Vehicle registration plates of Wyoming explained

Size:12x
Material:Aluminum
Serial Format:1-12345
1-1234A
1/0-12345
(county-coded)
Issuer:Wyoming Department of Transportation

The U.S. state of Wyoming first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913., plates are issued and regulated by the Wyoming Department of Transportation through its Motor Vehicle Services division.

Wyoming license plates have included an image of a Bucking Horse and Rider since 1936.

Wyoming state law usually requires front and rear license plates. However, on July 1, 2015, a new law took effect that allowed custom and antique vehicles to display only rear plates, as well as vehicles that were originally manufactured without a plate bracket on the front.[1]

Passenger baseplates

1913 to 1974

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 Wyoming license plate that complied with these standards.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1913Embossed red serial on white plate; "WYO" at bottom left with silver state seal above12341 to approximately 1600
1914Embossed white serial on blue plate; "WYO" at bottom left with silver state seal above12341 to approximately 2500
1915Embossed white serial on black plate; "WYO" at bottom left with embossed state seal above12341 to approximately 4000
1916Blue serial on white porcelain plate; "WYO." at bottom left with black state seal above12341 to approximately 7000Only porcelain plate.
1917Embossed brown serial on light yellow plate with border line; "WYO." at bottom left with silver state seal above123451 to approximately 12500
1918Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "1918 WYO." at left123451 to approximately 18000First dated plate.
1919Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "1919 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 22000
Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "1920 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 30000Revalidated for 1921 with light green tabs.
1921Embossed black serial on orange plate; "1921 WYO" at left1234530001 to approximately 36500Issued only to new registrants. Serials continued from where the 1920–21 plates left off.
1922Embossed navy blue serial on cream plate; "1922 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 28000
1923Embossed white serial on navy blue plate; "WYO 1923" at left123451 to approximately 36000
1924Embossed white serial on red plate; "1924 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 39000
1925Embossed black serial on white plate; "1925 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 45000
1926Embossed white serial on green plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "WYO 1926" at left123451 to approximately 45000
1927Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "1927 WYO" at left123451 to approximately 47000
1928Embossed yellow serial on navy blue plate; yellow lines at top and bottom borders; "WYO 1928" at left123451 to approximately 49000
1929Embossed red serial on white plate; red lines at top and bottom borders; "WYO 1929" at left123451 to approximately 52000
1930Embossed white serial on black plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1930" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of the full state name.
1931Embossed green serial on gray plate; green lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1931" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1932Embossed cream serial on brown plate; cream lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1932" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1933Embossed black serial on white plate; black lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1933" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1934Embossed white serial on dark red plate; white lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1934" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1935Embossed blue serial on white plate; blue lines at top and bottom borders; "WYOMING 1935" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1936Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1936 WYOMING" at top1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of the Bucking Horse and Rider.
1937Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on brown plate with border line; "1937 WYOMING" at top1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Issued in the colors of the University of Wyoming, in honor of its 50th anniversary.[3]
1938Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on navy blue plate with border line; "1938 WYOMING" at top1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1939Embossed navy blue serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on golden yellow plate with border line; "1939 WYOMING" at bottom1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1940Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on turquoise plate with border line; "1940 WYOMING" at top1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1941Embossed red serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1941 WYOMING" at top1-1234
2-A123
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)One-letter, three-digit serials issued in Laramie County after 2-9999 was reached. This occurred again in 1942.
1942Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1942 WYOMING" at top1-1234
2-A123
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1943Embossed golden yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "1943 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Five-digit serials issued in Laramie County after 2-9999 was reached; this occurred on each subsequent base through 1955. Natrona County followed suit from 1949.
1944Black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on golden yellow fiberboard plate with border line; "1944 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1945 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1946Embossed green serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on beige plate with border line; "1946 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1947Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "1947 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1948Embossed brown serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on golden yellow plate with border line; "1948 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1949Embossed red serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1949 WYOMING" at bottom1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1950Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "1950 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1951Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1951 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1952Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "52 WYOMING" at bottom1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1953Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with white border line; "53 WYOMING" at bottom1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1954Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "54 WYOMING" at bottom1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1955Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "55 WYOMING" at top1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1956Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "56 WYOMING" at bottom1-1234
1-123A
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)First 6" x 12" plate. Stacked county codes introduced in two-digit counties; all serials restricted to four characters in length.
1957Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 57" at top right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1958Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on green plate with border line; "WYO 58" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1959Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 59" at top right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1960Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 60" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1961Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on red plate with border line; "WYO 61" at top right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1962Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on Columbia blue plate with border line; "WYO 62" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1963Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 63" at top right1-1234
1-123A
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1964Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on red plate with border line; "WYO 64" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1965Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 65" at top right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1966Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on dark green plate with border line; "WYO 66" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1967Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on red plate with border line; "WYO 67" at top right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1968Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on brown plate with border line; "WYO 68" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1969Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on dark blue plate with border line; "WYO 69" at top right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1970Embossed yellow serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on dark green plate with border line; "WYO 70" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1971Embossed white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on black plate with border line; "WYO 71" at top right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1972Embossed brown serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on yellow plate with border line; "WYO 72" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1972 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Wyoming was so honored.
1973Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "WYO 73" at top right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
1974As 1972 base, but with "WYO 74" at bottom right1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)

