Vehicle registration plates of Nevada

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Nevada
Current series
NameHome Means Nevada
SloganHome Means Nevada
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format123·A45
IntroducedNovember 1, 2016 (2016-11-01)
Availability
Issued byNevada Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedJanuary 1, 1916 (1916-01-01)
(pre-state plates from 1913 through December 31, 1915)

The U.S. state of Nevada first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1913. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1916, when the state began to issue plates.[1]

As of 2023, plates are issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers. Front plates are not required if the vehicle was not designed for a front plate and the manufacturer did not provide a means of mounting such a plate.[2]

From 1928 to 2012, Nevada's license plates were made at Nevada State Prison. The license plate factory moved to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in 2012.

Passenger baseplates[edit]

1916 to 1960[edit]

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.[3] The 1956 (expired June 30, 1957) issue was the first Nevada license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1955 (expired June 30, 1956) issue was 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image Dates issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
1916 Embossed yellow serial on green plate; vertical "NEV" at left 1234 2001 to approximately 6700
1917 Silver serial on blue flat metal plate; "NEVADA" and "1917" centered at top and bottom respectively 12345 10001 to approximately 16700
1918 Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; "NEVADA" and "1918" centered at top and bottom respectively 12345 20001 to approximately 28400
1919 Red serial on white flat metal plate; "NEVADA, 1919" centered at top 12345 30001 to approximately 39400
1920 Yellow serial on red flat metal plate; "NEVADA, 1920" centered at bottom 12345 40001 to approximately 50500
1921 Green serial on white flat metal plate; "NEVADA 1921" at bottom 12-345 50-001 to approximately 60-900
1922 Black serial on gray flat metal plate; "NEVADA 1922" at bottom 12-345 70-001 to approximately 82-800
1923 Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1923" at bottom 12-345 80-001 to approximately 95-700
1924 Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1924" at bottom 12-345 00-001 to approximately 18-500
1925 Debossed white serial on purple plate with border line; "NEVADA 1925" at bottom 12-345 00-001 to approximately 17-500
1926 Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1926" at bottom 12-345 00-001 to approximately 21-000
1927 Debossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1927" at bottom 12-345 00-001 to approximately 21-000
1928 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEVADA 1928" at bottom 12-345 00-001 to approximately 22-000
1929 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NEVADA 1929" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 25-000
1930 Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1930" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 25-000
1931 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NEVADA 1931" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 24-000
1932 Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1932" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 28-000
1933 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1933" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 26-000
1934 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "NEVADA 1934" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 26-000
1935 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1935" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 28-000
1936 Embossed silver serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEVADA 1936" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 31-000
1937 Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA 1937" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 34-000
1938 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1938" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 34-000
1939 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1939" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 34-000
1940 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1940" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 38-000
1941 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1941" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 40-000

1942–43 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1942" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 45-000 Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEVADA 1944" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 44-000
1945 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1945" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 41-000
1946 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1946" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 44-000
1947 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1947" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 46-000
1948 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1948" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 53-000
1949 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1949" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 55-000
1950 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1950" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 57-000
1951 As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1951" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 67-000
1952 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1952" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 74-000
1953 Embossed copper serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1953" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 82-000
1954–55 As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1954" at bottom A/ 1-234
A/B1-234
Coded by county of issuance Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1955 with red sticker.
1955–56 Embossed blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA 6 30 56" at bottom A/ 1234
A/B1234
Coded by county of issuance
1956–57 Embossed silver serial on light blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "56" at top left and "57" at top right A12345
AB1234
Coded by county of issuance
1957–58 Embossed light blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 58" at top right A12345
AB1234
Coded by county of issuance
1958–59 Embossed silver serial on light blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 59" at top right A12345
AB1234
Coded by county of issuance
1959–60 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 60" at top right A12345
AB1234
Coded by county of issuance

1960 to present[edit]

