| Slogan Label: | Slogan |
| Slogan: | Standard: First in Flight Alternative from 2015: First in Freedom Alternative from 2019: In God We Trust; To Be Rather Than to Seem |
| Size: | 12x |
| Material: | Aluminum |
| Serial Format: | ABC-1234 |
| Current Start Date: | First in Flight: First in Freedom: In God We Trust: |
| Issuer: | North Carolina Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles |
| Start Date: | (county plates from 1907 through June 30, 1909; pre-state plates from July 1, 1909 through March 31, 1913) |
The U.S. state of North Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.[1]
, plates are issued by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.
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 6inches in height by 12inches in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-13" at bottom | none | 1234 | 6801 to approximately 8000 | Issued only to new registrants from April 1 through June 30, 1913, with serials following on from those on pre-state-issued plates.[3] | ||
| Red serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-14" at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 13000 | Issued to all registrants. | |||
| 1914–15 | White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-15" at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 17000 | |||
| 1915–16 | Black serial on gray porcelain plate; vertical "NC" at right and "EXPIRES JUNE 30-16" at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 25000 | |||
| 1916–17 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1917" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 40000 | First embossed plate. From the collection of Richard Watson. | ||
| 1917–18 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1918" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 65-000 | |||
| 1918–19 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1919" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 80-000 | |||
| 1919–20 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "N.C. 6-30 1920" at left | none | 12-345 123456 | 1 to approximately 106000 | |||
| 1920–21 | Embossed white serial on brown plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "NC" monogram and "6-30 1921" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 131-000 | |||
| 1921–22 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 22" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 213-000 | |||
| 1922–23 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "NC" at right and "6-30-23" centered at bottom | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 181000 | |||
| 1923–24 | Embossed maroon serial on light gray plate with border line; "N.C.-6-30-24" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 262-000 | |||
| 1924–25 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NC" monogram and "6-30 25" at left | none | 123.456 | 1 to approximately 320.000 | |||
| 1925–26 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; diagonal "NC" and "6-30-26" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 348-000 | |||
| 1926–27 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NC" monogram and horsepower class at right; "6 30 27" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 421-000 | Horsepower classes were A (over 35 hp), B (31-35 hp), C (26-30 hp) and E (25 hp and under); a block of serials was assigned to each class, with E having the biggest block. This continued through 1928. | ||
| 1927 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "NC" at left; horsepower class and "27" at right | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 496-000 | Issued only from July 1 through December 31, 1927. | ||
| 1928 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "NC" at right; horsepower class and "28" at left | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 556-000 | |||
| 1929 | Embossed white serial on sky blue plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA-1929" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 580-000 | First use of the full state name. Horsepower classes same as 1926–28 but no letter used for the 25 hp and under class; for the other classes, the letter was carried at the right of the plate. This happened again in 1930. | ||
| 1930 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA–1930" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 607-000 | |||
| 1931 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; horsepower class number used as separator; "NORTH CAROLINA–31" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 483-000 | Last year of horsepower classes; same as 1926–30 but numbered 1–4 in decreasing order of power. | ||
| 1932 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–32" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 415-000 | |||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–33" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 464-000 | |||
| 1934 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–34" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 493-000 | |||
| 1935 | Embossed silver serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–35" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 518-000 | |||
| 1936 | Embossed light green serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–36" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 545-000 | |||
| 1937 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–37" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 651-000 | Serials 100-001 through 200-000 reserved for trucks; this practice continued through 1946.[4] | ||
| 1938 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA–38" at top | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 646-000 | |||
| 1939 | Embossed silver serial on maroon plate; "North Carolina 39" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 686-000 | |||
