The U.S. state of Louisiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.[1] As of 2024[update], plates are issued by the Public Safety Services division of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, through the division's Office of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1952.
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| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Sportsman's Paradise |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Serial format | 123 ABC |
| Introduced | February 2005 (issued continuously since January 1, 2016) |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Public Safety Services, Office of Motor Vehicles |
| History | |
| First issued | January 1, 1915 |
Passenger baseplates
edit1915 to 1963
editIn 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.[2] The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Louisiana license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1915 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "LA" and "1915" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 10500 | |
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1916 | Embossed white serial on green plate; stylized "LA" and "16" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 16000 | |
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1917 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; stylized "LA" and "17" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 27000 | |
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1918 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "18" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 40000 | |
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1919 | Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "19" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 50000 | |
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1920 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; stylized "LA" and "20" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 54000 | |
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1921 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "21" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 79000 | |
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1922 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to 20000; 100001 to approximately 105000 | Separate bases issued for vehicles up to 23 hp and for vehicles above this power; this practice continued through 1929. In all years, the base with low-numbered serials (starting from 1) was issued on the vehicles above 23 hp.[3] |
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Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; stylized "LA" and "22" at left | none | 20001 to 100000 | |||
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1923 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "LA 23" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to 30000 | |
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Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "LA 23" at left | none | 30001 to approximately 116000 | |||
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1924 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA 24" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to 30000 | |
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Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "LA 24" at right | none | 30001 to approximately 143000 | |||
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1925 | Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; "LA 25" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to 40000 | |
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Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "LA 25" at right | none | 40001 to approximately 179000 | |||
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1926 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1926" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 40-000; 200-001 to approximately 205-000 | |
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Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; "LA-1926" centered at bottom | none | 40-001 to 200-000 | |||
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1927 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "LA-1927" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 50-000 | |
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Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "LA-1927" centered at bottom | none | 50-001 to approximately 224-000 | |||
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1928 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LA-1928" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 70-000 | |
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Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "LA-1928" centered at bottom | none | 70-001 to approximately 232-000 | |||
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1929 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1929" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to 70-000; 234-001 to approximately 268-000 | First use of the full state name. |
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Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1929" at bottom, slightly offset to right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 70-001 to 234-000 | |||
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1930 | Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA-30" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 254-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1931" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 249-000 | |
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1932 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at top; vertical "1932" at right and vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office[3] | First base to feature a pelican in any form. |
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1933 | Embossed black serial with pelican separator on orange plate with border line; "LA–33" centered at top | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1934 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark blue plate with border line; "LA" and "34" above and below pelican respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1935 | Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "35" and "LA" above and below pelican respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1936 | Embossed light blue serial with pelican separator on olive green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1936" centered at top | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1937 | Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on maroon plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1937" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1938 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1938" centered at top | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1939 | Embossed orange serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1939" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1940 | Embossed dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on orange plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1940" centered at top | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by horsepower class and branch office | |
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1941 | Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1941" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 406-000 | |
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1942–43 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1942" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 384-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
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1944 | Black serial with pelican separator on yellow fiberboard plate; "LOUISIANA - 1944" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 380-000 | Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to ongoing metal conservation. |
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1945 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 45" at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 341-000 | |
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1946 | Embossed black serial with pelican separator on white plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 46" at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 337-000 | |
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1947 | Embossed black serial with pelican separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 47" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 356-000 | |
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1948 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 48" at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to 380-000; 400-001 to approximately 410-000 |
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1949 | Embossed black serial with pelican separator on yellow plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 49" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to 380-000; 435-001 to approximately 485-000 |
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1950 | Embossed yellow serial on royal blue plate with border line; pelican decal used as separator; "19 LOUISIANA 50" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to 490-000; 550-001 to approximately 615-000 |
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1951 | Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA–1951" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 566-000 | |
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1952 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 52" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 590-000 | |
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1953 | Embossed yellow serial with pelican separator on green plate with border line; "LOUISIANA-1953" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 638-000 | |
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1954 | Embossed blue serial with pelican separator on beige plate with border line; "19" at bottom left and "54" at bottom right | "LOUISIANA-YAMS" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 700-000 | |
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1955 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on black plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1955" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 740-000 | First 6" x 12" plate. |
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1956 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 56" at top | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 801-000 | |
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1957 | Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "LOUISIANA 1957" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 865-000 | |
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1958 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on red plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 58" at bottom | "SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 880-000 | |
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1959 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark blue plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 59" at top | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 910-000 | |
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1960 | Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on purple plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 60" at bottom | "LSU CENTENNIAL" at top | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 934-000 | |
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1961 | Embossed golden yellow serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 61" at bottom | "SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 948-000 | |
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1962 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on brown plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 62" at bottom | "SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top | 123-456 1234567 |
1-001 to approximately 1006000 | Plates with seven-digit serials omitted the pelican. This happened again in 1963. |
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1963 | Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 63" at bottom | "SPORTSMEN'S PARADISE" at top | 123-456 1234567 |
1-001 to approximately 1036000 | Last base to feature the embossed pelican. |
1964 to present
edit| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1964–65 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "64 LOUISIANA 65" at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1966–67 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "66 LOUISIANA 67" at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1968–69 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "68 LOUISIANA 69" at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1970–71 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "70 LOUISIANA 71" at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1972–73 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "72 LOUISIANA 73" at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1974–75 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at bottom; "74" at top left and "75" at top right | "BAYOU STATE" centered at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1976–77 | As above, but without years | ||||
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1978–83 | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | ||||
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1983–84 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; logo of the 1984 World's Fair screened at bottom left; "Louisiana" screened in blue centered at top | "World's Fair" screened in blue centered at bottom | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1984–89 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "LOUISIANA" centered at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | |
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1989–93 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate; screened dark blue graphics of mother pelicans with chicks at top corners; "LoUiSiAna" screened in red and dark blue (the 'U', 'S' and 'A' in dark blue) centered at bottom | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in red centered at top | 123A456 | Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issue | Last base to use State Police troop area of issuance. |
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1993 – December 31, 2001 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate, with or without border line; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in blue centered at bottom | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to approximately KLK 999 | Known as the "Lipstick" base. All 1974–93 plates were replaced with this design during 1995–96. |
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January 1, 2002 – July 2004 |
As 1993–2001 base, but with a screened blue compass graphic in the center containing a map of the contiguous U.S. with the area of the Louisiana Purchase highlighted | "Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial 1803-2003" screened in blue centered at bottom | ABC 123 | KLL 000 to approximately MSN 999 | Limited-run plate to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. |
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July 2004 – February 2005 | As 1993–2001 base | "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" as from 1993–2001 | ABC 123 | MSP 000 to approximately NFU 999 | |
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February 2005 – January 2, 2011 | Embossed black serial on reflective white, yellow and pink gradient plate with black border line; screened pelican graphic in the center; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top | "Sportsman's Paradise" screened in red at bottom, offset to left | ABC 123 | NFV 000 to approximately VCS 999 | Initial plates featured a larger font for the state name. 'Q' and 'U' series of serials not used.[3] |
