Vehicle registration plates of Minnesota

Minnesota

Current series
Slogan	10,000 Lakes
Size	12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC 123
Introduced	June 2008 (2008-06)
Availability
Issued by	Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Driver and Vehicle Services Division
History
First issued	May 15, 1909 (1909-05-15) (pre-state plates from 1903 through May 14, 1909)
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The U.S. state of Minnesota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1909, when the state began to issue plates.

As of 2023 ^[update] , plates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety through its Driver and Vehicle Services Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

The first automobile license plate in Minnesota, 1903.

1909 to 1954

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1909	Silver serial on orange flat metal plate; vertical "MINN" and "1909" in silver at left and right respectively	none	1234	1 to approximately 7000
	1910	Gold serial on black flat metal plate; vertical "MINN" and "1910" in gold at left and right respectively	none	12345	1 to approximately 12000
	1911	White serial 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 serial 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 serial 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 serial on black plate; vertical "MINN" at left and "1918", "1919" and "1920" at right	none	123456	1 to approximately 325000
	1920	As above, but with only "1920" at right			325001 to approximately 333000
	1921	Embossed black serial on sky blue plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "21" at bottom left	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 through 1939.
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B160-000
	1922	Embossed black serial on off-white plate; vertical "MINN" at right; "22" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A176-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B175-000
	1923	Embossed brown serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "23" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A224-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B173-000
	1924	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at left; "24" at bottom right	none	123-456A	1A to approximately 242-000A
				123-456B	1B to approximately 222-000B
	1925	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "25" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A268-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B256-000
	1926	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "26" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A249-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B302-000
	1927	Embossed light green serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "27" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A258-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B293-000
	1928	Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "28" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A243-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B326-000
	1929	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "29" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A245-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B379-000
	1930	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "30" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A196-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B428-000
	1931	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "31" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A130-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B453-000
	1932	Embossed golden yellow serial on maroon plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "32" at bottom left	none	A123-456	A1 to approximately A111-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B457-000
	1933	As 1930 base, but with "33" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A94-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B475-000
	1934	As 1931 base, but with "34" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A89-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B499-000
	1935	As 1932 base, but with "35" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A72-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B545-000
	1936	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "36" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A58-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B612-000
	1937	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "37" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A40-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B664-000
	1938	Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "38" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A25-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B674-000
	1939	Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; vertical "MINN" at right; "39" at bottom left	none	A12-345	A1 to approximately A15-000
				B123-456	B1 to approximately B696-000
	1940	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MINN - 1940" or "MINNESOTA 1940" (see right) centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 734-000	The abbreviated state name was used 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 through 1948.
	1941	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MINN - 1941" or "MINNESOTA 1941" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 763-000
	1942–43	Embossed red serial on cream plate with border line; "MINN - 1942" or "MINNESOTA 1942" 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 serial on navy blue plate with border line; "MINN - 1944" or "MINNESOTA 1944" centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 641-000
	1945	As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1945" or "MINNESOTA 1945" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 633-000
	1946	As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1946" or "MINNESOTA 1946" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 660-000
	1947	As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1947" or "MINNESOTA 1947" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 717-000
	1948	As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1948" or "MINNESOTA 1948" at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 801-000
	1949	Embossed black serial on waffle-textured silver plate; "MINNESOTA" centered at top	"1849 - CENTENNIAL - 1949" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 871-000	Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Minnesota Territory.
	1950	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 50" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 962-000	First use of the "10,000 Lakes" slogan.
	1951	Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 51" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-005-000
	1952	Embossed blue serial on gold plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 52" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	123-456	1 to approximately 994-000
	1953	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 53" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-040-000
	1954	Embossed blue serial on cream plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 54" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	123-456 1-234-567	1 to approximately 1-075-000

