Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky

The U.S. state of Kentucky first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910. Plates are currently issued by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet through its Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.

Kentucky
Current series
SloganBluegrass State
Unbridled Spirit
In God We Trust (alternative since 2011)
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
IntroducedAugust 1, 2005 (2005-08-01)
Availability
Issued byKentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing
History
First issuedMarch 23, 1910 (1910-03-23)

Passenger baseplates

1910 to 1974

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 Kentucky license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1910–11 White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right, above circle containing 'B' none 1234 1 to approximately 3200 Front and rear plates issued; this practice continued through 1943.
1911–12 White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right, above circle containing 'L' none 1234 4001 to approximately 8300
1912–13 White serial on black porcelain plate; white horizontal stripes at top and bottom; vertical "KY" at right, above square containing 'M' none 1234 1 to approximately 8000
1913–14 White serial on black porcelain plate; red horizontal stripes at top and bottom; vertical "KY" at right, above diamond containing red 'G' none 12345 10001 to approximately 19000
1914 Embossed black serial on white plate; "KY 1914" at right none 12345 20001 to approximately 26400 First dated and embossed plate. Issued only from June through December 1914.
1915 Embossed red serial on white plate; "KY 1915" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 19500
1916 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "KY 1916" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 29500
1917 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY. 1917" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 47500
1918 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KY. 1918" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 64000
1919 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KY. 1919" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 81000
1920 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY. 1920" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 96000
1921 Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "KY. 1921" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 157000
1922 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KY. 1922" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 167000
1923 Embossed blue serial on gray plate with border line; "KY. 1923" at right none 123456 1 to approximately 185000
1924 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KY 1924" at right none 123456
1925 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KENTUCKY·1925" centered at bottom none 123-456 First use of the full state name.
1926 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "KENTUCKY·1926" centered at bottom none 123-456
1927 Embossed white serial on blue plate. Plate divided into four sections, each surrounded by border lines, with "KY", county name and "27" in top section and serial numbers in bottom left and bottom right sections none 12 34
12 345		 Began at 1 in each county First state-issued passenger plate in the U.S. to feature the name of the county of issuance.
1928 Embossed white serial on green plate. Plate divided into four sections, each surrounded by border lines, with "KY. 28" in bottom center section, county name in top section and serial numbers in bottom left and bottom right sections none 12 34
12 345		 Began at 1 in each county
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. Serial numbers 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 serial numbers 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 through 1936.[2]
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 serial numbers in center.
Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with serial 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 serial on green plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 31" (on front plates) or "KY", county name and "31" (on rear plates) at bottom none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1932 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 32" (on front plates) or "KY", county name and "32" (on rear plates) at bottom none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1933 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KY", county name and "33" at bottom none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1934 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY", county name and "34" at top none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1935 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "KY", county name and "35" at bottom none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1936 Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "KY", county name and "36" at bottom none 123-456 1 to 850-000
1937 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'37" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 12345
A1234
1A234
12A34
123A4		 Issued in blocks by county
1938 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'38" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 12345
A1234
1A234
12A34
123A4		 Issued in blocks by county
1939 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'39" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 12345
A1234
1A234
12A34
123A4		 Issued in blocks by county
1940 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'40" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 12345
A1234
1A234
12A34
123A4		 Issued in blocks by county
1941 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'41" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 12345
A1234
1A234
12A34
123A4		 Issued in blocks by county
1942–43 Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'42" and county name 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 serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'44" and county name 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 serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'46" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 Issued in blocks by county Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers.
1948 Embossed orange serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "KENTUCKY-'48" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1949 Embossed black serial on waffle-textured silver plate; "KENTUCKY-'49" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1950 Embossed white serial on waffle-textured green plate; "KENTUCKY-'50" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1951–52 Embossed black serial on silver plate; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY-'51" centered at top 123-456 Issued in blocks by county Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.
1953 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY-'53" centered at top 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1954 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY-'54" centered at top 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1955 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY-'55" centered at top 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1956 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19" at top left and "56" at top right; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY" centered at top 123-456 Issued in blocks by county
1957 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19" at top left and "57" at top right; county name centered at bottom "TOUR KENTUCKY" centered at top 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 serial on white plate; "19 KENTUCKY 58" at top; county name centered at bottom none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1959 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19 KENTUCKY 59" at top; county name centered at bottom none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1960 As 1958 base, but with "60" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1961 As 1959 base, but with "61" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1962 As 1958 base, but with "62" at top right; border line added on later plates none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1963 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 63" at top; county name centered at bottom none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1964 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 64" at top; county name centered at bottom none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1965 As 1963 base, but with "65" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1966 As 1964 base, but with "66" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1967 As 1963 base, but with "67" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1968 As 1964 base, but with "68" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1969 As 1963 base, but with "69" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1970 As 1964 base, but with "70" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1971 As 1963 base, but with "71" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1972 As 1964 base, but with "72" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1973 As 1963 base, but with "73" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county
1974 As 1964 base, but with "74" at top right none 123-456
A12-345		 Issued in blocks by county

1975 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1975–77 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 75" at top; county name centered at bottom 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.[2]
1977–83 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KY" at top left and top right; debossed box for expiration sticker centered at top; county-name sticker centered at bottom none ABC-123 AAA-000 to approximately GFZ-999 Monthly staggered registration introduced.
1983–88 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively none ABC-123 JAA-000 to approximately RNV-999
1988–97 Embossed blue serial 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 centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and serial "Bluegrass State" screened in blue 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 serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in blue 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 serial on graphic plate with light blue sky, white state-shaped cloud and green rolling hills; "Kentucky" screened in black centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened in black centered below state name 123 ABC 000 AAA to approximately 700 HYJ
November 2002 – January 2003 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in dark blue 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 serial 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 centered above serial; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom "The Bluegrass State" and "It's that friendly." screened in blue 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.[3]
August 1, 2005[4] – June
2008		 Embossed dark blue serial on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened in the center; screened blue and red Kentucky Tourism logo centered above serial; 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 – late 2019 901 JCB to 999 ZZZ Narrower serial dies. 'S' series not used in the 123 ABC format.
late 2019 – September 2020 ABC 123 AAA 000 to AST 743 (as of November 4, 2020) AFD 866
January 2011 – September 2020 As above, but with smaller Kentucky Tourism logo As above, plus "In God We Trust" screened in blue centered between logo and serial 123 ABC
ABC 123		 Taken from standard allocation No-cost alternative plate; first issues were in the LRG series of the 123 ABC format.
AXK444 September 2020 – Present Flat, digitally printed dark blue serial on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened on the left; screened blue "KENTUCKY" centered above serial, with "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened above that in smaller font; county name on blue sticker in box centered at bottom; serial is not separated in middle, as with past designs ABC123 AAA000 to AXS893 (as of November 4, 2020)
September 2020 – Present As above, but with county sticker box moved down slightly As above, plus "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in blue centered above county sticker ABC123 Taken from standard allocation AAA000 to AZZ999

Special plates
Image Type Dates issued Description Serial format Notes
"Nature's Finest"
Nature's Finest – viceroy butterfly Custom plate featuring a large viceroy butterfly on the left and a smaller one of the right. On the top is the familiar Kentucky Tourism logo and on the bottom are the words "Nature's Finest."
Nature's Finest – wren 12345
Nature's Finest - Cumberland Falls Custom plate featuring the Cumberland Falls, a state park in Corbin, Kentucky. On the top is the familiar Kentucky Tourism logo and on the bottom are the words "Nature's Finest." Discontinued
"Share The Road"
 Share The Road Custom plate featuring two bicyclists and a runner on a blue background. A portion of proceeds goes to promote safety and education for both cyclists and pedestrians in the Commonwealth.

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Motorcycle 2003–09 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and "MOTORCYCLE" centered at top and bottom respectively 1234A 0000A to 9999Z
2009–
present		 AB123 AA000 to JV001 (as of October 23, 2020)

Government/Official plates
Image Type Design Serial Format Notes
 Official Government Units or Emergency Ambulances Embossed black serial on white background. "Kentucky" screened at center top and "OFFICIAL" screen at center bottom. A black-and-white seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky resides at the left side. A1234 Local agencies may occasionally cover the Commonwealth seal with a sticker of their own organization's logo/seal.
Congressional
Judiciary
State Senator
State Representative

References
  1. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. Tanner, Eric N. "Kentucky License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  3. "Kentucky Frowns on Smiley License Plates". NBC News. July 16, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  4. "Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate". Kentucky.gov. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2015.
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