Vehicle registration plates of West Virginia

Current West Virginia license plate

The U.S. state of West Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Currently in West Virginia, only rear license plates are used.

Passenger baseplates 1905 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956–57 (dated 1957) issue was the first West Virginia license plate that complied with these standards.

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1905		"Licensed"	1234	unknown
1906	Gray on dark blue	"Licensed"	1234	unknown
1907-09	Black on white	"Licensed"	1234	unknown
1909	Black on scarlet	"Licensed"	1234	unknown
1910	White on dark blue	"Licensed"	1234	unknown
1911	Black on white	"Licensed"	12345	unknown
1912- June 1913	White on forrest green	"License"	12345	unknown
July 1913 - July 1914	Yellow on black	"License"	12345	unknown
August 1914 - June 1915	White on sky blue	"License"	12345	unknown
July 1915 - June 1916	White on red	"License"	12345	unknown
July 1916 - June 1917	Navy on white	"Licensed"	12345	unknown
July 1917 - June 1918	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "W.VA 17-18" embossed in yellow block letters at right	none	12345	unknown	First embossed plate since 1905
July 1918 - June 1919	Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "W.VA 18-19" embossed in black block letters at right	none	12345	unknown
July 1919 -1920	Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "W.VA 19-20" embossed in white block letters at right	none	12345	unknown
1921	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "WVA 1921" embossed in white block letters at right	none	12345	unknown
1922	Embossed black numbers on tan plate with border line; "WVA 1922" embossed in black block letters at right	none	12345	unknown
1923	Embossed red numbers on white plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1923" embossed in red block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 141-000
1924	Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1924" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 165-000
1925	Embossed dark blue numbers on orange plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1925" embossed in dark blue block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 173-000
1926	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1926" embossed in white block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 211-000
1927	Embossed black numbers on gray plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1927" embossed in black block letters at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 207-000
1928	Embossed white numbers on dark green plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1928" embossed in white block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 217-000
1929	Embossed orange numbers on black plate; "WEST VIRGINIA 1929" embossed in orange block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 232-000
1930	Embossed black numbers on gray plate; "W. VA. – 1930" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 223-000
1931	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "W. VA. – 1931" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 213-000
1932	Embossed white numbers on black plate; "W. VA. – 1932" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 192-000
1933–34	As 1931 base, but with "W. VA. – 1933" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 214-000	Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1934 with windshield stickers.
1934–35	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "W. VA.-34-35" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 207-000
1935–36	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "W. VA.-35-36" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 219-000
1936–37	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "W. VA.-36-37" embossed in black block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 224-000
1937–38	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "W. VA.-37-38" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top	none	123-456	1 to approximately 237-000
1938–39	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "W. VA.-38-39" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 236-000
1939–40	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "W. VA.-39-40" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 245-000
1940–41	As 1938–39 base, but with "W. VA.-40-41" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 258-000
1941–44	Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" embossed in yellow block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 349-000	Revalidated until June 30, 1943 with tabs, and then until June 30, 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944–45	Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-45" embossed in black block letters at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 214-000
1945–46	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-46" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 239-000
1946–47	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-47" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 250-000
1947–48	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-48" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 282-000
1948–49	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-49" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 312-000
1949–50	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-50" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 339-000
1950–51	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-51" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 365-000
1951–52	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-52" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 377-000
1952–53	As 1944–45 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-53" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 379-000
1953–54	As 1941–44 base, but with "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-54" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 399-000
1954–55	As 1944–45 base, but with "WEST VIRGINIA 54" embossed at bottom	none	123-456	1 to approximately 418-000
1955–56	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA 56" embossed in white block letters below numbers	none	123-456	1 to approximately 436-000