1955 to present

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. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1955	Embossed yellow serial on maroon plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 55" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	AB 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.
				LB 1234 MB 1234	LA 1000 to approximately MD 9999	Mail-order issues.
	1956–57	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 56" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	1B 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1957 with gold tabs.
				MB 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1958–59	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 58" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	1B 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1959 with green tabs.
				MB 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1960–61	Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 60" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" within embossed black bar centered at top	1B 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
				MB 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1962–64	Embossed maroon serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" within embossed maroon bar centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "62" at bottom right	"10,000 LAKES" within embossed maroon bar centered at top	1B 1234	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1963 with green tabs, and for 1964 with yellow tabs.
				MB 1234		Mail-order issues.
	1965–67	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 65" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	1BC 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1966 and 1967 with stickers.
				MBC 123	MAA 100 to approximately MLC 999	Mail-order issues.
	1968–70	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" within embossed blue bar centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right	"10,000 LAKES" within embossed blue bar centered at top	1BC 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1969 and 1970 with stickers.
				MBC 123	MAA 100 to approximately MNN 999	Mail-order issues.
	1971–73	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19 MINNESOTA 71" at bottom	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	1BC 123	First number corresponds to congressional district of issue	Revalidated for 1972 and 1973 with stickers.
				MBC 123	MAA 100 to approximately MPA 999	Mail-order issues.
	1974–77	Embossed orange serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" centered at bottom; "19" at top left and "74" at top right	"10,000 LAKES" centered at top	AB 1234	AA 1000 to approximately PW 3999	Some plates manufactured using Illinois' serial dies. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1975.
	1977	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" centered at top	"10,000 LAKES" centered at bottom	ABC 123	AAA 001 to CGZ 999
	1978–82	Embossed blue serial 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 blue centered at top	"10,000 lakes" screened in blue centered at bottom	ABC 123	CHA 001 to approximately FOR 999
	1982–87	As above, but with embossed state shape used as separator in serial		ABC-123	LAA-001 to approximately RMF-999
	1987–93	As 1978–87 base, but with darker colors	"EXPLORE" screened in blue to left of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota"; "10,000 lakes" screened in blue centered at bottom	123-ABC	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	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' series of serials not used; 'S' series issued after 'X' series.
	June 2008 – June 2009	As 1987–2008 base, but with screened black serial and dark blue state-shaped separator, 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	001-AAA to 999-XZZ	'B' series of serials reserved for mail-order issues. 'F', 'S', 'Y' and 'Z' series not used. [2] [ why? ]
	June 2009 – September 2017		As before but with ".com" added to right of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota.com"
	September 2017 – present			ABC-123	AAA-001 to LNM-387 (as of December 8, 2023) [3]	'M', 'N' and 'P' series of serials reserved for mail-order issues.

Optional plates

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Critical Habitat – Chickadee	May 2009 – present	Screened black serial on green plate, with a chickadee on left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	4AB123
	Critical Habitat – Classic Deer	June 1996 – present		AB123 1AB123	AA001 to HZ999 NA001 to NZ999 1AA001 to 1AC958 (as of June 2019)	First "Critical habitat" license plates and the only ones that are embossed. The screened version was released much later. Letters I, O, Q are not used for all the "Critical Habitat" plates, this practice still continues today.
	Critical Habitat – Common loon	April 2002 – present	Screened black serial on fall landscape with lake plate, with a common loon in left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	AB123 2AB123	JA 001 to MZ 999 PA 001 to ZZ 999 2AA001 to 2GE068 (as of June 2019)	The first version is with blue serial and continued registrations after Classic Deer plates.
	Critical Habitat – Fishing	May 2009 – present	Screened black serial on landscape sunset plate, with two fishermen in a boat in left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively, but the "O" is a fishing float	3AB123
	Critical Habitat – Lady slipper	May 2009 – present	Screened black serial on pink plate, with a lady slipper orchid on left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	5AB123
	Critical Habitat – Moose	August 2014 – present	Screened black serial on light blue plate, with a moose on left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	8AB123		The chosen design is part of Les Kouba painting, his signature is present on the left as well.
	Critical Habitat – Pheasant	November 2013 – present	Screened black serial on ocher plate, with two pheasants who flight on left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	7AB123
	Critical Habitat – White-tailed deer	May 2009 – present	Screened black serial on light yellow at the top and grey plate, with a white-tailed dear on left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	6AB123
	Critical Habitat – Wild turkey	November 2016 – present	Screened black serial on fall landscape plate, with a wild turkey in left. "Reinvest in Minnesota" and "Critical Habitat" centered at top and bottom respectively	9AB123
	Golf	July 2015 – present	Screened black serial on graphic plate with light blue sky at top, golf course at bottom and black silhouette of golfer at left; "PLAY GOLF Minnesota" screened in blue (plus a golf ball for the 'O' in the state name) at top and "The Game For A Lifetime" in white at bottom	CB123 1234CB	CA001 to approximately CE999; 0001CA to present
	State Parks and Trails	October 2016 – present	Screened black serial on landscape with a wood bridge and a boat in left. "Minnesota" and "STATE PARK AND TRAILS" centered at top and bottom respectively	1PB123	1PA001 to 1PH850 (as of June 2019)	Plate created as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of Minnesota state parks and trails. The design was chosen in July 2016 after an online vote. [4]
	Support Our Troops	December 2005 – present	Screened blue or black serial (see right) on graphic plate with national flag in background and bald eagle at left; "Minnesota" and "SUPPORT OUR TROOPS" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively	123AB 1234AB	001AA to approximately 999EH; 0001AA to present	Original design had a blue serial over a full national flag background. Current design has a black serial on a white section in the middle, plus a different font for the "Support Our Troops" slogan.

