77	As above, but without years
	1978–83		"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top
	1983–84	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; logo of the 1984 World's Fair screened at bottom left; "Louisiana" screened in blue centered at top	"World's Fair" screened in blue centered at bottom	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1984–89	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1989–93	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; screened dark blue graphics of mother pelicans with chicks at top corners; "LoUiSiAna" screened in red and dark blue (the 'U', 'S' and 'A' in dark blue) centered at bottom	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in red centered at top	123A456	Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue
	1993 – December 31, 2001	Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate, with or without border line; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top	"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in blue 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 U.S. with the area of the Louisiana Purchase highlighted	"Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial 1803-2003" (in two lines) screened in blue centered at bottom	ABC 123	KLL 000 to approximately MSN 999	Limited-run plate to commemorate 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 serial 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 at bottom, offset to left	ABC 123	NFV 000 to approximately VCS 999	Initial plates featured a larger font for the state name. 'Q' and 'U' series of serials not used.[3]
	January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2012[4]	Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with pale green grass graphic and black border line; white pelican within green state shape screened at left; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top	"200 YEARS" screened in black centered at bottom, with "1812" and "2012" on small red banners at left and right respectively	ABC123	VCT000 to approximately WUG999	Limited-run plate to commemorate 200 years of statehood. Pelican and state shape 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 serial on reflective white plate with border line; logo of the Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial Commission (featuring a bucking horse and rider) screened at left; "LOUISIANA" screened in red centered at top	"www.louisianatravel.com" screened in dark blue centered at bottom	ABC123	XSA000 to approximately ZPC999	Limited-run plate to commemorate 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	ZPD 000 to ZZZ 999
				123 ABC	000 AAA to 327 DXC (as of March 16, 2020)

Non-passenger plates

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 plates

Optional plates 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
	Chez Nous Autres[5] "our home" in Cajun	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

1. Shearer, Benjamin F.; Shearer, Barbara S. (2001). State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide (3rd ed.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. 200. ISBN 0-313-31534-5.
2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
3. Tanner, Eric N. "Louisiana License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
4. Louisiana Bicentennial Commission web site .
5. https://lifeinthefrenchalps.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/french-license-plates-for-louisianians/

External links

• Louisiana license plates 1969-present
• Louisiana License Plates