Vehicle registration plates of Arizona

The U.S. state of Arizona first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1912. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates.

Arizona
Current series
SloganGrand Canyon State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format7-character random combinations[1]
Introduced1996
Availability
Issued byArizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division
History
First issuedJanuary 1, 1914 (1914-01-01)
(pre-state plates from 1912 to December 31, 1913)

Plates are currently issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) through its Motor Vehicle Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1989.

In Arizona, the license plate belongs to the vehicle owner. This allows for the transfer of a plate from one vehicle to another.[2]

Passenger baseplates

1914 to 1955

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1914 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "ARIZ 1914" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 5000
1915 Embossed black serial on white plate; "ARIZ 1915" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 7500
1916 Embossed black serial on copper plate with border line; vertical "ARIZ" and "1916" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 12500
1917 Embossed white serial on black plate; embossed steer head graphic at left with "ARIZ" above and "1917" below none 12345 1 to approximately 20000
1918 Embossed dark blue serial on olive-gray plate; "1918 ARIZ" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 24000
1919 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ARIZ 1919" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 29000
1920 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ARIZ" and "1920" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 35000
1921 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; stylized "ARIZ" and "21" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 36000
1922 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ARIZ" and "1922" at left and right respectively none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1923 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; stylized vertical "ARIZ" and "23" at left none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1924 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "24" and stylized vertical "ARIZ" at left none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1925 Embossed black serial on copper plate with border line; "ARIZONA" at bottom, offset to left; vertical "1925" at right none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First use of the full state name.
1926 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "ARIZONA" at bottom, offset to left; vertical "1926" at right none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1927 Embossed black serial on copper plate with border line; "ARIZONA" at bottom, offset to left; vertical "1927" at right none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1928 Embossed red serial on copper plate with border line; "ARIZONA" at bottom, offset to right; vertical "1928" at left none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1929 Embossed slanted orange serial on black plate with border line; slanted "19 ARIZ 29" centered at bottom none 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1930 Embossed slanted black serial on white plate; slanted "ARIZONA" and "1930" centered at top and bottom respectively; letter at top left denoting county of issuance none 12-34-56 Issued in blocks by county
1931 Embossed slanted black serial on orange plate; slanted "1931" and "ARIZONA" centered at top and bottom respectively; letter at top left denoting county of issuance none 12-34-56 Issued in blocks by county
1932 Embossed slanted white serial on copper plate; slanted "ARIZONA-1932" at top none 1AB1
1A1B
AA12
A1A2
Coded by county of issuance (1 or A)
1933 Debossed slanted copper serial within embossed black rectangle on copper plate; slanted "ARIZONA-1933" at bottom none 1AB1
1A1B
AA12
A1A2
Coded by county of issuance (1 or A)
1934 Debossed slanted copper serial within embossed light blue rectangle on copper plate; slanted "ARIZONA-1934" at top none 1AB1
1A1B
AA12
A1A2
Coded by county of issuance (1 or A)
1935 Embossed slanted black serial within black rectangular outline on copper plate; slanted "ARIZONA-1935" at bottom none 1AB1
1A1B
AA12
A1A2
Coded by county of issuance (1 or A)
1936 Embossed black serial on copper plate; vertical "ARIZ" and "1936" at left and right respectively; county name centered at bottom none 1A B1
1A 1B
AA 12
A1 A2
Coded by county of issuance (1 or A)
1937 Embossed black serial on copper plate with border line; "ARIZONA-37" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none A1-234 Coded by county of issuance (A)
1938 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "ARIZONA-38" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none A1234 Coded by county of issuance (A)
1939 Embossed black serial on copper plate; "ARIZONA" centered at top; vertical "1539" and "1939" at left and right respectively "MARCOS DE NIZA" centered at bottom A12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Commemorated the 400th anniversary of the expedition of Fray Marcos de Niza.
1940 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "ARIZONA-40" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" at bottom A12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) First use of the "Grand Canyon State" slogan.
1941 Embossed black serial on copper plate; "ARIZONA-41" centered at bottom "GRAND CANYON STATE" at top A12345 Coded by county of issuance (A)
1942–44 Embossed black serial on white plate; "42-ARIZONA" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" at bottom A123
1A234
12A345
Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945–46 Embossed black serial on white plate; "ARIZ. 45" centered at top none A1234 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1946 with windshield stickers.
1947 Embossed red serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "ARIZ. 47" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A/B 1234 Coded by county of issuance (A/B)
1948 Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "ARIZ. 48" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A/B 1234 Coded by county of issuance (A/B)
1949 Embossed green serial on waffle-textured unpainted aluminum plate; "ARIZONA 49" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A)
1950–51 Embossed black serial on white plate; "ARIZONA 50" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1951 with aluminum tabs.
1952–53 Embossed white serial on black plate; "ARIZONA 52" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1953 with black tabs.
1954–55 Embossed black serial on white plate; "ARIZONA 54" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1955 with aluminum tabs.

