Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky

The U.S. state of Kentucky first started requiring its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910.

Passenger baseplates

1910 to 1974

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

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1910	Black base with white numbers painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above circle containing single letter at right.	none	12345		Front and rear plates issued; this practice continued until 1944.
1911	Black base with white numbers painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above circle containing single letter at right.	none	12345
1912	Black base with white numbers and horizontal stripes at top and bottom, all painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above square encircling single letter at right.	none	12345
1913	Black base with white numbers and red horizontal stripes at top and bottom, all painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above white diamond encircling single red letter at right.	none	12345
1914	White base with black embossed lettering. "KY 1914" at right.	none	12345
1915	White base with red embossed lettering. "KY 1915" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 19500
1916	Blue base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 1916" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 29500
1917	White base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1917" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 47500
1918	Black base with yellow embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1918" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 64000
1919	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1919" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 81000
1920	White base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1920" at right.	none	12345	1 to approximately 96000
1921	Brown base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1921" at right.	none	123456
1922	Orange base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1922" at right.	none	123456
1923	Gray base with blue embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1923" at right.	none	123456
1924	Black base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 1924" at right.	none	123456
1925	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. "KENTUCKY·1925" at bottom.	none	123-456		First use of the full state name.
1926	Maroon base with white embossed lettering and border. "KENTUCKY·1926" at bottom.	none	123-456
1927	Blue base with white embossed lettering and borders. Top third of plate used long rectangular box with "KY" and "27" on either side of county name; Bottom two-thirds divided into three boxes; left and right ones contained registration numbers and center box a white circular sticker.	none	123-456
1928	Green base with white embossed lettering and borders. Top third of plate used long rectangular box with county name; Bottom two-thirds divided into three boxes; left and right ones contained registration numbers and center box "KY. 28".	none	123-456
1929	Pair of plates with blue base with white embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with county name at bottom. Registration digits in center separated by "FRONT" in small letters in middle. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with "FOR" in center of plate between registration digits and "PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom.	"FOR PROGRESS" on rear plates (see left)	123-456	1 to 850-000 (see right)	A block of serials was assigned to each county in alphabetical order; this practice continued until 1937.^[1]
1930	Pair of plates, each with white base with red embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with county name at bottom and registration digits in center. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with registration in center of plate and "FOR PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom.	"FOR PROGRESS" on rear plates (see left)	123-456	1 to 850-000
1931	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; front plates have "19 KENTUCKY 31" embossed at bottom, while rear plates have "KY" at bottom left, "31" at bottom right and county name at bottom center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1932	Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; front plates have "19 KENTUCKY 32" embossed at bottom, while rear plates have "KY" at bottom left, "32" at bottom right and county name at bottom center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1933	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "KY" and "33" embossed in white block letters at bottom left and bottom right respectively; county name in same letters at bottom center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1934	Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "KY" and "34" embossed in black block letters at top left and top right respectively; county name in same letters at top center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1935	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "KY" and "35" embossed in black block letters at bottom left and bottom right respectively; county name in same letters at bottom center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1936	Embossed silver numbers on black plate with border line; "KY" and "36" embossed in silver block letters at bottom left and bottom right respectively; county name in same letters at bottom center	none	123-456	1 to 850-000
1937	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'37" and county name embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county
1938	Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'38" and county name embossed in green block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county
1939	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'39" and county name embossed in white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county
1940	Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'40" and county name embossed in red block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county
1941	Embossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'41" and county name embossed in black block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county
1942–43	Embossed silver numbers on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'42" and county name embossed in silver block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county	Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–45	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'44" and county name embossed in yellow block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4	Issued in blocks by county	Only rear plates issued; this practice continues today. Revalidated for 1945 with windshield stickers.
1946–47	Embossed silver numbers on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'46" and county name embossed in silver block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by county	Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers.
1948	Embossed orange numbers on unpainted aluminum plate; "KENTUCKY-'48" and county name embossed in orange block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1949	Embossed black numbers on waffle-textured silver plate; "KENTUCKY-'49" and county name embossed in black block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1950	Embossed white numbers on waffle-textured green plate; "KENTUCKY-'50" and county name embossed in white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1951–52	Embossed black numbers on silver plate; "KENTUCKY-'51" embossed in narrow black block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide black block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow black block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county	Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.
1953	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY-'53" embossed in narrow white block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow white block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1954	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY-'54" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1955	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY-'55" embossed in narrow white block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow white block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1956	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "56" in top right corner	"TOUR" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
1957	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow white block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "57" in top right corner	"TOUR" embossed in narrow white block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county	One-letter, five-digit serials introduced in counties that had exhausted their all-numeric allocations.
1958	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "58" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1959	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "59" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1960	As 1958 base, but with "60" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1961	As 1959 base, but with "61" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1962	As 1958 base, but with "62" embossed in top right corner; border line added on later plates	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1963	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "63" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1964	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "64" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1965	As 1963 base, but with "65" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1966	As 1964 base, but with "66" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1967	As 1963 base, but with "67" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1968	As 1964 base, but with "68" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1969	As 1963 base, but with "69" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1970	As 1964 base, but with "70" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1971	As 1963 base, but with "71" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1972	As 1964 base, but with "72" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1973	As 1963 base, but with "73" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
1974	As 1964 base, but with "74" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county

