State License Plate Research Thread

[Bedavd]

I wanted to make this thread in order to help keep SCS well informed on the different license plates in U.S. states, and the different rules around them. I'm not sure if Kraake has a big compilation of all the plates from all the states, but if not here's some of the research for him. Furthermore, if any states change their standard license plate design, we can let SCS know here! I know that they updated the Nevada license plates in a previous update, so this way we as a community can let them know of any other updates to state designs.

I'll start with this picture. It was kinda the catalyst that made me want to start this thread. It shows which states require both a front and back license plate (blue) and states that only require cars to have a license plate on the rear (green). There are 19 states that don't require both plates, including Arizona and New Mexico as current DLC's.


Links to provided state's and their details:
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Deleware |
Florida | Georgia | Hawaii| Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana |
Maine | Maryland | Massechusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana |
Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina |
North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virgina | Washington | West Virginia |
Wisconsin | Wyoming | Washington D.C. |

As I post each state's standard and specialty plates, I'll update the list and link to each post! If anyone has any updates on the designs or wants to fix any errors that I made, please comment and I'll be sure to update each state's post. I’m going to avoid the current DLC’s for the moment because that research is seemingly done! If anyone from those states sees that they’re wrong and wants to share, I’ll link your post into this main post like all of mine are.

*Additional Information: Many states in the United States, and the provinces of Canada, are members of what's called the International Registration Plan or IRP. Before IRP, if a truck and trailer were going to be used for Interstate commerce, that truck and trailer would need to have a separate registration plate for EACH state that it intended to do commerce in. The IRP established a prorate plate system that allows trucks to take part in interstate commerce without needing multiple different license plates. These plates are referred to as "prorate" or "apportioned". Sometime they will say PRP for ProRate Plate, APP short for APPortioned, or the full word is written out. Similarly, there tends to be a difference between the tractor and trailer plates. Often the plates will begin with a different letter to indicate this, or sometimes will have PWR for PoWeR and TRL for TRaiLer. Other states won't indicate that the trailer plate is apportioned, and will simply say Truck Trailer, Semi, or other indication that it is a commercial trailer. Trailers not meant for interstate commerce don't need a prorate plate and will also receive a Permanent Trailer or Commercial Trailer plate.

[Bedavd]

IDAHO
I know Idaho is coming imminently, but I thought I’d include it here since it’s not quite out yet.

Idaho uses both front & rear license plates

This is Idaho’s Current Standard license plate design:

The first number and letter are the county code for the country the vehicle is registered in. The letter is the first letter of the county name “A” for Ada, “G” for Gem, “N” for Nez Perce, ect. If there are multiple counties that begin with the same letter, then a number indicating its alphabetic position is added. For instance: Latah=1L, Lemhi=2L, Lewis=3L, Lincoln=4L. A complete list can be found here
The format changes based on the county code's length. The full list can be seen in the same article.

This is Idaho’s Apportioned Tractor license plate* design:

These plates ALWAYS begin with the letter “A”
*Note, the Apportioned Trailer license plate is the exact same as the tractor plate, but it begins with the letter “C” instead of “A”
Both follow a AB 1234 format

Emergency vehicles:
This is the Idaho State Police license plate design:

It begins with the letters ISP followed by 3 numbers.

This is the Idaho City Police license plate design:


These begin with three letters for the municipal police department (“BPD” for Boise Police Department” and “TFP” for Twin Falls Police Department) followed by the vehicles unit number.

This is the Idaho City Fire license plate design:

It follows a F 12345 format

This is the Idaho Ambulance license plate design:

It follows a C 12345 format

Thanks for reading through this, I hope it was helpful! I’m going to continue with these somewhat regularly, next I’ll be moving to Colorado and then likely going in a line South to North until we get to Maine! If any Idahoans have any comments or corrections, let me know. I tried to get as much information from the Idaho government as I could, but some did have to come from outside or visual sources.

[Bedavd]

COLORADO
With Colorado hopefully coming later this year, here a quick overview of the Colorado license plates.

Colorado uses both front & rear license plates

This is Colorado’s Current Standard license plate design:

It follows a 123 ABC format. These standard plates are also used on Ambulances

This is Colorado’s Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a 123ABC format

This is Colorado's Apportioned Trailer license plate design:

It follows a 123ABC format

I also noticed that Colorado has a specific license plate for Taxis, here is that design:

It follows a 123 ABC format

Emergency vehicles:

This is the Colorado State Patrol license plate design:

It always begins with CSP followed by the unit number.

And this is the Colorado Government license plate design: These are used on all municipal vehicles such as police and fire.

It follows a 123 ABC format

I'd like to extend a hearty "Thank you" to the Colorado Department of Revenue for keeping a really nice and detailed list of all their license plates, not just for passenger vehicles.

