Vehicle registration plates of Washington (state)
The U.S. state of Washington first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.[1]
 | |
| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Evergreen State |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Serial format | ABC1234 |
| Introduced | July 1998 |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | Washington State Department of Licensing |
| History | |
| First issued | June 1915 (pre-state plates from May 1905 to May 1915) |
Plates are currently issued by the Washington State Department of Licensing. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
Passenger baseplates
1915 to 1949
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1915–16 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "WN" and "1916" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 45000, with gaps (see right) | Single series of all-numeric serials used for all classes of vehicles, including trucks, vehicles for hire and dealer vehicles.[2] |
 |
1916–17 | Embossed white serial on lavender plate with border line; "WN" at left and vertical "X17" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 64000, with gaps | The 'X' indicated the passenger class of vehicles; other letters were used for other classes.[2] |
 |
1917–18 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "WN" at left and vertical "X18" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 96000, with gaps | |
|
1918–19 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "WN X-19" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 114000 | Revalidated through February 29, 1920 with white porcelain tabs. |
 |
1919–20 | Black serial on yellow and white porcelain plate; "WN X-20" on white section at left | none | 123456 | 144001 to approximately 157000, with gaps | Both these plates issued only to new registrants. |
|
As above, but fully embossed with border line | none | 123456 | 157501 to approximately 194000, with gaps | ||
|
1920–21 | Embossed white serial on green plate; "WN X-21" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 181000, with gaps | |
 |
1921 | Embossed black serial on gray plate; "WN X:21" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 184000, with gaps | |
|
1922 | Embossed white serial on brown plate; "WN X-22" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 195000, with gaps | |
|
1923 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "WN X:23" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to 200000; 300001 to approximately 319000 | |
|
1924 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "WN X:24" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 253000 | |
 |
1925 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "WN X-25" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 282000 | |
|
1926 | Embossed white serial on green plate; "WASHINGTON" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "X26" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 311-000 | First use of the full state name. |
 |
1927 | Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "X27" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 326-000 | |
 |
1928 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON-28" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 343-000 | |
|
1929 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON-29" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 394-000 | |
|
1930 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "30 WASHINGTON X" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 380-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 31" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 348-000 | |
|
1932 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "X 32 WASHINGTON" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 381-000 | |
 |
1933 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 33" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 359-000 | |
|
1934 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 34" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 358-000 | |
|
1935 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "X WASHINGTON 35" at bottom | none | A-12345 123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
First use of county codes, and last use of 'X' to indicate the passenger class. Six-digit all-numeric serials issued in King County following A-99999; this happened again in 1936.[2] |
|
1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "19 WASHINGTON 36" at bottom | none | A-12345 123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
|
|
1937 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1937" at top | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
|
 |
1938 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "1938 WASHINGTON" at top | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
|
|
1939 | Embossed golden yellow serial on green plate with border line; "STATE OF WASHINGTON" at bottom | "1889-GOLDEN JUBILEE-1939" at top | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Commemorated Washington's 50 years of statehood. |
|
1940 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1940" at bottom | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
|
|
1941 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WASHINGTON 1941" at top | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
