Passenger 1913-date

NC passenger license plate identification

6-30-13 (1913)

Roland Rhodes Collection

Single plate issued March - June 1913
Color: White numbers on black background
Type: Porcelain 6" x 12"
Serial: 6826 through 7977 issued
Stacked N/C on right side, EXPIRES JUNE 30-13 on bottom

6-30-14 (1914)

Single plate issued.
Color: Red numbers on white background
Type: Porcelain 6" x 12" (1-4 digits), 6" x 14" (5 digits)
Serial: 1 through at least 12438 issued
Stacked N/C on right side, EXPRIES JUNE 30-14 on bottom

6-30-15 (1915)

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers on green background
Type: Porcelain 6" x 12" (1-4 digits), 6" x 14" (5 digits)
Serial: 1 through at least 16345 issued
Stacked N/C on right side, EXPIRES JUNE 30-15 on bottom

6-30-16 (1916)

Single plate issued
Color: Black numbers on gray background
Type: Porcelain 6" x 12" (1-4 digits), 6" x 14" (5 digits)
Serial: 1 through at least 24950 issued
Stacked N/C on right side, EXPIRES JUNE 30-16 on bottom

6-30-1917 (1917)

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers on blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" (1-4 digits), 6" x 14" (5 digits)
Serial: 1 through at least 39701 issued
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 1917 on right side

6-30-1918 (1918)

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Blue numbers and border on white background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 64-914 issued with dash separating last three digits on plates with 5-digits.
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 1918 on right side

6-30-1919 (1919)

Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers and border on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 79-325 issued with dash separating last three digits on plates with 5 digits.
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 1919 on right side

6-30-1920 (1920)

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers and border on yellow background
Type: Embossed steel 4-3/4" x 13"
Serial: 1 through at least 105-347 issued with dash separating last three digits on plates with 4 or 5 digits.
"N.C." over 6-30 1920 on left side

6-30-1921 (1921)

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on dark red background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 130-217 issued with dash separating last three digits on plates with 5 digits or more.
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 1921 on right side

6-30-22 (1922)

Single plate issued
Color: Black numbers and border on white background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 213-097 issued with dash separating last three digits on plates with 5 digits or more.
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 1922 on right side

6-30-23 (1923)

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on green background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 1 through at least 180545 issued.
Stacked N/C on right side with 6-30-23 on bottom

6-30-24 (1924)

Single plate issued
Color: Maroon numbers and border on beige-gray background
type: Embossed steel 61/2" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 261-993 issued with dash separating last three digits on
plates with 4 digits or more.
Block "N.C. - 6-30-24" on top of plate. It has been found that there are two types of dies. #20-527 shows the early dies while #211-590 shows the later thicker dies.

6-30-25 (1925)

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on dark blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 15"
Serial: 1 through at least 319-360 issued with dash separating last three digits on
plates with 5 digits or more.
Intertwined "NC" over 6-30 25 on left side

6-30-26 (1926)

Single plate issued
Color; Black numbers and border on yellow background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 16"
Serial: 1 through at least 347-354 issued with dash separating last three digits on
plates with 5 digits or more. (reported 360,000 ordered)
Staggered "NC" over 6-30-26 on right side.

6-30-27 (1927)

Temporary picture

Single Plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5" x 15"
Serial: 4-6 digit all numeric with dash separating last three digits of number.
Stacked date 6 30 27 on left side. Intertwined "NC" over weight code on right side.
Weight codes: A= 35hp+, B= 31-34hp, C= 26-30hp, E= 1-25hp

1927 (issued July-Dec, 1927)

Single plate issued
Color: Red numbers and border on light gray background
Type: Embossed steel 5" x 15"
Serial: 4-6 digit all numeric with dash separating last three digits of number.
Stacked "NC" on left side. Weight code over "27" on right side
Weight codes: A= 35hp+, B= 31-34hp, C= 26-30hp, E= 1-25hp