Image(s) Dates issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes

1960–64 Embossed silver serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "JUN 61" at top left and state outline at top right none A12345
AB1234
Coded by county of issuance Revalidated with stickers through December 31, 1964. To commemorate Nevada's 100 years of statehood that year, dark blue strips were fitted to the top of each plate containing "NEVADA CENTENNIAL" in silver in the center, "1864" to the left and "1964" to the right.
1965–67 Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "65" at top left none A12345
AB1234
A/B12345
Coded by county of issuance Counties with two-letter codes issued five-digit serials with stacked codes after reaching 9999.
1967–68 As above, but reflective white rather than silver
1969–70 Debossed white serial on reflective blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "69" at top left none A12345
AB1234
ABC123
Coded by county of issuance
1970–74 As above, but with "NEV" at top, offset to left
1974–81 As above, but with thinner dies and "NEVADA" at top, offset to left

1982–84 As above, but with "NEVADA" roughly centered at top 123ABC 001AAA to approximately 999ANR Some plates carried the county of issuance on a sticker at the bottom.
1984 – December 2000 Embossed blue serial on reflective white and silver graphic plate with mountain scene featuring a Bighorn sheep; "NEVADA" screened in blue centered at top "THE SILVER STATE" screened in blue centered at bottom 123·ABC 001·BAA to approximately 999·LDE Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nevada has been so honored. Co-recipient with North Dakota.
January 2001 – December 2006 Embossed dark blue serial on graphic plate featuring the Sierra Nevada mountains, in light blue, against a yellow and orange gradient sky; "NEVADA" screened in dark blue centered at top "THE SILVER STATE" screened in white centered at bottom 123·ABC 001·MAA to 999·TUU Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today.[4]
December 2006[5] – April
2015
As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed 001·TUV to 999·YZZ;
001·LDF to 999·LZZ;
001·ANS to 999·AZZ
After 999·YZZ was issued, the 'L' series not issued on the 1984 sheep base were issued, followed by the 'A' series not issued on the 1982 blue base. 'Z' series reserved for issuance through dealerships (up to the ZZC series on the "Home Means Nevada" base as of October 14, 2023).[6]
April –
July
2015
12A·345 00A·001 to 56B·999
July
2015[7] – mid-2017
As above, but with serial embossed (different dies to those used from 2001 to 2006) and state shape used as separator 57B·001 to 48H·999 Issued concurrently with the "Home Means Nevada" base from 2016/11/1 until supplies were exhausted.
2016/11/1[8] – early 2024 Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black centered at top "Home Means Nevada" screened in black at bottom, in center of mountain range 123·A45 001·A00 to 999·Z99
2024/3 - present 123·4A5 001·0A0 to 392·4A1 (as of 2024/3/17)

County coding, 1954–81[edit]

County 1954–56 1- and 2-letter codes, 1956–81 3-letter codes, 1969–81
Churchill A CH CHA–CHX
Clark B, B/A – B/D C, CA–CF, CJ–CZ CAA–CGZ, CJA–CZZ, TAA–TLU
Douglas C DS DSA–DSZ, DAA–DAB
Elko F EL ELA–ELZ, EAA–EAC
Esmeralda G ES
Eureka H EU
Humboldt J HU HUA–HUK
Lander K LA
Lincoln L LN
Lyon N LY LYA–LYF
Mineral P MN MNA–MND
Nye R NY NYA–NYP
Ormsby / Carson City S OR ORA–ORZ, OAA–OCH
Pershing U PE
Storey V ST
Washoe W, W/A – W/B W, WA (1965–68 only) WAA–WOZ, WRA–WRX
White Pine X WP WPA–WPJ

Non-passenger plates[edit]

Image Type First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Apportioned Bus Blue serial on white plate; "NEVADA" and "APPORTIONED" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively 12345 A 00001 A to present [9]
Apportioned Truck As Apportioned Bus plate, but without "APPORTIONED" at bottom 12345 P 00001 P to present
Dealer Same design as passenger base D/L/R12345 D/L/R00001 to present [9]
Exempt Same design as passenger base E/X12345 E/X00001 to present [9]
Handicapped Same design as passenger base Disabled access 12345 Disabled access 00001 to
Disabled access 99999
2009 Disabled access A1234 Disabled access A0001 to
Disabled access K6682 (as of September 6, 2023)[6]
Loan Same design as passenger base L/O/A/N12345 L/O/A/N00001 to present [9]
Motorcycle 2005 Similar to Sierra Nevada passenger base, but with border line 123456 000001 to approximately 044000
2007 As above, but with screened serial and no border line 044001 to approximately 288000
2017 Similar to Home Means Nevada passenger base 288001 to 363633 (as of November 27, 2020)
Trailer Same design as passenger base 12345 A 00001 E to 59584 Y (as of April 18, 2023)[6] Letters E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, S, U, V, W, X and Y have been used.

