Vehicle registration plates of Vermont

Vermont
Current series
SloganGreen Mountain State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
IntroducedJanuary 1, 1990 (1990-01-01)
Availability
Issued byVermont Agency of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedMay 1, 1905 (1905-05-01)

The U.S. state of Vermont first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1905 to 1966

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 Vermont license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1905–07 White serial on blue porcelain plate; "VERMONT AUTOMOBILE REGISTER" centered at top none 123 1 to approximately 999
1907–09 Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; "VT." at right none 1234 1 to approximately 2000
1909 Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; "VT. 1909" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 2000 First dated plate.
1910 As 1909 base, but with "VT. 1910" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 2500
1911 As 1909 base, but with "VT. 1911" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 3300
1912 As 1909 base, but with "VT. 1912" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 4300
1913 Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "VT" and "1913" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to approximately 6000
1914 Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "1914" and "VT" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to approximately 8300
1915 Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "VT" and "1915" at left and right respectively none 12345 1 to approximately 11500
1916 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "VT" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 15600 First embossed plate.
1917 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; vertical "VT" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 20300
1918 Embossed golden yellow serial on green plate with border line; vertical "VT" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 22500
1919 Embossed blue serial on off-white plate with border line; "VT 19" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 26700
1920 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "VT 20" at left none 12-345 1 to approximately 32-000
1921 Embossed black serial on white plate; "VT 21" at left none 12-345 1 to approximately 37-000
1922 Embossed blue serial on white plate; "VT 22" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 42-000
1923 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "VT 23" at left none 12-345 100 to approximately 48-000
1924 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "VT 24" at right none 12-345 100 to approximately 57-000
1925 Embossed golden yellow serial on green plate with border line; "VT 25" at left none 12-345 100 to approximately 64-000
1926 Embossed green serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "VERMONT 1926" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 69-000
1927 Embossed golden yellow serial on green plate with border line; "VERMONT 1927" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 75-000
1928 Embossed green serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "VERMONT 1928" at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 80-000
1929 Embossed tan serial on maroon plate with border line; "VERMONT 1929" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 85-000
1930 Embossed maroon serial on tan plate with border line; "VERMONT 1930" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 85-000
1931 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VERMONT 1931" at top none 12-345 1 to approximately 76-000
1932 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "VERMONT 1932" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 70-000
1933 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VERMONT 1933" at top none 12-345 101 to approximately 69-000
1934 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "VERMONT 1934" at top none 12-345 101 to approximately 66-000
1935–36 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VERMONT 1935" at bottom none 12-345 101 to approximately 73-000 Validated through March 31, 1936.
1936–37 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "VERMONT EXPIRES MARCH 31 1937" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 77-000
1937–38 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "VERMONT TO APR. 1 1938" at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 77-000
1938 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19 VERMONT 38" at bottom none 12 345 1 to approximately 78 000
1939 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19 VERMONT 39" at bottom none 12 345 1 to approximately 81 000
1940 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19 VERMONT 40" at bottom none 12 345 1 to approximately 84 000
1941 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19 VERMONT 41" at top none 12 345 1 to approximately 87 000

1942–43 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19 VERMONT 42" at bottom none 12 345 1 to approximately 88 000 Revalidated for 1943 with yellow tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed black serial on white plate; "VERMONT 44" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 74000
1945 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "VERMONT 45" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 81000
1946 Embossed black serial on white plate; "VERMONT 46" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 88000
1947 Embossed white serial on black plate; "47 VERMONT" at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 93000
1948 Embossed gold serial on dark green plate; "48 VERMONT" centered at bottom "GREEN MOUNTAINS" centered at top 12345 1 to approximately 96000 Most recent passenger base to use a color other than green or white.
1949 Embossed dark green serial on white plate; "VERMONT 49" centered at bottom "GREEN MOUNTAINS" centered at top 12345 1 to approximately 99000
1950 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "50 VERMONT" centered at bottom "GREEN MOUNTAINS" centered at top 12345 1 to 99999
K1234 K101 to approximately K5000
1951 Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "VERMONT 51" centered at bottom none A123 A1 to W999 Letters I, O, Q, T, X and Y not used in serials.[2]
AB123 AB1 to approximately GR999
1952 Embossed dark green serial on white plate; "52 VERMONT" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 E1 to approximately E9999
1953 As 1951 base, but with "VERMONT 53" at bottom none 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to A9999;
E1 to approximately E2400
1954 As 1952 base, but with "54 VERMONT" at bottom none 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to A9999;
E1 to approximately E6200
1955 As 1951 base, but with "VERMONT 55" at bottom none 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A and E series; C1 to approximately C900
1956 As 1952 base, but with "56 VERMONT" at bottom none 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A and E series; C1 to approximately C5000
1957 Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "VERMONT" centered at bottom; "57" at bottom right "SEE" to left of state name, giving "SEE VERMONT" 12345 1 to 99999 First 6" x 12" plate.
A1234 A and E series; C1 to approximately C7400
1958 Embossed dark green serial on white plate; "VERMONT" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right "SEE" to left of state name, giving "SEE VERMONT" 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A and E series; C1 to approximately C6100
1959 As 1957 base, but with "59" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1957 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A, E and C series; B1 to approximately B100
1960 As 1958 base, but with "60" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1958 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A, E and C series; B1 to approximately B3100
1961 As 1957 base, but with "61" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1957 base 12345 1 to 99999 D series not used.[2]
A1234 A1 to approximately E5600
1962 As 1958 base, but with "62" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1958 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to approximately E9100
1963 As 1957 base, but with "63" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1957 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to approximately F2800
1964 As 1958 base, but with "64" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1958 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to approximately F7100
1965 As 1957 base, but with "65" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1957 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to approximately F8500
1966 As 1958 base, but with "66" at bottom right "SEE" as on 1958 base 12345 1 to 99999
A1234 A1 to approximately F7800