1928

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on green background
Type: Embossed steel 5' x 15"
Serial: 4-6 digit all numeric with dash separating last three digits of number.
Weight code over "28" on left side. Stacked "NC" on right side.
Weight codes: A= 35hp+, B= 31-34hp, C= 26-30hp, E= 1-25hp

1929

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on light blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 4-6 digit all numeric with dash separating last three digits of number.
"NORTH CAROLINA-1929" on bottom of plate
Some plates have a "C" designation to the right of serial. According to the 1929 supplement of the NC Code of 1927, "Motor vehicles used for both passenger purposes and as a truck shall be required to pay according to the tonnage capacity of the vehicle when used as a truck". This is either a weight code or class designation for vehicles described. Further confirmation is needed.
First year of plates with NORTH CAROLINA spelled out.

1930

Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers and border on maroon background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 4-6 digit all numeric with dash separating last three digits of number.
"NORTH CAROLINA-1930" on top of plate
Some plates have a "C" designation to the right of serial. According to the 1929 supplement of the NC Code of 1927, "Motor vehicles used for both passenger purposes and as a truck shall be required to pay according to the tonnage capacity of the vehicle when used as a truck". This is either a weight code or class designation for vehicles described. Further confirmation is needed.
First year of plates made by NC Division of Prisons.

1931

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with weight code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-31" on bottom of plate.
Weight codes: 1= 35+hp, 2= 31-34hp, 3= 26-30hp, 4= 1-25hp.
Weight code 1 has scallop triangles on each side of the number while codes 2-4 are inside a box.

1932

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers on yellow background
Type; Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"NORTH CAROLINA-32" on top of plate.
Weight codes not used this year.

1933

Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers on blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with weight code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-33" on bottom of plate.
Weight codes: 1= 1/2 ton - 2 tons, 2= 2 tons - 3 tons, 3= Over 3 tons
Weight code 1 has scallop triangles on each side of the number while codes 2&3 are inside a box.

1934

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with weight code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-34" on top of plate.
Weight codes: 1= 1/2 ton - 2 tons, 2= 2 tons - 3 tons, 3= Over 3 tons
Weight code 1 has scallop triangles on each side of the number while codes 2&3 are inside a box.

1935

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Silver numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with weight code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-35" on bottom of plate.
Weight codes: 1= 1/2 ton - 2 tons, 2= 2 tons - 3 tons, 3= Over 3 tons
Weight code 1 has scallop triangles on each side of the number while codes 2&3 are inside a box.

1936

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Light green numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with weight code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-36" on top of plate.

1937

Pairs of plates issued
Color: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-37" on bottom of plate.

1938

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA-38" on top of plate

1939

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Silver numbers on maroon background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 39" in ornate script on bottom of plate

1940

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Maroon numbers on silver background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 40" in ornate script on bottom of plate

1941

Pairs of plates issued
Color: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 41" in ornate script on bottom of plate
Some 1941 plates were issued after stock of 1942 plates were exhausted for use with 1943 tab.
Note- Some plates made with bolt holes replacing slots

1942

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black letters on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 42" on bottom of plate.
Used through 1943 in conjunction with '43 tab. Bolt holes now replace slots.

1943

Single tab consisting of lower right corner of 1943 plate used with all 1942 and some 1941 plates.
Color: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 1-3/4" x 3-1/4"
Serial: Stamped 6-digit all numeric on bottom of tab
" A 43" from right corner of plate made to cover same area of 1942 plate

1944

Single plate issued
Color: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 44" on top of plate
Note- Passenger truck was combined with passenger car for 1944-1949. It has been said that trucks were issued in 400-000 and 500-000 for 1944-45, but no source has confirmed this.

1945

Single plate issued
Colors: Black letters on "Goldenrod" yellow background*
*(Some later issues had "School Bus yellow" background)
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 45" on bottom of plate
Note- Passenger truck was combined with passenger car for 1944-1949. It
has been said that trucks were issued in 400-000 and 500-000 for 1944-45, but no
source has confirmed this.

