Vehicle registration plates of Arkansas
The U.S. state of Arkansas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911.
Passenger plates 1911 to present
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized 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 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Arkansas license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1947 (dated 1948), 1952 (dated 1953) and 1955 (dated 1956) issues were all six inches in height by twelve inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1932 | Yellow lettering and border embossed on black background, ARK 32 in embossed script at top. | 123-456 | ||||
1938 | Embossed gray lettering, designs and border on red background, "ARKANSAS" embossed in winged signage below registration; "38" embossed inside state shape at left. | none | 123-456 | |||
1944 | White lettering on black background, 19 ARK. 44 at top. | 00-1234 | Fiberboard due to metal shortage during World War II | |||
1948–49 | Embossed black numbers on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1948" embossed in black block letters centered at top | "OPPORTUNITY LAND" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 345-000 | Revalidated for 1949 with aluminum tabs. | |
1950 | Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1950" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 374-000 | ||
1951 | Embossed dark green numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1951" embossed in dark green block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 375-000 | ||
1952 | Embossed white numbers on brown plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1952" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 380-000 | ||
1953 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1953" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 394-000 | ||
1954 | Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1954" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 393-000 | ||
1955 | Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1955" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 399-000 | ||
1956 | Embossed black numbers on pale green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1956" embossed in black block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 422-000 | ||
1957 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1957" embossed in red block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1958 | Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 58" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1959 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 59" embossed in black block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1960 | Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 60" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1961 | Embossed red numbers on gray plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 61" embossed in red block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1962 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 62" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1963 | Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 63" embossed in white block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1964 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 64" embossed in red block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1965 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 65" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1966 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 66" embossed in red block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1967 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 67" embossed in blue block letters centered at top | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | ||
1968–74 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS" embossed in red block letters centered at top | none | ABC 123 | AAA 001 to EEW 999 | ||
1975–77 | "LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom | EEX 001 to GEC 999 | ||||
1978–88 | Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "Arkansas" screened in large blue serifed letters centered at top | "Land of Opportunity" screened in small blue block letters centered at bottom | ABC 123 | GED 001 to POP 999 | ||
1989 – May 1996 |
Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; red band screened at top containing "Arkansas" in large white serifed letters in the center | "The Natural State" screened in small red serifed letters centered at bottom | ABC 123 | POR 001 to ZZZ 999 | ||
May 1996 – February 2006 |
Embossed red numbers on reflective white plate; "Arkansas" screened in large dark blue serifed letters centered at top | "The Natural State" screened in small dark blue serifed letters centered at bottom | 123 ABC | 001 AAA to 999 KPF | ||
March 2006 – present | Embossed black numbers on reflective gradient sky blue and white plate; diamond graphic screened in the center; "Arkansas" screened in large dark red serifed letters centered at top | "The Natural State" screened in small dark red serifed letters centered at bottom | 123 ABC | 001 KPG to 999 WWL (as of January 25, 2016) |
Non-passenger plates
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amateur Radio | On 2006 passenger base, but with "AMATEUR RADIO" in place of "The Natural State" at bottom of plate. | various | various | |||
Ambulance | On 1996 passenger base, but with "AMBULANCE" in place of "The Natural State" at bottom of plate. | ZAB 123 | ||||
Apportioned Truck | All-embossed black on yellow. | C 123456 | ||||
Dealer—Motorcycle | Annual plates | 2004: All-embossed black on light blue. | 1234 M | |||
Disabled Person | Blue on reflective white with blue graphics and "Disabled" legend at bottom. | 123456 | ||||
Motorcycle | 1979–81 | Embossed red numbers on white plate; "ARK. M CYCLE" embossed at top and "EXP. 6" in bottom left corner | AB 12 | AA 01 to ZZ 99 | All motorcycle plates expired on June 30 until 1994, when staggered registration was introduced. | |
1981–85 | 12 AB | 01 AA to 99 ZZ | ||||
1985–94 | AB 123 | AA 001 to FZ 999 | ||||
1994–2015 | As above, but without "EXP. 6" | GA 001 to ZZ 999 | ||||
2015–present | 123 AB | 001 AA to present | ||||
Permanent Trailer | All-embossed blue on tan. | PT12 345 | ||||
Transporter | All-embossed black on light blue. | T/P12345 |
Optional types
Beginning in 2000, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has released one wildlife-themed plate design each year,[1] to be issued for one calendar year, although remaining stock is sometimes issued past the end of a particular plate design's year of release.
