Vehicle registration plates of Georgia (U.S. state)
The U.S. state of Georgia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910. Plates are currently issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Georgia Department of Revenue. Only rear plates have been required since 1942.
Current peach tree license plate | |
Current series | |
---|---|
Slogan | Peach State (on peach tree design) |
Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
Material | Aluminum |
Serial format | ABC1234 |
Introduced | May 2012 |
Availability | |
Issued by | Georgia Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Division |
History | |
First issued | September 1, 1910 |
Passenger baseplates
1910 to 1970
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 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Georgia license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1954 (dated 1955) and 1955 (dated 1956) issues were 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1910–11 | Black on aluminum | none | 12345 | 1 to 10000 | ||
1911–12 | Black on yellow | none | 12345 | 10001 to 17000 | ||
1912–13 | Black on white; vertical "GA" at right | none | 12345 | 17001 to approximately 23600 | ||
1914 | Black on white with border line; "GA 1914" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 20600 | First dated plate; replaced all 1910–13 plates. | |
1915 | White on black porcelain with border line; "GA. 1915" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 25300 | ||
1916 | Black on white with border line; "GA 16" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 47500 | ||
1917 | White on black with border line; "GA 1917" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 67500 | ||
1918 | Black on light green with border line; "GA 1918" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 95500 | ||
1919 | Black on white with border line; "GA 1919" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 118500 | ||
1920 | White on dark green with border line; "GA 20" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 145-000 | ||
1921 | Dark green on white with border line; "GA 21" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 133-000 | ||
1922 | White on black with border line; "GA 22" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 151-000 | ||
1923 | White on brown with border line; "GA 23" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 151-000 | ||
1924 | Black on gray with border line; "GA. 1924" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 178-000 | ||
1925 | White on dark blue with border line; "GA. 25" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 221-000 | ||
1926 | White on red with border line; "GA. 1926" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 243-000 | ||
1927 | Black on yellow with border line; vertical "GA-27" as separator | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 265-000 | ||
1928 | White on dark blue with border line; "GA. 1928" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 294-000 | ||
1929 | Golden yellow on black with border line; vertical "GA-29" as separator; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at right | none | 123-456A | 1A to approximately 316-000D (see right) |
Front and rear plates issued; this practice continued through 1941. First use of weight classes, with the letters A, B, C and D used in order from the heaviest vehicles to the lightest, and a block of serials assigned to each class. | |
1930 | Black on gray with border line; "GEORGIA–1930" at top | none | 123-456A | 1A to approximately 349-000D (see right) |
First use of the full state name. Weight class letters and method of assigning serials to each class same as 1929. | |
1931 | White on dark green with border line; "GA–31" at top | none | A1234 1A234 |
A1 to Z9999; 0A1 to 9Z999 |
Four weight classes as in 1929 and 1930; separate blocks of serials for regular and locking-bar plates assigned to each class. | |
White on dark green with border line; "GA" at top left, "31" at top right and space for locking bar at top middle | none | |||||
1932 | White on dark blue with border line; "GA–32" at top | none | 12345A | Coded by weight class (A) | Letters A, B, C and D used in order from the heaviest vehicles to the lightest, as in 1929 and 1930, but with serials in each class starting from 1. Letter E added for the lightest class when 99999D was reached. These practices continued through 1935. | |
1933 | Dark blue on orange with border line; "GA–33" at top | none | 12-345A | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1934 | Orange on dark blue with border line; "GEORGIA" and "1934" at top and bottom respectively | none | 12-345A | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1935 | Dark blue on orange with border line; "1935" and "GEORGIA" at top and bottom respectively | none | 12-345A | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1936 | As 1934 base, but with "1936" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 331-000 | ||
1937 | As 1935 base, but with "1937" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 364-000 | ||
1938 | As 1934 base, but with "1938" at bottom | none | 12-345A | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1939 | Dark blue on yellow with border line; "1939" and "GEORGIA" at top and bottom respectively | none | 12-345A | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1940 | Orange on green with border line; "GA", peach graphic and "40" at bottom | "PEACH STATE" at top | A12-345 | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
As above, but with "GA 40" at top and no peach graphic | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | |||||
1941 | Reflective yellow on dark blue with border line; peach sticker in the center; "GA 41" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | 123-45A 123-4EX |
Coded by weight class (A) | First reflectorized passenger plate in the United States, and also the first to use a sticker of any kind.[2][3] | |
1942–43 | White on dark blue with red border line; "1942" and "GEORGIA" in red at top at bottom respectively | none | A12-345 EX12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
1944 | Yellow on black with border line; "GA 44" at left | none | A 12345 EX 12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1945 | White on black with border line; "1945" and "GEORGIA" at top and bottom respectively | none | A-12345 | Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1946 | Black on silver with border line; "1946" and "GEORGIA" at top and bottom respectively | none | A-12345 E/X-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1947 | Maroon on cream with border line; "GA 47" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1948 | Black on unpainted aluminum with border line; "GA 48" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1949 | Red on unpainted aluminum with border line; "GA 49" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1950 | Black on unpainted aluminum with border line; "GA 50" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1951 | Green on unpainted aluminum with border line; "GA 51" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1952 | White on black with border line; "GA 52" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1953 | Orange on black with border line; "GA 53" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1954 | Black on yellow with border line; "GA 54" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1955 | Yellow on black with border line; "GEORGIA 55" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 E/S-12345 |
Coded by weight class (A) | ||
1956 | White on black with border line; "GEORGIA 56" at top | "PEACH STATE" at bottom | A-12345 E/X-12345 H/A-12345 |
Coded by weight class | Weight classes were as follows: E, E/X and D (3,000 lb and under); H/A through H/N (3,001 to 3,500 lb); J and K (3,501 to 4,000 lb); and A (4,001 lb and over).[4] | |
1957 | White on dark green with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "57" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class (see right) | Weight classes were as follows: D and E (3,000 lb and under); no letter (3,001 to 3,500 lb); J (3,501 to 4,000 lb); and A (4,001 lb and over). This continued through 1970.[4] | |
1958 | Black on white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "58" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1959 | White on black with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "59" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1960 | Black on white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "60" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1961 | Black on yellow with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "61" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1962 | Red on white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "62" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1963 | White on red with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "63" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1964 | Peach on green with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "64" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1965 | Blue on white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "65" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1966 | White on red with border line; "19 GEORGIA 66" at bottom | "PEACH STATE" centered at top | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1967 | Red on white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "67" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1968 | White on green with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1969 | White on black with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "69" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class | ||
1970 | White on blue with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "19" at bottom left and "70" at bottom right | "PEACH STATE" centered at bottom | 1·12345 1·A·12345 10·1234 10·A·1234 100·1234 100·A·123 |
Coded by county of issuance (1, 10 or 100) and weight class |
1971 to present
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials Issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1971–75 | Embossed blue on reflective white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "71" at top left; county name on sticker at bottom | none | ABC 123 | First letter corresponds to weight class (see right) | Weight classes were as follows: A, B, C and F (3,000 lb and under); E and G (3,001 to 3,500 lb); L, M and P (3,501 to 4,000 lb); and R and W (4,001 lb and over). | |
1976–79 | Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "GEORGIA" centered at top; "76" at top left; county name on sticker at bottom | none | ABC 123 | First letter corresponds to weight class (see right) | Weight classes were as follows: A through E (3,000 lb and under); G and H (3,001 to 3,500 lb); L, M and N (3,501 to 4,000 lb); and R and S (4,001 lb and over). | |
1979–80 | ABC 123 | TAA 001 to TZZ 999; WAA 001 to approximately WGZ 999 |
||||
1980–82 | As above, but with "GEORGIA" screened rather than embossed | WHA 001 to approximately YFI 999 | ||||
1983–89 | Embossed green on reflective white; screened "19 GEORGIA 83" at top; county name on sticker at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 001 to approximately WCW 999 | Vanity plates featured the "Peach State" slogan in place of the county-name sticker. | |
1990 – March 1996 | Embossed black on reflective gradient white and orange; screened green "Georgia" at top with peach graphic for the 'o'; "19" at top left and "90" at top right; county name on sticker at bottom | none | ABC 123 | AAA 001 to YZZ 999 |
Letters I, O, Q, U and V not used in either serial format.[4] The ABC 1234 format used narrower dies. | |
March 1996 – January 1997 | ABC 1234 | AAA 1001 to approximately ADM 9999 | ||||
February 1997 – June 2001 |
Embossed black on reflective white with peach graphic at center; screened black "GEORGIA" at top, offset to left; county name on sticker at bottom | ...on my mind | 123 ABC | 001 AAA to 999 ZZZ |
Letters I and O not used in this serial format, and Q, U and V used only from 2000, beginning with the XAQ series.[4] | |
April 1997 – June 2001 |
1234 AB | Intermittently from 1001 QA to 9999 YZ | Both these serial formats used on passenger vehicles (interchangeably with the 123 ABC format) and trucks, having originally been intended to be reserved for the latter. Letters I, O, U and V not used in the 1234 AB format. The 12345 QA format used narrower dies. | |||
12345 QA | Intermittently from 10001 QA to approximately 50000 QG | |||||
June 2001 – November 2003 | 1234 ABC | 1001 AAA to approximately 9999 AWT | Same narrow dies as the 12345 QA format. Letters I, O, Q, U and V not used. | |||
December 2003 – April 2007 |
Embossed black on reflective gradient gray and white; peach graphic containing green state shape at center; county name on sticker at bottom | www.GEORGIA.gov | ABC 1234 | Exclusively from AAA 0001 to approximately AVM 9999; intermittently from AVN 0001 to approximately AWB 1750 | Letter O not used in this serial format. | |
May 2007 – April 2012 |
Similar to above, but without gray gradient and "www." in web address | GEORGIA.gov | Intermittently from AVN 0001 to approximately AWB 1750; exclusively from AWB 1751 to approximately CAQ 9999 | |||
May 2012 – present | Screened black on reflective graphic plate with rolling hills, peach tree, and peaches | Peach State | ABC1234 | PAA0000 to PEZ9999; PMA0000 to PZZ9999; then 'Q', 'R' and 'S' series and 'C' series from CAR0000 onwards, alternating with plain peach plates | On both these bases, "In God We Trust" can be printed at the bottom in place of the county name. | |
Screened black on reflective white; peach graphic in center | none | ABC1234 | PFA0000 to PLZ9999; then 'Q', 'R' and 'S' series and 'C' series from CAR0000 onwards, alternating with peach tree plates |
County coding
Georgia used two sets of numeric county codes on its license plates between 1957 and 1970. On both sets, the order of the codes was based on the respective populations of each county, with the order of the codes from 1962 onwards based on the figures according to the 1960 United States Census.[5][6]
Since 1971, the name of the county of issuance has been displayed at the bottom of each plate – originally on a sticker, before becoming screened in 2012.
Non-passenger and optional types
Georgia was one of the first states to issue optional plates, introducing commemorative issues for several of its in-state colleges and universities in 1983. The only requirement is a minimum of 1000 plates ordered, thus the state has made plates for fans of Auburn University in Alabama and Clemson University in South Carolina.
The number of optional types has increased since 1983; Georgia currently offers many specialty or optional license plates, most at an extra cost to motorists.[7] Revenue from the sale of specialty plates is shared with the sponsoring organization, provided that the sponsor is an in-state Georgia college or an organization which has been authorized to receive revenue by an act of the legislature. Organizations which have not received legislative authorization, and out of state colleges, are not eligible to receive revenue from specialty tag sales.[8]
Effective with the 2005 base, the state streamlined the ever-growing number of limited-issuance plates by instituting two-letter prefixes for almost all types other than standard passenger plates. Most of these plate types first appeared on the www.GEORGIA.gov base and are currently migrating to the new GEORGIA.gov base.
The state also issues plates for non-passenger vehicles, such as trucks, school buses, and government vehicles.
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1996 Summer Olympics | 1993–96 | Embossed red on reflective white with border line; 1996 Summer Olympics logo screened in green at left; screened green "Georgia" at top with red flame graphic for the 'o' | "Centennial Olympic Games" screened in green at bottom | 12345 123AB 12AB3 1AB23 |
Revalidated until 1997. |
References
- Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- "License Plate Trivia". ALPCA. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- Sultan, Tim (May 6, 2005). "Vintage Cars, Vintage Plates". The New York Times. Retrieved May 29, 2016.
- Tanner, Eric N. "Georgia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
- "Georgia license plate County Codes". GeorgiaPlates.com. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- Nicholson, David (11 February 1999). "Georgia County Codes". 15q.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
- Georgia Department of Revenue
- "Specialty License Plate Sponsors". Georgia Department of Revenue. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
Further reading
External links
- Media related to License plates of Georgia (U.S. state) at Wikimedia Commons