Later issued plate with "School Bus Yellow" background

1946

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 46" on top of plate

1947

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers on "School bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 47" on top of plate

1948

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number
"NORTH CAROLINA 48" on top of plate

1949

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: Black numbers on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 49" on bottom of plate

Beginning in 1949, passenger car plates began being issued with letter prefixes N, R, W, and X numbering 1001 through 99999 (EX: W-1001)
For 1949, only W is known prefix.

1950

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 50" on bottom of plate

Beginning in 1949, passenger car plates began being issued with letter prefixes

N, R, W, and X numbering 1001 through 99999 (EX: W-1001)
For 1950, R and W prefixes have been confirmed.

1951

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "Cardinal Red" numbers on white background
Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 51" on bottom of plate

Beginning in 1949, passenger car plates began being issued with letter prefixes

N, R, W, and X numbering 1001 through 99999 (EX: W-1001)
For 1951, N, R and W prefixes have been confirmed.

1952

Single plate issued
Colors: White numbers on "Cardinal Red" background
Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 52" on bottom of plate

Beginning in 1949, passenger car plates began being issued with letter prefixes

N, R, W, and X numbering 1001 through 99999 (EX: W-1001)
For 1952, N, R and W prefixes have been confirmed.

1953

Type 1- with date slots

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric through 700-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
All numeric, all N & W prefix, and R prefix through R-50000 issued
"NORTH CAROLINA 53" on bottom of plate

Type 2- without date slots

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: Letter prefix series with dash separating the letter prefix and numbers R-50001 through at least R-98602 issued.
"NORTH CAROLINA 53" on bottom of plate

Type 3- "DRIVE SAFELY"

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: Letter prefix series with dash separating the letter
prefix and numbers. Only X prefix issued.
"N.C.- DRIVE SAFELY- 53" on bottom of plate

1954

Type 1- No slogan

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers on "School Bus yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
Letter prefix with dash separating letter prefix and numbers
"NORTH CAROLINA 54" on bottom of plate

Serials issued-
100-001 through at least 583-659
R-1001 through at least R-32377

Type 2- "DRIVE SAFELY"

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers on "School Bus yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix with dash separating letter prefix and numbers
"N.C.- DRIVE SAFELY- 54" on bottom of plate

Serials issued-
595-854 through 684-848 (Approx.)
R-52585 through R-99999 (Approx.)
All N, W, and X letter prefix

1955

Type 1

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 55" on bottom of plate

Serials issued-
All numeric through 700-000 series
All N, R, W, and X letter prefix.

Type 2- 1956 dies

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: Letter prefix series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 55" on bottom of plate

Serials issued- A and V letter prefix.

1956

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers and border on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used.
"DRIVE SAFELY" on top of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA 56" on bottom of plate

1957

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers and border on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used.
"DRIVE SAFELY" on top of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA 57" on bottom of plate

Early 1957 plates had bolt holes which at some point in the F and H series changed to bolt slots.

1958

1959

Most 1959 plates had bolt slots but some late issued plates had bolt holes.

1960

Most 1960 plates had bolt slots but some late issued plates had bolt holes.

1961

1962

1963

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers and border on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used
"NORTH CAROLINA 63" on top of plate
"DRIVE SAFELY" on bottom of plate

1964

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used.
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"64" on bottom center of plate

1965

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1965" on bottom center of plate

1966

Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers and border on "School Bus Yellow" background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"1966" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1967

Single plate issued
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"1967" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1968

Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1968" on bottom center of plate

1969

Single plate issued
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"19" and "69" in bottom left and right respective corners

1970

Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"19" and "70" in top left and right respective corners
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1971

Single plate issued
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"71" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1972

Single plate issued
Colors: Blue numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: A-1 through ZZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"19" and "72" in bottom left and right respective corners

1973

Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AAA-101 through HZZ-999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used.
"19" and "73" in top left and right respective corners
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1974

Single plate issued
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective scotchlite
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AAA-101 through HZZ-999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"1974" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate