Vehicle registration plates of Alabama

The U.S. state of Alabama has issued license plates for motorized vehicles operated on state highways since 1911. Some Alabama municipalities issued their own license plates for horse-drawn vehicles as well as motorcars prior to that date, with the earliest known/surviving example being a bronze plate, "No. 1", issued by the city of Bessemer in 1901 for a two-horse dray. The earliest known surviving automobile plate is a 1906 dash plate issued by the city of Birmingham originally assigned to a 1904 6-cylinder Ford.[1]

The law establishing state-issued plates that began to be issued in 1911 for the year 1912 provided that they would be 4 and one half inches wide by no more than 12 inches long, with the letters "ALA" running vertically on the left and 3" tall numerals with 1/2" strokes. Plate #1 was issued to the Leak Funeral Home in Montgomery.[1]

In 1916 Alabama switched from porcelain to stamped tin plates. Beginning in 1917 the issue year was stamped onto the plate, and in 1919 the size of the plates was increased to 6" x 15". In 1922 a code for the vehicles weight class was added to the plates and Kilby Prison near Montgomery took charge of all manufacture in 1928.[1]

In 1942 Alabama began using a code for each county, assigning numbers 1, 2, and 3 to the most populous Jefferson, Mobile, and Montgomery counties, respectively and numbering the rest in alphabetical order. Due to metal shortages during World War II, the state issued window decals only in 1943. A 1951 law added a heart shape and the phrase "Heart of Dixie" to the state's license plates, adopting a slogan created by the Alabama Chamber of Commerce. The law has never been repealed, and the motif still appears (although usually very small) on all standard-issue plates.[1]

Until 1952, vehicle license fees were calculated by weight, with the letters A, B, C, or D corresponding to different weight classifications.[2]

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized 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.

Since 1980, Alabama has used a staggered registration system based on the first letter of the registrant's last name. Registrations expire January through November, with fleet, leased, and commercial vehicles expiring in November.[1][3]

Passenger plates 1911 to 1954

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1911 white on blue porcelain none 12345
1912 black on orange porcelain none 12345
1913 black on white porcelain none 12345
1914 white on green porcelain none 12345
1915 black on yellow none 12345
1916 red on white with embossed "1917" none 12345 First dated plate.
1917 blue on white with embossed "1918" none 12345
1918 white on green with embossed "19" none 12345
1919 black on white with embossed "20" none 12345
1920 red on white with embossed "21" none 12345
1921 black on yellow with embossed "22" none A-12345
1922 white on blue with embossed "23" none A-12345
1923 brown on yellow with embossed "1924" none A-123-456
1924 white on red with embossed "1925" none A-123-456
1925 white on green with embossed "1926" none A-123-456
1926 white on black with embossed "1927" none A-123-456 First plate with the full state name.
1927 black on yellow with embossed "28" none 123-456A
1928 yellow on black with embossed "29" none 123-456A
1929 white on red with embossed "30" none 123-456A
1930 yellow on green with embossed "31" none A123-456
1931 black on white with embossed "32" none 123-456A
1932 white on light blue with embossed "33" none 123-456A
1933 black on yellow with embossed "34" none 123-456A
1934 white on green with embossed "35" none 123-456A
1935 red on white with embossed "36" none 123-456A

1936 blue on white with embossed "37" none 123-456A Separate front and rear plates.
1937 red on blue with embossed "38" none 123-456A
1938 black on white with embossed "39" none A123-456
1939 yellow on black with embossed "40" none 123-456A
1940 black on yellow with embossed "1941" none A 123-456
1941–42 yellow on black with embossed "1942" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A) First use of county codes. Revalidated for second year with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.[4]
1943 black on yellow with embossed "1944" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1944 yellow on black with embossed "1945" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1945 white on black with embossed "1946" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1946 black on white with embossed "1947" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1947 yellow on black with embossed "1948" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1948 black on yellow with embossed "49" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1949 yellow on black with embossed "50" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1950 black on yellow with embossed "51" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1951 white on blue with embossed "52" none 0A12·345
00A1·234
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) and weight class (A)
1952 blue on white with embossed "53" none 0-123·456
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1953 white on blue with embossed "54" none 0-123·456
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1954 white on green with embossed "55"; heart shape around county code Heart of Dixie 0 12·345
1A 12·345
00 12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) First plate with the "Heart of Dixie" slogan. One-letter serial format used in Jefferson County after 1 99·999 was reached; this occurred on each subsequent plate until 1976, with Mobile County following suit from 1960.

