Vehicle registration plates of Alabama

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Since 1914, the U.S. state of Alabama has issued license plates for vehicles registered there.

The state currently uses 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]

Contents 1 Passenger plates 1949 to 1954 2 Passenger plates 1955 to present 3 Non-passenger and specialty plates 3.1 Non-passenger types 3.2 Specialty types 4 County coding 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Passenger plates 1949 to 1954

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1949	yellow on black with embossed 50	none			county coded
	1950	black on yellow with embossed 51	none			county coded
	1951	white on blue with embossed 52	none			county coded
	1952	blue on white with embossed 53	none			county coded
	1953	white on blue with embossed 54	none			county coded
	1954	white on blue with embossed 55	Heart of Dixie			county coded, first plate with Heart of Dixie slogan

[edit] 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.

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1955	black on yellow with embossed 56	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 1A-12-345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12-345		first 6 x 12 inch plate
	1956	yellow on black with embossed 57	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 00-12-345
	1957	white on blue with embossed 58	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 00-12-345
	1958	blue on white with embossed 59	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 00-12-345
	1959	white on blue with embossed 60	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 00-12-345
	1960	white on black with embossed 61	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12-345 1A-12-345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12-345
	1961	white on green with embossed 62	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1962	reflective white on blue with embossed 63	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1963	reflective white on red with embossed 64	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1964	reflective orange on blue with embossed 65	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1965	reflective white on black with embossed 66	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1966	reflective yellow on blue with embossed 67	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1967	reflective white on red with embossed 68	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1968	green on reflective white with embossed 69	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1969	blue on reflective white with embossed 70	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1970	black on reflective mint green with embossed 71	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1971	black on reflective mint green with embossed 72	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1972	red on reflective white with embossed 73	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1973	black on reflective white with embossed 74	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1974	black on reflective yellow with embossed 75	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 00-12345
	1975	blue on reflective white with embossed 76	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0-12345 1A-12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Jefferson County) 00-12345
	1976	blue on reflective white with Alabama State Capitol graphic in red	Heart of Dixie	ABC 123		Earlier plates used stickers displaying county name. Later plates used larger serial dies.
	1981	red on reflective white	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0A 12345 00A 1234 47 12345 (following exhaustion of above format in Madison County)
	1986	blue on reflective white	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0AB 1234 00AB 123
	1992	blue on reflective white	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0ABC123 00ABC12
	1997	black on reflective white with blue and pink gradient	Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0AB1234 00AB123 47A1B23 and 47ABC12 (following exhaustion of above format in Madison County)
	2002[2]	red on reflective white reflective sheeting with screened blue bar with state name	Stars Fell on Alabama and Heart of Dixie	Coded by county of issuance: 0A1234B 00A123B 47A1B2C (following exhaustion of above format in Madison County)	0A0001A to present 00A001A to 00Z999Z 47A0A1A to present	Serials were embossed until early 2008, at which point they became surface-printed.
			God Bless America	AB12345 12345AB	AM00001 to AM99999 00001AM to 99999AM AN00001 to AN99999 00001AN to 99999AN AP00001 to AP99999 00001AP to 99999AP AR00001 to AR99999 00001AR to 99999AR AS00001 to AS99999 00001AS to 99999AS AT00001 to AT99999 00001AT to 99999AT AV00001 to AV99999 00001AV to 99999AV AW00001 to AW99999 00001AW to 99999AW AY00001 to AY99999 00001AY to present	Issued concurrently with 2002 base. Serials were initially embossed but were later surface-printed.
	January 2, 2009[2]	reflective with an Alabama Gulf Coast graphic	Sweet Home Alabama	unknown	unknown

[edit] 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.^[3]

[edit] 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		0K/0 12345 00K/0 1234	Annual plates.
	Apportioned		1234567	Five-year plates.
	Bus		0Q/0 12345 00Q/0 1234	Annual plates.
	Consular Official		12	Annual plates. "Consular Official" legend.
	Cotton Module		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		D 1234	Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
	Dealer - Passenger		D12345	Annual plates. "Dealer" legend.
	Disabled Person - Motorcycle
	Disabled Person - Passenger		A12B3
	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

[edit] Specialty types

Image	Type	First issued	Serial format	Notes
	Active Reserve		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.
	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.
	Ducks Unlimited		ABC123	Available in personalized format.
	Educator		AB123	Available in personalized format.
	Faulkner University		CU1234	Available in personalized format.
	Farming Feeds Alabama		ABC123	Available in personalized format.
	Fire Fighter		F12345
	First to the Moon and Beyond		ABC123	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
	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
	Helping Schools		CA1234	Available in personalized format.
	Helping Uninsured Children			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		12345
	National Guard - Disabled		1AB
	National Wild Turkey Foundation			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		PH12A	"Combat Wounded" legend
	Purple Heart - Disabled		AB1	"Combat Wounded" legend
	Rescue Squad		RS 12345
	Samford University		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.
	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		ABC123	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		A123B	Available in personalized format.
	University of North Alabama		UNA123	Available in personalized format.
	University of South Alabama		SA123	Available in personalized format.
	University of West Alabama		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

[edit] County coding

Alabama license plates first featured county codes in 1941. As of 2008^[update], these codes continue to be used on passenger and some non-passenger types.

Code	County
1	Jefferson
2	Mobile
3	Montgomery
4	Autauga
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	Saint Clair
60	Sumpter
61	Talledega
62	Tallapoosa
63	Tuscaloosa
64	Walker
65	Washington
66	Wilcox
67	Winston
70	Replacement
80	Supplemental

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Alabama license plates 1969-present

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