| 1940 | Embossed maroon serial on silver plate; "North Carolina 40" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 705-000 | |||
| 1941 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "North Carolina 41" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 775-000 | |||
| 1942–43 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 42" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 762-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. | ||
| 1944 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 44" at top | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 707-000 | |||
| 1945 | Embossed black serial on tan plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 45" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 703-000 | |||
| 1946 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 46" at top | none | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 748-000 | |||
| 1947 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 47" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 682-000 | Serials 800-001 through 999-999 reserved for trucks and farm vehicles; this practice continued through 1949. | ||
| 1948 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 48" at top | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 760-000 | |||
| 1949 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 49" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to 800-000 | From the personal collection of Richard Watson. | ||
| A-12345 | W-1001 to approximately W-14000 | ||||||
| 1950 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 50" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | Serials 760-001 through 999-999 reserved for trucks and farm vehicles; this practice continued through 1955. | ||
| A-12345 | W-1001 to W-99999; R-1001 to approximately R-74000 | ||||||
| 1951 | Embossed red serial on white plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 51" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | |||
| A-12345 | W and R series; N-1001 to approximately N-39000 | ||||||
| 1952 | Embossed white serial on red plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 52" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | |||
| A-12345 | W and R series; N-1001 to approximately N-76000 | ||||||
| 1953 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 53" or "N.C.", slogan and "53" at bottom (see right) | none, or "DRIVE SAFELY" between state abbreviation and year | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | |||
| A-12345 | W, R and N series; X-1001 to approximately X-46000 | ||||||
| 1954 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 54" or "N.C.", slogan and "54" at bottom | none, or "DRIVE SAFELY" between state abbreviation and year | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | |||
| A-12345 | W, R and N series; X-1001 to approximately X-96000 | ||||||
| 1955 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA 55" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 100-001 to 760-000 | |||
| A-12345 | W, R, N, X and A series; V-1001 to approximately V-22000 | ||||||
| 1956 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at top | A-1234 AB-1234 | Serials progressed as follows: A-1 through A-9999, AA-1 through AZ-9999, B-1 through B-9999, BA-1 through BZ-9999, etc. Some series ran only to 1000 rather than 9999. This continued through 1972. Letters G, I, O and Q not used; this practice continued through 1968. | |||
| 1957 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 57" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at top | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1958 | As 1956 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 58" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1959 | As 1957 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 59" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1957 base | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1960 | As 1956 base, but with "NORTH CAROLINA 60" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1961 | As 1957 base, but with "61 NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1957 base | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1962 | As 1956 base, but with "62 NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" as on 1956 base | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1963 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 63" at top | "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at bottom | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1964 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "64" centered at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1965 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "1965" centered at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1966 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "1966" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1967 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "1967" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1968 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "1968" centered at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1969 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "19" at bottom left and "69" at bottom right | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | Letters G, I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today. | |||
| 1970 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19" at top left and "70" at top right; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1971 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "71" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1972 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "19" at bottom left and "72" at bottom right | none | A-1234 AB-1234 | ||||
