Truck 1928-1978 Base

NC truck license plate identification

North Carolina issued plates for "tonnage" starting in 1920 which included both trucks and trailers and were determined by the symbol "T" through 1927. In 1928, plates were changed to give trucks and trailers their own distinctive symbols. These symbols changed often by year.

1928

Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on green background
Type: Embossed steel 5' x 15"
Serial: 3-5 digit all numeric.
Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires
Weight code over "28" on left side. Stacked "NC" on right side.
Weight codes: F, G, H, N
Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater.

1929

Trucks with pneumatic tires carried a "T" symbol and trucks having solid tires carried a "Ts" symbol. Both had 8 weight codes which included C,E,F,G,H and N.
Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on light blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial.
Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires left of serial
Weight code: Right side of serial
Weight codes: F, G, H, N
Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater.
"NORTH CAROLINA-1929" on bottom of plate
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: 5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial
Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires left of serial
Weight code: Right side of serial
Weight codes: F, G, H, N
Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater.
"NORTH CAROLINA 1930" across top of plate.
NOTE- Three variants known. space between T and number with no dash, Dash between T and number, Dash in the middle of the number.

1930 was the first year for Interstate and Intrastate trucks to be licensed differently. All contract carrier truck plates had a "S" symbol and franchise carrier truck plates carried a "C" symbol. No weight codes were shown on these plates as taxes paid were based on 6% of the value of the products being transported.

1931

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial
Symbol: "TON"- trucks with pneumatic tires, "TS"- Trucks with solid tires under weight amount
Weight divisions- 1/2 to 10 ton capacity in 1/2 increments
"NORTH CAROLINA - 31" along bottom of plate.

.

Contract carrier truck plates included a "S" symbol to the left of the numbers. Franchise Carrier trucks included a "C" symbol to the left of the numbers. No plates with these symbols have been authenticated even though other years of these types are known.

1932

Courtesy of ALPCA archives

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers on yellow background
Type; Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating serial & symbol
Symbol: T suffix for all private trucks.
"NORTH CAROLINA-32" on top of plate.
Weight codes not used this year.

Contract carrier truck plates continued with the "S" symbol to the left of the plate number.

Franchise carriers were now considered "Interstate" trucks and had "IST" symbol to the right of the plate number.

1933

Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers on blue background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14"
Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial
Symbol: None with trucks with pneumatic tires, "TS"- Trucks with solid tires to left of serial
Weight divisions- 1/2 to 10 ton capacity in 1/2 increments
"NORTH CAROLINA - 33" along bottom of plate.

Contract carrier truck plates continued with the "S" symbol to the left of the plate number.

Franchise carriers were still considered "Interstate" trucks and had "IS over T" symbol to the right of the plate number in lieu of tonnage.

1934

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12"
Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with weight to right of serial
Symbols: C- Franchise Carrier, S- Contract Carrier,
"NORTH CAROLINA-34" on top of plate.
All trucks now carried the "TON" symbol with the exception of Interstate trucks which carried the "IS over T" symbol of 1933. Contract carrier plates retained the "S" symbol to the left of the number. Franchise carriers again carried the "C" symbol.

1935

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Silver numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12"
Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with symbol right of number
Symbols: C- Franchise Carrier, S- Contract Carrier
"NORTH CAROLINA-35" along bottom of plate.

For 1935, symbols for trucks are shown as "B over T" for most trucks and "C over T" for road tractors trucks. Most of the "C/T" plates have the "C" and "S" symbols for contract and franchise carriers.

The "G" symbol plate shown is a bit of a mystery as there is no explanation for this symbol. May be a replacement for X symbol used in 1934 as no 1935 plates have been confirmed. The 1933 General Assembly mentions "excursion passenger vehicles" such as sight-seeing tour vehicles so perhaps this plate may be just that.

1936

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Light green numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with symbol B left of serial
"NORTH CAROLINA + 36" on top of plate.
1936 was a year of transition where trucks were classified by the letter "B" which was shown on registration cards as well.

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 Symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-37" along 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 Symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-38" along 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 symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-39" along 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 Symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-40" along 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 Symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-41" along bottom of plate.

1942

Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers on School Bus Yellow background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric with Symbol & code separating 3 & 4 digits of number
Symbol: B/1, B/2, B/3, B/4
"NORTH CAROLINA-42" along bottom of plate.

Used with "43" date tab for 1943

1943 (tab)

Issued as single tab
Color: School Bus Yellow numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 1-3/4" x 3-1/4"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric
Symbol: none
"A-43" portion of 1943 dated plate used for revalidation of 1942 dated plate. Tab mounted on rear 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 3rd & 4th digit of serial
Numbers issued: 100001 through 300000
"NORTH CAROLINA-44" along top of plate.

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 serial
Numbers issued: 100001 through 300000
"NORTH CAROLINA 45" on bottom of plate

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 800-000 through 900-000 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 800-000 through 900-000 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 800-000 through 900-000 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 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"NORTH CAROLINA 49" on bottom of plate

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 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"TRUCK - N.C. 50" on bottom of plate

1951

Pairs of plates issued
Colors: "Cardinal Red" numbers on white background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"TRUCK - N.C. 51" on bottom of plate

1952

Single plate issued
Colors: White numbers on "Cardinal Red" background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"TRUCK - N.C. 52" on bottom of plate

1953

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background
Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12"
Serial: 6-digit all numeric 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"TRUCK - N.C. 53" on bottom of plate

1954

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.
"TRUCK - N.C. 54" on bottom of plate

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 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number.
"TRUCK - N.C. 55" on bottom of plate

Type 2
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 Y-00000 series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers.
"NORTH CAROLINA 55" on bottom of plate

1956

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

Later issued plates may have been made with bolt slots instead of holes.

1958

1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers and border on black background
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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 sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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 sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-TZ. 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 sheeting.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-VZ. 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 sheeting.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-VZ. 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 sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-VZ. 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 sheeting.
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: 1-S through 9999-VZ. 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: 1-S through 9999-VZ. 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 sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
"1974" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1975

1956 dies

1975 dies

Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1956 through about DJ series, 1975 starting about DK series.
"1975" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

Later plates manufactured with slightly smaller thinner (1975) dies. Some "hybrid" plates using both dies were also made.

"Hybrid" plate with last "9" using 1975 dies

1976

1956 dies

1975 dies

Single plate issued
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1956 & 1975 including hybrids.
"NORTH CAROLINA" on top of plate
"1976" on bottom center of plate

1977

Type 1- Steel with 1956 dies

Type 2- Steel with 1975 dies

Type 3- Aluminum with 1956 dies

Type 4- Aluminum with 1975 dies

Type 1
Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1956 style
"1977" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

Type 2
Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1975 style
"1977" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

Type 3
Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1956 style
"1977" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

Type 4
Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12"
Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1975 style
"1977" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate

1978 Base

1978 with 1956 dies

Single plate issued 1978 used through 1988. Issued to trucks with <4000GVW.
Staggered registration implemented beginning in 1981.
Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective sheeting
Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12"
Serial: CA-1001 through JZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used
Dies: 1956 and 1975 style
"1978" on top center of plate
"NORTH CAROLINA" (Freedom Base) on bottom of plate