Passenger plates 1955 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 all their passenger vehicle plates at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Alabama license plate that complied with these standards.

From 1955 to 1975, with the exception of 1974, the standard plate design did not change except for colors. All plates had embossed serial numbers, state name, two-digit registration year, heart logo and HEART OF DIXIE, and border in one color, with the base of the plate in another color. On all plates except 1973 and 1975, the heart was in the bottom left corner, with the registration year in the bottom right; 1973 and 1975 switched these two positions. HEART OF DIXIE was always above the numbers, and ALABAMA was always below, in slightly larger print than HEART OF DIXIE. Eight different color combinations in fifteen different variations were used; of those, only three combinations (1964, 1966, and 1971) were used only once. The colors of the University of Alabama and Auburn University, the state's two biggest schools and rivals, were used in back-to-back years, 1963 and 1964.

Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1955 black on yellow with embossed "56" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
1A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) First 6" x 12" plate.
1956 yellow on black with embossed "57" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
1A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1957 white on blue with embossed "58" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
1A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1958 blue on white with embossed "59" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
1A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1959 white on blue with embossed "60" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
1A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1960 white on black with embossed "61" Heart of Dixie 0-12·345
0A-12·345
00-12·345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1961 white on green with embossed "62" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1962 reflective white on blue with embossed "63" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1963 reflective white on red with embossed "64" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1964 reflective orange on blue with embossed "65" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1965 reflective white on black with embossed "66" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1966 reflective yellow on blue with embossed "67" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1967 reflective white on red with embossed "68" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1968 green on reflective white with embossed "69" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1969 blue on reflective white with embossed "70" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1970 black on reflective yellow with embossed "71" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1971 black on reflective mint green with embossed "72" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1972 red on reflective white with embossed "73" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1973 black on reflective white with embossed "74" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1974 black on reflective yellow with embossed "75" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
1975 blue on reflective white with embossed "76" Heart of Dixie 0-12345
0A-12345
00-12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
late 1976 Dark blue embossed digits on reflective white; red Alabama State Capitol graphic in lower center; blue "ALABAMA" in serifed letters centered at top; blue rectangle centered at bottom "Heart of Dixie" in white letters on red heart at the upper left corner ABC 123 AAA 001 to approximately HDZ 999 Early plates carried the county of issuance on a sticker over the blue rectangle. Later plates used taller dies.
1982 Red embossed digits on reflective white; "Alabama" in dark blue plain font centered at top "Heart of Dixie" in white letters on dark blue heart at upper left corner 0A 12345
00A 1234
47 12345
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) All-numeric serials issued in Madison County after 47Z 9999 was reached.
late 1987 Blue embossed digits on reflective white; red stylized "Alabama" at bottom center; two red hearts in upper corners, with two thin red lines at top of plate "HEART OF DIXIE" in plain wide red letters centered between red lines at top 0AB 1234
00AB 123
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
January 1993 Dark blue embossed digits on reflective white; blue stylized "ALABAMA" with elongated outer trunks of 'A's meeting thick blue line extending out to edges "Heart of Dixie" in red serifed letters below state name, with red heart outline around the "of" 0ABC123
00ABC12
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
January 1997 Black embossed digits on white plate with pale blue fade to top and pale red fade at bottom; stylized red "Alabama" with white and red shadow down and to left, centered at bottom of plate "Heart of Dixie" in blue cursive with white and blue shadow at top of plate, with red heart behind the "of" 0AB1234
00AB123
47ABC12
47A1B23
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) Three-letter and letter-number-letter serial formats used in Madison County after 47ZZ999 was reached.
January 2002[5] Red embossed digits on reflective white; red stylized "Alabama" centered at bottom; blue bar with white falling stars screened at top "Stars Fell On" in white serifed letters centered on blue bar; "HEART OF DIXIE" in white letters within red heart above the last 'A' in the state name 0A1234B
00A123B
47A1B2C
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00) Alternating letter-number serial format used in Madison County after 47Z999Z was reached. Plates from early 2008 onwards had the serial screened rather than embossed.
January 2, 2009[5] Black screened digits with Alabama Gulf Coast graphic;[6] blue cursive "Alabama" centered at bottom "Sweet Home" in blue letters centered at top; "HEART OF DIXIE" in blue letters within blue heart outline to right of "Sweet Home" 0A12B34
00A12B3
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)
January 2, 2014 Black screened serial with lake and forest graphic "HEART OF DIXIE" in white letters within white heart outline in bottom right corner 0AB1234
00AB123
Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)

Non-passenger and specialty plates

Alabama offers a variety of optional plates that motorists may display upon the payment of an additional fee as well as non-passenger plate types that are displayed on vehicles for specialized uses.[7]

Non-passenger types

Many non-passenger types are both county-coded and weight-coded. Where noted, the county code is the first one or two regularly sized number of the serial, while the weight code is a small number beneath the letter that indicates the vehicle type.

Image Type First issued Serial format Notes
Ambulance/Hearse October 2013 0K/0 12345
00K/0 1234
Annual plates.
Apportioned January 2012 1234567 Annual plates.
Bus October 2013 0Q/0 12345
00Q/0 1234
Annual plates.
Consular Official October 2013 12 Annual plates. "Consular Official" legend.
Cotton Module October 2013 CM12345 Annual plates. "Cotton Module" legend.
County Government - Motorcycle CM 123 Permanent plates.
County Government - Passenger 12345 CO "County" legend. Permanent plates.
County Government - Passenger - Disabled A12 CO "County" legend. Permanent plates.
Dealer - Motorcycle 1234 Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
Dealer - Passenger 12345 Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
Dealer Transit - Motorcycle 12345 Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
Dealer Transit - Passenger 12345 Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
Disabled Person - Motorcycle 12G34
Disabled Person - Passenger 123 AB
Farm Truck or Farm Truck Tractor 0F/0 12345
00F/0 1234
Annual plates. "Forest" legend.
For-Hire - Limited 0X/L 12345
00X/L 1234
Annual plates.
Forest Truck 0L/0 12345
00L/0 1234
Annual plates. "Farm" legend.
Manufacturer MA1234 Annual plates. "Manufacturer" legend.
Motorcycle ABC 123
Municipal Government - Motorcycle MM 123 Permanent plates.
Municipal Government - Passenger 12345 MU "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates.
Municipal Government - Passenger - Disabled A12 MU "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates.
Municipal Government - Public Utility 1234 PUD "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates.
Permanent Trailer A123456 Permanent plates.
Motor Home 0R/0 12345
00R/0 1234
Annual plates. Weight class as legend.
Rental Trailer 0R/T 12345
00R/T 1234
Annual plates.
Taxi 0Z/0 12345
00Z/0 1234
Annual plates.
Semi Trailer 0TR 1234
00T/R 1234
Annual plates. "Forest" legend.
State Defense Force 123SDF
State Government - Motorcycle S M12 Permanent plates.
State Government - Passenger S 1234A Permanent plates.
State Government - Passenger - Disabled S 12A Permanent plates.
State Government - Passenger - State motor pool SMP 123 Permanent plates.
Truck or Truck Tractor - 8,001 to 10,000 lb. 0P/0 12345
00P/0 1234
Truck or Truck Tractor - greater than 10,000 lb. 0X/0 12345
00X/0 1234
Annual plates.
U.S. Government-Loaned GL 1234 "US GOV'T LOANED" legend. Permanent plates.
Vintage Vehicle - Motorcycle
Vintage Vehicle - Passenger VAB 123
Volunteer Fire Department VF1234

