United States

Current plate formats

• StandardCurrent· broad pattern
  ABC-1234

  Catch-all for state-issued plates. Formats vary by state, for example ABC-1234 (New York), 1ABC234 (California), AB-12345 (Connecticut, Illinois) or 123456 (Delaware). Most states show their name, and designs change often.

  black on white

Older formats

No longer issued, but some may still be on the road.

• Diplomatic1984–2007
  D AB 1234

  State Department plates for missions in Washington DC. Status letter (C consul, D diplomat, S staff, A UN employee), a two-letter country code that deliberately does not follow ISO, then four digits.

  red on white

  Make this plate →
• Diplomatic1984–2007
  1234 AB D

  State Department plates for missions to the United Nations in New York. Same parts as the DC plates in reverse order.

  red on white

  Make this plate →

History

1. 1901

   New York becomes the first state to require plates, which owners make themselves.

2. 1903

   Massachusetts issues the first state-made plates.

3. 1956

   States, Canadian provinces and car makers agree on a standard 6 by 12 inch (150 by 300 mm) plate size, adopted nationwide by 1957 (Delaware is the exception).

4. 1984

   After the Foreign Missions Act, the State Department takes over diplomatic plates from the states (mainly DC and New York).

5. 2007

   The State Department's Office of Foreign Missions starts issuing a redesigned diplomatic plate (first letter D, C, S or A for the status); older plates stay valid until the end of 2008.