1975 to present

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1975–77Embossed light blue serial and screened light blue Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with light blue border line; red band screened at bottom containing "19 WYOMING 75" in white"THE SPIRIT OF '76 — In the American West!" screened in red Wild West-style font centered at top1-1234
1-123A
1-A123
1-123
-1234
-123A
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with stickers. Five-character serials, with two stacked letters, issued in Laramie and Natrona Counties from 1977 after four-character serials were exhausted.
1978–82Embossed brown serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate; brown wooden fence graphic screened at bottom; "WYOMING" screened in Wild West-style font on wooden sign graphic at top, offset to right; "78" screened in same manner at top leftnone1-1234
1-123
-1234
-123
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1978 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Wyoming was so honored.
1983 – December 1987Embossed brown serial and screened brown Bucking Horse and Rider on yellow plate; brown wooden fence graphic screened at bottom; "WYOMING" screened in brown at top, offset to right; "83" screened at top leftnone1-1234
1-123
-1234
-123
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
January 1988 – December 1992Embossed red serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate featuring white cloud-covered mountains against a blue sky; "Wyoming" screened in dark blue at top, offset to right"1890 Centennial 1990" screened in dark blue at bottom1-1234
1-123
-1234
-123
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
Commemorated Wyoming's 100 years of statehood.
January 1993 – December 1999Embossed dark blue serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate with blue, green and yellow mountains against a pale blue sky; "Wyoming" screened in dark blue at top, offset to rightnone1-1234
1-123
-1234
-123
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
January 2000 – early 2005Embossed black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate with Devils Tower screened at right against a cloudy blue sky; "WYOMING" screened in white at bottom, offset to rightnone1-1234
1-123A
1-12AB
1-1ABC
-1234
-123A
-12AB
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2000 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Wyoming was so honored.
October 2001[4]  – December 2008As above, but with serial and Bucking Horse and Rider screened rather than embossedBucking Horse and Rider originally the same shape as on embossed plates, but later given greater detail. Each county started issuing screened plates after exhausting their supplies of embossed plates.
January 2008 – December 2016Screened black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate featuring the Teton Range, with cloudy blue sky above and green forest below; "WYOMING" screened in white centered at bottomnone1-12345
1-1234A
10-12345
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or 10)
Full-size county codes for two-digit counties, and serials with five full-size characters, used for the first time since 1955.

Issued only to 2-year registrants in 2008, all remaining motorists received the plate during 2009, replacing the previous base by the end of the year.
January 2016 – presentScreened black serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on graphic plate featuring the Green River Lakes and Squaretop Mountain against a cloudy blue sky; golden yellow rope border around plate; "WYOMING" screened in yellow centered at topnone1-12345
1-1234A
-12345
Coded by county of issuance
(1 or)
Issued only to 2-year registrants in 2016. All remaining motorists received the plate during 2017, replacing the previous base by the end of the year.
June 2024 – presentScreened white serial and Bucking Horse and Rider on on navy blue and gray graphic of the state flag; red and white border around plate; "WYOMING" screened navy blue outlined in white centered at top"travelwyoming.com" screened at bottom center; "That's WY" screened at bottom right1A-123A
A-123A
[5]
1A-1234
A-1234
Coded by county of issuance and vehicle type (1A or A)[6] Available for 2-year registrants in 2024. Will replace all previous plates during 2025.