1967 to present

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1967–68 Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "VERMONT" centered at bottom; rectangular sticker box at bottom left and "67" at bottom right none 123456 1 to
approximately 187000 		Shade of green changed from forest green to the kelly green still used today.
1969–71 Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "VERMONT" centered at bottom; rectangular sticker box at bottom right "SEE" to left of state name, giving "SEE VERMONT" A·1234 A·100 to
Y·9999 		Letters I, J, O, Q, W and Z not used in serials; this practice continued until 1984.[2]
1234·A 100·A to approximately 7000·E
1972–76 Similar to 1969–71 base, but with state name, slogan and sticker box at top rather than bottom "SEE" as on 1969–71 base, but at top A·1234 A·100 to
Y·9999 		In the AB·123 serial format, the first letter was strictly A through L and the second letter was strictly M through Y.[2]
1234·A 100·A to
9999·L
AB·123 AM·100 to
LY·999
A123B A100A to approximately A999B
1977–84 Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "VERMONT" centered at bottom; round sticker box at bottom left and rectangular sticker box at bottom right "GREEN MOUNTAINS" centered at top A·1234 A·100 to
Y·9999 		Round sticker box never used. Letter W added to serials in 1984. Revalidated until 1989.
1234·A 100·A to
9999·Y
AB123 AM100 to
YY999
123AB 100AB to approximately 999EC
1985–87 Debossed white serial on green plate; screened white rectangular box around serial; "Vermont" screened in white centered at top; white sugar maple screened at top left "Green Mountain State" screened in white centered at bottom 1A234 1A100 to
9Y999
1987–89 123A4 100A1 to
999Y9
1989 1AB23 1AA00 to approximately 9FF99 Issued as replacements for 1977–84 plates.
12AB3 10AA0 to approximately 99BC9 Issued only to new registrants.
January 1, 1990 – present ABC 123 Intermingled with truck, municipal and (large) trailer plates from AAB 100 to BNF 999;[3]
exclusively from BNG 100 to
KRZ 798 (as of April 3, 2024) 		Narrow serial dies introduced. Same format used on Trailer (Large) and Municipal plates, and on Truck plates until 2009. Letters I, J, O, Q and U not used. Letters V and Z traditionally skipped, but are now used as of January 2024, starting with the KPV series.

Non-passenger plates

Image Type Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Apportioned Bus As current passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan; "BUS" debossed vertically to left of serial 12B34 10B00 to present
Apportioned Truck As current passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan; "TRK" debossed vertically to left of serial 12A34 10A00 to 25E85 (as of May 18, 2022) B series reserved for Apportioned Bus.
Disabled As current passenger base Disabled access A1234 Disabled access A1000 to
Disabled access B2909 (as of February 20, 2022)
Motorcycle Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "VERMONT" at top left and "MOTORCYCLE" at bottom; debossed box for revalidation sticker at top right AB123 AA100 to RE753 (as of June 4, 2022)
Municipal As current passenger base, but red rather than green; "MUN" debossed vertically to left of serial ABC 123 AAA100 to ABA994 (as of May 25, 2024) Serials start with AA or AB.
Street Rod As current passenger base; "STREET RODS" debossed diagonally to left of serial SR123 SR001 to present
Trailer (Large) As current passenger base; "TRA" debossed vertically to left of serial ABC 123 Serials intermingled with current passenger base.
Trailer (Small) As Motorcycle plate, but with "TRAILER" at bottom A12345 A10000 to C12558 (as of May 3, 2022)
Truck As current passenger base; "TRK" debossed vertically to left of serial 123A456 100A100 to 406A522 (as of July 1, 2021) Current serial format introduced mid-2009 after the truck allocations intermingled with passenger plates in the ABC 123 format were discontinued for this format.

References

  1. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. ^ a b c d Tanner, Eric N. "Vermont Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "The High Road". licenseplates.cc.