Optional types[edit]

Charitable & Collegiate plates[edit]

Image First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Agriculture A/G1234 0001-9999 [10]
Animal Appreciation S/N1234 0001-9999 [10]
May 2012[11] Autonomous Vehicle A/U123 A/U001 to present Autonomous vehicles are currently not available to the general public.[12]
Children in the Arts A/R1234 A/R0001 to A/R9999 [10]
A/RA123 A/RA001 to present
October 2011[13] Conserve Wildlife C/W1234
Hoover Dam B/C1234 0001-9999 [10]
Hot August Nights R/S1234 0001-9999 [10]
February 1998[14] Lake Tahoe LT12345 LT00001-LT99999 Originally embossed; became screened circa 2005 at approximately LT31800.[6]
Las Vegas Centennial with image of Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign L/V1234 0001-ZZZZ [10]
Missing and Exploited Children M/X1234 M/X0001 to M/X9999 [10]
M/XA123 M/XA001 to present
Mount Charleston M/T1234 0001-9999 [10]
Nevada Test Site A/T1234 0001-9999 [10]
Organ Donor D/L1234 0001-9999 [10]
Preserve Pyramid Lake P/L1234 0001-9999 [10]
June 2008[15] Red Rock Canyon R/C1234 0001-9999
Reno Air Races R/R1234 0001-9999 [10]
Rodeo N/R1234 N/R0001 to N/R9999 [10]
N/RA123 N/RA001 to present
Support Wildlife S/W1234 0001-9999 [10]
October 2004[16] United We Stand U/S1234 U/S0001 to U/S9999
U/SA123 U/SA001 to U/SZ999
U/S123A U/S001A to present
UNLV Collegiate 12345 00001-99999 Full serial number has a prefix of ULV. Redesigned March 2010.[17]
September 2011[18] UNR Collegiate 12345 00001-99999 Original design first issued 1993; the current design includes the slogan "Go Pack!". Full serial number has a prefix of UNR.
Veterans 1234 0001-9999 [10]
Virginia & Truckee Railroad V/T1234 0001-9999 [10]

Classic Vehicle plates[edit]

Image First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Antique Truck/Truck-Tractor 123 001-999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of AVT.
Classic Rod 1234 0001-9999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of CROD.
Classic Vehicle 1234 0001-9999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of CVEH.
Fire Truck 1234 0001-9999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of FT.
Horseless Carriage 12 01-99 [19]
Old Timer 1234 0001-9999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of OT.
Old Timer Motorcycle 12 01-99 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of OTM.
Street Rod 1234 0001-9999 [19] Full serial number has a prefix of SROD.
Vintage various [19]

Firefighter plates[edit]

Image First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Professional Firefighter P/F1234 P/F0001 to present [20]
Volunteer Firefighter V/F1234 V/F0001 to present [20]

Organization plates[edit]

Image First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Amateur Radio FCC call sign [21]
Civil Air Patrol 1234 [21] Full serial number has a prefix of CVAP.
Hall of Fame 123 [21] Full serial number has a prefix of HF.
Honorary Consular 123 [21] Full serial number has a prefix of CON.
Masonic Lodge M/S1234 [21]
National Guard 1234 [21]
Press 123 [21] Full serial number has a prefix of PRS.

Veterans plates[edit]

Image First issued Description Serial format Serials issued Notes
Air Force 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of VF.
Air National Guard 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of GA.
Army 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of VA.
Army Airborne 1234 0001-9999 [22]
Army National Guard 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of GS.
Coast Guard 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of VC.
Congressional Medal of Honor 12 01-99 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of CONMH.
Disabled Veteran 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of DV.
Ex-Prisoner of War 123 001-999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of POW.
Marines 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of VM.
Navy 1234 0001-9999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of VN.
Pearl Harbor Survivor 123 001-999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of PHS.
Pearl Harbor Veteran 123 001-999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of PHV.
Purple Heart 12345 00001-99999 [22] Full serial number has a prefix of HRT.