1956 to present

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.[3] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Arizona license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1956–58 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ARIZONA 56" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1957 and 1958 with stickers.
1959–60 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "ARIZONA 59" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately BDY-999 Revalidated for 1960 with stickers. Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continued through 1965.[4]
1961–63 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ARIZONA 61" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 CAA-001 to approximately DMC-999 Revalidated for 1962 and 1963 with stickers.
1964–65 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "ARIZONA 64" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 EAA-001 to approximately FMJ-999 Revalidated for 1965 with stickers.
1966–68 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "ARIZONA 66" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 HAA-001 to
JZZ-999;
NAA-001 to approximately NEF-999
Revalidated for 1967 and 1968 with stickers. Letters I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today.[4]
1969–72 Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "ARIZONA 69" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 KAA-001 to
MZZ-999;
YAA-001 to approximately YDF-999
Revalidated for 1970, 1971, and 1972 with stickers.
1973–80 Embossed green serial on reflective pale orange plate with border line; "ARIZONA 73" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 PAA-001 to approximately WNJ-999 Revalidated with stickers until 1990.
1980–96 Embossed reflective white serial with saguaro cactus separator on maroon plate with border line; "ARIZONA" centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottom ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately NXG-200 Front and rear plates issued until around the ETT series (1989); rear plates only thereafter. Still currently revalidated.
1996 – January 2008 Embossed dark green serial on reflective graphic plate with desert scene featuring turquoise, white, and orange gradient sky, white setting sun and purple mountains and cacti; "ARIZONA" screened in turquoise, with white outlines, centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" screened in dark green below serial, offset to right 123·ABC 001·AAA to 999·ZZZ Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1996 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Arizona was so honored.
January 2008[5] – April 2020 As above, but with serial screened and security threads added to center of plate ABC1234 AAA0001 to CWL3312 (as of January 31, 2021)
April 2020 – present 7-character random combinations Also called "Alphabet Soup" plates. Switch to random combinations after ADOT introduced a new computer coding system for plates, the old system having dated from the mid-1980s. Each plate has seven characters; the quantity of letters and numerals varies, but there is always at least one numeral.[1]

County coding

County1922-231924-281930-311932-361937-381939-44
Maricopa11A1-7A-EA
Cochise22B8, 9GC
Pima33CA-EJ, KB
Gila44DF, GMF
Yavapai55EH, J, KND
Yuma66FL, NRE
Pinal77GP, RSG
Graham88HSTK
Santa Cruz99JTUN
Mohave1010KUVL
Coconino1111LVWH
Navajo1212MXXJ
Apache1414NYYP
Greenlee1315PZZR

Non-passenger plates

1997 to present

Image Type First issued Design Serial format Notes
Alternative Fuel – Government Blue on sky and clouds graphic GA·12345
Alternative Fuel – Passenger April 1997 Blue on sky and clouds graphic AF·1234
AF·123A
AF·12A3
AF12A3
AF1A23
1A23AF
Early plates had a lighter-colored background. Serials became screened at around AF·00P1, and lost the separator at around AF00S1. Current high: 7M77AF (on April 22, 2020).
Alternative Fuel – hybrid vehicle 2008 Blue on sky and clouds graphic 12L N34
123 LN4
Issuance ceased at 99L N99.
Amateur Radio As passenger base. Starting in 1955, a radio tower graphic appears to the left of the serial, and "GRAND CANYON STATE" is replaced with "AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR" FCC call sign One of the earliest special plates that is still available as February 2013.
Apportioned As passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan AB·12345
AB12345
Began at AA·00001. AC series reserved for optional It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child plate, and AF series skipped to avoid confusion with Alternative Fuel passenger plates. Serials became screened midway through the AD series, and lost the separator at the start of the AH series. Current high: AK19982 (on November 9, 2020).
Commercial October 1997 As passenger base CB·12345
CB12345
Began at CA·00001. Serials became screened early in the CF series, and lost the separator at the start of the CK series. Current high: CM49894 (on October 23, 2020).
Disabled Person 1996 As passenger base -1ABC Large wheelchair embossed to left of serial with hyphen. First series used older dies.
Disabled Person 1997 As passenger base ABC12 Small wheelchair embossed to left of serial. First series used older dies.
Historic Vehicle 1977 All-embossed red on copper 12A
1A2
1234
ABC1
12AB
123A
12A3
1A23
Dated-1977 base issued continuously through the present. Current serial is 12AB.
Manufacturer As passenger base MT-1234
Motorcycle 1996 Similar to passenger base M/C ABC1
M/C 1ABC
M/C AB1C
M/C A1BC
M/C 1A2B
M/C A12B
Trailer 1997 As passenger base A-12345
12345-A
Letters J through Y (excluding O, Q and U) were used in the A-12345 format. Serials became screened late in the T series.
Transporter As passenger base XP-123A

