Vehicle registration plates of West Virginia

The U.S. state of West Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the West Virginia Department of Transportation through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.

West Virginia
Current series
SloganWild, Wonderful
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format0AB 123
01A 123
AAB 123
A1A 123
(month-coded)
IntroducedJanuary 1995 (1995-01)
(additionally with web address from December 2000 to early 2006)
Availability
Issued byWest Virginia Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedMay 1, 1905 (1905-05-01)

Passenger baseplates

1905 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 1956–57 (dated 1957) issue was the first West Virginia license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1905 unknown none 123 1 to approximately 200
1906 Embossed gray serial on dark blue plate; "W. VA." at right; "LICENSED" and "1906" above and below serial respectively none 123 201 to approximately 500
1907–09 Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W. VA." at right and "LICENSED" centered at top none 1234 401 to approximately 1100
1909–10 Black serial on red porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1909" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top none 123 1 to approximately 900
1910–11 White serial on dark blue porcelain plate; "W. VA. 1910" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top none 1234 1 to approximately 1700
1911–12 Black serial on white porcelain plate; "W VA" at left, vertical "1911" at right and "LICENSED" centered at top none 1234 1 to approximately 2500
1912–13 White serial on forest green porcelain plate; vertical "1912" and "W. VA" at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top none 1234 1 to approximately 3500
1913–14 Yellow serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "JULY 1914" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top none 1234 1 to approximately 6000
1914–15 White serial on light blue porcelain plate; vertical "1914 1915" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top none 12345 1 to approximately 10500
1915–16 White serial on red porcelain plate; vertical "1915 1916" and "W. VA." at left and right respectively; "LICENSE" centered at top none 12345 1 to approximately 16500
1916–17 Navy blue serial on white flat metal plate; vertical "W. VA." and "1916-17" at left and right respectively; "LICENSED" centered at top none 12345 1 to approximately 25000
1917–18 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 17-18" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 33000
1918–19 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "W.VA 18-19" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 43000
1919–20 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "W.VA 19-20" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 66000 Valid from July 1, 1919 through December 31, 1920.
1921 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1921" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 87000
1922 Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; "W VA" monogram and "1922" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 96000
1923 Embossed red serial on white plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1923" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 141-000 First use of the full state name.
1924 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1924" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 165-000
1925 Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1925" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 173-000
1926 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1926" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 211-000
1927 Embossed black serial on gray plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1927" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 207-000
1928 Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1928" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 217-000
1929 Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1929" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 232-000
1930 Embossed black serial on gray plate; "W. VA. – 1930" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 223-000
1931 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1931" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 213-000
1932 Embossed white serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1932" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 192-000
1933–34 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA. – 1933" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 214-000 Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1934 with windshield stickers.
1934–35 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-34-35" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 207-000
1935–36 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-35-36" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 219-000
1936–37 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-36-37" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 224-000
1937–38 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-37-38" centered at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 237-000
1938–39 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-38-39" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 236-000
1939–40 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "W. VA.-39-40" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 245-000
1940–41 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "W. VA.-40-41" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 258-000
1941–44 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 349-000 Revalidated through June 30, 1943 with white tabs, then through June 30, 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–45 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-45" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 214-000
1945–46 As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-46" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 239-000
1946–47 As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-47" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 250-000
1947–48 As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-48" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 282-000
1948–49 As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-49" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 312-000
1949–50 As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-50" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 339-000
1950–51 As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-51" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 365-000
1951–52 As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-52" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 377-000
1952–53 As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-53" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 379-000
1953–54 As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-54" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 399-000
1954–55 As 1944–45 base, but with "WEST VIRGINIA 54" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 418-000
1955–56 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA 56" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 436-000
1956–57 Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "57" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to approximately 461-000 First 6" x 12" plate.
1957–58 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to approximately 469-000
1958–59 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "59" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to approximately 478-000
1959–60 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "60" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to approximately 471-000
1960–61 Embossed white serial on dark red plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "61" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to 141-826[2]
As above, but with elements debossed 141-827 to approximately 476-000
1961–62 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "62" at bottom right none 123-456 1 to approximately 488-000
1962–63 Debossed yellow serial on reflective blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "63" at bottom right "1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 490-000 Both this and the 1963–64 base commemorated West Virginia's 100 years as a separate state.
1963–64 Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; "19" at bottom left and "64" at bottom right "1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" at top 123-456 1 to approximately 521-000
1964–65 As 1962–63 base, but with "65" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 522-000
1965–66 As 1963–64 base, but with "66" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 558-000
1966–67 As 1962–63 base, but with "67" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 582-000
1967–68 As 1963–64 base, but with "68" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 603-000
1968–69 As 1962–63 base, but with "69" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 625-000
1969–70 As 1963–64 base, but with "70" at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 123-456 1 to approximately 591-000

1970 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1970–75 Embossed blue serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" centered at bottom; sticker box at bottom right "MOUNTAIN STATE" centered at top 0A-1234
AA-1234		 First character corresponds to month of expiration (see right) 1 through 9 indicated January through September respectively, and O, N and D indicated October, November and December respectively. This system remains in use today.
1976–82 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; yellow state shape with blue outline screened at left behind serial; "WEST VIRGINIA" screened in dark blue centered at bottom Dark blue bar screened at top with "Wild, Wonderful" in white in the center 0A-1234
AA-1234		 First character corresponds to month of expiration Early plates for August through December manufactured by Polyvend Inc. of Arkansas.[3]
1982 – December 1994 As above, but without blue outline around state shape 0AB-123
AAB-123		 Two-letter series introduced for each month as one-letter series were exhausted. These series progressed as follows: both letters A through M only, then first letter N through Z and second letter A through M, then first letter A through M and second letter N through Z.
January 1995 – December 2000 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and serial "Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom, with three stripes (two dark blue and one gold) screened on either side 0A 1234
0AB 123
01A 123
AA 1234
AAB 123
A1A 123		 First character corresponds to month of expiration Series reset to A for all months; progression is as before but with two-letter series progressing in standard order (AA-AZ, BA-BZ etc.). Series S and SA-SZ reserved for optional Scenic plates. Number-letter series introduced October 2015 as two-letter series started to be exhausted.
December 2000 – early
2006		 "Wild, Wonderful" as before, plus "www.callwva.com" in dark blue between state name and serial, cutting off thin gold stripe in the middle
early 2006 – present "Wild, Wonderful" as before; web address dropped

Optional plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Scenic 1996–present Embossed dark blue serial on reflective graphic plate with mountain scene featuring white and orange sky, pale blue mountains and dark blue forest; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top "Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue centered at bottom 0S 1234
0SA 123
AS 1234
ASA 123		 First character corresponds to month of expiration Similar monthly serial formats to standard passenger base, but with series progressing S, then SA, SB, SC etc. "www.callwva.com" appeared between state name and serial during the early and mid-2000s.
9/11 2002–present Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "West Virginia" screened in white against national flag motif at top; "September 11, 2001" screened in black centered at bottom "We will not Forget..." screened in black at left 9/11 12345 9/11 0001 to present
Sesquicentennial 2012–present Screened dark blue serial on reflective gradient gold plate; state seal at left and state shape at right; "West Virginia" screened in dark blue centered at top "Wild & Wonderful for 150 Years!" screened in dark blue centered at bottom S/Q123456 S/Q000001 to present Commemorates West Virginia's 150 years as a separate state.

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. "West Virginia License Plate Variations". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  3. Turnbull, Andrew. "West Virginia "Map" Bases: A Primer, 1976-1995". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
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