Non-passenger plates

First issued in 2008.

ImageTypeDesignSerial formatNotes
ApportionedAs Teton Range passenger base; "APPORTIONED" at topA12345
Apportioned Trailer A12345No Bucking Horse and Rider.
CommercialAs Teton Range passenger base; "COMMERCIAL" at top1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
Exempt – CityAs Teton Range passenger base; "EXEMPT" at top-1234
Exempt – County-1234
Exempt – StateS-1234
Exempt – University of Wyoming-123
Multi-purpose Vehicle (MPV)As Green River and Squaretop Mountain passenger base; "MPV" at top with orange border1-1234
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
No Bucking Horse and Rider.
TruckAs Teton Range passenger base; "TRUCK" at top1-12345
10-12345
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

Previous non-passenger plates

Specialty plates

First issued in 2017 (except for the Wildlife Conservation plate).

ImageTypeDesignSerial formatNotes
Amateur RadioAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; "AMATEUR RADIO" at bottomFCC call sign
Disabled VeteranAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; national flag at left and "DISABLED VETERAN" at bottom1234
Emergency Medical TechnicianAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; Star of Life at left and "EMERGENCY MED TECH" at bottom1234
FirefighterAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; firefighter badge at left and "FIRE FIGHTER" at bottom1234
Gold Star FamilyAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; Gold Star graphic and "REMEMBER THE FALLEN" over national flag at left and "GOLD STAR FAMILY" at bottom1234
National GuardAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; Wyoming Military Department logo at left and "NATIONAL GUARD" at bottom1234
Pearl Harbor SurvivorAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; national flag at left and "PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR" at bottom1234
PioneerScreened white on black; "PIONEER" at top, offset to right-1234
PrestigeAs Squaretop Mountain passenger baseCounty code followed by any acceptable combination of up to five letters and numbers, personalized by owner
Prisoner of WarAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; POW-MIA badge at left and "PRISONER OF WAR" at bottom1234
Purple Heart RecipientAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; Purple Heart medal graphic at left and "COMBAT WOUNDED" at bottom1234
University of WyomingScreened brown on gold; "UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING" at bottom1-1234
-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or)
'A' type code between county code and Bucking Horse and Rider.
VeteranAs Squaretop Mountain passenger base; seal of branch of service over national flag at left and "VETERAN" at bottom1234 (Air Force)
1234 (Army)
1234 (Coast Guard)
1234 (Marine Corps)
1234 (Merchant Marine)
1234 (Navy)
Wildlife ConservationScreened yellow on graphic plate featuring mule deer in grass; "WILDLIFE CONSERVATION" at bottom1234Introduced January 2019.

County codes

CodeCounty
1Natrona
2Laramie
3Sheridan
4Sweetwater
5Albany
6Carbon
7Goshen
8Platte
9Big Horn
10Fremont
11Park
12Lincoln
13Converse
14Niobrara
15Hot Springs
16Johnson
17Campbell
18Crook
19Uinta
20Washakie
21Weston
22Teton
23Sublette
99Rental vehicle

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wyoming Bill to Provide Single License Plate Signed Into Law . . March 5, 2015 . January 31, 2016 . August 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200812004334/https://www.sema.org/sema-enews/2015/10/wyoming-bill-to-provide-single-license-plate-signed-into-law . dead .
  2. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.
  3. News: New Wyoming Auto License Plates Appear . Weston County Gazette . Upton . October 15, 1936 . January 28, 2016.
  4. Web site: Turnbull . Andrew . March of the Flats . The Andrew Turnbull Network . December 24, 2014.
  5. Web site: Video: New Wyoming License Plates Coming in 2025 . Wyo Today . 8 May 2024.
  6. Web site: Jean . Renée . Wyoming’s New License Plates Made In A Secret Warehouse Called ‘Area 51’ . Cowboy State Daily . 8 May 2024.