Specialty types[8]

Image Type First issued Serial format Notes
Active Reserve Redesigned 2009 12AB
Alabama A&M University Available in personalized format.
Alabama Cattlemen's Association 1A23B Available in personalized format.
Alabama Children's Trust Fund Available in personalized format.
Alabama State University ABC123 Available in personalized format.
Alabama Wildlife Federation 1A23B Available in personalized format.
Amateur Radio various
Athens State University Available in personalized format.
Atomic Nuked Veteran A12B3
Atomic Nuked Veteran - Disabled A12B
Auburn University 12A3B Available in personalized format.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - Motorcycle Available in personalized format.
Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - Passenger Available in personalized format.
Birmingham-Southern College Available in personalized format.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama 2009 Available in personalized format.
Choose Life 1A23B
Curing Childhood Cancer 12A3B Available in personalized format.
Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran A12B3
Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran - Disabled A12B
Disabled Veteran V12345 Sticker with name of conflict placed between lower bolt holes.
Disabled Veteran - Disabled AB12 Sticker with name of conflict placed between lower bolt holes.
Drive Out Ovarian Cancer 2009 Available in personalized format.
Ducks Unlimited ABC123 Available in personalized format.
Educator Redesigned 2009 AB123 Available in personalized format.
Faulkner University Redesigned 2009 Available in personalized format.
Farming Feeds Alabama ABC123 Available in personalized format.
Fight Breast Cancer 2009 Available in personalized format.
Fire Fighter F12345
First to the Moon and Beyond ABC123 Serials were initially embossed but were later surface-printed. Available in personalized format.
Forests Forever ABC123 Available in personalized format.
Forever Wild 1234FW Available in personalized format.
Former Prisoner of War POW 1234 "God Bless America" legend
Former Prisoner of War POW 1AB "God Bless America" legend
Fraternal Order of Police 123FA
12AB3
Generic specialty plate: Alabama Association of Realtors; Civitan International; Delta Sigma Theta; Letter Carrier; NASCAR-themed; Organ Donor; Retired Educator; Square Dancer; Take a Kid Fishing 12A3B
1A2B3
Decal promoting organization or cause applied to left of serial. Available in personalized format.
Global War on Terrorism Veteran 12A3B
Global War on Terrorism Veteran - Disabled
God Bless America 2006
redesigned 2013
AB12345 and 12345AB
1234AB5
Helping Schools HS123A Available in personalized format.
Helping Uninsured Children c. 2008 Available in personalized format.
Huntingdon College 1A23B Available in personalized format.
Jacksonville State University Available in personalized format.
Judson College Available in personalized format.
Korean War Veteran A12B3
Korean War Veteran - Disabled A12B
Medal of Honor MOH 1
Medal of Honor - Disabled 1AB
Miles College Available in personalized format.
National Guard Redesigned 2008 12345 (until 2008)
N/G (2008—present)
National Guard - Disabled 1AB (until 2008)
unknown (2008—present)
National Wild Turkey Federation Available in personalized format.
Oakwood College 1A23B Available in personalized format.
Pearl Harbor Survivor 1A2
Pearl Harbor Survivor - Disabled AB1
Protect Our Environment ABC123 Available in personalized format.
Purple Heart Redesigned c. 2009 PH12A "Combat Wounded" legend
Purple Heart—Disabled Redesigned c. 2009 AB1 "Combat Wounded" legend
Rescue Squad Redesigned 2009 RS 12345
Samford University Redesigned 2009 SU12A Available in personalized format.
Save the Cahaba Available in personalized format.
Selma University 1A23B Available in personalized format.
Shriners Hospitals for Children AB 12
Sons of Confederate Veterans AB123 Available in personalized format.
Spay and Neuter 2009 Available in personalized format.
Spring Hill College SHC123 Available in personalized format.
Stillman College 123 SC Available in personalized format.
Support the Arts Available in personalized format.
Talladega College 12 TC
123 TC
Tuskegee University T123U
Troy University Available in personalized format.
University of Alabama Redesigned c. 2004, 2009 ABC123 Serials were initially embossed but were later surface-printed. Available in personalized format.
University of Alabama Birmingham A1B23 Available in personalized format.
University of Alabama in Huntsville Available in personalized format.
University of Mobile A1B23 Available in personalized format.
University of Montevallo Redesigned c. 2008 A123B Available in personalized format.
University of North Alabama Redesigned c. 2009 UNA123 Available in personalized format.
University of South Alabama Redesigned c. 2009 SA123 Available in personalized format.
University of West Alabama Redesigned c. 2009 123WA Available in personalized format.
U.S. Armed Forces - Retired A1B23 Sticker with branch of service placed between lower bolt holes.
U.S. Armed Forces - Retired - Disabled 1234A Sticker with branch of service placed between lower bolt holes.
Vanity various
Vietnam Veteran A12B3
Vietnam Veteran - Disabled A12B3
World War II Veteran - American Campaign A12B3
World War II Veteran - American Campaign - Disabled A12B
World War II Veteran - Asiatic Campaign A12B3
World War II Veteran - Asiatic Campaign - Disabled A12B
World War II Veteran - Battle of the Bulge A12B3
World War II Veteran - Battle of the Bulge - Disabled A12B
World War II Veteran - European Campaign A12B3
World War II Veteran - European Campaign A12B

County coding

Alabama license plates first featured county codes in 1941.[9] As of 2013, these codes continue to be used on passenger and some non-passenger types.

Code[9] County
1Jefferson
2Mobile
3Montgomery
4Autauga
5 Baldwin
6 Barbour
7 Bibb
8 Blount
9 Bullock
10 Butler
11 Calhoun
12 Chambers
13 Cherokee
14 Chilton
15 Choctaw
16 Clarke
17 Clay
18 Cleburne
19 Coffee
20 Colbert
21 Conecuh
22 Coosa
23 Covington
24 Crenshaw
25 Cullman
26 Dale
27 Dallas
28 DeKalb
29 Elmore
30 Escambia
31 Etowah
32 Fayette
33 Franklin
34 Geneva
35 Greene
36 Hale
37 Henry
38 Houston
39 Jackson
40 Lamar
41 Lauderdale
42 Lawrence
43 Lee
44 Limestone
45 Lowndes
46 Macon
47 Madison
48 Marengo
49 Marion
50 Marshall
51 Monroe
52 Morgan
53 Perry
54 Pickens
55 Pike
56 Randolph
57 Russell
58 Shelby
59 St. Clair
60 Sumter
61 Talladega
62 Tallapoosa
63 Tuscaloosa
64 Walker
65 Washington
66 Wilcox
67 Winston
70 Replacement
80 Supplemental

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Harris, Len (June 2007) "Heart of Plates: Alabama". Plates. The Magazine of ALPCA. Vol. 53, No. 3
  2. "A preview of 1953 state tag" (July 1952) Birmingham News via Birmingham Rewound
  3. Motor Vehicle Division - Registration FAQs
  4. License Plates of the World - Alabama 1940s
  5. 1 2 Lowry, Bob (October 8, 2008). "'Stars' fall from car tags for 'Sweet Home' at beach". The Huntsville Times.
  6. State of Alabama - Office of Governor Bob Riley - Press Release: State’s New License Plates Feature Beach Scene and ‘Sweet Home Alabama’
  7. Alabama Department of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division.
  8. http://revenue.alabama.gov/motorvehicle/specialty.cfm
  9. 1 2 "Alabama Automobile Tags Numerical by County". Alabama Department of Archives and History. 2008. Retrieved 2015-09-01.

External links

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