[Bedavd]

Wyoming

Wyoming uses both front & back license plates

This Wyoming's Current Standard license plate design:

The first number to the left of the cowboy will be the county code of the country of registration. The complete list can be found here.
It follows a [0] 12345 format

These are Wyoming's Apportioned Truck license plate (left) and Apportioned Trailer License Plate (right) designs:

Trucks follow a A12345 format. Trailers follow a C12345 format.

Emergency Vehicles:

This is the Wyoming Highway Patrol's license plate design:

It uses the unit number as the plate.

All municipal vehicles use an exempt license plate. Two that I think will be important for SCS are the County and City versions.
They follow a 12345 format.

This is the Wyoming County Exempt license plate design, used in a Fire Truck:


This is the Wyoming City Exempt license plate design, used on a police car:

[Bedavd]

Montana

Montana uses both front & rear license plates

This is Montana's Current Standard license plate design:

the first number is the county code of the county of registration. A full list can be found here. There are a number of other "Standard" plates based on retro-designs, however the blue version is listed as the true standard. The other 4 may be found here
It follows a [00] 12345 format.

This is the Montana Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a P 12345 format

This is the Montana Apportioned Trailer license plate design:

It follows a T12345 format.

Emergency Vehicles:

This is the current Montana Highway Patrol license plate design:

IT begins with MHP and then has the unit number.

This is the Montana Exempt license plate design:

It begins with the county code noted above, followed by 12345A format.

These plates are used on municipal police, fire, and ambulances

[Bedavd]

Texas

Texas uses front & rear plates

This is the Texas Current Standard license license plates design:

It follows a 123 ABC format

This is the Texas Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows an R12 3456 format
*I had trouble hunting down a trailer version of the Apportioned plate, but it is the same however its format is 12R 3456

Emergency Vehicles:

This is the Texas Highway Patrol license plate design:

It follows a 12345 format

This is the Texas Exempt license plate design:

This design is used by municipal police, fire, and ambulance. It follows a 123 4567 format

[Bedavd]

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma only uses rear license plates

This is Oklahoma's Current Standard license plate design:

It follows a ABC 123 format.

This is the Oklahoma Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a 1AB234 format.

This is the Oklahoma Non Expiring Trailer license plate design:

It follows a AB 1234 format

Emergency vehicles:

This is the Oklahoma Highway Patrol license plate design

It begins with OHP and is followed by the unit number

This is the Municipal plate used by police, fire, and ambulaces.

It says CI vertically along the side and "City" below, following a 12345 format.

[Bedavd]

KANSAS

Kansas only uses rear license plates

All Kansas plates have a small white sticker in the upper left corner with a 2 letter county code. These codes can be found here

This is the Kansas Current Standard license plate design:

It follows a 123 ABC format

This is the Kansas Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a 123456 format. The apportioned trailer plate is the same, although it says TRAILER vertically along the left side and PERMANENT along the bottom.

Emergency Vehicles:

This is the Kansas State Trooper license plate design:

The numbers match the unit number.

This is the Kansas Municipal license plate design:

It follows a 12345 format.

[Bedavd]

NEBRASKA

Nebraska uses both front & rear license plates
This is the Nebraska Current Standard license plate design:

The first number is the county code for the county of registration. A full list can be found here. It follows either a [0] A1234 or [0] AB123 format for 1 number codes, or a [00] A123 or [00] AB12 format for 2 number codes.

Three counties, Douglas, Lancaster, and Sarpy, do not use county codes, and their plates follow a ABC 123 format:


This is Nebraska's Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a 123456 format.

This is Nebraska's Apportioned Trailer license plate design:

It follows a 123456 format.

Emergency vehicles:

This is the Nebraska State Troopers license plate design:

It's number is the unit number.


This is the Nebraska City Government license plate design, used on municipal vehicles:

It follows a 12345 format.

[Bedavd]

SOUTH DAKOTA

South Dakota uses both front & rear license plates

This is South Dakota Current Standard license plate design:

The first one or two characters are the county code for the county of registration. The full list can be found here. It follows either a [0]A1 234 or [0]AB 123 format for one number codes, or a [00]A 123 or [00] A B12 format for two number codes.

This is the South Dakota Apportioned Truck license plate design:

It follows a 12345 format.

This is the South Dakota Apportioned Trailer license plate design:

It follows a 12345P format.

Emergency Vehicles:

This is the South Dakota State Trooper license plate design:

It begins with HP and is then followed by the unit number.

This is the South Dakota City license plate design, used by both police and ambulance services:

It follows a CTY1234 format. The county plates are the same but begin with CO rather than CTY.
I had difficulty finding a clear photo of either plate, the design is the same as the fire plate listed below.

This is the South Dakota Fire Department license plate design:

It follows an FD 1234 format.