Discontinued non-passenger and optional plate types[edit]

Image Type First issued Last issued Serial format(s) Serials issued Notes
Commemorative: 125 Years of Vision November 1, 1989 October 31, 1990 12345N 00001N to approximately
24000N
Commemorated Nevada's 125 years of statehood. Remained valid until 1997.[4]
White Motorcycle/Small Trailer ? 2005 ABC [23]
Nevada Libraries April 18, 2005 December 31, 2006 N/L1234 N/L0001 to approximately
N/L1300
[23]
Aviation May 31, 2005 December 31, 2006 A/V1234 A/V0001 to approximately
A/V1050
[23]
Ducks Unlimited August 1, 2005 December 31, 2006 D/U1234 D/U0001 to approximately D/U2450 [23]
Nevada Tourism June 27, 2005 December 31, 2007 N/V1234 N/V0001 to approximately N/V2550 [23]
Carpenters October 15, 2007 December 31, 2009 U/B1234 U/B0001 to ? [23]
Search and Rescue September 15, 2008 December 31, 2009 S/R1234 S/R0001 to ? [23]
Las Vegas Springs September 2000 December 31, 2013 V/S12345 V/S00001 to approximately V/S02700 [23]
Las Vegas Federal Lands March 2005 December 31, 2013 F/L1234 F/L0001 to ? [23]
March of Dimes April 15, 2013 December 31, 2014 S/C1234 S/C0001 to approximately
S/C0600
[23]
Teamsters Local 631 April 15, 2013 December 31, 2014 T/M1234 T/M0001 to approximately
T/M0550
[23]
Air Force Thunderbirds August 12, 2013 December 31, 2014 S/D1234 S/D0001 to approximately
S/D0600
[23]
Share the Road December 1, 2014 December 31, 2016 P/B1234 P/B0001 to ? [23]
City of Reno January 4, 2016 December 31, 2017 R/N1234 R/N0001 to approximately R/N0600 [24]
Horse Power June 21, 2007 December 31, 2018 H/P1234
H/PA123
H/P0001 to H/P9999;
H/PA001 to approximately H/PE999
[25]
Great Reno Balloon Race May 22, 2017 December 31, 2018 G/R1234 G/R0001 to ? [26]
Heritage of Sparks December 18, 2017 December 31, 2019 H/S1234 H/S0001 to ? [27]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Old Nevada License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  2. ^ "License Plates". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  3. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  4. ^ a b Tanner, Eric N. "Nevada Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  5. ^ Turnbull, Andrew. "March of the Flats". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d "Nevada License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  7. ^ "License Plate Production Moving From Carson City Prison". KTVN. July 12, 2015. Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  8. ^ "DMV Debuts the new "Home Means Nevada" Plate". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. November 1, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c d "Nevada License Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Charitable & Collegiate Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  11. ^ "Nevada DMV Issues First Autonomous Vehicle Testing License to Google". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. May 7, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  12. ^ "Autonomous Vehicles". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  13. ^ "Nevada wildlife license plate". CarsonNow.org. October 20, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  14. ^ "DMV Now Issuing Lake Tahoe License Plates". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. February 2, 1998. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  15. ^ "Summerlin homeowners await scenic license plate". Las Vegas Review-Journal. June 21, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  16. ^ "Nevada Unveils "United We Stand" License Plate". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. October 11, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  17. ^ "License Plate Codes & Prefixes". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  18. ^ "DMV to Offer Updated University of Nevada License Plate". Nevada Wolf Pack. September 12, 2011. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Classic Vehicle Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  20. ^ a b "Fire Fighter Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g "Organization Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  22. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Veterans Plates". Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Discontinued License Plates". Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. Retrieved April 13, 2008.
  24. ^ Conrad, Bob (January 5, 2018). "Reno License Plate No Longer Available". This Is Reno. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  25. ^ "Wild horse license plate issued". Nevada Appeal. June 21, 2007. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  26. ^ Marroquin, Art (June 21, 2017). "New specialty license plates honor Scouts, Great Reno Balloon Race". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  27. ^ Crawford, Angela (November 21, 2017). "New License Plate May Help 'Joe' Get Another Chance". Sparks Tribune. Retrieved January 21, 2021.

External links[edit]