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arkansas State University | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 2ABC | 2AAA to present | Issued concurrently. | |
Arkansas State · Go Red Wolves! | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | ? to present | |||
Arkansas Technical University | ? to present | Green on reflective yellow. | 10ABC | 10AAA to present | ||
Cattlemen Foundation | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | C/F ABCD | C/F AAAA to present | ||
Choose Life | ? to present | Black on reflective yellow with blue and red graphics. | C/L ABCD | C/L AAAA to present | ||
Ducks Unlimited | ? to present | Black on multicolored background. | 1ABCD | 1AAAA to present | ||
Emergency Medical Services | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | E/M ABCD | E/M AAAA to present | ||
Firefighter | ? to present | Blue on reflective white with logo and legends displayed on stickers. | AB123 | ? | ||
Firefighters Memorial | ? to present | Black on multicolored fire background. | F/F ABCD | F/F AAAA to present | ||
Golf Association | ? to present | Red on reflective white with green graphic at right. | G/A ABC | G/A AAA to present | ||
Harding University | c. 2009 to present | Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 15ABC | 15AAA to present | ||
Henderson State University | ? to present | Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 7ABC | 7AAA to present | ||
Hendrix College | ? to present | Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 11ABC | 11AAA to present | ||
In God We Trust | ? to present | Black on light blue with multicolored image of Arkansas State Capitol. | A/R ABCD | A/R AAAA to present | ||
Lyon College | c. 2008 to present | Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 13ABC | 13AAA to present | ||
Ouachita Baptist University | ? to present | Black on reflective multicolored background. | 8ABC | 8AAA to present | ||
Professional Firefighter | April 2008 to present | Black on reflective red to white gradient with logo of Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters Association. | P/F ABCD | P/F AAAA to present | ||
Purple Heart | ? to present | Blue on reflective white with multicolored graphic of award. | PH1234 | ? | Earlier plates were issued in a format of PH 1234, without a graphic of the award. | |
Southern Arkansas University | ? to present | Black on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 5ABC | 5AAA to present | ||
University of Arkansas at Fayetteville | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | U/A ABC | U/A AAA to present | Previously issued 1ABC. | |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock | ? to present | Red on reflective white with multicolored graphic at left. | 4ABC | 4AAA to present | ||
University of Arkansas at Monticello | ? to present | Black on multicolored background. | 9ABC | 9AAA to present | ||
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | ? to present | Black on multicolored background. | 6ABC | 6AAA to present | ||
University of Central Arkansas | ? to present | Blue on reflective white with multicolored graphic elements. | 3ABC | 3AAA to present | ||
University of the Ozarks | c. 2008 to present | Black on reflective multicolored graphic. | 12ABC | 12AAA to present | ||
Wildlife—American black bear | 2008 | Black on multicolored background. | 12AB | ? | ||
Wildlife—Diana fritillary butterfly | 2009 | Black on multicolored background. | G/F ABC | G/F AAA to present | ||
Wildlife—eastern wild turkey | 2003 | Black on multicolored background. | AB12 | ? | ||
Wildlife—elk | 2007 | Black on multicolored background. | 12AB | ? | ||
Wildlife—ivory-billed woodpecker | 2006 | Black on multicolored background. | 12AB | 01AA to ? | ||
Wildlife—largemouth bass | 2002 | Black on multicolored background. | AB12 | ? | ||
Wildlife—mallard | 2004 | Black on multicolored background. | AB12 | ? | ||
Wildlife—rainbow trout | 2005 | Black on multicolored background. | AB12 | ? | ||
Wildlife—ruby-throated hummingbird | 2001 | Black on light blue with multicolored image of hummingbird and flower. | AB12 | ? | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2001 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Arkansas has been so honored. | |
Wildlife—white-tailed deer | 2000 | Black on multicolored background. | AB12 | AA01 to ? |
References
- ↑ Archived September 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
External links
- Arkansas Office of Motor Vehicles—Specialty Plates and Placards
- Arkansas license plates 1969-present