1980 to 1996

Image Type Design Serial format Notes
Apportioned As passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan 12A-345
Commercial As passenger base 1AB-234
Trailer As passenger base, but with "TLR." to left of state name A-12345 Letters D, E, F and G were used.

Optional plates

Arizona offers its motorists a number of optional issue designs that are available upon the payment of an additional fee.

Image Type First issued Serial format Notes
Arizona Agriculture 1AG2345
Arizona Centennial October 30, 2011 A1234Z
A1234C
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2011 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Arizona was so honored.
Arizona Diamondbacks April 4, 2007 DB12345
Arizona Highways Magazine early 2009 1AH2345
Arizona Historical Society June 2007 AH123
Arizona Science Center 12345SC
Arizona State University A1234
C1234 (series halted early for Pet plates)
D1234
F1234
Choose Life early 2009 12CL34
Conserving Wildlife W/A12345
Curing Childhood Cancer 12345CR
Donate Life/Be an Organ Donor B1ABC
Early Detection Saves Lives March 26, 2006 JK1234
Ending Hunger 12345HR
Environmental October 1, 1992
December 27, 1994 (redesigned version)
E1234
1234E
123E4
12E34
1E234
EA·1234 (counting up from EV)
Originally had yellow serial; this was changed to black due to poor visibility.[6]
Former Prisoner of War A12
Fraternal Order of Police L/E1234
Freedom January 14, 2007 1FR2345
Gold Star Family May 2009 B123 Serials are surface-printed.
Historic Route 66 December 19, 2016[7] RT1234 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2016 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Arizona was so honored.
Home of the Apache March 2007 C123E4
Honoring Fallen Officers November 2007 FP12345 Serials are surface-printed.
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child AC·12345
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child – Disabled Person AC·1234 Wheelchair embossed to left of serial
Keep It Beautiful A1234B
Live the Golden Rule November 2007 LM12345 Serials are surface-printed.
Medal of Honor 123
National Guard N1234
Navajo Nation September 2003 B/A1234
Northern Arizona University V1234
Pets Enrich Our Lives May 2005 C1234
1234C
Phoenix Suns May 5, 2009 1PS2345 Serials are surface-printed.
Professional Fire Fighters F/F1234
Purple Heart 1234
Special Olympics Arizona December 19, 2016[8] $25 fee, of which $17 benefits local Special Olympics programs.
A State of Good Character September 2005 A12B34
Supporting Public Safety RF12345
Veteran V/T1234
Veteran – Disabled Person V/T123 Wheelchair embossed to left of serial.
University of Arizona P1234
S1234
University of Phoenix F/A1234
White Mountain Apache November 2007 WM123
123WM
Serials are surface-printed.

References

  1. Randazzo, Ryan (June 17, 2020). "Arizona has made a subtle but significant change to its license plates. Have you noticed?". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  2. "Selling Your Vehicle". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  3. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "Arizona Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  5. Faherty, John (April 30, 2008). "Ariz. plates get extra character". The Arizona Republic. The change in the number of characters happened when the Arizona Department of Transportation ran out of combinations when it issued plate 999 ZZZ in mid-January.
  6. Carson, Ron; Northup, John (June 1, 1997). "Arizona Non-Passenger Plates". ALPCA Newsletter 43. pp. 138–139.
  7. Ricca, Aaron (December 29, 2016). "Arizona gives Route 66 a license plate". The Kingman Daily Miner. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  8. "New license plate helps Special Olympics". Eastern Arizona Courier. Safford, AZ. December 20, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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