|
 |
1942–44 | Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 1942" at bottom | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
|
1944 | As 1942 base, but with "WASHINGTON 1944" at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 89000 | Issued only to new registrants. |
|
1945–46 | Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 1945" at top | none | A-123-456 AB-1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Revalidated for 1946 with windshield stickers. |
|
1947–48 | Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "WASHINGTON 1947" at bottom | none | A·123·456 AB·1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Revalidated for 1948 with windshield stickers. |
|
1949 | Embossed green serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "WASHINGTON 1949" at top | none | A123·456 AB·1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
1950 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 first Washington license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1954 plate, introduced in January 1956.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1950 | Embossed green serial on white plate; "WASHINGTON 50" at bottom | none | A123·456 AB·1234 |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Revalidated for 1951 with silver tabs, for 1952 with windshield stickers, and for 1953 with green tabs. |
 |
1951–53 | As above, but with "51" instead of "50" | Single plate issued only to new registrants. Revalidated for 1952 and 1953 in the same manner as for 1950 plates. | |||
 |
1954–57 | Embossed white serial on green plate; "54 WASHINGTON" at bottom | none | 123-456 A 12-345 AB |
County-coded (A or AB) |
Revalidated for 1955 with silver tabs, for 1956 with white tabs, and for 1957 with green tabs. |
|
1956–57 | As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with narrower dies and border line | Validated for 1956 and 1957 in the same manner as for 1954–55 plates. | |||
 |
1958–62 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WASHINGTON" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | County-coded | Validated each year with plate stickers. |
 |
1963–64 | Embossed green serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "WASH. 63" centered at bottom | none | ABC 123 | County-coded (until 1981) | |
 |
1965–67 | As above, but with "WASHINGTON" centered at bottom | ||||
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1968–82 | As above, but reflective, and with "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to left | ||||
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1983–86 | As above, but with "WASHINGTON" screened rather than embossed | ||||
 |
1987 – late 1990 |
Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with light blue Mount Rainier graphic and dark blue border line; "Washington" screened in red centered at top | "Centennial Celebration" screened in red centered at bottom | 123-ABC | 000-AAA to 999-DGP | |
 |
late 1990 – July 1998 |
none | 000-DGQ to 999-JNZ | |||
 |
July 1998 – December 31, 2009 |
As above, but without dark blue border line, and with "WASHINGTON" screened in red at top, offset to left | "EVERGREEN STATE" screened in red centered at bottom | 000-JOA to 999-ZZZ | ||
|
January 1, 2010 – present | ABC1234 | AAA0000 to BXF3430 (as of January 28, 2021) |
Non-passenger plates
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Motorcycle | 1968–76 | Debossed white on green with border line; "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to left | AB-123 | AA-000 to approximately KY-999 | Validated until 2000. |
 |
1976–86 | Embossed green on white with border line; "WASHINGTON" at top, offset to left | 123456 | 000001 to approximately 297000 | Validated until 2000. | |
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1987–99 | Similar to 1987–98 passenger plates, but with "Washington" offset to left and no slogan | 123456 | 400000 to approximately 601999 | ||
 |
1999–2008 | Similar to current passenger plates, but without slogan | 602000 to 999999 | |||
 |
2008–present | 1A2345 | 0A0000 to 6G2194 (as of July 16, 2020) | |||
|
Truck | 1987–90 | As 1987–90 passenger plates | 12345-A | 00000-H to 11999-T | |
 |
1990–95 | As 1990–98 passenger plates | 12000-T to 99999-Z | |||
|
1995–99 | A12345B | A00000A to A18999E | |||
|
1999–present | As current passenger plates | A19000E to C97101V (as of January 14, 2021) |
County coding
| County | 1- or 2-letter code, 1935-57 |
|---|---|
| King | A |
| Pierce | B |
| Spokane | C |
| Snohomish | D |
| Yakima | E |
| Whatcom | F |
| Clark | G |
| Grays Harbor | H |
| Kitsap | I |
| Thurston | J |
| Chelan | K |
| Lewis | L |
| Skagit | M |
| Cowlitz | N |
| Walla Walla | O |
| Whitman | P |
| Clallam | Q |
| Benton | R |
| Kittitas | S |
| Lincoln | T |
| Okanogan | U |
| Pacific | V |
| Stevens | W |
| Mason | X |
| Jefferson | Y |
| Klickitat | Z |
| Adams | AD |
| Asotin | AN |
| Columbia | CO |
| Douglas | DO |
| Franklin | FN |
| Ferry | FY |
| Garfield | GA |
| Grant | GT |
| Island | IS |
| Pend Oreille | PO |
| Skamania | SA |
| San Juan | SJ |
| Wahkiakum | WA |
References
- "Old Washington License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- Tanner, Eric N. "Washington Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
External links
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