Vehicle registration plates of Minnesota

The U.S. state of Minnesota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1909.

Passenger plates 1909 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 license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. 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.[1]

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1909 Silver on orange none 1234 unknown
1910 Gold on black none 1234 unknown
1911 White on blue none 12345 unknown
1912-14 Black on aluminum none 123456 unknown
1915-17 Red on aluminum none 123456 unknown
1918-20 White on black none 123456 unknown
1920 Silver on black none 123456 unknown Numbers below 300000 are multi year plates.
1921 Black lettering and rims on sky blue base. none 123-456
1922 Black lettering and rims on olive green base. none 123-456
1923 Brown lettering and rims on gray base. none 123-456
1924 White lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456
1925 Black lettering and rims on silver base. none 123-456
1926 White lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456
1927 Green lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456
1928 Black lettering and rims on tan base. none 123-456 Fist long designed plate.
1929 White lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456 Long design.
1930 Black lettering and rims on silver base. none 123-456 Long design.
1931 White lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456 Long design.
1932 Golden yellow lettering and rims on maroon base. none 123-456 Long design.
1933 Black lettering and rims on silver base. none 123-456 Long design.
1934 White lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456 Long design.
1935 Golden yellow lettering and rims on maroon base. none 123-456 Long design.
1936 White lettering and rims on dark blue base. none 123-456 Long design.
1937 Black lettering and rims on silver base. none 123-456 Long design
1938 Silver lettering and rims on black base. none 123-456 Long design.
1939 Black lettering and rims on golden yellow base. none 123-456 Long design.
1940 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINN - 1940" or "MINNESOTA 1940" (see right) embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 734-000 The abbreviated state name was embossed 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 until 1949.
1941 Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINN - 1941" or "MINNESOTA 1941" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 763-000
1942–43 Embossed red numbers on cream plate with border line; "MINN - 1942" or "MINNESOTA 1942" embossed in red block letters 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 numbers on navy blue plate with border line; "MINN - 1944" or "MINNESOTA 1944" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 641-000
1945 As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1945" or "MINNESOTA 1945" embossed at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 633-000
1946 As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1946" or "MINNESOTA 1946" embossed at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 660-000
1947 As 1941 base, but with "MINN - 1947" or "MINNESOTA 1947" embossed at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 717-000
1948 As 1940 base, but with "MINN - 1948" or "MINNESOTA 1948" embossed at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 801-000
1949 Embossed black numbers on waffle-textured silver plate; "MINNESOTA" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at top "CENTENNIAL" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom, with "1849" to the left and "1949" to the right 123-456 1 to approximately 871-000 Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Minnesota Territory.
1950 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "50" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in white block letters centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 962-000
1951 Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "51" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in black block letters centered at top 123-456 1-234-567 1 to approximately 1-005-000
1952 Embossed blue numbers on gold plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "52" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 994-000
1953 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "53" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in white block letters centered at top 123-456
1-234-567
1 to approximately 1-040-000
1954 Embossed blue numbers on cream plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "54" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top 123-456
1-234-567
1 to approximately 1-075-000
1955 Embossed yellow numbers on maroon plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "55" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top AA 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.
LA 1234
MA 1234
LA 1000 to approximately MD 9999 Mail-order issues.
1956–57 Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "56" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top 1A 1234 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1957 with gold tabs.
MA 1234 Mail-order issues.
1958–59 Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "58" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at top 1A 1234 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1959 with green tabs.
MA 1234 Mail-order issues.
1960–61 Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "60" in bottom right corner Embossed black bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white 1A 1234 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1961 with blue tabs.
MA 1234 Mail-order issues.
1962–64 Embossed maroon numbers on reflective white plate with border line; embossed maroon bar centered at bottom containing debossed "MINNESOTA" in white; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "62" in bottom right corner Embossed maroon bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white 1A 1234 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1963 with green tabs, and for 1964 with yellow tabs.
MA 1234 Mail-order issues.
1965–67 Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "65" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top 1AB 123 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1966 and 1967 with stickers.
MAB 123 MAA 100 to approximately MLC 999 Mail-order issues.
1968–70 Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; embossed blue bar centered at bottom containing debossed "MINNESOTA" in white; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "68" in bottom right corner Embossed blue bar centered at top containing debossed "10,000 LAKES" in white 1AB 123 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1969 and 1970 with stickers.
MAB 123 MAA 100 to approximately MNN 999 Mail-order issues.
1971–73 Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "71" in bottom right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in green block letters centered at top 1AB 123 First number corresponds to congressional district of issue Revalidated for 1972 and 1973 with stickers.
MAB 123 MAA 100 to approximately MPA 999 Mail-order issues.
1974–77 Embossed orange numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in orange block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "74" in top right corner "10,000 LAKES" embossed in orange block letters centered at top AB 1234 AA 1000 to approximately PW 3999
1977 Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MINNESOTA" embossed in blue block letters centered at top "10,000 LAKES" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom ABC 123 AAA 001 to CGZ 999
1978–82 Embossed blue numbers 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 light blue serifed letters centered at top "10,000 lakes" screened in light blue serifed letters centered at bottom ABC 123 CHA 001 to approximately FOR 999
1982–87 ABC-123; state icon used as dash LAA-001 to approximately RME-999
1987–93 As 1978–87 base, but with darker colors "EXPLORE" screened in blue serifed letters to left of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota"; "10,000 lakes" screened in same letters centered at bottom 123-ABC; state icon used as dash 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; state icon used as dash 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 not used as first letters in serials; S issued after X.
June 2008 – June 2009 As 1987–2008 base, but with screened black numbers 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; dark blue state icon used as dash 001-AAA to 999-WAE (as of October 14, 2016) Serials with B as the first letter reserved for mail-order issues. F and S not used as first letters.
June 2009 – present As before but with ".com" added to right of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota.com"

References

  1. "Minnesota License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016.

External links

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