Non-passenger plates

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Farm Truck	1997–2008	Embossed green serial on white plate; "MINNESOTA" and "FARM TRUCK" centered at top and bottom respectively; weight class sticker at right	T/L C1234	T/L A0001 to approxminately T/L D5200
		2008–present	As current passenger base; "Farm Truck" centered at bottom, "FEB" at bottom left and weight class sticker at right	TLC1234	TLD5201 to TLJ1941 (as of July 20, 2022) [3]
	Motorcycle	1976–80	Embossed blue serial on white plate; "MINNESOTA" and "M.C." centered at top and bottom respectively	123-456	000-001 to approximately 350-000
		1981–90	As above, but with "10,000 LAKES" at bottom, offset to left	M/B 12-345	M/L 00-001 to M/N 99-999; M/R 00-001 to approximately M/R 65-000
		1990–99		12-345 M/B	00-001 M/A to approximately 60-000 M/C
		1999–2008	As above, but with "FEB M.C." in place of slogan		60-001 M/C to approximately 24-000 M/G
		2008–present	Similar to current passenger base; "MOTORCYCLE" centered at bottom and "FEB" at bottom left	12345MB	24001MG to 89236MJ (as of October 2, 2021) [3]
	Special Registration	c. 1995–2008	Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" and "10,000 LAKES" centered at top and bottom respectively	WB1234		Issued to owners of vehicles in which DUI offenses are committed, while the vehicles' regular plates are impounded. Minnesota is one of only two states to issue such plates, the other being Ohio. [5] Nicknamed "whiskey plates" because their serials start with 'W', and "whiskey" is this letter's code word in the NATO phonetic alphabet.
		2008–present	Screened black serial on white plate; "Minnesota" and "10,000 lakes" centered at top and bottom respectively
	Truck	1997–2008	Embossed blue serial on white plate; "MINNESOTA" and "10,000 LAKES" centered at top and bottom respectively; weight class sticker at right	Y/B C1234	Y/A A0001 to approximately Y/B A8000
		2008–present	As current passenger base; "FEB" at bottom left and weight class sticker at right	YBC1234	YBB0001 to YCD4180 (as of March 1, 2023) [3]

References

1. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
2. Tanner, Eric N. "Minnesota Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
3. "Minnesota License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
4. "New Minnesota license plate? Check out the 3 finalists, then vote". Minnesota Public Radio. June 27, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
5. "Minnesota Whiskey Plates – Everything you Need to Know". Eagan, MN: Leverson Budke Criminal Defense. February 20, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2021.

External links

• Minnesota license plates, 1969–present