| 1973 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "19" at top left and "73" at top right; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | AAA-101 to approximately HVA-999 | ||||
| 1974 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "1974" centered at top; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | none | AAA-101 to approximately JBA-999 |
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–78 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; vertical "75" used as separator; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom | "FIRST IN FREEDOM" centered at top | ABC-123 | AAA-101 to approximately PMZ-999 | First base to be revalidated with stickers. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1981.[5] Plates from AAA-101 through JAY-999 replaced 1982; all other plates replaced by 1992. | ||
| 1978–80 | As above, but without "75" and slogan | none | PNA-101 to approximately SXZ-999 | ||||
| 1980–81 | As above, but with "1980" centered at top | SYA-101 to approximately XFZ-999 | |||||
| 1981–82 | As above, but with "NORTH CAROLINA" at top and "1981" centered at bottom | XHA-101 to approximately YJZ-999 | |||||
| 1982 | As above, but with "1982" centered at bottom | YKA-101 to approximately ZRZ-999 | |||||
| 1982 | Blue on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic | "First in Flight" screened at top | ABC-123 | ZSA-101 to ZZZ-999 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1982 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time North Carolina has been so honored. | ||
| ABC-12 ABC-100 | AAA-11 to XZZ-100 | ||||||
| 1982–85 | ABC-123 | AAA-101 to JAY-999 | |||||
| 1985 – April 2007 | ANA-1001 to approximately WTF-1975 | Second letter in serials strictly N through Z (so AZZ was followed by BNA, BZZ was followed by CNA, and so on); this practice continued until ZZZ-9999 was issued in 2010. Since 1999, OBX has been issued as a special series for Dare County. | |||||
| April 2007 – October 2009 | Red on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic | "First in Flight" as above | WTF-1976 to approximately ZND-9999 | Mainly issued as replacements for earlier "First in Flight" plates with the ABC-123 and ABC-12 serial formats, plus the ABC-1234 format up to JZZ-9999. | |||
| October 2009 – December 2010 | Blue on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic | "First in Flight" as above | ZNE-1001 to ZZZ-9999 | Blue serials reintroduced following complaints that the red serials were too hard to read from a distance. | |||
| December 2010 – present | AAA-1001 to LCH-6118 [6] | Standard issue plate. Second letter in serials strictly A through M (so AMZ was followed by BAA, BMZ was followed by CAA, and so on); this practice should continue until at least NMZ-9999 is issued. | |||||
| July 1, 2015 – present | Blue on reflective white with quill pen graphic | "First In Freedom" screened at top | PAA-1001 to RJR-4589 | Alternative issue. Includes dates of May 20, 1775 and April 12, 1776 commemorating the adoption of the Mecklenburg Declaration and Halifax Resolves, respectively.[7] Second letter in serials strictly A through M (so PMZ was followed by RAA, and RMZ will be followed by SAA). | |||
| July 1, 2019 – present | Blue on reflective white with national flag motif at top | "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened at top; "To Be Rather Than to Seem" screened between serial and state name | TAA-1001 to VDZ-3649 | Alternative issue. "To Be Rather Than to Seem" is the English translation of the state motto, Esse quam videri.[8] Second letter in serials strictly A through M (so TMZ was followed by VAA, VMZ will be followed by WAA, and so on). |
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apportioned Truck | 2006–present | Embossed blue on white with border line; "N.C. PERMANENT" at top; "APPORTIONED" at bottom | LB-1234 MB-1234 NB-1234 | LA-1001 to MC-9999; MH-1001 to present | Issuing NW series as of November 17, 2022. | ||
| Farm Truck | Embossed red on white with border line; "COMMERCIAL" at top; "FARM TRUCK–NC" at bottom | WB-1234 XB-1234 YB-1234 | WA-1001 to present | Issuing YX series as of May 12, 2023. | |||
| For Hire | 2006–present | Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "FOR HIRE" at top | ZB-1234 | ZB-1001 to present | Issued annually through 2005.[9] Issuing ZM series as of September 27, 2020. | ||
| Manufacturer | Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "MANUFACTURER" at top | MF-1234 | MF-1001 to present | ||||
| Moped | 2015–present[10] | Embossed black on white with border line; "N.C. MOPED" at top | MB12345 | MA10000 to present | |||
| Motorcycle | 1999–present | Embossed blue on white with border line; "N.C." at top | 1A2345 | 1A0001 to present | Letter advances before leftmost number (1A-1Z, 2A-2Z, etc.). G, I, O, Q and U not used. Issuing 9C series as of May 5, 2024. | ||
| Multi-Year Trailer | 1993–present | Embossed black on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at top; "MULTI YEAR" at bottom | AZ-99999; AA-10000 to AM-99999; DA-10000 to present | Permanent trailer plate obtained for a one-time fee. Issuing DB series as of April 4, 2023. | |||
| Special Mobile Equipment | 2006–present | Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "SPEC MOBILE" at top | ME-1234 | ME-1001 to present | Issued annually through 2005. | ||
| Taxi | 2006–present | Embossed blue on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "TAXI" at top | TB-1234 | TA-1001 to present | Issued annually through 2005. Issuing TC series as of August 19, 2019. | ||
| Trailer | 1995–present | Embossed red on white with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA" at bottom; "TRAILER" at top | AN-10000 to AX-99999; BA-10000 to present | Issuing CN series as of September 25, 2021. |