Vehicle registration plates of South Carolina
Appearance
The U.S. state of South Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917.
Passenger baseplates
1917 to 1975
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces 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 South Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1917 | Embossed black numbers on light yellow plate; "SC 17" at right | none | 12345 | 5001 to approximately 41000 | |
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1918 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "SC 18" at left | none | 12345 | 5001 to approximately 61000 | |
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1919 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "S.C. 1919" centered at bottom | none | 12-345 | 5-001 to approximately 73-000 | |
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1920 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1920" centered at bottom | none | 12-345 | 5-001 to approximately 98-000 | |
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1921 | Embossed red numbers on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1921" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1922 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "SC 22" at right | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1923 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "SC 23" at right | none | A12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1924 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "24" and "SC" monogram at right | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1925 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "SC" monogram and "25" at right | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1926 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "26" | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1927 | Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "27" | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1928 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1928" at bottom | none | A123-456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | First use of the full state name. |
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1929 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1929" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1930 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1930" at bottom | Vertical "IODINE" at right | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | The slogan referred to the high amounts of iodine found in South Carolina's produce. Similar slogans were used through 1933. |
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1931 | Embossed green numbers on gray plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "31" at bottom | "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1932 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "32" at top | "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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January – October 1933 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "SC 33" at right | "THE IODINE PRODUCTS STATE" at bottom | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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November 1933 – April 1934 |
Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "SC · EXPIRES APR 30 · 34" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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May – October 1934 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "SC · EXPIRES OCT 31 · 34" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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November 1934 – April 1935 |
Embossed white numbers on black plate; "SC · APRIL 30 · 35" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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May – October 1935 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 35" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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November 1935 – April 1936 |
Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "SC · APRIL 30 · 36" at top | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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May – October 1936 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 36" at bottom | none | A-12-345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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November 1936 – October 1937 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 37" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
1937–38 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 38" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | ||
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1938–39 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 39" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1939–40 | Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 40" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1941 graphic.png | 1940–41 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 41" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1941–42 | Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 42" at top | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1943 graphic.png | 1942–44 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 43" at bottom | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | Revalidated for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
File:South Carolina license plate 1945 graphic.png | 1945 | Embossed yellow numbers on green plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 45" at top | none | A·12·345 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1946 graphic.png | 1946 | Embossed silver numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 46" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1947 graphic.png | 1947 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 47" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1948 graphic.png | 1948 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 48" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1949 graphic.png | 1949 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 49" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1950 graphic.png | 1950 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 50" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1951 graphic.png | 1951 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 51" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1952 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 52" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1953 graphic.png | 1953 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 53" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1954 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 54" at bottom | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1955 graphic.png | 1955 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 55" at top | none | A·123·456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1956 graphic.png | 1956 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1957 graphic.png | 1957 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 57" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1958 graphic.png | 1958 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 58" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
1959 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 59" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | ||
1960 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 60" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | ||
1961 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 61" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | ||
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1962 | Embossed white numbers on red plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 62" at bottom | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
1963 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 63" at top | none | A-123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | ||
1964 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 64" at bottom | none | A-123456 AA-1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | Two-letter serial format introduced for each weight class, though the single-letter format continued to be used. | |
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1965 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 65" at top | none | A-123456 AA-1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1966 graphic.png | 1966 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 66" at bottom | none | A 123456 AA 1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1967 graphic.png | 1967 | Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1967" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A 123456 AA 1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1968 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "AUTO" centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right | none | A 123456 | Letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1969 graphic.png | 1969 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1969" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A 123456 AA 1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | |
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1970 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top | "300 YEARS" centered at bottom, with "1670" at bottom left and "1970" at bottom right | A 123456 AA 1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of South Carolina. |
File:South Carolina license plate 1971 graphic.png | 1971 | Embossed white numbers on brown plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1971" centered at bottom | none | A 123456 AA 1234 |
First letter corresponds to weight class | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1972 graphic.png | 1972 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1972" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately TOW 250 | For each three-letter series, only the numbers 101 to 250 were issued. This practice continued until 1976. |
File:South Carolina license plate 1973 graphic.png | 1973 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1973" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately VEP 250 | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1974 graphic.png | 1974 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1974" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately WJC 250 | |
File:South Carolina license plate 1975 graphic.png | 1975 | Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1975" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately WRC 250 |
1976 to present
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1976 – December 1979 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; red Sabal palmetto and blue cannon screened in the center; "1775" and "1783" screened in blue on either side of cannon; red band screened at bottom containing "SOUTH CAROLINA" in white in the center | "1776 Bicentennial 1976" screened in blue at top | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to WZZ 400; AAA 401 to WZZ 500 | Commemorated both the US Bicentennial and the Revolutionary War. Numbers 101 to 400 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by numbers 401 to 500 from 1978. I, O, P, Q, U and Y used only as overflow letters; this practice continued until 1985.[2] |
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January 1980 – December 1984 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; white state seal on pale blue state shape screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to YZZ 500 | Numbers 101 to 500 issued for each three-letter series. |
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January 1985 – December 1989 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; pale blue Sabal palmetto screened in the center; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in red at top | none | ABC 123 | AAA 501 to ZZZ 999 | Numbers 501 to 900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901 to 999 added in 1988. |
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January 1990 – December 1997 | Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate; Carolina wren on yellow jessamine vine screened at top; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in brown centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to YZZ 500; AAA 501 to YZZ 900 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1990 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time South Carolina has been so honored. Numbers 101 to 500 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by numbers 501 to 900 from mid-1991. |
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January 1998 – October 2007 | Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate; light blue mountain graphic screened at top and sides and Sabal palmetto in the center; "South Carolina" screened in light blue centered at bottom | "Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places." screened in black at top | 123 ABC | 101 AAA to approximately 900 XBJ | Numbers 101 to 900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901 to 999 added in late 2007 at the XCR series. Letters I, O and Q not used, and U used only from 2002 onwards, beginning with the NKU series.[2] |
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October 2007[3] – June 2008 |
As above, but with numbers screened rather than embossed | 101 XBK to approximately 999 XXM | |||
File:SC license plate 2009.jpg | July 2008 – January 2016 |
Screened black numbers on multicolored sunset background with state flag motif at center | TRAVEL2SC.COM | ABC 123 | AAA 101 to approximately LZC 999 | Letter O not used in serials; this practice continues today. |
File:SC license plate 2016.jpg | February 2016 – present | Screened black numbers on white and blue background with state flag motif at center | While I Breathe, I Hope. | ABC 123 | LZD 101 to QHK 999 (as of September 30, 2018) |
Optional plates
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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February 2003 – October 2007 | Embossed black numbers on light blue and white gradient plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in gold centered at top, with gradient gold stripe below | 123 4AB | 100 1AA to approximately 400 0DT | No cost. |
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October 2007 – December 2015 | As above, but with numbers screened rather than embossed | 400 1DT to approximately 999 9HQ | |||
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January 2016 – present | Screened black numbers on white plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened at left; "South Carolina" screened in black centered at bottom | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in black centered at top, with blue stripe above and red stripe below | 1234AB | 1001HR to 4999MQ (as of September 5, 2018) |
Non-passenger plates
References
- ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ^ a b "South Carolina License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
- ^ "March of the Flats". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved May 28, 2017.