Passenger Plates: 1913 - 1982 Archive
**Disclaimer**
Information displayed in these archives is the culmination of personal knowledge, North Carolina historical documents, North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles documents, the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) archives, and other various informational sources. All utilized sources will be appropriately credited where the credit is due. All pictures associated with the archive are from my personal collection, unless otherwise credited. While the intention of this archive is to provide valid and correct information, it is possible that some information displayed is invalid or incorrect. Anyone who recognizes invalid or incorrect information is urged to contact me through the "Contact" tab so that the necessary corrections can be made.
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Thank you for taking the time to review the archives. Please take time to review the other aspects of the website including the "My Collection" tab where my personal collection is on display for all to see.
1917 - 1927
1917
1922
1918
1923
1919
1924
1920
1925
1921
1926
1927
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1928 - 1936
1928
1933
1929
1934
1930
1935
1931
1936
1932
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1937 - 1938
1914
1915
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1939 - 1941
1939
1940
1941
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1942 - 1955
1942
1947
1952
1943
1948
1953
1944
1949
1954
1945
1950
1946
1951
1955
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1956 - 1966
1956
1961
1957
1962
1958
1963
1959
1964
1960
1965
1966
The 6"x12" Introduction
In 1953 the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the Automobile Manufacturer's Association (AMA), and the National Safety Council met to discuss the standardization of license plate sizes. Their discussions led to the acceptance and the standardization of license plate sizes in the United States and Canada. The new accepted size was 6" in height and 12" tall, with the mounting holes being 2.5" from their respective sides, 7" apart in width, and 5/8" from the top or bottom of the license plate. These new changes were implemented in 1956, allowing for several years of advanced preparation amongst states and auto manufacturers alike. (1)
(1) Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, PLATES Vol. 62 No. 5, "6x12=60 Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size" by Christopher Garrish 🔗
The Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act of 1957
Ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 12th, 1957, this act required that registrants of motor vehicles, at the time of registration, must show proof of financial responsibility (insurance). Registrants were, and still are, required to keep proof of financial responsibility (insurance) throughout the period in which the vehicle registration is active. The act became effective on January 1st, 1958, thus applying to all vehicles registered from 1958 to the present. The act was first introduced in Session Law 1957 Chapter 1393 and is today governed under North Carolina General Statute 20-309. (1)
(1) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1957 Chapter 1393 House Bill 116, "AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES." 🔗
Serial Number Changes
Beginning in 1956, North Carolina passenger plates' numbering format changed from a primarily ascending number format to a combined letter and number format. Serial numbers began at A-1 and theoretically ascended to ZZ-9999. Serial numbers would begin with a singular letter and the number 1 and would most often end when reaching 9999, or sometimes 1000. After reaching the end of the first serial number format, new numbers would begin being issued with two letters, this first of which being the same letter from the previous singular letter series. This format would again start with the number 1 and most often end when reaching 9999, or sometimes 1000. For example, the first four serial number formats were as followed: A-1 to A-9999, then AA-1 to AZ-9999, then B-1 to B-9999, then BA-1 to BZ-9999, and so on. This serial number format continued until 1973 when the state switch to a three letter and three number serial number combination. From 1956 until 1969 the letters G, I, O, and Q were not used. (1)
(1) All About License Plates, "North Carolina: Passenger" and "North Carolina: Miscellaneous 1" by Eric Tanner 🔗 🔗
Design Differences
Beginning in 1956 and ending in 1966, North Carolina passenger plates annually alternated base and lettering colors. Even years were designed with a yellow base and black lettering while odd years were designed inversely, with a black base and yellow lettering. Plates from 1956 to 1962 contained the slogan "Drive Safely" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates from 1956 to 1960 contained the year in the lower right corner in a two digit format. Plates from 1961 to 1962 switched the year from the lower right corner to the lower left. Plates from 1963 displayed "North Carolina" across the top and "Drive Safely" across the bottom. Contrary to previous year, plates in 1963 moved the two digit year from the lower left or right corner to the upper right corner. Plates from 1964 to 1965 displayed "North Carolina" across the top, the year across the bottom, and did not contain a striped border, contrary to years previous. Plates from 1964 displayed the year in a two digit format while plates from 1965 displayed the year in a four digit format. Plates in 1966 marked the end of the alternating yellow and black base. These plates displayed the year across the top in a four digit format and "North Carolina" across the bottom.
General Statistics
Year:
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
Low: ()
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
High: ()
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
Plates Issued per Vehicle:
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
Registrations Issued: (1)
- 1,212,356
- 1,250,185
- 1,233,558
- 1,313,982
- 1,380,833
- 1,435,023
- 1,479,798
- 1,546,384
- 1,614,110
- 1,711,951
- 1,835,133
(1) United States Department of Transportation, "Motor Vehicle Registrations, by vehicle type and state" 🔗
1967 - 1974
1967
1972
1968
1973
1969
1974
1970
1971
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1975 - 1982
1975
1979
1982
1976
1980
1982 (1981 Base)
1977
1980 (Undated)
1982 (1980 Base)
1978
1981
1978 (Undated)
1981 (1980 Base)
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