Vehicle registration plates of North Dakota

The U.S. state of North Dakota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911. As of 2024, plates are issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

North Dakota
"Legendary" plate with original font for the state name
Current series
NameLegendary
SloganLegendary North Dakota
Peace Garden State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format123 ABC
IntroducedNovember 12, 2015 (2015-11-12)
(minor redesign November 2016)
Availability
Issued byNorth Dakota Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
History
First issued1911 (1911)

Passenger baseplates

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1911 to 1957

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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 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Dakota license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1911 Golden yellow serial on black flat metal plate; vertical "ND" and "1911" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to approximately 7000
  1912 Embossed red serial on white plate; vertical "ND" and "1912" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to approximately 9000
  1913 Embossed black serial on tan plate; vertical "ND" and "1913" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 12500
  1914 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; vertical "ND" and "1914" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 17000
  1915 Embossed black serial on green plate; vertical "ND" and "1915" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 25000
  1916 Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1916" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 41000
  1917 Debossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1917" at left and right respectively none 12-345 1 to approximately 50-000
  As above, but embossed rather than debossed, and without border line 12345 50001 to approximately 63000
  1918 Debossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1918" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 72000
  1919 Debossed light green serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1919" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 85000
  1920 Embossed cream serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1920" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 91000
  1921 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1921" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 92000
  1922 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1922" at left and right respectively none 12-345 1 to approximately 99-000
  1923 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1923" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 110-000
  1924 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1924" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 116-000
  1925 Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1925" at left and right respectively none F12-345 F1 to approximately F82-000 Issued on Fords.
12-345 1 to approximately 51-000 Issued on all other vehicles.
  1926 Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1926" at left and right respectively none F12-345 F1 to approximately F85-000 Issued on Fords.
12-345 1 to approximately 56-000 Issued on all other vehicles.
  1927 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1927" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000
  1928 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1928" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 151-000
  1929 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1929" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 162-000
  1930 Embossed green serial on golden yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1930" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 155-000
  1931 Embossed tan serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1931" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 145-000
  1932 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1932" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 125-000
  1933 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1933" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 149-000
  1934 Embossed blue serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1934" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 155-000
  1935 Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1935" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 135-000
  1936 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1936" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000
  1937 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1937" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000
  1938 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1938" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 141-000
  1939 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1939" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 142-000
  1940 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1940" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 147-000
  1941 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1941" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 150-000
  1942 Embossed yellow serial on red plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1942" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 143-000 Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
  1943 As 1942 base, but with vertical "1943" at right none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 213-000 Issued only to new registrants.
  1944 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1944" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 135-000
  1945 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1945" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 130-000
  1946 Embossed red serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1946" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 140-000
  1947 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1947" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 152-000
  1948 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1948" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 162-000 First use of the full state name. Revalidated for 1949 with white tabs.
  1949 As 1948 base, but waffle-textured, and with vertical "1949" at right none 123-456 200-001 to approximately 237-000 Issued only to new registrants.
  1950 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1950" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 194-000
  1951 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1951" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 196-000
  1952 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1952" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 192-000
  1953 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1953" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 198-000
  1954 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 54" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 201-000
  1955 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 55" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 209-000
  1956 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 56" at top "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 208-000 First 6" x 12" plate, and first use of the "Peace Garden State" slogan.
  1957 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 57" at top "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 213-000

1958 to present

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Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1958–61 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 58" at top "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 316-000 Revalidated for 1959 with yellow tabs, for 1960 with orange tabs, and for 1961 with green tabs.
  1962–65 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "62" at top right "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 355-000 Revalidated for 1963, 1964 and 1965 with stickers.
  1966–69 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "66" at top right "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 378-000 Revalidated for 1967, 1968 and 1969 with stickers.
  1970–73 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "70" at top right "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 416-000
  1974–79 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "74" at top right "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom 123-456 1 to approximately 580-000
  1980–82 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; "80" at top right "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom ABC 123 AAA 000 to AVP 999 Manufactured in Iowa using that state's serial dies. Issued concurrently with the Theodore Roosevelt base (below) from 1984.
  1983–88 As above, but without "80" AVR 000 to approximately AZM 999
  1984–88 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; blue, white and red graphic featuring Theodore Roosevelt screened at left; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in blue centered at bottom "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in red centered at top AB123 AA000 to approximately KS999 Manufactured in South Dakota using that state's serial dies. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time North Dakota was so honored. Co-recipient with Nevada.
  1989–92 Embossed black serial on light blue, white and light orange gradient plate; long black bar screened below serial containing "1889 NORTH DAKOTA 1989" in white Short black bar screened above serial containing "CENTENNIAL" in white; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in black centered at top ABC 123 BAA 000 to approximately CNP 999 Commemorated North Dakota's 100 years of statehood.
  1993 – November 11, 2015 Embossed black serial on prairie scene with gradient light blue sky, grey mountains and yellow grass; bison at bottom left and three wheat stalks at bottom right; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in white with heavy black outline, centered below serial "Discover the Spirit" screened in white centered at top; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in brown centered at bottom ABC 123 DAA 000 to approximately KRZ 999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1993 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time North Dakota was so honored. 'F' series of serials reserved for Farm plates; 'I' series not used.[2]
  November 12, 2015[3] – November 2016 Screened black serial on badlands scene with light blue, orange and yellow gradient sky, yellow rising sun and brown canyon; bison at bottom right; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in orange centered above serial, with three wheat stalks on either side "LEGENDARY" screened in black centered above state name; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in white at bottom left 123 ABC 000 AAA to 999 BTX First general reissue since 1993.
  November 2016[4] – present As above, but with state name in larger, non-serif font 000 BTY to 237 EGH (as of February 7, 2024)[5]

Non-passenger plates

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Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Motorcycle 1988–94 Embossed black serial on beige plate; "ND" at top left, "88" at top right and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom L12345 L1 to approximately L35000
  1994–2010 Embossed black serial on light blue plate; "ND" at top left and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom M12345 M1 to approximately M93000
  2010–15 Embossed black serial on graphic plate similar to "Discover the Spirit" passenger base; "ND" screened at top left and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom M93001 to M99999
12345M 1M to approximately 40000M
  2015–present Similar to "Legendary" passenger base; "MOTORCYCLE" screened at bottom 50001M to 97715M (as of May 6, 2020)
  Trailer 1993–2015 As "Discover the Spirit" passenger base T123456 T1 to approximately T380000
  2015–present As "Legendary" passenger base T400001 to T523560 (as of December 21, 2023)[5]

References

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  1. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. ^ Tanner, Eric N. "North Dakota Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  3. ^ "New 'Sunrise' North Dakota license plates released". KFGO. November 12, 2015. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "ND makes slight change to new version of license plates". West Fargo Pioneer. March 8, 2017. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "North Dakota License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
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