1956–57	Embossed yellow numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in yellow block letters centered below numbers; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "57" in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to approximately 461-000
1957–58	Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in green block letters centered below numbers; "58" embossed in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to approximately 469-000
1958–59	Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters centered below numbers; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "59" in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to approximately 478-000
1959–60	Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in red block letters centered below numbers; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "60" in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to approximately 471-000
1960–61	Embossed white numbers on dark red plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in white block letters centered below numbers; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "61" in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to 141-826^[1]
1960–61	As above, but with elements debossed	none	123-456	141-827 to approximately 476-000
1961–62	As 1957–58 base, but with "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "62" in bottom right corner	none	123-456	1 to approximately 488-000
1962–63	Debossed yellow numbers on blue plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" debossed in yellow block letters centered below numbers; "19" debossed in bottom left corner and "63" in bottom right corner	"1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" debossed in yellow block letters above numbers	123-456	1 to approximately 490-000
1963–64	Embossed blue numbers on yellow plate with border line; "WEST VIRGINIA" embossed in blue block letters centered below numbers; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "64" in bottom right corner	"1863 CENTENNIAL 1963" embossed in blue block letters above numbers	123-456	1 to approximately 521-000
1964–65	As 1962–63 base, but with "65" debossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" debossed in yellow block letters centered above numbers	123-456	1 to approximately 522-000
1965–66	As 1963–64 base, but with "66" embossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" embossed in blue block letters centered above numbers	123-456	1 to approximately 558-000
1966–67	As 1962–63 base, but with "67" debossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" as on 1964–65 base	123-456	1 to approximately 582-000
1967–68	As 1963–64 base, but with "68" embossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" as on 1965–66 base	123-456	1 to approximately 603-000
1968–69	As 1962–63 base, but with "69" debossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" as on 1964–65 base	123-456	1 to approximately 625-000
1969–70	As 1963–64 base, but with "70" embossed in bottom right corner	"MOUNTAIN STATE" as on 1965–66 base	123-456	1 to approximately 591-000
1970–75	As 1963–64 base, but with sticker box in bottom right corner and no embossed year	"MOUNTAIN STATE" as on 1965–66 base	0A-1234 AA-1234	First character corresponds to month of expiration (see right)	1 through 9 indicated January through September respectively, and O, N and D indicated October, November and December respectively. This system remains in use today.
1976–82	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; yellow state icon with blue outline screened behind numbers at left; "WEST VIRGINIA" screened in dark blue block letters centered below numbers	Dark blue bar screened at top with "Wild, Wonderful" in white italic serifed letters in the center	0A-1234 AA-1234	First character corresponds to month of expiration
1982 – December 1994	As above, but without blue outline around state icon		0A-1234 0AB-123 AA-1234 AAB-123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Double-letter serials introduced for each month as single-letter serials were exhausted. These serials progressed as follows: both letters A through M only, then first letter N through Z and second letter A through M, then first letter A through M and second letter N through Z.
January 1995 – December 2000	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; dark blue bar screened at top containing "West Virginia" in gold serifed letters in the center; thin gold stripe screened between dark blue bar and numbers	"Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue serifed letters centered below numbers, with three stripes (two dark blue and one gold) screened on either side	0A-1234 0AB-123 AA-1234 AAB-123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Serials reset to A for all months; progression is as before but with double-letter serials progressing in standard order (AA-AZ, BA-BZ etc.). Serials S and SA-SZ reserved for optional Scenic plates.
December 2000 – early 2006		"Wild, Wonderful" as before, plus "www.callwva.com" in dark blue serifed letters between state name and numbers, cutting off thin gold stripe in the middle
early 2006 – present		"Wild, Wonderful" as before; web address dropped

Optional types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Scenic	1996–present	Embossed dark blue numbers on mountain scene with white and orange sky, pale blue mountains and dark blue forest; "West Virginia" and "Wild, Wonderful" screened in dark blue serifed letters centered above and below numbers respectively	0S-1234 0SA-123 AS-1234 ASA-123	First character corresponds to month of expiration	Similar monthly serial formats to passenger base, but with serials progressing S, then SA, SB, SC etc. "www.callwva.com" appeared between state name and numbers during the early and mid-2000s.

References

↑ "West Virginia License Plates - Variations". licenseplates.tropikordia.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

External links

West Virginia license plates 1969-present

Vehicle registration plates of the United States

States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Federal district	Washington, D.C.

Insular areas	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

Other registration plates	Native American tribes Designs and serial formats

By year	1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Vehicle registration plates of North America

Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States

Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands

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