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January 3, 2011 – December 31, 2012[4] | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with pale green grass graphic and black border line; white pelican within green state shape screened at left; "Louisiana" screened in red handwritten font centered at top | "200 YEARS" screened in black centered at bottom, with "1812" and "2012" on small red banners at left and right respectively | ABC123 | VCT000 to approximately WUG999 | Limited-run plate to commemorate 200 years of statehood. Pelican and state shape later reduced in size. |
| January 1, 2013 – January 2014 | As 2005–11 base | "Sportsman's Paradise" as from 2005–11 | ABC 123 | WUH 000 to approximately XRZ 999 | ||
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January 2014 – December 2015 | Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; logo of the Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial Commission (featuring a bucking horse and rider) screened at left; "LOUISIANA" screened in red centered at top | "www.louisianatravel.com" screened in dark blue centered at bottom | ABC123 | XSA000 to approximately ZPC999 | Limited-run plate to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. |
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January – May 2016 | As 2005–11 base | "Sportsman's Paradise" as from 2005–11 | ABC 123 | ZPD 000 to ZZZ 999 | |
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May 2016 – present | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 684 HMN (as of July 7, 2024)[5] |
Non-passenger plates
edit| Image | Type | Design | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Boat Trailer | Embossed blue on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "BOAT TRAILER" at top | unknown | D123456 | Likely to have begun at D500000. |
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As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "BOAT TRAILER" in place of slogan | c. 1993 | D123456 K123456 |
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Commercial | As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "COMMERCIAL" in place of slogan | c. 1993 | A123456 N123456 |
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Dealer | As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "DEALER" in place of slogan | DI12345 | DI99999 followed by D/I100000 and up. | |
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Embossed black on yellow with border line; "LOUISIANA" at top; "DEALER" at bottom | c. 2012 | DI12345 D/I123456 | ||
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Motorcycle | Embossed red on white with border line; "LA." at bottom; "MOTORCYCLE" at top | 1983 | 123456 | |
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Similar to 1993–2001 passenger base; "MC" embossed at bottom | 1995 | |||
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Private Truck | Embossed green on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "PRIVATE" at top | 1978 | A123456 | T, R and part of S series issued. |
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As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "PRIVATE" in place of slogan | c. 1993 | Rest of S series issued, followed by V and part of W. | ||
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As 1993–2001 passenger base, with screened "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" slogan | c. 2004 | Rest of W series issued, followed by X and Y; issuing Z series as of October 2023. | ||
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Tractor | "TRACTOR" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. | 1963 | 123456 | |
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Truck | "TRUCK" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. | 1966 | B123456, now at C123456 | |
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Truck | "TRUCK" embossed at top; weight of vehicle embossed in top right corner. | 1967 | 123456 | |
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Trailer | Embossed red on white with border line; "LOUISIANA" at bottom; "TRAILER" at top | mid 1980s | A123456 | D series issued up to D499999 (higher numbers reserved for Boat Trailer), followed by part of E series. |
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As 1993–2001 passenger base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan | c. 1993 | Rest of E series issued; currently issuing L series. |
Optional plates
editOptional plates do not use leading zeros in their serials.
| Image | Type | Design | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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American Indian | A/I 1234 | |||
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Animal Friendly | F/A 1234 | |||
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Bring Back the Bobwhite | 12 | |||
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Chez Nous Autres[6] "our home" in Cajun | French spelling "Louisiane" printed instead of English spelling "Louisiana" | C/Z 123 | ||
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Choose Life | C/L 1234 | |||
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Emergency Medical Technician | ||||
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Firefighter—Retired | 123 | |||
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"In God We Trust" | T/G 1234 | |||
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Louisiana Tech University | 123 | |||
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Marine Corps League | 12 | |||
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New Orleans Pelicans | Introduced January 29, 2024.[7] | |||
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Our Environment...Our Future | Black on reflective light blue, white, and dark blue with multicolored graphic of pelican at right. | 123 E/E 1234 |
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"Preserve Our Hunting Heritage" | W/D 1234 | |||
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Save the Louisiana Black Bear | B/B 1234 | |||
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Sons of Confederate Veterans | C/V 1234 | |||
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Special Olympics | 12 | |||
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Think Safe Kids | 12 | |||
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U.S. Veteran—Marine Corps | "USMC" printed diagonally to left of serial | M/A 1234 | ||
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U.S. Veteran—Navy—Retired | "NAVY" printed diagonally and "RETIRED" printed horizontally to left of serial | 123 |
Government plates
edit| Image | Type | Design | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Public | "PUBLIC" embossed vertically at left; "SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened at bottom. | 123456 | ||
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Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement | SF 12 |
State Police troop codes
editFrom 1964 until 1993, Louisiana State Police troop area codes were used as part of the serial on the plate, invariably in the center of the serial. From 1993 until 1996, stickers were used to show the troop. This was done to give some idea of where the plates were issued. However, registrants who applied via the mail got plates with the "X" code, which was used for Baton Rouge.
| Code | Troop or area |
|---|---|
| A | Baton Rouge |
| B | New Orleans (troop office in Kenner since 1995) |
| C | Raceland, (later Gray after troop office was moved in the mid 1970s) |
| D | Lake Charles |
| E | Alexandria |
| F | Monroe |
| G | Shreveport |
| H | Leesville (eliminated in 1988) |
| I | Lafayette |
| K | Opelousas (eliminated in 1988) |
| L | Covington |
| M | Raceland (eliminated in 1973) |
| N | New Orleans (overflow) |
| X | Baton Rouge/statewide mail |
References
edit- ^ Shearer, Benjamin F.; Shearer, Barbara S. (2001). State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols: A Historical Guide (3rd ed.). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press. p. 200. ISBN 0-313-31534-5.
- ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ^ a b c Tanner, Eric N. "Louisiana Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
- ^ Louisiana Bicentennial Commission web site [1].
- ^ "Louisiana License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
- ^ "Private Site".
- ^ Pellittieri, Raley (January 29, 2024). "Pelicans license plates now available". WAFB. Retrieved February 16, 2024.