1975 to present

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1975–77	As 1963 base, but with "75" embossed in top right corner	none	ABC-123	Issued in blocks by county	Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with stickers. Letters I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today.^[1]
1977–83	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KY" embossed in dark blue block letters in top left and top right corners; debossed box for expiration sticker centered at top; county sticker centered at bottom	none	ABC-123	AAA-000 to approximately GFZ-999
1983–88	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	ABC-123	JAA-000 to approximately RNV-999
1988–97	Embossed blue numbers on white plate; twin spires of Churchill Downs racetrack screened in blue at the top and a mare and foal screened in light blue in the center; "Kentucky" screened in blue serifed letters centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and numbers	"Bluegrass State" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	TAA 000 to ZZZ 999; AAA 000 to approximately EBP 999	Mare and foal based on the photo The Soul of a Horse, taken by Peter Thomann. The base was withdrawn when Thomann threatened to sue for copyright infringement.
1997	Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	ABC-123	EBR-000 to approximately FAE-999	Interim plates based on truck plates of the time, with county name in place of weight class.
January 1998 – November 2002	Embossed blue numbers on graphic plate with light blue sky, white state-shaped cloud and green rolling hills; "Kentucky" screened in black italic serifed letters centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"BLUEGRASS STATE" screened in black italic serifed letters below state name	123 ABC	000 AAA to approximately 700 HYJ
November 2002 – January 2003	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	none	123 ABC	701 HYJ to 999 HZZ	Interim plates manufactured when stocks of cloud plates ran out before the smiling sun base (below) was introduced.
January 2003 – July 31, 2005	Embossed dark blue numbers on graphic plate with blue, white and red gradient sky, green rolling hills, and an anthropomorphic rising yellow sun with a red smile; "KENTUCKY" screened in white serifed letters centered above numbers; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"The Bluegrass State" and "It's that friendly." screened in blue serifed letters above and below state name respectively	123 ABC	000 JAA to approximately 999 PSX	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2003 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Kentucky has been so honored. Despite the honor, the plates were widely derided and defaced by residents.^[2]
August 1, 2005^[3] – June 2008	Embossed dark blue numbers on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened in the center; screened blue and red Kentucky Tourism logo centered above numbers; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"BLUEGRASS STATE" and "UNBRIDLED SPIRIT" screened above and below Kentucky Tourism logo respectively	123 ABC	000 AAA to approximately 900 JCB
June 2008 – present				901 JCB to 999 XDF (as of July 31, 2017)	Narrower dies. S not used as first letter in serials.
January 2011 – present	As above, but with smaller Kentucky Tourism logo	As above, plus "In God We Trust" screened in blue serifed letters centered between logo and numbers		901 JCB to 999 XDF (as of July 31, 2017)	No-cost alternative plate; first issues were in the LRG series.

Optional types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Description	Serial format	Notes
	Nature's Finest—monarch butterfly		12 345
	Nature's Finest—wren		12345

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Motorcycle	2003–09	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and "MOTORCYCLE" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	1234A	0000A to 9999Z
	Motorcycle	2009– present		AB123	AA000 to present

External links

Kentucky license plates 1969-present

References

^ ^a ^b "Kentucky License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
^ "Kentucky Frowns on Smiley License Plates". MSNBC.com. July 16, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
^ "Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate". Kentucky.gov. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2015.

[allaboutlicenseplates-1] "Kentucky License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.

[2] "Kentucky Frowns on Smiley License Plates". MSNBC.com. July 16, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2011.

[3] "Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate". Kentucky.gov. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2015.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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